Regimental Society Newsletter - Lord Strathcona's Horse

Continued from Page 2Commanding Offi certherefore, provided 28 individualaugmentees to the Observation,Mentoring and Liaison Teams (theyare training and fighting alongsidethe Afghan National Army), theRifle Companies of the Battlegroup,and the Provincial ReconstructionTeam. They are also providing thedriver and gunner for the Task ForceAfghanistan Commander’s LAVIII in 2009. Those who remain arerunning TUA courses for PPCLIsoldiers as well as crewmen fromacross the Corps. This will ensurethat we can deploya TUA Platoonat any time in theshort term andthat we will havebuilt up a base ofqualified personnelin all three of thearmour regimentsin preparation ofthe transition of this capability tothe Armoured Corps. We expectthat each regiment will have a TUATroop in the 2010-2011 timeframe.Reconnaissance Squadron hasbeen stood up again as our fourthsabre squadron under command ofMaj Trevor Cadieu and MWOBill Crabb. For now it consistsof an SHQ and one 8-car troop.The expansion of the Army ismanifesting itself in much largernumbers of new troopers and secondlieutenants joining the Regiment.We will therefore, continue to fleshout Recce Sqn over the next yearand ensure that we do not lose ourreconnaissance expertise in thisperiod of high tempo for the tanksquadrons. The Regiment and theBrigade still need a reconnaissancesquadron of course. Also, inthe future it is planned that eachregular regiment have four sabreSquadrons—one tank and threereconnaissance, in addition to itsTUA Troop. We are moving in thatdirection with the creation of thissquadron.Of course HQ Sqn, led by Maj EarlJared and MWO Kevin Mulhern,has been workingwonders inkeeping the othersquadrons kitted,fed, fuelled andmaintained asthey go intohigh readinesstraining and runcourses. Thewear and tear we have been puttingon our fleet of tanks in particular hasbeen extreme, and the fact that wehave been able to provide everythingthat the sabre squadrons plus E Coyneed for training is a testament tothe outstanding support provided byHQ Sqn.Scout Ferret Car purchased from NewMexico and transported by CP Rail.RSM, CO, Mr. Dennis Apedaile, SarahNghiem, Carole Roy (CP Rail Representatives)21 Nov 07Some of our Society troops are not asactive during this period of successivetank squadron deployments as I amsure you can understand. The PipeBand is back on hold. For a shortperiod of time between the B Sqndeployments, Sgt Marv MacNeillplayed at a dinner or two but he isdeploying again as the B Sqn OpsSgt. The remainder of the bandmembers are overseas or in highreadiness training. The HistoricalVehicle Troop is carrying on at aslower pace. We have purchasedan additional Ferret for ourcollection and HVT will participateSoldiers from A Sqn,TF 1-07 arrive home.in parades andcommunityoutreachevents asmuch aspossible withthe reducednumbers ofpersonnelavailable. OurCeremonialMountedTroop has,once again,sent off most of its personnel to jointank squadrons. The CMT is beingbrought back up to strength withnew troopers and will commence aRide School at the end of January.The Troop is planning to carry onwith the usual ride season as wedid last year with a similar batch ofnew riders. Again, the soldiers arestepping up to every challenge.So as you can see we will maintainthe pace set last year. The tanksquadron rotation of B, A, C, B, A,C is taking up most of our energy.No unit in the Canadian Forces is asbusy. There is some strain, but all isgoing well. I am sure that you areas proud of our troops as I am.All the best and I hope to see youduring our Moreuil Wood festivitiesor some other time soon.Perseverance,Commanding OfficerSummer 2008 EditionThe deadline for submissions for theSummer 2008 Strathcona Newsletter is11 July 2008.Submissions should be forwarded tonewsletter@strathconas.ca or mailed to:Lord Strathcona’s Horse(Royal Canadians)PO Box 10500 Station ForcesEdmonton, AB T5J 4J5Attention: Kathy StephenStrathconas NewsletterPage 4www.strathconas.ca