Ex Vigilant Guardian

[Haggis]

Personally I enjoyed just being away from NDHQ for 10 days.

I think the soldiers generally found it to be a good ex.  Our FOB was well laid out and contributed to the effectiveness of the training.  The OPFOR (of which my son was a member against 32 CBG) was well briefed and used.

Being able to observe the training from a "detached" perspective and having feedback from my OPFOR kin, I noted that the learning curve was rather steep for anyone without recent operational experience.  Some examples:

1. Presence patrols often made efforts to avoid being detected (i.e. diving into the ditch when vehicles approached, not using white light etc.) as junior leaders still equated patrolling with stealth.

2. Soldiers need to shake the impression that if you're not "one of us", you're enemy.  Not everyone is a bad guy.  Many people were shot who didn't need to be.

3.  Some leaders have difficulty integrating the all-arms team as well as entities like CivPol.

4.  Comms sucked.  Need more freqs and many, many more radios.  PRRs should be used on training like this as a supplement to TCCCS.

5. The "Hot wash" was three hours of my life that I will never see again.

6. No TTPs or SOP existed for Force Protection (camp security).  My TF Sgts-Maj got together at the outset and wrote them on the fly, adding to and amending them after each evolution.

7.  Our TF sought out those with "real-world" experience to offer advice within the sub-units.  Not all sub-units were so blessed, but the experience was shared nonetheless.

West Isle is a beautiful country.  I look forward to helping the citizens prosper again next year.

 

[Poppa]

It all depends on what TF you were part of and whether or not you were part of the PTA. For example we had about a sections worth of U.S. MPs with us. I had the extra fortune of having their command element with me. Over half of them had just returned from 18 months in Iraq. I can read all the AARs in the world but this was priceless. I hope some of the other arms were able to benifit as well.
We ust have to work a few of the wrinkles out and it will only get better.
As Haggis pointed out...comms sucked. I know that as a jr Officer I should love not being in contact with my higher HQ...but funnily enough it was a pain in the ass.

Cheers

 

[Haggis]

For example we had about a sections worth of U.S. MPs with us. I had the extra fortune of having their command element with me. Over half of them had just returned from 18 months in Iraq. I can read all the AARs in the world but this was priceless.

I know of whom you speak and they were indeed priceless (especially the sgt who came to our "Fight Night").  We used them and were the better for it, IMO.  The Cdn MPs were also quite keen and provided value added to the training.

 

[Poppa]

I know of whom you speak and they were indeed priceless (especially the sgt who came to our "Fight Night").  We used them and were the better for it, IMO.  The Cdn MPs were also quite keen and provided value added to the training.

Thanks for that...hopefully we can carry on the combined trg throughout the year.

Cheers

 

[Sig_Des]

One of the best training excersizes I've been on was the qualifying field ex for my QL5's at CFSCE. They've moved to a total force training concept, and it's very operationaly-minded.

As in we would go out, set up our Main Camp (Cataraquay arena) and move out to several sites in the city and set up FOBs. The OPFOR was excellent. many different scenarios.

Refugees at the gates, protesters, IEDs, Ethnic violence. In one situation, the OPFOR made such a real showing of "beating" a female member, and her screams were so realistic, that a couple of my guys thought it was real, and ran out to go help.

It's this kind of training that's going to prepare people for things they may encounter in theatre.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

One of the best training excersizes I've been on was the qualifying field ex for my QL5's at CFSCE. They've moved to a total force training concept, and it's very operationaly-minded..........................................................It's this kind of training that's going to prepare people for things they may encounter in theatre.

The thread is called Re: Ex Vigilant Guardian, not 'What Was Your Best Ex Ever'

 

[Sig_Des]

The thread is called Re: Ex Vigilant Guardian, not 'What Was Your Best Ex Ever'

Well, most people would be able to draw the comparison. As mentioned by Haggis and Poppa, the training goals have changed in training throughout, IE to more operational settings.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

We know that, but the thread is still about VG only. We're trying to get feedback on that one in particular. Not muddy the waters with reminiscences of others.

 

[Spanky]

VG 06 was a good excercise. 
TF 31's FOB was well done.  A LOT of work sure went into setting it up.  As a vet of the Cold War, it was weird not having to worry about light and noise discipline etc while in the FOB.  Completing a task and "being home for supper" was different as well.

As a recce troop we were inserted by air in order to establish OPs on the FIBUA site and conduct a handover to the infantry.  That was a good go...... despite the rain as mentioned by DG.  Well done to the chopper guys.

The Convoy escort went well (at least on the second kick of the cat) but we encountered only one minor MEL event, leaving us a little frustrated.

Our last task, on Friday, was a good one as well.  We secured an LZ, and established an outer cordon for the infantry.

The troops enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.

Well done to the movers and shakers who got this ex up and running.

 

[Blunt Object]

How well do you guys think the ROEs were?

 

[George Wallace]

How well do you guys think the ROEs were?

Now you are opening a 'Can of Worms'.  The ROEs were not thought out well and not published correctly, having to be corrected midway through the Ex.  The 'Question' should be "Were the final version of the ROEs effective and easy for the troops to understand and enforce?"

 

[Haggis]

"Were the final version of the ROEs effective and easy for the troops to understand and enforce?"

There was a "final version"???

I refer you back to my remark that "comms sucked".  Clearly so did the verbal/formal passage of information.

The ROE card described the ROE in simple terms but was otherwise a nice, colourful piece of substantially irrelevant paper.  My company did ROE scenario training in order to get a firm grasp on the practical application of the ROE.

 

[Poppa]

I think the ROE's were adequate..however, for this ex I don't think a lot of time was spent on them from the leadership end. We need something written that doesn't sound like a law text. Use "soldier speak". I'm not saying talk down to the troops but KISS is around for a reason. More trg through out the year is needed, should be no excuse now that we have the latest and greatest ROE that came down the 2nd last day of the ex.
I'd be more concerned if we didn't get some sort of SOP together for....I don't know....QRF duties just off the top of my head.(just an example folks)
Cheers

 

[Haggis]

I'd be more concerned if we didn't get some sort of SOP together for....I don't know....QRF duties just off the top of my head.(just an example folks)
Cheers

Force protection is a topic near and dear to my heart.  QRF fell under the "Camp Security" company.  No TTPs or SOPs existed in either TF 32 or 33 for force protection. They were, as I stated earlier, written "on the fly".  In TF 33 there was considerable confusion over who could launch the QRF, why and when.  This will eventually be included in the TTPs/SOPs promulgated by the three Inf CSMs in TF 33.

On the upside, the Armd Recce guys were invaluable as force multipliers for my company.  Thier detailed objective recce report was extremely thorough, allowing us to know exactly how many shooters were in the FIBUA site and their locations, just minutes before we launched.  Thanks guys!

 

[Andyd513]

My first griphon experience on VG06. Famil flight was awesome... hope next year the scope of the exercise allows for more signals involvement. Got to go out on RRB which is always fun. probably be back next year unless i get a really late ql5's.

 

[George Wallace]

I think that one fault that showed up, was in the RAIDs.  The troops have to be taught who will and how to search prisoners.  The 'passage' of prisoners has to be taught also.  I had a subordinate loose a pistol in an incorrect scenario.  She should not have been searching prisoners at that stage, nor should she have been armed in that case if she was.  It is something that all troops should be taught the very basics in, as it could have the opportunity of turning very deadly if they don't know how.

 

[Haggis]

A very good point, George.

The Force on Force directive came out about three days into the ex and it was quite restrictive.  I don't neccesarily believe that hampered our ability to conduct proper searches on the OPFOR but it was always in the backs of the soldier's minds.

One of the points in the Directive was that no one was to be "restrained" (i.e. zap strapped/flexicuffed/handcuffed or sandbagged).  During the Hot Wash (VG Awards Show??), some media clips from Ottawa's "A" Channel were shown.  In one clip, an OPFOR soldier is seen zap strapped and bagged.  The Comd LFCA/JTFC was sitting front row centre for that clip. ;D

 

[Loachman]

1. Presence patrols often made efforts to avoid being detected (i.e. diving into the ditch when vehicles approached, not using white light etc.) as junior leaders still equated patrolling with stealth.

2. Soldiers need to shake the impression that if you're not "one of us", you're enemy.  Not everyone is a bad guy.  Many people were shot who didn't need to be.

3.  Some leaders have difficulty integrating the all-arms team as well as entities like CivPol.

4.  Comms sucked.  Need more freqs and many, many more radios.  PRRs should be used on training like this as a supplement to TCCCS.

6. No TTPs or SOP existed for Force Protection (camp security).  My TF Sgts-Maj got together at the outset and wrote them on the fly, adding to and amending them after each evolution.

7.  Our TF sought out those with "real-world" experience to offer advice within the sub-units.  Not all sub-units were so blessed, but the experience was shared nonetheless.

This is pretty much as briefed at the Comd's nightly brief by the OPFOR guy, plus a few other things, and it's been noted. I'd be really surprised if corrections were not made by next year. Radios are still likely to be problem though.

 

[Loachman]

VG 06 was a good excercise.

<snip>

The troops enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.

Well done to the movers and shakers who got this ex up and running.

As the aviation guy on the planning team this is gratifying to hear.

As a recce troop we were inserted by air in order to establish OPs on the FIBUA site and conduct a handover to the infantry.  That was a good go...... despite the rain as mentioned by DG.  Well done to the chopper guys.

Our crews got some good flying in and some useful lessons were re-learned (we don't get much chance to do this stuff either, these days).

 

[Loachman]

The ROE card described the ROE in simple terms but was otherwise a nice, colourful piece of substantially irrelevant paper.  My company did ROE scenario training in order to get a firm grasp on the practical application of the ROE.

This too was recognized at the top and will be fixed.