CAMP RIPLEY - Army Reservists of the Canadian 38th Brigade Group conducted training at Camp Ripley in preparation for a large-scale unit qualification exercise coming up in October.
"We are setting the stage for three of our units to take part in training here in Minnesota," said Sgt. Donna Maybroda, regimental quartermaster for the 18th Field Ambulance Company.
The opportunity to train at Camp Ripley is all part of the 38th Brigade Group's strategy to enable unit commanders more dedicated training time as opposed to spending more time traveling to Canadian training bases further away.
"Our time on rifle ranges and out in the field is already limited being a reserve unit, but with a long distance between Thunder Bay and our bases in Canada, the better option was to travel to Minnesota," said Cpl. Rob Neron, transportation soldier with the 38th Service Battalion.
The Canadian 38th Brigade Group is an Army Reserve Formation of the 3rd Canadian Division, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with units distributed throughout Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
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Additionally, soldiers from the 38th Brigade Group support several programs within their respective towns and cities and communities.
"I've been an EMS and tactical medic with the Provincial Police for 33 years," said Pvt. Eric Todd, a medic with the 18th Field Ambulance Company.
Todd's enlistment into the Reserves came a few years later in life than most others, but his enthusiasm for unit readiness and attention to detail contribute to the overall success of the mission. "I want to teach and contribute the knowledge and skills I've learned over the years, but first I need to complete my training," he added.
Annual qualifications ensure the proper certification of each soldier and increase unit readiness for full scale operations. The soldiers of the Canadian 38th Brigade Group qualify on small arms, grenades and vehicles as well as several other individual and collective skills.
