Raft crossing was 'highlight' of engineer training exercise

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Roughly 250 combat engineers at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown got to sharpen their skills in a recent training exercise in case they’re deployed at home or abroad.

The 4th Engineer Support Regiment conducted Exercise NIHILO SAPPER on the base and in the surrounding areas starting Nov. 3. The operation wrapped up Friday.

Lt-Col. Adam Poirier, the regiment’s commanding officer, said the exercise was focused on teaching soldiers and engineers how to solve hard problems, adapt to changing situations, prioritize resources, co-ordinate with different organizations, and when and where they can accept risk.

“The raft crossing we did on the St. John River near the end of the exercise was a significant highlight,” he said. “It’s the culmination activity where it required multiple organizations working together, co-ordinating, and making sure the resources were on site to build the raft and operate it.

“Executing that task was a full team effort.”

Poirier said the exercise was aimed at ensuring engineer capabilities are prepared for possible deployment domestically or abroad on short notice. It included bridge construction and demolition in the training area, building combat roads, establishing and removing obstacles such as wire and ditching, renovating buildings, and a raft crossing on the river outside the base.

Poirier said regiment members were divided into field engineering, support squadron, combat service support, and headquarter organizations to help the exercise go smoothly.

The river was colder and moving faster than anticipated for the raft crossing, Poirier said, but conditions were still “within the margins of safety.” He said the river crossing was a good challenge for the regiment, and members responded well.

“We covered a lot of ground in the training area, and the field work was a good challenge from a communications and teamwork perspective,” said Poirier.

Poirier said the exercise emphasized preparation for possible deployment because the regiment prides itself on readiness and wants to equip members to respond when needed. He said the regiment was deployed “in a very rapid function” to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island last year to provide disaster assistance after Hurricane Fiona, and some Canadian troops were recently sent to Poland to train Ukrainian engineers for the war against Russia.

Poirier said training events similar to Exercise NIHILO SAPPER help members know what to expect.

“The practice that we do here ensures that, if required, we can respond and assist in a more proficient manner,” he said.

Poirier said the timing of the exercise ahead of Remembrance Day is also front of mind, as the regiment prepares to provide support in the future while remembering past soldiers’ contributions.

“It’s important for us to build that readiness while remembering the past and the significance of what our predecessors have done and fought for,” he said.