The Canadian Forces ‘train the way they expect to fight’ during JOINTEX 2013

Publication date: 04 February 2013

By Margaret Campbell

In anticipation of a variety of potential future operations, the Canadian Forces are currently engaged in a series of training exercises they began planning three years ago, collectively named JOINTEX 13, which will prepare them to take on a leadership role in multinational expeditionary operations.

“JOINTEX provides a predictable, repeatable, and adaptable means to learn and improve, allowing us the critical opportunity to play it out in training before living it out in actual operations,’ said Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command.

JOINTEX will prepare the Canadian Forces to lead a Combined Joint-Inter Agency Task Force Headquarters (CJIATF), with 1^st Canadian Division Headquarters at its centre, responsible for planning and conducting coalition full-spectrum operations with multinational military forces and both governmental and non-governmental agencies.

“This training allows us to further develop our replication of the contemporary and future operating environments in the live, virtual, and constructive training domains - all at the same time and in multiple locations,” said Major-General John Collin, Commander 1^st Canadian Division.

While the majority of planning and coordination for the exercise takes place at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Kingston, there are also approximately 1,000 Canadian Forces members taking part in the exercise through simulations across Canada because the exercise is computer-assisted.

“Computers can simulate in real-time aircraft flying, troops moving and ships sailing. It looks like a real scenario to the headquarters, and provides a sense of realism beyond what we could have provided in the days of paper maps,” said Colonel Ken Chadder, the Exercise Director for JOINTEX. “ It all contributes to the 'train as you fight' philosophy by giving them a picture of something they would really see on deployed operations.”

The first four stages of JOINTEX are now complete. The most recent ended on 1 February and prepared all participants for the fifth and final stage to be held at CFB Wainwright, Alberta in May and June.

Stage 5 will include live, virtual and constructive players and equipment operating in a shared training environment. It will also advance Canadian Forces capabilities in a complex training scenario that integrates and leverages components from four force generating exercises from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Special Operations Command.

All five stages of JOINTEX enhance CF preparedness by anticipating possible expeditionary operations while demonstrating the agility, adaptability and flexibility of the Canadian Forces.

“Do not underestimate the effect that you are having on the growth of the Canadian Forces,” said Lieutenant-General Peter Devlin, Commander of the Canadian Army when he spoke to the exercise participants in Kingston on 29 January 2013. “JOINTEX 13 is a first, and the future of CF joint exercises.”

While preparing 1^st Canadian Division Headquarters for its role in leading a Canadian CJIATF, JOINTEX will advance the collective training agenda in operational situations while developing the Canadian Forces’ capacity to lead international operations.

Exercising the leadership capabilities of 1^st Canadian Division Headquarters in a simulated multinational operation also enhances CF readiness by accelerating the decision-making process and by being prepared to commit to joint action with any combination of maritime, air and land assets.

“The Canadian military is always looking at ways to improve the way it operates,” said Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare. “JOINTEX 13 provides commanders at all levels with the opportunity to integrate, operate, and develop the competencies, capabilities, familiarity and mutual trust across the sea, air and land environments that is so essential to our operations at home and abroad.”