CAF active in Belize

As of yesterday, the CAF is active in Belize, as part of Exercise TRADEWINDS-15 phase II. TRADEWINDS is a US led multinational exercise which takes place each year in the Caribbean. This years exercise started in St. Kitts & Nevis in May, and has moved to Belize for phase II, which began June 15, 2015 and runs to June 24, 2015.

The CAF's contribution includes both the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army; both of which are leading and participating in land, and sea-based training.

During phase II, HMCS Glace Bay will participate in a multinational task group, whose focus will be on practising tactics in tracking, intercepting and boarding suspect vessels.

A 14 member CAF dive team from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) will be working with the Belize Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy in diving tactics. Teams will conduct hull search, bottom search and recovery, and practice evidence site contamination.

The Canadian Army has 37 members participating, mainly from 2nd Battalion 2 RCR, Gagetown. 17 members will be leading a live-fire range and a simulated Urban Operations training for members of the 17 participating nations involved in TRADEWINDS.

20 Infantry and 1 Medical Officer are participating in Jungle Training, which is being led by the Belize Defence Force. They will be learning navigation (while in a canopied terrain), and how to survive in a challenging environment. While 2 members are working in Command and Control mentorship in the Joint Operations Headquarters.
 
Information in this article is taken directly from a DND press release, put together by Captain Carrie Pluck, a Public Affairs Officer with the CAF.

CAF to participate in US led Caribbean Exercise

The CAF will participate in the US led Exercise TRADEWIND 15 in the Caribbean. The exercise will run from May 31 to June 24, 2015. The CAF will deploy marine and land assets to the exercise that will include 19 other nations. TRADEWING will mix air, land and sea exercises according to DND.

TRADEWING is an annual US led exercise focused on countering transnational organized crime, and providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The Royal Canadian Navy will deploy HMCS Glace Bay and her 40 crew members, with a diving team from the Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic). The Glace Bay will focus on fire fighting, suspect vessel tracking and boarding procedures.

The Canadian Army will provide 34 personnel, from the 2nd RCR based out of Gagetown, New Brunswick. They will co-lead the exercise with US personnel as well as provide training on how to set up and run a firing range. Additionally, 12 CAF members will participate in jungle warfare training, which is being led by the Belize Defence Force.