To the Editor:
I wish to thank the people of Saskatchewan for their support in ensuring my soldiers from 38 Canadian Brigade Group, indeed their own soldiers of Saskatchewan, the time away from their families and work in support of the forest firefighting north of Prince Albert.
38 Canadian Brigade Group, the army reserves of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwest Ontario have a proud history of serving in domestic operations, specifically during the floods in Manitoba. Our “citizen” soldiers, who come from all work and educational walks of life, train together throughout the year, leaning how to work as a team in austere conditions. We come together, prepared because of this training – training that demands sacrifice from their families and employers.
The Canadian Forces, members from Edmonton, initially deployed after the call for assistance by the Province of Saskatchewan on July 4th. Shortly after their arrival I started receiving requests by the Regular Forces that more manpower was needed. My staff put out the call for available manpower in Saskatchewan. Within hours my soldiers – living in the communities of Prince Albert, Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Regina and Saskatoon – responded to this call for assistance.
In total, 73 men and women, reservists from Saskatchewan, volunteered for this critical and dangerous fire mission. Your citizen soldiers responded and were on the ground within days, training to fight the fire on their first day of arrival, and then getting out to the fires on their second day. For the next two weeks, day and night, they worked hand-in-hand with the provincial fire authorities and battled the relentless firestorm.
One of our deepest commitments to our communities is our domestic response capability. Standing up the Domestic Response Company (DRC) provides our soldiers with a true reality that our province, our people, need us. Bravely entering the unknown, our soldiers have a compelling drive to get the job done in times of need. This true grit makes up every member of the Canadian Forces.
I also wish to share a quick story about one of our reservists. At only 19 years old, he was deploying to the fires to be part of this mission. What was very special is that he and his family lived through the raging Kelowna fires in 2003 where their friends and families lost homes. He was only seven then and remembered the soldiers fighting the fires. Pte. Keith Griffith vowed to be a reservist so that someday he could pay it back. His father was with him as he got on the bus. That was one proud but nervous father. That was one proud reservist.
We are now a part of history for Saskatchewan as the last time the Canadian Forces deployed on a domestic mission was over 42 years ago during the 1973 Regina flooding. Now my young men and women, where most were not born then, can proudly go through their own communities knowing they made a difference.
Your continuing support in allowing them to train is valued and needed. The growth and development of the army reserves of Saskatchewan, whether employed, from universities or even recently through the high school programs in Regina, needs this support so that when called upon, our “citizen soldiers” will be there for you.
Colonel Geoff Abthorpe, MSM, CD
Commander of 38 Canadian Brigade Group
