Eastern Alberta’s Best Kept Secret!
MD of Wainwright
The Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61, in the heart of Canada’s Old Northwest. Less than two hours from Edmonton, situated in east central Alberta, the MD of Wainwright is an area of diverse wealth both socially and economically, with agriculture and oil and gas industries within its heart and a prairie history dating back to the pioneer days through ranching and buffalo.
The M.D. of Wainwright is comprised of a total area of 4134 square kilometres, containing 7 Divisions, has a population of 4,231, and is home to 641 farms that range in size from 10 to over 35000 acres, 3 hamlets, 3 villages (Chauvin, Edgerton & Irma) and the Town of Wainwright. The MD of Wainwright also features the Canadian Forces Base (Area Support Unit) Wainwright, covering an area of approx. 600 square kilometres.
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Canadian Forces Base/Area Support Unit Wainwright
The history of the Camp Wainwright is rich and colorful. First established as a refuge for nearly extinct buffalo, Camp Wainwright has continually grown in order to meet the changing needs of Canada’s Army. Nomadic tribes of Blackfoot and Cree Indians were the first to inhabit the area. European settlement began in the late 1800s, and the village of Denwood was established in 1905. Five years later, the Town of Wainwright was incorporated nearby.
The Camp was originally established in 1940 as a wartime ammunition and training facility. It then evolved into a Second World War Interment Camp for German Officer POWs and, following the outbreak of the Korean War, was used to train soldiers for Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Commonwealth Contingent. Camp Wainwright has since been used as an operational training detachment and battle school.
Commonly known as “Camp Wainwright”, ASU Wainwright consists of several distinct units, the most established being the Western Area Training Centre (WATC) and the newest being the Canadian Maneouvre Training Centre (CMTC). Camp Wainwright has been, for some time, the primary training location for the Army units from western Canada (from Thunder Bay to Victoria). It is also soon to be the Army’s primary training location nationally.
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Land Forces Western Area Training Centre
In 1997, Camp Wainwright and the PPCLI Battle School were reorganized into the Western Area Training Centre, commonly refered to as WATC. This amalgamation was designed to establish the Battle School’s training staff and the Camp’s support staff under a single chain of command in order to more efficiently run the Camp.
Military courses and Canadian and Foreign units continue to conduct combat field training year round, taking advantage of Camp Wainwright’s 620 square-kilometre training area and extensive live-fire practice failities.
Land Forces Western Area Training Centre (LFWATC) conducts and supports a variety of existing training requirements of individuals and field units aqnd indeed will continue to conduct this formal recruit and advanced level training to students from across Western Canada, and support other training activities by CF and foreign military units.
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Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC)
CMTC is a new army unit, which is responsible to deliver this dynamic, specialized training. The computer and weapons system itself will simulate a large variety of weapons through use of laser technology, collect all engagement data, and provide after action reports and video on performance. This capability is a result of a 10 year, $137 million contract between DND and CUBIC Defence Applications. The primary aim of the project is to assist battle commanders to better achieve readiness of their soldiers and equipment before operational deployments. This expansion will include a significant growth in new infrastructure on Base, and also significant increase in permanent and transient military personnel both on Base and in the surrounding communities as a whole.
The premier Army training experience for all soldiers will occur at the Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC) in Wainwright, Alberta. CMTC prepares complete Battle Groups for operations using the fully instrumented Weapons Effects Simulation (WES) system. The Combat Training Centre in Gagetown, New Brunswick, will also use a smaller, non-instrumented WES system to improve individual training courses.
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The Weapon Effects Simulation (WES) System
A live simulation system consisting of laser engagement devices and automatic data transfer and recording systems, WES will enable units to train faster to meet mission objectives, and will provide soldiers and tactical commanders with immediate feedback on their actions. Experience gained by our allies clearly demonstrates that the probability of mission success significantly increases by using a live simulation system like WES during pre-deployment training.
CUBIC Defense Applications of San Diego, California has been contracted to provide the WES system. Miniature computers integrated into every soldier’s equipment and onto all vehicles, will give soldiers and their commanders instant feedback on the results of each laser or radio-based engagement. The system will automatically capture and record all engagement results for objective evaluation. Observers and analysts will prepare and deliver detailed after action reviews that highlight performance strengths and weaknesses. The system will also enable senior commanders to confirm that their troops have reached the highest levels of readiness required for deployment to operations.
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