Exercise ASCENDING SAPPER reinforces Combat Engineer skills required in the ever-changing Battle Space
November 20, 2023 - Cpl Riley Botterill, 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment
October saw 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) deployed to the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range to conduct Exercise ASCENDING SAPPER.
Ex ASCENDING SAPPER is 1 CER’s fall exercise focused on the training of engineer‑specific skills and tasks. Various ranges including the C22 pistol, C7A2 rifle, C6 General Purpose Machine Gun, and shotgun were conducted, as well as minefield emplacement and extractions, and complex demolitions ranges including Conventional Munitions Disposal tasks.
The exercise focused on building individual soldier confidence and knowledge of engineer‑specific tasks that the unit may see in any given battle space.
This year’s exercise may have looked a little different from previous years, as the tasks changed along with some new scenery for the regiment. Being able to utilize the air weapons range for demolition training and Conventional Munitions Disposal tasks was advantageous, as it allowed the regiment to conduct some activities—such as a mass disposal of conventional munitions—that are not always possible in other training areas. It was also an opportunity to support Royal Canadian Air Force objectives with the construction of survivability and defensive works.
On Ex ASCENDING SAPPER, 11 Field Squadron (11 Fd Sqn) had the opportunity to integrate a combat engineer from one of our allied nations. Corporal Jay Suckling from the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE) was integrated into a section within 1 Troop. During this time, Cpl Suckling operated in the section as any other member would, working on every task site with the troops and passing along his knowledge and experience.
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A Light Armoured Vehicle 6.0 sits in the regimental admin area.
Photos by Cpl Riley Botterill, 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment
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Engineer section members prepping concrete breaching charges.
Cpl Suckling, from 2 Field Squadron, 2 Engineer Regiment, RNZE, joined in 2016 and spent the last five years of his career heavily involved in engineer search.
“My time here in Canada saw me embed into [11 Fd Sqn] to attend Ex ASCENDING SAPPER in Cold Lake,” he said. “For myself, it was the first time working from a [Light Armoured Vehicle]. The tasks varied in complexity and included a pairs live fire range, which was a highlight for me and the section. I look forward to seeing some familiar faces in [Canadian Armed Forces] uniform down in the New Zealand training area next year.”
It was a perfect opportunity to build a relationship with our comrades from New Zealand, cross‑train, share knowledge and, as always, a few good stories.
Exercises such as ASCENDING SAPPER are a good time for the troops to gain confidence in their abilities, as well as grow pride for the unit and the engineer corps as a whole. Being given the opportunity to cross‑train with allies, try out new weapons systems like the C22 Full Frame Modular Pistol, as well as try new things when it comes to the destruction of obstacles, further develops our skills relating to the mobility of the battle group while denying the same to the enemy.
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Corporal Jay Suckling from the Royal New Zealand Engineers outside of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment headquarters.
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Members from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment prepare ammunition before conducting a C22 pistol range.
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