Canadian Army Signallers, those “Geeks with Guns” who supply communications from the battlefield, gathered in Victoria this weekend from across Western Canada.

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“We do everything from old-school radio to new networks that have only just been prototyped to satellite systems — everything geeky,” said Corp. Patryk Siedlik, 22, a reservist from Winnipeg with 38 Signals Regiment.

“And we have marksmanship today,” said Siedlik, in his final year of engineering technology at Red River College.

He was one of about 75 men and women, reservists and regular- force signallers in town to take part in Exercise Jimmy West.

It’s a competition where military signallers are faced with events designed to simulate field-condition difficulties. As with all members of the forces, they must also shoot a firearm, do basic first aid and hold a check point.

They run the obstacle course similar to an infantry soldier in training. But signallers do it wearing a “ManPack,” the backpack-style field radio worn by lone signallers deployed in the field.

And, uniquely for signallers, they set up a mobile command centre to establish communications links with many different units in the field at once.

A modern army must have everything from radio-style communications and satellite telephone links with political leaders in Canada to internet connections, including even special military-only internet connections.

The idea is to set up a centre that allows a high-ranking officer, such as a general, to simply walk in to the field after being flown in from Canada. Instantly, that officer should be able to talk with separate units deployed in the field — whether infantry, artillery or medical units— while conferring with home and researching online.

Capt. Gina Lloyd, of 39 Signals Regiment, a reservist from Victoria, said when the Armed Forces is deployed overseas it falls to signallers to set up those field headquarters.

“So we set up all the tents, all the antennas, all the radios,” said Lloyd, 45, whose regular job is with the provincial Ministry of Health.

“We supply the ability of a commander to actually exert control over a particular area,” she said,

Lt. Col. Kent Wickens, the overall officer in charge of this weekend’s exercise, has been with the reserves for 35 years, originally starting with the artillery.

Since joining the signal corps, Wickens, 52, has gained a new and special respect for the people the signals regiments attract.

“These young people have a skill set that is outstanding,” said the former airline pilot now living in Vancouver and working with Transport Canada.

“They have grown up with this technology, so it’s like they are native speakers of technology, where for me, it’s always a second language,” Wickens said.

“They are all just really bright and dedicated young people who love solving problems and getting things done,” he said.

rwatts@timescolonist.com