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“The purpose of exercises like this is just to make sure that our skills are sharp, we are maintaining our combat capabilities and those core competencies that we need to maintain in the infantry, in the armour core and in the artillery core,” said Maj. Dan Hogan of 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

The scenario — clearing an area of enemy troops — is close to real life, he said.

Conventional warfare is the bread and butter of what the army does.

On this Friday morning, fat flakes of snow swirl as soldiers gather and assess the exercise.

One soldier is taken away for treatment after he lost footing while getting out of a light armoured vehicle.

The exercise that morning involved 11 tanks and 15 light armoured vehicles, with about 25 vehicles carrying ammunition, water and fuel for more than 200 troops.

Even though warfare has become more high-tech with weapons such as drone missiles, Hogan said this kind of combat operation remains important.

“If we get this down, then we can adjust and change to different types of warfare in different types of theatres,” he said.

“If we get the conventional piece down, it is all too easy to transition. You got the fundamentals there, the command and the leadership and the drills.”

This exercise began Oct. 23 and runs until Nov. 17. The participants include soldiers based at Canadian Forces Base Shilo and 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton. One British exchange officer is also part of the exercise.