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TuesdayFebruary3201517NORTHERNERSCANADIANRANGERSFortSmithRangerstaketothelandforwintertrainingByDALICARMICHAELYoudbehard-pressedtondagroupofpeoplewhoknowthe300-kmradiusaroundFortSmithbetterthantheCanadianRang-erswhotrainthere.Twiceayeartheunitcomestogetherfor10daystoconductwinterandsummertrainingsessions.OverthelasttwoweeksofJanuarytheyexploredthelandaroundthemwhilebrushingupontheirwintersurvivalskillswithaseriesofType1militaryexercisesledbyvisitingofcialsfromYellowknife.TheroleoftheCanadianRangeristopro-videmilitarypresenceinpartsofCanadawheretheresnomilitarypeopleanditsnotfeasibletohavemilitarypeoplebecauseofcostssaidWarrantOfcerWoodyKeepingoneofthetrainers.TheyreoureyesearsandvoiceoftheNorth.ThatswhyitsimportanttokeepthemsharpandupdatedonmilitarypracticesKeepingsaid.ForthersthalfoftheirsessiontheunitspentfourdaysandthreenightsmaneuveringaroundDonovanLakebysnowmobileajour-neythatsjustover40kmfromtown.Everyyeartheylearninanewdestination.Onthelandiswherewepracticenaviga-tionKeepingsaid.Wealsodocommuni-cationmilitarydrillsbriengsonmilitaryrankstructuresenvironmentalissuesandrstaid.Thisyeartheyalsolearnedhowtobuildanairplanerunwayonthefrozenlakerstpack-ingthesnowwiththeirvehiclesthenliningthenewlyformedice-roadwithheadlights.WhileoutintheremoteregiontheRangersspenttheirnightsintentsheatedbyportablewoodstoves.Thisyeartheysaidtheywereluckytohaveaveragetemperaturesaround-12degreesCelsius.ForfoodtheteamwasgivenindividualmealpackstoboilinbagsanutritiousifnottotallyappetizingmealKeepingsaid.TheRangersworemilitary-gradeparkasandwindpantsalongwiththeirtraditionalgarbofredhoodedsweatshirtsandprintedcamouflagepantswhileoutonthelandthoughtheywereallowedtodressincivil-iansnowpantstokeepoutthecold.WecantbringeverythingouttothemsaidKeepingnotingthatoneoftherequire-mentstosignupfortheCanadianRangersisowningasnowmobile.CouldyouimagineifwehadtoyabunchofskidoosuphereWecouldntdoit.BecauseofthosehightransportationcostsCanadianRangersaretheonlymilitaryclassallowedtokeeptheirgunsintheirhomes.TheykeepthoseriesathomeinalockedsafewithatriggerlockandeverythingKeep-ingsaid.WevegotRangersalloverCanada.Ifwedidntletthemtakethemhomeeverytimewedgotherewedhavetotakeabunchofries.Partoftheirtrainingisshootingthosegunspractisingtheirmarksmanshipatalocalringrange.GenerationsofNorthern-ershavebeenusingthewoodenbolt-action.303Lee-EneldriesbutthiswasoneofthelastwintersessionsthatweaponwillbeusedbyRangers.StartingthisyeartheCanadianForcesareexpectedtobegintest-ingoutnewriesandby2019all.303sarescheduledtobereplaced.InaceremonyheldJan.29allwhotookpartinthetrainingactivitieswerecertiedinamilitaryceremonyandthesharpestofshooterswereawardedfortheirskills.Theteamwassmallthisyearwithabout18membersonpaperandabouthalfpresentforthesession.WhenthetrainingofcersarentintownSgt.BrendaJohnsonleadstheunitinmonthlytacticalexercisesequipmentconditioningandType2patroltraining.Wepickspotsthatwerenotsureaboutandourjobistoseeifwecangettheretobeginwithandwhataccessrouteswecanusedif-ferenttimesoftheyearshesaid.JohnsonwhohasbeenaRangerforovertwodecadessaidherunitislikeatoughlittlefamily.Ifyouenjoytheoutdoorsandyouenjoydoingtheworkstuffitsnotsomuchajobitsmoreapastimeshesaid.Idontnditthathard.PhotosPaulBannisterDaliCarmichaelFortSmithCanadianRangersfollowingtheirmedalceremonyJan.29.InthefrontrowstandsCpl.BruceMcArthurleftMCpl.AshleighStokesJanieHobartSgt.BrendaJohnsonandMCpl.AlexDarroch.InthebackrowisWarrantOfcerWoodyKeepingleftRgr.JackBourkeMCpl.CharlesDesjarlaisRgr.HardyFreundRgr.CheyeannePauletteandCpl.TerrenceCampbell.Rgr.HardyFreundtakeshomeapatchforbeingthesharpestrieshooterintheunit.Sgt.BrendaJohnsonaCanadianRangerforovertwodecadesistheleaderoftheFortSmithunit.Sgt.BrendaJohnsonleftRgr.JackBourquespecialguestJanieHobartandvisitingtrainerfromYellowknifeMCpl.AlexDarrochparticipateinacertificationceremonyattheFortSmithArmouryJan.29.EachRangerwhotookpartinthisyearswintertrainingreceivedcreditfortheirparticipation.