Yakima Easter Exercise
The unit deployed to Yakima Firing Centre on 4 April 2010 for a live firing exercise.
Unknown author
As a new volunteer padre, I wanted to be with my regiment as they went on exercise. The catch here was that the exercise took place over the Easter weekend. I have been associated with the regiment over the last two years being involved with various phases of regimental life such as classroom training, regimental events and throughout the pre-deployment, deployment and reintegration process for each rotation since being asked to become the volunteer padre. While I await the final approvals for my becoming a chaplain in the primary reserves my ministry has moved from a parish based ministry to one of full time service with the 15th Field Regiment. My role in the Yakima exercise was one of providing spiritual support and photographer.
Easter away from my previous parish was unusual for me as leading up to Easter through Holy Week, the Saturday Vigil, and the Easter morning service has been part of my life for many years. That was about to be changed as I stepped into the C.O.’s vehicle on Maundy Thursday afternoon and we hit the road for Yakima.
This was a great opportunity to meet and share an intense experience with my regiment. When we stopped for dinner on the way to Yakima it would have been about the time that we would have been holding the Maundy Thursday service back in the parish. It was an interesting parallel between having a short simple dinner with a few members of my regimental family and the simple meal that was shared so many years ago by another small group of people who had become family. When we arrived at Yakima late that night and got ourselves settled in I was full of anticipation for what the next day would hold. It was one of those situations where you know roughly what will happen but don’t have the details which give you comfort. It was a situation where I wasn’t in control and I would have to let things unfold; what I would be doing was in other hands. All I knew was to be at the gun park at 05:00 hours with the direction that you go down that road a ways and turn right…you can’t miss it. Well, I was up at about 04:30 hours as I didn’t want to be late.
As I stepped out into the darkness and turned down that road, I had some ease in that in the darkness the road appeared straight and there was a street lamp off in the distance. For all my worry, it was just that simple, follow the road and you can’t miss it. Dawn was beginning to break in the east as I arrived at the gun park. There were a few soldiers there moving around in the semi darkness and before long others arrived. Once we were assembled and orders given everyone headed off. I was to ride with the CO and another officer to the O.P., where we would watch the shooting. As we arrived at the fuel dump we noticed a bit of snow. By the time we reached O.P. 1, we were almost in a whiteout with the snow blowing parallel to the ground. It was a bleak morning. Where ground cover was visible it was barren and the desert beneath the snow was asserting itself. There would be no shooting until this cleared up so we had a chance to get to know each other better and sample the fine cuisine out of the back of the van.
When the exercise commander arrived we made our way down to the guns. Much less snow there and the weather was starting to clear. Within an hour you’d never know it had snowed. It was cold but visibility was clearing and we were back to a barren dry desert. It was a very fitting setting with which to recall Good Friday and the bleakness of that day. I circulated amongst the guns speaking with different groups and tried not to get in the way. That would become my mantra…get in, but don’t get in the way.
I was asked if I would like to be part of an enemy force which would be setting up an ambush or two as well as roadblocks. As a member of OpFor I was a non-combatant and my role was strictly to observe and photograph this part of the exercise. It was certainly an opportunity to see the regiment from a different perspective and to get to know this small group. I learned a bit about the stresses that people go through when setting up and waiting for the moment. There was doubt and concern, hopefulness and anticipation. These are emotions that again reflected Good Friday. The ambush and the response by the regiment went very well. I spent the rest of the day getting to know people and it was quite late when I finally got back to barracks. I felt like a young kid coming home late after curfew as I was greeted with…You’re late...Where were you…we were getting worried… After laughs they, as did I, knew I was in good hands.
Saturday morning I was up early and went out to the guns with the RSM. We took fruit and coffee to very cold and tired soldiers. I circulated amongst the groups chatting and, surprisingly, not getting in the way. The soldiers were kept awake for most of the night by enemy force harassment so I wanted to make sure that spirits were up. Everyone was holding up well and appreciated the RSM’s treats. It was a very thoughtful gesture by someone who cares very much for those in his care. That afternoon, I volunteered to help the RSM prepare for the Sunday BBQ. It would be a feast for some weary soldiers and a good way to wrap up the exercise before the trip home. We shopped for the regiment, scrubbed potatoes, prepared chicken and condiments etc. We even prepared a kit bashed butter chicken recipe…the RSM’s special treat. We had more than a few volunteers outside the kitchen wanting to sample the butter chicken. We finished late in the evening and off to bed after preparing the meal. This reminded me of our Saturday vigil with all the preparation and anticipation of what the next day would bring.
Sunday morning promised to be a nice day. Again, we were up early and out into the field for an Easter morning field service. The homily, while recognizing the significance of the major Christian celebration, needed to be broad enough to include those of other faiths or even those of no faith. I was a bit anxious as this was my first field service but it was also the first field service for the regiment in many, many years. Where I was positioned I was on a bit of a rise with the wind behind me and the dawn breaking over my shoulder. With a makeshift altar; the regiment was assembled in front of me. We held our service in the open and I was struck by how the simplicity of the service and the informal order of gathering added a powerful underscore to the Easter miracle. It felt much as it might have been in the early days of the church where people gathered in groups to hear the good news.
After the service, the regiment prepared to move their location to where the direct shoot would take place. This was something for which everyone was waiting. Direct fire is exciting as you can see your shots land. When we arrived the shooting was in full swing. It was quite impressive to see the teamwork and the focus on safety. The soldiers I spoke to were clearly engaged in their work and enjoying the exercise. You could see it in everyone and the mood was electric. We left a bit early to head back to barracks to get the BBQ underway. When everyone arrived the meat was cooking and by the time people were cleaned up we were in full swing. It was a great way to celebrate a very successful exercise. It also brought home to me that at Easter when we celebrate the good news it is something that is even more significant when shared with friends and comrades regardless of belief. It is the being together in a common moment where we all connect with each other and that is special.
The next day we were on the road home with stories to tell, new friendships, and another chapter in our regimental life behind us.
The Quadrant, Vol 26 Iss 2, Fall 2010
As a new volunteer padre, I wanted to be with my regiment as they went on exercise. The catch here was that the exercise took place over the Easter weekend. I have been associated with the regiment over the last two years being involved with various phases of regimental life such as classroom training, regimental events and throughout the pre-deployment, deployment and reintegration process for each rotation since being asked to become the volunteer padre. While I await the final approvals for my becoming a chaplain in the primary reserves my ministry has moved from a parish based ministry to one of full time service with the 15th Field Regiment. My role in the Yakima exercise was one of providing spiritual support and photographer.
Easter away from my previous parish was unusual for me as leading up to Easter through Holy Week, the Saturday Vigil, and the Easter morning service has been part of my life for many years. That was about to be changed as I stepped into the C.O.’s vehicle on Maundy Thursday afternoon and we hit the road for Yakima.
This was a great opportunity to meet and share an intense experience with my regiment. When we stopped for dinner on the way to Yakima it would have been about the time that we would have been holding the Maundy Thursday service back in the parish. It was an interesting parallel between having a short simple dinner with a few members of my regimental family and the simple meal that was shared so many years ago by another small group of people who had become family. When we arrived at Yakima late that night and got ourselves settled in I was full of anticipation for what the next day would hold. It was one of those situations where you know roughly what will happen but don’t have the details which give you comfort. It was a situation where I wasn’t in control and I would have to let things unfold; what I would be doing was in other hands. All I knew was to be at the gun park at 05:00 hours with the direction that you go down that road a ways and turn right…you can’t miss it. Well, I was up at about 04:30 hours as I didn’t want to be late.
As I stepped out into the darkness and turned down that road, I had some ease in that in the darkness the road appeared straight and there was a street lamp off in the distance. For all my worry, it was just that simple, follow the road and you can’t miss it. Dawn was beginning to break in the east as I arrived at the gun park. There were a few soldiers there moving around in the semi darkness and before long others arrived. Once we were assembled and orders given everyone headed off. I was to ride with the CO and another officer to the O.P., where we would watch the shooting. As we arrived at the fuel dump we noticed a bit of snow. By the time we reached O.P. 1, we were almost in a whiteout with the snow blowing parallel to the ground. It was a bleak morning. Where ground cover was visible it was barren and the desert beneath the snow was asserting itself. There would be no shooting until this cleared up so we had a chance to get to know each other better and sample the fine cuisine out of the back of the van.
When the exercise commander arrived we made our way down to the guns. Much less snow there and the weather was starting to clear. Within an hour you’d never know it had snowed. It was cold but visibility was clearing and we were back to a barren dry desert. It was a very fitting setting with which to recall Good Friday and the bleakness of that day. I circulated amongst the guns speaking with different groups and tried not to get in the way. That would become my mantra…get in, but don’t get in the way.
I was asked if I would like to be part of an enemy force which would be setting up an ambush or two as well as roadblocks. As a member of OpFor I was a non-combatant and my role was strictly to observe and photograph this part of the exercise. It was certainly an opportunity to see the regiment from a different perspective and to get to know this small group. I learned a bit about the stresses that people go through when setting up and waiting for the moment. There was doubt and concern, hopefulness and anticipation. These are emotions that again reflected Good Friday. The ambush and the response by the regiment went very well. I spent the rest of the day getting to know people and it was quite late when I finally got back to barracks. I felt like a young kid coming home late after curfew as I was greeted with…You’re late...Where were you…we were getting worried… After laughs they, as did I, knew I was in good hands.
Saturday morning I was up early and went out to the guns with the RSM. We took fruit and coffee to very cold and tired soldiers. I circulated amongst the groups chatting and, surprisingly, not getting in the way. The soldiers were kept awake for most of the night by enemy force harassment so I wanted to make sure that spirits were up. Everyone was holding up well and appreciated the RSM’s treats. It was a very thoughtful gesture by someone who cares very much for those in his care. That afternoon, I volunteered to help the RSM prepare for the Sunday BBQ. It would be a feast for some weary soldiers and a good way to wrap up the exercise before the trip home. We shopped for the regiment, scrubbed potatoes, prepared chicken and condiments etc. We even prepared a kit bashed butter chicken recipe…the RSM’s special treat. We had more than a few volunteers outside the kitchen wanting to sample the butter chicken. We finished late in the evening and off to bed after preparing the meal. This reminded me of our Saturday vigil with all the preparation and anticipation of what the next day would bring.
Sunday morning promised to be a nice day. Again, we were up early and out into the field for an Easter morning field service. The homily, while recognizing the significance of the major Christian celebration, needed to be broad enough to include those of other faiths or even those of no faith. I was a bit anxious as this was my first field service but it was also the first field service for the regiment in many, many years. Where I was positioned I was on a bit of a rise with the wind behind me and the dawn breaking over my shoulder. With a makeshift altar; the regiment was assembled in front of me. We held our service in the open and I was struck by how the simplicity of the service and the informal order of gathering added a powerful underscore to the Easter miracle. It felt much as it might have been in the early days of the church where people gathered in groups to hear the good news.
After the service, the regiment prepared to move their location to where the direct shoot would take place. This was something for which everyone was waiting. Direct fire is exciting as you can see your shots land. When we arrived the shooting was in full swing. It was quite impressive to see the teamwork and the focus on safety. The soldiers I spoke to were clearly engaged in their work and enjoying the exercise. You could see it in everyone and the mood was electric. We left a bit early to head back to barracks to get the BBQ underway. When everyone arrived the meat was cooking and by the time people were cleaned up we were in full swing. It was a great way to celebrate a very successful exercise. It also brought home to me that at Easter when we celebrate the good news it is something that is even more significant when shared with friends and comrades regardless of belief. It is the being together in a common moment where we all connect with each other and that is special.
The next day we were on the road home with stories to tell, new friendships, and another chapter in our regimental life behind us.
The Quadrant, Vol 26 Iss 2, Fall 2010