Rangers successfully complete patrol leader’s course

Graduates from a Canadian Ranger patrol commander’s course won high praise from a former commanding officer of the Rangers in northern Ontario.
“You are dedicated, you are mission-oriented,” Col. Keith Lawrence told the 24 Rangers when he acted as reviewing officer of their graduation parade.
“You are the face of the military in your communities. I thank you for what you do every day in your communities. It’s not easy but you excel at it.”
Lawrence commanded the Rangers in Northern Ontario from 2004 until 2007. He is now assistant chief of staff at the headquarters of the army in Ontario.
“It’s been a very interesting six-day course,” said Sgt. William Barkman, of Muskrat Dam. “It was worth coming to and it will help me to be a better sergeant.”
Warrant officer Robert Patterson headed the army instruction team.
“The course is specifically designed for Rangers to lead within their patrols when they become corporals, master corporals and sergeants,” Patterson said.
“They learned about principles of leadership, resource management, how to formulate plans and implement them.”
The course was held at a resort on Deer Lake, near Dorset, Ont. Students learned army procedures on how to conduct patrols, organize for emergencies including search and rescue, administration, how to conduct a shooting range, radio procedures and setting up a camp.
They also conducted overnight on-the-land patrols by freighter canoe, all-terrain vehicle and by motor vehicle, with specific tasks to be completed as they travelled.
“We had to learn a lot of detail,” said Master Cpl. Pamela Chookomoolin of Peawanuck. “You have to plan an exercise down to the last thing. Usually, I don’t do that. It will certainly improve my organizational skills. We didn’t prepare for our canoe trip. If we’d prepared the way the army does, we’d have got off to a better and earlier start than we did.”
The leadership course was the first of its kind in Ontario.
“All of them had to take a turn leading their team,” Patterson said. “They were assessed on their performance. They did extremely well.
“They are going to take back a lot of skills to their communities that are going to help when they have to organize, for example, a search and rescue operation.
“They have to be able to organize and take action before any outside agency can arrive from the outside. What they have learned here they are going to be able to pass on when they get home.
He said the patrols and participants’ communities will benefit from what they have learned here.
The graduates were: Sergeants William Barkman of Muskrat Dam, Ralph Begg of Kasabonika, Bellamie Bighead of Kingfisher Lake, Matthew Gull of Peawanuck, Rogerick Sakanee of Neskantaga, Albert Sutherland of Constance Lake and Harry Wabasse of Webequie; Master Corporals Leslie Anderson of Kasabonika, Pamela Chookomoolin of Peawanuck, Roy Cutfeet of Kitchenuhmaykoosib, Roy Kaminawash of Sachigo Lake, Edwin Kitchekesik of Kingfisher Lake, Joe Lazarus of Kashechewan, John Mawakeesic of Sandy Lake, John McKay of Kitchenuhmaykoosib, Tom Semple of Kasabonika, Roland Shewaybick of Webequie, Stanley Stephens of Constance Lake, John Sutherland of Kashechewan, and John Wabano of Fort Hope; Corporal Vicky Edwards of Fort Albany; and Rangers William Morris of Kingfisher Lake and Daniel (D.J.) Wesley of Constance Lake.
Sergeant Peter Moon is the public affairs ranger for 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at Canadian Forces Base Borden. See www.canadianrangers.ca.