British troops needed at home and their Suffield training is cancelled
By COLLIN GALLANT on March 31, 2020.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Thousands of British troops who would have trained at CFB Suffield this spring and summer are instead working in the United Kingdom’s own measures to lessen the spread COVID-19. On Monday, Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced that 24,000 Canadian forces members are available to deploy across Canada to help local efforts in the pandemic, but to this point no requests have been received from the provinces. Last week the British Ministry of Defence announced that 10,000 Royal army, navy and airforce personnel would be deployed domestically to support civilian government efforts to maintain supply chains and health orders, an operation dubbed “COVID SUPPORT.” The program was similarly employed during flooding emergencies over the last decade as well as security services during the London Summer Olympic Games. The figure of troops dedicated to operation was then doubled late last week with officials saying it would be bolstered, after regular training deployments to Kenya and Canada, where CFB Sufflied hosts tank training, were cancelled. The base northwest of Medicine Hat also hosts smaller numbers of NATO personnel for specific training, but Canadian Military officials have not returned calls seeking comment and further information. The British military is also facing the need to maintain health standards and essential services at its numerous bases around the world. A small number of permanent staff is located in Canada at Suffield, with many living in Medicine Hat. As a matter of U.K. Forces policy, the follow local government orders and regulations when in Canada. Elsewhere, the situation in Cypress prompted the closure of schools and some facilities there after five cases of coronavirus were confirmed at U.K. airbase. 11-10
