In November 2025, nine students from the Faculty of Arts joined Dr. Andrea Charron (Professor, Political Science) as guests on a trip to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shilo. On this day, a reserve-force led exercise designated “Armoured Bison” took place. The students received a first-hand view into how the Canadian Armed Forces structure their exercises emphasising teamwork, communication, as well as the importance of geography in planning military activities.
At CFB Shilo, the Canadian Armed Forces utilize the rolling hills of the Manitoba prairies to properly plan and execute operations. This particular type of landscape is commonly found in parts of Central Europe and has been crucial for both domestic and foreign forces’ training from the mid-1970s to now. It was even used between 1974 and 2000 by West German soldiers, as the terrain encompassing Shilo closely resembles that of the German countryside. The area also sees regular use from federal departments such as the RCMP.
Exercise “Armoured Bison” was a mixed-unit operation, utilizing reservists from various specializations in the Forces. The students dawned metal helmets, as well as learned the ins and outs of the Forces’ rifle of choice – the C7A2. They used flares and saw the Forces’ C3 105mm Howitzer in action. As an additional challenge, the students and reservists communicated exclusively with analog methods. This meant that no phones, computers or GPS systems were allowed during the exercise. As a result, they relied only on their map-reading skills, their navigational ability and their cooperation in stressful situations.
“The nature of war is changing and so must the Canadian Army. The MINERVA Initiative is the Canadian Army’s blueprint for its needed evolution. That means new equipment, new clothing, training and new formations,” Dr. Charron said when describing the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The field trip was open to students from undergraduate to PhD candidates, which allowed for thoughtful discussion and learning with the members of the Forces. “Attending the exercise as an observer was an excellent learning opportunity, especially as an undergraduate student. I gained unique, practical knowledge of the Canadian Armed Forces that is typically unavailable to outsiders. The overarching lesson that emerged for me from this experience was the theme of readiness, underscoring the importance of these annual exercises in ensuring that Canada’s reservists have the skills necessary to defend the country,” said Cooper Roy, an honours co-op student in political science who attended the exercise.
Though this experience was not directly connected to a course, hands-on learning opportunities such as these are essential for developing a wholistic view of the fields students study. Going into the field and gathering experiential knowledge, gives students a deeper understanding of the world around them. Exercise “Armoured Bison” gave students a lens into how reservists, who hold professions from teaching to practicing law, serve their country.
“It is only by seeing and experiencing the exercise in person that you realize the myriad decisions that need to be made, often ’on the fly’, the need to trust colleagues and yourself and the absolute vital importance of proper clothing and equipment. Training and exercises are essential to any military, and the Canadian Armed Forces is particularly known for its training expertise amongst allies,” Charron added.
"Participating in the exercise allowed us to ask soldiers and reservists questions, including of senior leadership, which is a great way to directly learn about how the Canadian Army train and prepare for operations," said participant Nicholas Glesby, PhD student and Fellow at the UM Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS).
The reservists were patient and attentive with students, even as it approached the 24-hour mark of their observation. Dr. Charron finished her account of the day with “LCol Amy Franck and her team were gracious with their time and expertise. They were indefatigably patient as we fumbled with safeties and tried to remember the correct procedures. It was a quiet and warm bus ride back to Winnipeg from Shilo for us in the early evening. The unit, however, continued to train for a total of 48 hours in the elements learning to manage fatigue, cold, stress and no ‘Hey Siri’.”
At UM, we encourage life-long curiosity while providing tools – inside and outside the classroom – to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Empowering learners is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.
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