COLD LAKE, AB, CANADA -- -- Approximately 300 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 473 arrived at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake for exercise Maple Flag, May 26, 2017.
Exercise Maple Flag kicked off Monday and is the Canadian Royal Air Force’s annual multinational air-combat exercise designed to provide Coalition forces an opportunity to work together and share best practices.
MWSS-473 is a key player in the exercise providing essential ground support to aviation elements to seven partner nations participating in the exercise, employing capabilities of bulk fuel specialists, conducting forward arming and refueling point operations, setting up a tactical water purification system and motor transportation support.
Marines will work closely with members of the Canadian Air Force in firefighting simulations, obstacle breaching operations and assuming positions in the defense for aggressor forces.
Three geographically separate MWSS-473 detachments have come together for the exercise.
“We’ve been planning since December,” says Sergeant Joshua Shakeshaft, an operations Non-commissioned officer in charge with Bravo Detachment, “This is the largest amount of MWSS-473 Marines training together since 2012.”