8 Field Engineer Regiment
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[edit] The Regiment
8 Field Engineer Regiment (8 FER) is the Reserve (Milita) unit of the Canadian Military Engineers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The unit parades Wednesday evenings and Saturdays at the LCol Philip L. Debney Armoury, in Edmonton. It is assigned to 41 Canadian Brigade Group, part of Land Force Western Area. The unit is currenty commaned by LCol. D.F. O'Keefe, with MWO R. Luard as the unit's Regimental Sergeant Major.
[edit] History
8 Field Engineer Regiment traces it linage to 9th Army Troops Company (Canadian Engineers). In 1937, following a reorganization of the Militia in Canada, 9th Army Troops Company was activated to serve in the local militia. During the Second World War 9th Army Troops Company served as part of 1st Battalion Army Troops (Royal Canadian Engineers). Through most of the war, they served as construction troops supporting First Canadian Army.
In 1948, 8 Field Regiment, [Royal Canadian Engineers] was created as the Engineer component of the Alberta Militia District. Throughout its post-War history the Regiment has had Squadrons in Edmonton, Brooks, Calgary, and Lethbridge, AB; Kimberly,BC as well as Yellowknife,NWT.
By the late 1980s the Regiment had two remaining Field Squadrons, 25 Field Squadron in Edmonton and 33 Field Squadron in Calgary. 33 Field Engineer Squadron was zero manned for several years and was reactivated as an independent unit in 1991.
[edit] Training and Deployments
As a reserve unit, 8 Field Engineer Regiment continues to train in skills to support the Canadian Forces aboard and at home. In recent years the Regiment has conducted exercises in:
- Fort Lewis, Washington, US.
- CFB Wainwright, Alberta
- CFB Suffield, Alberta
- CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
- Outlook, Saskatchewan
Personnel from the unit has also been deployed on United Nations and NATO peacekeeping missions including:
- Cyprus (UNFICYP, Operation Snowgoose),
- Croatia (UNPROFOR, Operation Harmony),
- Cambodia (UNTAC, Operation Marquis),
- Bosina (SFOR, Operation Palladium),
- Afghanistan (Operation Athena and Operation Archer).
[edit] Mascot
Due in large part to their natural construction ablilities, and their presence in the canadian wilderness the beaver has long been the symbol of military engineering in Canada. The official mascot of 8 FER is Bentley F. Beaver, which is a stuffed beaver located in the 1 Troop offices in the Debney Armoury.
[edit] Future
The reserve units of the Canadian Military Engineers are currently about to begin a reorgization. The purposal being put forth is that each reserve Brigade in Canada will have a single "Combat Engineer Regiment" with the same number as the Brigade.
For 8 Field Engineer Regiment, this will most likely result in its transformation with 33 Field Engineer Squadron joining it into 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, since it belongs to 41 Canadian Brigade Group.
However, some details of reorganization have yet to be determined and may be cancelled or delayed.
