Rendezvous In Wainwright RV means much more than Recreational Vehicle! And Rendezvous is very seldom considered a clandestine meeting! Its Origin In the late 1970’s, Brigadier General G.G. Paradis of Mobile Command determined the necessity to accomplish formation training in the field at a level above the size of a brigade group. A brigade in the field by itself is not an army. In the event of the Canadian Forces being involved in an actual war, it would be necessary for all brigades to work as one divisional formation whose entire activity would be commanded by one divisional headquarters. Up until this time, brigade level training had occurred in Wainwright almost yearly in the form of Waincon exercises. This being a training requirement, it was not considered to be stricken from the yearly schedule, however the 1980’s were selected to experiment with divisional training in the form of Rendezvous (RV), the first to take place in Gagetwon, N.B. in 1981. This first Rendezvous exercise brought together the three brigade groups of Canada in their largest training facility in our country. It had been previously agreed that Wainwright should host RV ’83, which was a smaller contingent, approximately 10,000 troops, and Gagetown would be the location once more for 1985 plans. Upon completion of the second RV exercise Commanders and Generals collectively agreed that Wainwright with its valuable training field expanse should indeed be the site of future divisional training exercises in Canada. This decision in turn, allowed Camp Wainwright to proceed with upgrading and improvement of its existing facility to accommodate the gigantic proportions fo future RV’s carried out in 1985, 1986, and 1987. What Made It Work? The RV series offered Mobile Command Headquarters the opportunity to command and exercise troops in a field formation tactical setting as would be required in an actual wartime situation. Every rank from every section was able to experience achievements and complications that accompany large scale operations of this nature. Three objectives were met during RV exercises: brigades were provided the opportunity to train together in divisional strength that was not normally exercised; specialist groupings (medical, artillery, service groups) practiced under one senior officer; combat support services were extensively exercised. Supplies, equipment, and personnel were transported to Wainwright by rail, air, truck transport, and road convoys from across Canada. Food, fuel, repairs, communications equipment, medical needs, supplies for bivouac settlements (tented camps), military equipment, ammunitiion, and up to 15,000 troops had to be moved to and from Wainwright efficiently and effectively on a strict predetermined time schedule. With each RV exercise skills were refined and needs met for the next event. Weaknesses were determined and corrected. The exercise included live ammunition firing, testing of weapons and equipment, reconnaissance missions, assault andd withdrawl tactics, communications and leadership, following Standard Operation Procedures. More than theory, RV was practical experience combatting an exiting enemy force to test and accomplish divisional unity.