LOCALLY BASED BATTALION GETS NEW COMMMANDER

BY MICHAEL, STAPLES.MICHAEL@DAILYGLEANER.COM

The new commander of The First Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (1RNBR) is pledging to work hard at preserving the unit’s unique history.

Lt.-Col. Ron Bertin took control of the reserve regiment on the weekend from Lt.-Col. William Beaudoin. Leading the battalion and maintaining its standard of excellence and place in history is important, Bertin said in an interview.

“I am extremely proud of the unit — very highly capable, professional organization.” It was created in the 1950s, when the Carleton and York Regiment and the New Brunswick Scottish were amalgamated. The “Royal” label was added in 1956. Its headquarters are located in Fredericton with sub-units located in Saint John, Grand Falls and Edmundston. Operational command falls under 37 Canadian Brigade Group.

The role of the battalion is to generate highly trained soldiers capable of responding operationally and or in support of operations. “We will respond to just about everything, whether it’s support to community services, or parades,” Bertin said. “For 1RNBR, as soldiers, we are kind of the last line of defence, and that’s in support of natural catastrophes, as opposed to anything else.”

Bertin, who’s serving as deputy commandant of the Infantry School for the Combat Training Centre at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, said the battalion will continue to receive the training needed to keep it alert and effective.

Part of that process will see members participate in an exercise later this year in Canada’s Arctic. The conditioning is part of the military’s Arctic sovereignty training, designed to teach or reinforce skills required for sustaining and fighting in the harsh reality of the sub-Arctic. Because of the regiment’s role as an Arctic response company group, which could see it quickly deployed in support of a number of operations in Canada’s high north, the training is considered crucial.

The regiment is one of four reserve units from across the country designated to be part of the Arctic response force. In August, members of the battalion will be travelling to an area just south of Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The battalion is also in the process of sending 10 of its members with The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR), a regular force entity, to Jamaica as part of a small unit exchange.

Bertin said the biggest challenges moving forward during his three-year term is finding talented and committed officers to join the unit. Otherwise, the battalion is in good shape, he said. 


The Fredericton resident, known for his sometimes tough-as-nails personality, said he’s hoping to use his 35 years of military experience to do the best job he can. “I have softened somewhat over age; I am a little bit more understanding,” he said.

“People still consider me a little old school, a little aggressive ... over the top. I hope to think that I have changed somewhat ... and, based on my experience, that it will allow me to make the right decisions as we move forward.”