Interest in joining the Prince George company of the Rocky Mountain Rangers has been strong, according to Col. Bryan Gagne.
Gagne commands the 39 Canadian Brigade Group, which includes the Rangers and 10 other Army reserve units in B.C. Gagne, Rocky Mountain Rangers commander Lt. Col. Kevin Tyler and a delegation from the brigade were in Prince George this weekend to raise the profile of the reserve unit.
"We've had significant interest from the local area on joining the Army reserves," Gagne said. "We have 70 solid applicants. By the end of August we'll have eight to 10 recruits that are ready to begin the training process."
Gagne said the goal is to have 30 to 40 recruits ready to begin basic training by January. However, he anticipates it will be two to three years before the first recruits are ready for operations overseas.
Although the Rocky Mountain Rangers - and all of 39 Brigade - are a reservists, they maintain a high level of professionalism and must be ready to serve, he said.
"My brigade has deployed approximately 40 per cent of its forces to Afghanistan," Gagne said.
Domestically, the Rocky Mountain Rangers took part in Operation Peregrine to combat wildfires in Kelowna and were deployed to Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The Rocky Mountain Rangers have over 100 years of history and have seen combat in campaigns dating back to the Boer War.
The Canadian Forces are currently looking at the former Meadow Elementary school on Dornbierer Crescent as a home for the Rangers, Gagne said.
"We are still in negotiations to lease that facility. Whether or not that will be a permanent facility for us, we don't know," he said. "We're taking baby steps to grow up to 100 soldiers. Within the next three to five years we visualize a whole company - 100 to 150 soldiers - in Prince George."
Once the unit is more established, he said, the Rangers plan on being a visible presence in the community.
"You will see the Rocky Mountain Rangers taking part in local activities and festivities," he said. "We will be part of the community. We're looking at developing a co-op program with local high schools. And we'll be at the College of New Caledonia and UNBC for job fairs."
The Rangers are still looking for recruits, primarily between the ages of 17 and 35. Over 100 application packages were handed out during the Prince George Exhibition, Gagne said.
To find out more go online to www.39cbg.com.
