On the vast Canadian prairies of Alberta, hundreds of British soldiers have been playing the ultimate game of Cowboys and Indians, using armoured vehicles and the latest training technology available.

For the past four weeks 1,200 troops serving with the Germany-based 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 RIFLES) Battle Group have taken on the wild west of The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada – the spiritual home of the mystical Medicine Man.

Soldiers from across the 20th Armoured Brigade are assisting the training by playing the opposing force.  The inventive manoeuvres of this determined ‘enemy’ made more realistic by the use of laser-directed Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) equipment.

This year’s Exercise “Medicine Man” has also seen 5 RIFLES exercise in a newly-constructed Combined Arms Live Fire (CALF) village, forcing the soldiers to dismount from their Warriors and fight through the little houses on the prairie.

On a training area the size of Luxembourg, the sheer scale of the open grassland prairie is only part of the challenge of a tour of BATUS, where the armoured infanteers are forced to live off their vehicles for over 20 days without returning to the relative comforts of camp.

According to the Commander 20th Armoured Brigade, Brigadier Tom Beckett, overcoming the problems associated with the terrain is one of the principal reasons for training in Canada.  “What we do here is test to the ‘nth’ degree a soldier working on difficult ground,” he explained.

“We want the ability to spread out so they can soldier intuitively and this is the only place to do that.  It’s about being able to perceive what the enemy intends to do when you can’t see them.”

“This exercise is the culmination of 18 month’s training.  I have for first time this year the whole Battle Group and a very, very large area to train in.  And because there are so many people here we can really practice the friction of war.

“BATUS is tough and it affects us as people and equipment.  We’ve faced everything from 5 foot of snow to 30 degrees of heat.  We’ve even had soldiers getting stuck in snow drifts.

“Training in Canada is brilliant despite the 8,000 mile journey, which in itself practices the logisticians and the air force.  It’s a reflection of current operations today.”

Colonel Ben Edwards OBE, the Commander BATUS, believes that the Battle Groups training in Canada are pushed to the limit.  “It gives young people a test of adversity as once they’re out there (on the training area) they can’t come back in,” he said.

“It’s tough because of the real frictions of real life are out there all of the time.  So when a key vehicle gets bogged in everything can become unstitched.”

For many new soldiers and officers who have recently joined the Battalion it is their first experience of working with the Warrior vehicles.

Speaking at end of final attack on the last day of the exercise, 2Lt Mark McFarlane, 22, a platoon commander with D Company, said: “I’m brand new to the Battalion – what better introduction to armoured tactics can there be than to come here? 

“It’s quite strange having so much space.  It’s massive and definitely an eye-opener.  My platoon have become fine-tuned, better soldiers.”

Rifleman James Jary, 20, who had only joined the Battalion 2 months previously continued: “I’ve fully enjoyed it – (it’s) a lifetime experience.  I’m lucky I joined up just before leaving.  Being here, doing live firing and being in the Warriors – just the basic soldiering – is awesome.”

18-year-old Rifleman Craig Ruff, a dismount with A Company, added: “This is my first time in Canada and it’s big.

“I think it’s worth it.  I’ve switched on a lot more and I feel more confident as a soldier.  It’s better than in Germany.  You can get lost over here and it feels like you’re doing it for real.”

The RIFLES Regiment was formed in February 2007 from the 1st Battalion The Light Infantry, The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry and The Royal Green Jackets.

The 5th Battalion is based in the northern German cathedral town of Paderborn where it forms part of the 20th Armoured Brigade.