Exercise Scenario and Script for Key 2023 Exercise

The French MoD has selected Ottawa-based Calian Group to develop scenario and exercise scripts for HEMEX ORION 2023, one of the core 2022-2023 exercise programmes for French land forces, the company announced on 21 October. The MoD chose Calian for the required support based on the company’s solid track record of managing complex training requirements while accelerating trainees’ path to competence. The contract, awarded in September, runs until May 2023.

Exercise HEMEX ORION 2023 aims to increase readiness of the armed forces, training combat formations and supporting arms to plan and conduct high-intensity operations. Calian specialises in simulating high-intensity situations such as these, and will produce a four-phase programme, linked to a common scenario, culminating in a land-based exercise that combines simulated and real manoeuvres. During this land-based exercise, participants from Rapid Reaction Corps-France (HQ RRC-FR) will practice newly-acquired skills on French terrain in real time. HQ RRC-FR employs 450 personnel, including 70 from 12 EU/NATO nations. They are trained for a wide variety of missions, from initial entry to stabilisation operations.

“The more realistic a training exercise, the greater the participant readiness. Our expertise in enhancing the realism of exercises like these means participants from across the French armed forces and NATO will leave prepared to face conventional and non-conventional forces,” explained Chesney Clark, Managing Director of Cadence, a Calian company.

In addition to developing exercises, Calian trainers – all with military backgrounds – are experts in strategic planning, problem-solving and working under pressure, often in hostile conditions. This unique skillset comes from interpersonal coaching and mentoring, using subject matter experts, role-players and interpreters to enhance the realism of international training scenarios.