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By Darren Rathwell

BATUS to stay for at least near future: CFB Suffield Commander

Nov 24, 2021 | 5:35 PM

SUFFIELD, AB – The base commander of CFB Suffield says BATUS will remain in southern Alberta for the next couple of years at the very least.

“I’m confident what we will see (at the base) this year and the next year after is written in stone,” Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Burke told CHAT News.

The future of the British operations was called into question after a report by a UK newspaper yesterday, indicating BATUS would be closing and operations moved to the middle east.

Burke admits the report caught officials at the base off guard, but he says training activities at BATUS will continue during the spring of next year, and another round is set for 2023.

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“But beyond that, it’s going to be up to the British to decide what they want to do with their training area, and what their training plans are,” Burke said.

He adds there will be an approximate 50% reduction of troops taking part in BATUS exercises next year, down to an estimated 1500 soldiers in total, with segments of about 200 -to- 300 soldiers participating at any given time.

In an email, the British ministry of defense indicated that BATUS is vital when it comes to training British soldiers.

But the ministry indicated there could be changes including rebalancing vehicle fleets and training to ensure they are positioned to respond to any emerging threats.

Burke says a British review of their military may reveal more information on BATUS’ future this week.