As Canada’s athletes head home after the Olympic Games in Rio, it seems a team of troops from the Canadian Army will be taking their place.

No, the 10 soldiers from the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group based in Valcartier, Que. will not be showing off their athletic prowess in a sports competition. But they’re still going to be competing.

Our troops will be trekking, under sweltering heat, through the dense rainforest of the Amazonas region of Brazil during the 2nd International Patrol Competition. The event is being held at the Brazilian Army’s Jungle Warfare Training Centre in the northern city of Manaus.

Manaus is the capital of the state of Amazonas and a major departure point for the surrounding Amazon rainforest.

Actually, the Canadian soldiers have been in Brazil since August 15, preparing for this year’s competition. Close to 20 teams from 14 countries is expected to take part in the contest.

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The event provides an opportunity for participating soldiers to sharpen their patrolling skills in challenging and unpredictable terrain.

The Jungle Warfare Training Centre in Manaus is recognized internationally for offering high-quality training and the competition.

“Participation in skills competitions on the international stage enables our soldiers to test their abilities and resiliency in a variety of environments, and to gain valuable skills to help them become better soldiers,” said  Maj. Gen. J.M. Lanthier, commander, Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre Headquarters.

The Jungle Warfare Training Centre in Manaus was established by the Brazilian Army in 1964 and its primary mission is to train soldiers in jungle warfare.
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Since its inception, the centre has graduated close to 6,000 Brazilian troops and numerous armies around the world have taken part in the centre’s highly specialized training courses.

“The Canadian team at the 2nd International Patrol Competition in Brazil will be able to share their hard-earned experiences with their fellow soldiers and further contribute to the overall excellence of the Canadian Army,” said Lanthier.