Latvian deployment for Taber’s Sgt. Pickerell


BY GREG PRICE insight magazine


S


ervice to his country has always been in Jackson Pickerell's blood since he could remember.


"I think I've always wanted to be in the army


since I was young. I definitely remember, as a kid, being more interested in guns, tanks and fighter planes more than being interested in sports.But it was mostly self developed," said Sgt. Jackson Pickerell, a 29-year-old Taberite who is currently a reservist with the 20th Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. That self development was nurtured through a family tree that has included an uncle who served in the U.S. Air Force and extended family that had done previous service in the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force. “I also recently learned about a great grandfa- ther that was with the Winnipeg Rifles who fought at Vimy and Hill 70. Learning about his experiences really gave me a renewed apprecia- tion for the job and how it connects me to my family history," said Pickerell. "Being that we had military experience to draw on as a family,


my parents were ultimately very supportive of my choice.Pushing me to keep focused and provid- ing the odd morale boost when I


needed it, it can be pretty demanding at times. Maintaining fitness, knowledge and intestinal fortitude,as well as managing expectations makes the job easier, but for me, the toughest part about the training is just being away from home for so long." Back home, Pickerell is in charge of 'B' Troop at the 20th Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Army. In his unit, 'A' Troop is com- prised of three howitzers and their respective crews. 'B' Troop's focus is technical gunnery, made up of artillery command post, reconnais- sance and observation teams. Currently, Pickerell is deployed with an


Infantry Mortar Platoon as second in command of a reconnaissance detachment. It is a compos- ite unit made up of reservist soldiers from the Calgary Highlanders and Loyal Edmonton Regiment,as well as a couple of support staff from the 1st and 3rd Battalion PPCLI. "We deployed to Latvia to provide intimate and accurate indirect fire support to the various infantry and armoured units in the battlegroup, as well as provide a proof of concept to a newly revitalized infantry mortar capability," said Pickerell. While COVID-19 had brought the


world to a near stand still, Pickerell's battlegroup rolled with the punches. "We kept training at our regular


pace.We couldn't leave base for the rest of the deployment and we went without a barber for quite a while,as well as paying more attention to personal hygiene and regular 'cleaning patrols'. But life was pretty nor- mal on base, otherwise," said Pickerell. Just as COVID-19 has brought out the best in people at times in looking out for each other, it


provides symmetry to Sgt. Pickerell in serving his country in another way through the military in being there for his fellow man and woman. "One thing that we are always told is that we


are held to the highest standard of what it means to be a Canadian.Obviously that means something different to everyone," said Pickerell. "But it acts as sort of a moral guideline and keeps me motivated. I think a good mindset would be that of selflessness in helping out the person next to you." Pickerell continues on in the proud military


service of Canadians before him in the nation's rich history of answering the call.As 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, Sgt. Pickerell gives thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the most destructive con- flict in human history. "They created the world I live in and their


hard work and dedication provided something our young nation could be proud of," said Sgt. Pickerell."In my opinion, our country was born (as a whole) in the battles of the First World War. The battles of Vimy Ridge and Hill 70 (among many more),were fundamental to forging our identity into the one we have today." It has been awhile since Sgt. Pickerell has been back in Taber in a military capacity, as he parades with his unit in Lethbridge for Remembrance Day.As far as the future holds for the Taberite, he simply wants to serve his coun- try at the highest level he can. "I really just want to do my job at a higher


level and do it well. I've been waiting on my transfer into the regular force artillery for some time," said Pickerell, adding devoted camraderie found in the military is found in few other pro- fessions. "Friendships made in shared hardship are strong, and there are many hardships to be had in the army. Some trivial and others not so much. Being there for someone at their most vulnerable is invaluable and any bond that comes out of it is deep.Being stuck in close quarters with someone for extended periods of time doesn't hurt either.To the people back home, keep supporting us cause it really means a lot."


insight magazine june 2020 - 19


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