WE’RE BASICALLY PROFESSIONAL CLIMBERS IN THIS TRADE.

MY NAME IS CORPORAL THOMPSON. I’M A LINE TECH AT 2 SIGS IN PETAWAWA, ONTARIO. TODAY, WE’RE GONNA BE CLIMBING THE TOWER TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH FREQUENCY DISHES FOR THE EXERCISE OUT IN THE FIELD. WE TEND TO CLIMB A COUPLE TIMES A MONTH, ANYTIME THERE’S AN EXERCISE GOING ON. EVERY SETUP IS DIFFERENT. THEY’LL NEED DIFFERENT DISHES FOR THEIR COMMS OUT IN THE FIELD.

THIS HERE IS CORPORAL SAVOIE. HE’S ALSO AT 2 SIGS IN PETAWAWA. TODAY HE’S GOING TO BE THE RESCUER TO BE A BACKUP CLIMBER IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. A CALM PERSONALITY IS A BENEFIT FOR THIS TRADE.

THE CHALLENGES AND DANGERS OF CLIMBING THE TOWER AND DOING THIS JOB IS THE HEIGHTS. BUT THAT’S MITIGATED WITH ALL THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. CARRYING THE WEIGHTS. SOME OF THE DISHES ARE HEAVY. WHEN YOU GOT TO PUT IT UP, THAT TAKES SOME STRENGTH.

THIS IS THE WORKING ROPE THAT WE’RE GOING TO USE TO GET UP THERE AND DO THE MAINTENANCE ON THE DISHES AND NOW WE’RE GOOD TO GO.

MY FAVOURITE PART ABOUT BEING A LINEMAN IS DOING THE TOWER WORK. SO MUCH FUN, SO EXCITING. WORKING AT HEIGHTS. IT’S A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LINE TECHNICIANS, FOLLOW THIS LINK: Line Technicians: Wired for Success.