Now, Canada's military has taken stock of where it finds itself in a couple of interesting short video clips posted to social media.
In the first video, armored vehicle technician Cpl Cedric Crowe gives his first impressions, while in the second, Lt Cdr Ajiri Ikede talks about life in an impressively-equipped field hospital.
In a pleasant break with the current trend among armed forces promotional videos, there is no thumping rock soundtrack, no explosions, no drone footage and no people crawling through the dirt with determined looks on their faces -- just professionals talking quietly and intelligently about their jobs.
Every #CAF member on a mission has an important role. Cpl Crowe works on the armoured vehicles in Latvia. #OpREASSURANCE #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/uUdsa3MgsE
— CAF Operations (@CFOperations) August 23, 2017
Meet LCdr Ikede, Task Force Surgeon on #OpREASSURANCE. Learn how his team adapts to working with Allies in Latvia. #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/YM93eiln7z
— CAF Operations (@CFOperations) August 24, 2017
However, if you do want a big bang to wake you up, here are Canadian engineers detonating a mine in the Baltic Sea during last year's Open Spirit exercises. This year's Open Spirit is currently taking place off the Latvian coast, so if you go to the beach, don't be surprised if you hear more 'Yee-haws'.
#Video of @RCN_MRC divers detonating the unexploded mine and reducing the risk to seafarers in the #Baltic #BOOM pic.twitter.com/aiebZBNLDi
— CAF Operations (@CFOperations) May 26, 2016