While some of their brothers in arms fight and die in Afghanistan, the next contingent of Canadian soldiers are preparing for when they arrive there in August.

A Pettawa on the Ottawa River they've been simulating exploding vehicles and suicide bombings and how to react to them and how to best avoid becoming casualties.

The soldiers are also patrolling mock-ups of Afghani civilian areas where they're shot at by unseen snipers while learning more about armed combat, battlefield first aid, and local customs.

Afghanistan is a dangerous place that has claimed the lives of a dozen Canadians since 2002, and it's not getting any safer.

Among the 12 hundred Canadian soldiers who will deploy there in August 250 are reservists, 80 of them from Southwestern Ontario.

One of them is Major Bernie Scheid who is taking a leave of absence from his job as a London police office.

His wife Louise, a hygienist, says it's difficult for their 6 year old daughter to understand why Daddy won't be home at night, but she is learning to accept it.

Louise says she doesn't see any point in worrying. According to her, " It's not going to change anything. If something does happen I have faith in Canada's military training. And they've trained so long and hard it's time they put that training to good use "

Except for a few weeks leave during the six month tour contact between soldiers and their families will be limited to e-mails and phone calls.