Army Reserve Restructuring

[MilEME09]

What schools are at 60%? All schools are the top VCDS priority. If the school is short it's 90% likely because there aren't enough actual humans to fill the jobs. Pulling a CE MWO from a RegF job won't make a RCEME MCpl to teach MSVS driver courses.

RCEME school definitely is, I was there this past summer. A full DP2.1 requires 14 MCpls, they had 6. I'm not saying pulling pulling mwos from their desks (at WO you stop being a tech any way). Full pause on ops, and units send 25% of their MCpls and Sgts to the schools.

 

[FJAG]

1:56 nails NDHQ. It's what I hear every time someone suggests a new working group...

Oscar Wilde would be aghast if he was to set eyes on today's bureaucracy.

And then we will complain that none of the staff work that keeps the wheels turning is getting done.

One gets rid of all staff where one can eliminate processes which are only marginally useful or automate functions.

Just be honest about what an ARes soldier is capable of and train them to that. It's a great idea that the Res and Regs should get the same quals, but is it practical or possible even ?

Summer school breaks and students hungry for jobs is a great combination.

Unless it course we what to establish some legislation around reservists and job protection.

Absolutely.

But when you really look at those category A sites and apply the lens allowed by a 3+ hour drive/ weekend per month training scheme it becomes clear that the first bold is an overly pessimistic assessment. Loose and very conservative numbers:

I think you've stretched my two hours to three to be able to catch Montreal and Kingston (albeit not quite) into the equation. If you stay with my 2 hours then your numbers drop dramatically. Southern Ontario alone outnumbers the population within a two hour drive of our bases. Add in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Montreal, all of Nova Scotia and you'll have slightly more than a tenth of Canada's population within driving distance of one of our brigade bases and Gagetown.

I'm certainly not thinking of a "Light Infantry Bde" consisting of a bunch under resourced legs with nothing but rifles and GPMG's and no purpose other than existing and domops.

You may not be thinking of that but the army certainly does. And for the record, most of the ARNG brigades are IBCT's which are very light (albeit with better anti-armour weapons then ours. And don't get me wrong, I don't think that light is unimportant. In fact in my napkin force, its so important as quick reaction forces that the core of my 100/0 RegF units are in a light brigade. The point is that the army has spent 20 + years trying to figure out what light and left the RegF under resourced and hanging - the ARes? has been given a nothing sandwich.

RCEME school definitely is, I was there this past summer. A full DP2.1 requires 14 MCpls, they had 6. I'm not saying pulling pulling mwos from their desks (at WO you stop being a tech any way). Full pause on ops, and units send 25% of their MCpls and Sgts to the schools.

A vicious circle if I ever saw one. Can this be ameliorated by something like sending vehicle tech candidates through community colleges for a year and then doing an apprenticeship at units for a year?

 

[daftandbarmy]

I know, all those ARes class Bs? Pull them all back to the battle schools, make training a full time contract. Want us to train our selves? Fine but that's a full time job.

But who would make all the pointless 'quad slides'?

 

[MilEME09]

A vicious circle if I ever saw one. Can this be ameliorated by something like sending vehicle tech candidates through community colleges for a year and then doing an apprenticeship at units for a year?

The vehicle tech program just got redone, instead of reinventing the wheel, they have taken the automotive tech program from Browns College, and are teaching to that standard. In theory we could outsource training as a result since it's a civilian program, and green conversion comes after you get the basics.

 

[FJAG]

I'm going to have trouble articulating this last point. There's nothing inherently wrong with accomplishing a hard thing the easy way. We should be able to have mech out of population centres. There are a lot of "should be able." But given the state the CA is in, if the choice is between

A- optimum/easier path to reserve integration and an acceptable Total Force
B- hard/ more expensive path to reserve integration and an optimal Total Force

I'd argue that B is a luxury we can't afford or expect

John F Kennedy said it best:

"We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too."

I don't propose that the change happen overnight nor that it doesn't have preconditions that need to be set in place in order for change to be effective. All that I'm saying is we must set goals which will meet our defence objectives through building a more capable, better trained, better equipped and a year-to-year less expensive reserve force. The fact that the goal is achievable is demonstrated by 5 ARNG ABCTs, 2 ARNG SBCTs, 9 artillery brigades, and 19 sustainment brigades, amongst others, south of the border.

The vehicle tech program just got redone, instead of reinventing the wheel, they have taken the automotive tech program from Browns College, and are teaching to that standard. In theory we could outsource training as a result since it's a civilian program, and green conversion comes after you get the basics.

Brilliant. Do that for the RegF and then also tie that to paying tuition for reservists that join and take the program in their home town, give them a full summer course for conversion, require an obligatory period of service to pay back the tuition, and give them a one year Class B work contract to gain experience and beef up the wrenches on the shop floor, and society gets a trained and experienced civilian mechanic and the reserves a knowledgeable and trained person that might stick around for a few years afterwards. (All you need to do then is solve the parts problem)

 

[Kirkhill]

For the more distant locations I think if we really wanted to, we could create opportunities thanks to technology.

Do they really have to be part of a specific unit? Why not have ‘units’ based off the idea you get trained (say a 1 year class B contract) then are remote. They would have the option to take on taskings as they appear with a once a year requirement to be sent on whatever large exercise is run in the area with the individual being attached to a unit.

As career courses come up they would be offered to the member but at the end of the day said member is already trade qualified so they wouldn’t need any more if they chose not to take anymore.

Something along those lines might be expecially valuable for the skilled trades as they would be essentially maintaining and improving their skills civvy side well still available if we need them. It would also remove much of the admin for them as you wouldn’t be managing a ton of parade nights, etc. and you wouldn’t need to have armouries and units in the middle of nowhere.

There is already a working model for remote elements - The Rangers.

Expectations need to be adjusted.

There is Toronto-Hamilton (8 million), Montreal (4 million), Vancouver (3 million), Calgary and Edmonton (3 million combined).

Then there is the rest of Canada.

 

[MilEME09]

Brilliant. Do that for the RegF and then also tie that to paying tuition for reservists that join and take the program in their home town, give them a full summer course for conversion, require an obligatory period of service to pay back the tuition, and give them a one year Class B work contract to gain experience and beef up the wrenches on the shop floor, and society gets a trained and experienced civilian mechanic and the reserves a knowledgeable and trained person that might stick around for a few years afterwards. (All you need to do then is solve the parts problem)

Its a redo of both the reg force and ARes training, they have also created a new mechanism for bringing in skilled (IE red seal) and semi skilled tech recruits. Skilled recruits after BMQ, get a delta package to green fleet and jump to Corporal right away for example.

 

[KevinB]

There is already a working model for remote elements - The Rangers.

Expectations need to be adjusted.

There is Toronto-Hamilton (8 million), Montreal (4 million), Vancouver (3 million), Calgary and Edmonton (3 million combined).

Then there is the rest of Canada.

Honestly it should not be that hard. We have Coy sized entities in a lot of small towns.

A bunch of dispersed PRes Coy’s in Canada shouldn’t be an impossible thing. I’d argue that a Coy sized entity of 4 different trade platoons should still be feasible.

A Full time Captain and Admin (whatever the current trade is) M/Cpl or Sgt should be able to cover the daily admin, and the platoons could be 100% PRes if no one likes the 30/70 (or 10/90, 40/60 etc ratio common force).

 

[MilEME09]

Honestly it should not be that hard. We have Coy sized entities in a lot of small towns.

A bunch of dispersed PRes Coy’s in Canada shouldn’t be an impossible thing. I’d argue that a Coy sized entity of 4 different trade platoons should still be feasible.

A Full time Captain and Admin (whatever the current trade is) M/Cpl or Sgt should be able to cover the daily admin, and the platoons could be 100% PRes if no one likes the 30/70 (or 10/90, 40/60 etc ratio common force).

41 svc has a remote platoon in lethbridge, talk of doing similar in red deer as well. It has its challenges on the admin side but not impossible.

 

[Kirkhill]

41 svc has a remote platoon in lethbridge, talk of doing similar in red deer as well. It has its challenges on the admin side but not impossible.

Amazing - only 40 years later.

In 1982 the Highlanders requested permission to establish a platoon in Drumheller. Denied.

 

[MilEME09]

Amazing - only 40 years later.

In 1982 the Highlanders requested permission to establish a platoon in Drumheller. Denied.

I can understand why, drumheller is a very small town of less than 10,000 now. I can't find 1982 census numbers but the town was likely under 6k then. Not sustainable long term probably.

Larger cities like Lethbridge, medicine hat, and red deer would work. Even a regional model of a Coy in say okotoks, Airdrie or Strathmore would probably work well. The infrastructure I'm calgary can't support the units we have, but that's a different thread.

 

[Kirkhill]

I can understand why, drumheller is a very small town of less than 10,000 now. I can't find 1982 census numbers but the town was likely under 6k then. Not sustainable long term probably.

Larger cities like Lethbridge, medicine hat, and red deer would work. Even a regional model of a Coy in say okotoks, Airdrie or Strathmore would probably work well. The infrastructure I'm calgary can't support the units we have, but that's a different thread.

You're heading in the right direction. Drumheller was, and is, a small town, but it was a regional catchment area. It was serviced by its own regional hospital.

 

[Kirkhill]

I can understand why, drumheller is a very small town of less than 10,000 now. I can't find 1982 census numbers but the town was likely under 6k then. Not sustainable long term probably.

Larger cities like Lethbridge, medicine hat, and red deer would work. Even a regional model of a Coy in say okotoks, Airdrie or Strathmore would probably work well. The infrastructure I'm calgary can't support the units we have, but that's a different thread.

Got me to thinking....

Alberta hospitals exist to serve people. If there are hospitals then there are enough people to justify a hospital.

Hospital

High Prairie Health Complex

High Prairie

55°26′02″N 116°29′02″W

Hospital	Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital	Fort Saskatchewan	53°42′13″N 113°27′24″W
Hospital	Sturgeon Community Hospital	St. Albert	53°39′19″N 113°37′34″W
Hospital	Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital	Edmonton	53°33′36″N 113°29′50″W
Hospital	Royal Alexandra Hospital	Edmonton	53°33′29″N 113°29′46″W
Hospital	Strathcona Community Hospital	Sherwood Park	53°33′18″N 113°16′49″W
Hospital	Health First Strathcona	Sherwood Park	53°32′14″N 113°19′25″W
Hospital	Stollery Children's Hospital (University of Alberta Hospital)	Edmonton	53°31′14″N 113°31′29″W
Hospital	University of Alberta Hospital (Stollery Children's Hospital)	Edmonton	53°31′14″N 113°31′29″W
Hospital	Misericordia Community Hospital	Edmonton	53°31′13″N 113°36′39″W
Hospital	St. Joseph's General Hospital	Vegreville	53°29′38″N 112°01′57″W
Hospital	Grey Nuns Community Hospital	Edmonton	53°27′39″N 113°25′42″W
Hospital	Hinton General Hospital	Hinton	53°23′55″N 117°35′04″W
Hospital	Devon General Hospital	Devon	53°21′04″N 113°43′51″W
Hospital	Leduc Community Hospital & Health Centre	Leduc	53°15′11″N 113°32′34″W
Hospital	Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre	Drayton Valley	53°12′42″N 114°58′14″W
Hospital	St. Mary's Hospital	Camrose	53°00′54″N 112°49′49″W
Hospital	Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre	Wetaskiwin	52°59′18″N 113°22′06″W
Hospital	Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre	Ponoka	52°41′07″N 113°35′22″W
Hospital	Alberta Hospital Edmonton	Edmonton	52°39′26″N 113°35′16″W

Hospital	Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury (Alberta Hospital Ponoka)	Ponoka	52°38′58″N 113°34′25″W
Hospital	Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre	Rimbey	52°38′26″N 114°14′52″W
Hospital	Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre	Lacombe	52°27′37″N 113°44′26″W
Hospital	Rocky Mountain House Hospital and Care Centre	Rocky Mountain House	52°22′43″N 114°55′12″W
Hospital	Stettler Hospital and Care Centre	Stettler	52°19′24″N 112°43′31″W

Hospital

Red Deer Regional Hospital

Red Deer

52°15′43″N 113°48′57″W

Hospital	Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital	Castor	52°13′24″N 111°54′24″W
Hospital	Sundre Hospital and Care Centre	Sundre	51°48′25″N 114°38′11″W
Hospital	Olds Hospital and Care Centre	Olds	51°48′08″N 114°07′01″W
Hospital	Banff Mineral Springs Hospital	Banff	51°10′47″N 115°34′34″W
Hospital	Canmore Hospital	Canmore	51°05′33″N 115°20′58″W

Hospital	Peter Lougheed Centre	Calgary	51°04′45″N 113°59′03″W
Hospital	Alberta Children's Hospital	Calgary	51°04′28″N 114°08′53″W
Hospital	Foothills Medical Centre	Calgary	51°03′55″N 114°07′59″W
Hospital	Sheldon M. Chumir Centre	Calgary	51°02′27″N 114°04′19″W
Hospital	Rockyview General Hospital	Calgary	50°59′27″N 114°05′52″W
Hospital	South Health Campus	Calgary	50°52′58″N 113°57′7″W
Hospital	Oilfields General Hospital	Black Diamond	50°40′44″N 114°14′03″W
Hospital	High River General Hospital	High River	50°34′34″N 113°52′46″W

Hospital	Medicine Hat Regional Hospital	Medicine Hat	50°02′07″N 110°42′12″W
Hospital	Claresholm General Hospital	Claresholm	50°01′06″N 113°34′59″W
Hospital	Taber Hospital	Taber	49°47′08″N 112°09′58″W
Hospital	Fort Macleod Hospital	Fort Macleod	49°43′32″N 113°23′32″W
Hospital	Chinook Regional Hospital	Lethbridge	49°41′09″N 112°48′56″W
Hospital	Crowsnest Pass Hospital	Blairmore	49°36′58″N 114°27′26″W
Hospital	Pincher Creek Hospital	Pincher Creek	49°28′33″N 113°56′50″W
Hospital	Raymond Hospital	Raymond	49°27′53″N 112°39′03″W
Hospital	Cardston Hospital	Cardston	49°12′05″N 113°18′22″W
Hospital	Milk River Hospital	Milk River	49°08′55″N 112°04′38″W

How could the Reserves be stretched out to achieve equivalent coverage?

 

[WLSC]

Honestly it should not be that hard. We have Coy sized entities in a lot of small towns.

A bunch of dispersed PRes Coy’s in Canada shouldn’t be an impossible thing. I’d argue that a Coy sized entity of 4 different trade platoons should still be feasible.

A Full time Captain and Admin (whatever the current trade is) M/Cpl or Sgt should be able to cover the daily admin, and the platoons could be 100% PRes if no one likes the 30/70 (or 10/90, 40/60 etc ratio common force).

That’s my preferate base line concept to reorganise the ARes. A lot can be done decentralised while keeping and even augment the footprint therefore the recruiting bassin.

 

[MilEME09]

Got me to thinking....

Alberta hospitals exist to serve people. If there are hospitals then there are enough people to justify a hospital.

Hospital

High Prairie Health Complex

High Prairie

55°26′02″N 116°29′02″W

Hospital	Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital	Fort Saskatchewan	53°42′13″N 113°27′24″W
Hospital	Sturgeon Community Hospital	St. Albert	53°39′19″N 113°37′34″W
Hospital	Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital	Edmonton	53°33′36″N 113°29′50″W
Hospital	Royal Alexandra Hospital	Edmonton	53°33′29″N 113°29′46″W
Hospital	Strathcona Community Hospital	Sherwood Park	53°33′18″N 113°16′49″W
Hospital	Health First Strathcona	Sherwood Park	53°32′14″N 113°19′25″W
Hospital	Stollery Children's Hospital (University of Alberta Hospital)	Edmonton	53°31′14″N 113°31′29″W
Hospital	University of Alberta Hospital (Stollery Children's Hospital)	Edmonton	53°31′14″N 113°31′29″W
Hospital	Misericordia Community Hospital	Edmonton	53°31′13″N 113°36′39″W
Hospital	St. Joseph's General Hospital	Vegreville	53°29′38″N 112°01′57″W
Hospital	Grey Nuns Community Hospital	Edmonton	53°27′39″N 113°25′42″W
Hospital	Hinton General Hospital	Hinton	53°23′55″N 117°35′04″W
Hospital	Devon General Hospital	Devon	53°21′04″N 113°43′51″W
Hospital	Leduc Community Hospital & Health Centre	Leduc	53°15′11″N 113°32′34″W
Hospital	Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre	Drayton Valley	53°12′42″N 114°58′14″W
Hospital	St. Mary's Hospital	Camrose	53°00′54″N 112°49′49″W
Hospital	Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre	Wetaskiwin	52°59′18″N 113°22′06″W
Hospital	Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre	Ponoka	52°41′07″N 113°35′22″W
Hospital	Alberta Hospital Edmonton	Edmonton	52°39′26″N 113°35′16″W

Hospital	Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury (Alberta Hospital Ponoka)	Ponoka	52°38′58″N 113°34′25″W
Hospital	Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre	Rimbey	52°38′26″N 114°14′52″W
Hospital	Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre	Lacombe	52°27′37″N 113°44′26″W
Hospital	Rocky Mountain House Hospital and Care Centre	Rocky Mountain House	52°22′43″N 114°55′12″W
Hospital	Stettler Hospital and Care Centre	Stettler	52°19′24″N 112°43′31″W

Hospital

Red Deer Regional Hospital

Red Deer

52°15′43″N 113°48′57″W

Hospital	Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital	Castor	52°13′24″N 111°54′24″W
Hospital	Sundre Hospital and Care Centre	Sundre	51°48′25″N 114°38′11″W
Hospital	Olds Hospital and Care Centre	Olds	51°48′08″N 114°07′01″W
Hospital	Banff Mineral Springs Hospital	Banff	51°10′47″N 115°34′34″W
Hospital	Canmore Hospital	Canmore	51°05′33″N 115°20′58″W

Hospital	Peter Lougheed Centre	Calgary	51°04′45″N 113°59′03″W
Hospital	Alberta Children's Hospital	Calgary	51°04′28″N 114°08′53″W
Hospital	Foothills Medical Centre	Calgary	51°03′55″N 114°07′59″W
Hospital	Sheldon M. Chumir Centre	Calgary	51°02′27″N 114°04′19″W
Hospital	Rockyview General Hospital	Calgary	50°59′27″N 114°05′52″W
Hospital	South Health Campus	Calgary	50°52′58″N 113°57′7″W
Hospital	Oilfields General Hospital	Black Diamond	50°40′44″N 114°14′03″W
Hospital	High River General Hospital	High River	50°34′34″N 113°52′46″W

Hospital	Medicine Hat Regional Hospital	Medicine Hat	50°02′07″N 110°42′12″W
Hospital	Claresholm General Hospital	Claresholm	50°01′06″N 113°34′59″W
Hospital	Taber Hospital	Taber	49°47′08″N 112°09′58″W
Hospital	Fort Macleod Hospital	Fort Macleod	49°43′32″N 113°23′32″W
Hospital	Chinook Regional Hospital	Lethbridge	49°41′09″N 112°48′56″W
Hospital	Crowsnest Pass Hospital	Blairmore	49°36′58″N 114°27′26″W
Hospital	Pincher Creek Hospital	Pincher Creek	49°28′33″N 113°56′50″W
Hospital	Raymond Hospital	Raymond	49°27′53″N 112°39′03″W
Hospital	Cardston Hospital	Cardston	49°12′05″N 113°18′22″W
Hospital	Milk River Hospital	Milk River	49°08′55″N 112°04′38″W

How could the Reserves be stretched out to achieve equivalent coverage?

Wish I had it saved, but I once saw the map of RCEME in Southern alberta, units everywhere, Ft Macleod, a platoon and recovery det in blairmore, over all a couple squadrons.

Edit: found references to 9th Technical regiment, RCEME, With squadrons in med hat, Calgary, Lethbridge, and blairmore until 1964.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Got me to thinking....

Alberta hospitals exist to serve people. If there are hospitals then there are enough people to justify a hospital.

Hospital

High Prairie Health Complex

High Prairie

55°26′02″N 116°29′02″W

Hospital	Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital	Fort Saskatchewan	53°42′13″N 113°27′24″W
Hospital	Sturgeon Community Hospital	St. Albert	53°39′19″N 113°37′34″W
Hospital	Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital	Edmonton	53°33′36″N 113°29′50″W
Hospital	Royal Alexandra Hospital	Edmonton	53°33′29″N 113°29′46″W
Hospital	Strathcona Community Hospital	Sherwood Park	53°33′18″N 113°16′49″W
Hospital	Health First Strathcona	Sherwood Park	53°32′14″N 113°19′25″W
Hospital	Stollery Children's Hospital (University of Alberta Hospital)	Edmonton	53°31′14″N 113°31′29″W
Hospital	University of Alberta Hospital (Stollery Children's Hospital)	Edmonton	53°31′14″N 113°31′29″W
Hospital	Misericordia Community Hospital	Edmonton	53°31′13″N 113°36′39″W
Hospital	St. Joseph's General Hospital	Vegreville	53°29′38″N 112°01′57″W
Hospital	Grey Nuns Community Hospital	Edmonton	53°27′39″N 113°25′42″W
Hospital	Hinton General Hospital	Hinton	53°23′55″N 117°35′04″W
Hospital	Devon General Hospital	Devon	53°21′04″N 113°43′51″W
Hospital	Leduc Community Hospital & Health Centre	Leduc	53°15′11″N 113°32′34″W
Hospital	Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre	Drayton Valley	53°12′42″N 114°58′14″W
Hospital	St. Mary's Hospital	Camrose	53°00′54″N 112°49′49″W
Hospital	Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre	Wetaskiwin	52°59′18″N 113°22′06″W
Hospital	Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre	Ponoka	52°41′07″N 113°35′22″W
Hospital	Alberta Hospital Edmonton	Edmonton	52°39′26″N 113°35′16″W

Hospital	Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury (Alberta Hospital Ponoka)	Ponoka	52°38′58″N 113°34′25″W
Hospital	Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre	Rimbey	52°38′26″N 114°14′52″W
Hospital	Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre	Lacombe	52°27′37″N 113°44′26″W
Hospital	Rocky Mountain House Hospital and Care Centre	Rocky Mountain House	52°22′43″N 114°55′12″W
Hospital	Stettler Hospital and Care Centre	Stettler	52°19′24″N 112°43′31″W

Hospital

Red Deer Regional Hospital

Red Deer

52°15′43″N 113°48′57″W

Hospital	Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital	Castor	52°13′24″N 111°54′24″W
Hospital	Sundre Hospital and Care Centre	Sundre	51°48′25″N 114°38′11″W
Hospital	Olds Hospital and Care Centre	Olds	51°48′08″N 114°07′01″W
Hospital	Banff Mineral Springs Hospital	Banff	51°10′47″N 115°34′34″W
Hospital	Canmore Hospital	Canmore	51°05′33″N 115°20′58″W

Hospital	Peter Lougheed Centre	Calgary	51°04′45″N 113°59′03″W
Hospital	Alberta Children's Hospital	Calgary	51°04′28″N 114°08′53″W
Hospital	Foothills Medical Centre	Calgary	51°03′55″N 114°07′59″W
Hospital	Sheldon M. Chumir Centre	Calgary	51°02′27″N 114°04′19″W
Hospital	Rockyview General Hospital	Calgary	50°59′27″N 114°05′52″W
Hospital	South Health Campus	Calgary	50°52′58″N 113°57′7″W
Hospital	Oilfields General Hospital	Black Diamond	50°40′44″N 114°14′03″W
Hospital	High River General Hospital	High River	50°34′34″N 113°52′46″W

Hospital	Medicine Hat Regional Hospital	Medicine Hat	50°02′07″N 110°42′12″W
Hospital	Claresholm General Hospital	Claresholm	50°01′06″N 113°34′59″W
Hospital	Taber Hospital	Taber	49°47′08″N 112°09′58″W
Hospital	Fort Macleod Hospital	Fort Macleod	49°43′32″N 113°23′32″W
Hospital	Chinook Regional Hospital	Lethbridge	49°41′09″N 112°48′56″W
Hospital	Crowsnest Pass Hospital	Blairmore	49°36′58″N 114°27′26″W
Hospital	Pincher Creek Hospital	Pincher Creek	49°28′33″N 113°56′50″W
Hospital	Raymond Hospital	Raymond	49°27′53″N 112°39′03″W
Hospital	Cardston Hospital	Cardston	49°12′05″N 113°18′22″W
Hospital	Milk River Hospital	Milk River	49°08′55″N 112°04′38″W

How could the Reserves be stretched out to achieve equivalent coverage?

Except that the Alberta hospital building boom of the 80s and 90s wasn't based on some sort of scientifically assessed need, but an excellent example of pork barrel politics shoveling money out to party faithful in rural areas.

 

[Kirkhill]

Except that the Alberta hospital building boom of the 80s and 90s wasn't based on some sort of scientifically assessed need, but an excellent example of pork barrel politics shoveling money out to party faithful in rural areas.

And what do you think prompted all those armouries to be built?

 

[daftandbarmy]

And what do you think prompted all those armouries to be built?

World War 1?

 

[FJAG]

41 svc has a remote platoon in lethbridge, talk of doing similar in red deer as well. It has its challenges on the admin side but not impossible.

I've seen those things cycle from successful to very poor - it depends very much on support and leadership. In any event its a hard job administratively to support. Portage La Prairie has a population of 13,000 and 13 Bty (which has a long distinguished history) has always struggled to put more than a dozen folks in the field. And they are the only game in town. In the 2022 Canadian Gunner 10th Fd Regt from Regina (with a battery in Saskatoon), 26th Fd Regt from Brandon (which includes Portage and where the arty is the only game in town as well) and 116 Ind Fd Bty in Kenora numbered 119 all ranks (That's not just actively parading; its 119 total counting everybody). Five batteries do not have enough people to even man one full battery. Brandon has 40,000 folks but is a catchment area for 250,000. Regina has 225,000 and around another 50,000 in the area (leaving aside Moose Jaw and Saskatoon which are nearby and constitute another 350,000+)

It goes beyond the guns though. SK, MB, and NW ON which includes Thunder Bay has a population of around 2.7 million mostly in a line along the Trans Canada and Yellowhead highways. 38 Bde which covers that area has a total of a mere 1,200 all ranks. You'd think it could be a lot stronger based on its mix of urban and rural communities.

I'm really of mixed minds on this issue. IMHO these rural areas should be doing much better. There's enough of a population base to support more. I'm really guessing here but I have to believe its the poor resourcing and marginal training. I'm not sure if the model I keep touting is the answer. Essentially my model would turn the five battery 38th Arty Tac Group into two batteries and a troop which would serve combined with a RegF gun battery and an FOO battery out of Shilo consolidated under a RegF CO and training on the RegF equipment (plus all the other recommended prerequisites for the reserves). I can't help but things would get better. It couldn't really get worse.

Canada needs better incentives for recruiting and retention.

 

[dapaterson]

It all starts with better leadership.