Current State of the Canadian Armed Forces

[Roko]

I‘m still a civvy, but am planning on joining the forces soon, (starting the process in January). I‘m joining for MANY different reasons, which I won‘t get into now.

But I‘m wondering about one thing. The Forces seem to be in a rut right now, with all the cutbacks (I‘m rather dissapointed in the dissbanding of the airborne..), the slackening of training requirments, and such..

Is there any end to the rut in sight? Does anyone think the forces will improve at all within the next decade or so? How bad is it really?

 

[Disturbance]

Clothe the soldier
LAVs
more cash

I am in the res and have seen the training schedule for the up coming year and there a descent size ex about every two months.

You are taken care of, dont worry the Liberals make sure you have all the respect and SHARP you can handle. Food during my 2/3 was a hell of a lot better than expected.

And also you gotta remember you are serving your country by joining up, DUTY. If we all wanted the latest gear and all the fancy gizmos and s,hit most of us would be in other armies. I had the option of joining the US but then I realized that that would be the lamest thing to do, I love Canada (gov‘t different story) and I love serving here regardless of how much cash is in my pocket and I hope most others feel the same.

Slackening of training requirments shouldnt mean anything to you unless you are the type that strives to meet minimums cause noone will get mad if you are in top notch shape.

Yeah the airborne thing was s,hitty but you gotta f,uck it and drive on.

hope this helps

Joe

 

[Roko]

guess you misinterpreted me (happens a lot here.. hmm..) I also had the opportunity to goto the states (reserve for 3 years until I‘m "naturalized‘, i.e. american citizen, before going reg force then becomming a ranger), but I stayed because I‘d have no loyalty for the yanks at all.. I‘m joining the forces because of pride for my country (love for my country), honour, duty, etc etc etc... I don‘t care much about the equipment (as long as it works...), or the pay (hell, I‘d practically volunteer). What I care about is the training.. I‘m no ‘minimum‘ standards acheiver (hell, I can blow past the PAR-Q when I‘m out of shape), what I want is something I‘ll find as a big challenge, something that will improve me (i.e. make me blow WAY WAY WAY past what I can do now.. so basically I‘d work my *** off harder than I‘d have too). From what I hear, I feel the army reserve (which I‘ve decided I‘ll do while I finish my degree) will provide that to an extent, but I‘m worried how far, since they‘re always cutting away at training.. (I understand the budget concentrating on the reg force as opposed to reserve guys, though.... I would have gone reg right out of high school, but I‘m gonna get a degree first)

Well, I‘ve ranted off, and am not sure where I‘m heading.. I guess it‘s just that I was wondering if they where making canada‘s army too soft with all the cutbacks, etc.. eitherway I‘ll still be imensly proud to serve my beloved country..

 

[Roko]

Oh, and as an addendum, I‘ve decided to join the Army Reserves, in the Infantry... I think that‘ll be best for me (I‘d love to go reg force, but I feel I should finish my degree first).

Thanks to all the people on this list who have responded to my posts, and helped with my descision on what to do...

 

[Infanteer]

....Yadayadayada. I joined cause I heard nothing picks chicks up better than a set a DEU‘s....
But seriously, the army is only soft if you make it. For now you should work on getting in the Army (start the process now, it takes a while and getting some time with the unit before the summer is a bonus.) and working hard towards being the best damn infantryman you can be, because you gotta master the basics before you can be a sniper or a paratrooper or a ninja-assassin.
Train yourself to be hard, both mentally and physically, because one day a week doesn‘t let the Army do it for you. If your do your best and drive yourself, others will see this and you will find yourself on some sexy courses and taskings (recce, airborne, etc.). Just because we don‘t have a Ranger course or Navy SEAL‘s doesn‘t mean that the Canadian Forces has no challenging or high-speed courses or units. I am sure Pathfinder, Sniper or JTF Jedi training will all test you.
As for the training in the reserves...sure all you see is WATC horror stories about slack basic training, but you should hear about the Recce course at CFB Edmonton run by the 3rd VP Jump Coy that my buddy was on. The instructors drove the troops hard in what was from my impression probably a very interesting and rewarding course. Do well and you could find yourself doing something like this.

 

[Disturbance]

The reserves are designed for people who are working full time or GOING TO UNIVERSITY and even in high school for that matter....what about joining while gettin a degree like infanteer and myself then afterwards not only do you have a degree but all this experience as well and who knows what you may wanna do with that.

 

[Infanteer]

Hey Joe, read the post above mine...that‘s what he is doing you numptie!
Too much townie ash for you....

 

[Master Blaster]

I would respectfully suggest that the Excited States of ‘Merica‘s armed services (while apparently quite gung-Ho and hard-core) are not what they are cracked up to be. I have served south of the border and worn the Ranger rocker ( My aching knees!) and while it was more than I asked for (emotionally, spiritually and physically) it was and still remains to this day a part of my life. But it doesn‘t make it "special".

For some reason (the grass is always greener?) when anyone thinks of joining up, a lot will seek outside their own borders (US, Brits, Legionaires, etc.). Having been there and done that (Oh God! Did I actually use that in a sentence!?!) I would suggest that you follow the advice given previously on this page and strive to be that absolute top end soldier that you allow yourself to be.

Don‘t settle for ‘good enough for government work‘ or TFE. Assault your courses! Become the soldier that every NCO dreams of having in his platoon (become the platoon that every company commander prays for) become the Regiment that is the example of the Army.

Take the extra step...if you have it in you. If you don‘t, have the smarts enough to move on and let someone else take a crack at it and not become the NDHQ rifraf that clutter the halls and offices of 101 Col Bye Drive.

OK... my rant is over...DAMN that feels GOOD!!

Dileas Gu Brath

 

[Infanteer]

Kick *** post Master Blaster. That was a morale booster.

Become the soldier that every NCO dreams of having in his platoon...
Become the platoon that every company commander prays for...
Become the Regiment that is the example of the Army.

I could see that one on a cool poster. Hell that one should be the army‘s new training slogan!
Not only does it encourage the soldier to strive to do give 110%, but it also drives him towards teamwork and esprit de corps.
Ahh....good-night guys.
(P.S. Were you in a Ranger Batt? Just Curious.)