Posted by Gunner <randr1@home.com> on Sat, 11 Mar 2000 12:42:12 -0700
I disagree about your comments joining the Canadian Army.
Eqpt. I think the Canadian Army has come a long way
in addressing issues that arose from the 80s and early 90s. By 2004,
the army will have
been re-eqpt with Bison, Coyote, LAV, LEAPC, Leo C2, Light Guns, new
CADPAT uniforms, gortex eqpt all of 1 CMBG has it with the remaining
Res F,etc to get it shortly, and the list goes on.
Leadership. CF officers for all their perceived shortcomings are
extremely capable and adaptable. They are trained at a high standard
and their capabilities are well known to our allies. I think we are
moving into a more fitting professional development profile that will
benefit the CF in the future for example a degreed officer corps and
further emphasis on operational training. I do think the US takes a
better approach to officer development.
Sr NCOs. I would doubt that anyone would argue that we produce some of
the best NCOs in the world. The difference between a US Sgt and a
Canadian Sgt are night and day. However, as the senior levels ie US
Sgt Major and Canadian MWO/CWO I think we haven‘t done enough to
prepare them for a modern Army. For instance, US Sgt Major‘s go on a
year long course in Fort Bliss to prepare them, their career development
includes university accreditation, etc. I don‘t think leaving the
"dress, drill and deportment" terms of reference for a CWO is fully
utilizing his talents. At the same time, the CF has to provide him/her
with the training.
Soldiers. Again, man for man, I think our soldiers are some of the best
in the world. I think we are going to have to revisit the idea that
soldiers have to be trained to be "all singing - all dancing" as its‘
not cost effective. But is US style soldier training the answer? I
don‘t know, but it works for them, and our system is unaffordable.
Pay - yes it‘s tough to raise a family on a Pte wage, however, it is
this way for all Canadians entering into their first job. A soldier
with 8 years in is making approx $40K. Is this unreasonable? The
average family wage family of 4 is $55K.
Anyway, we have/will have state of the art eqpt, our soldiers and
leaders are good, and pay is acceptable. What‘s left to complain about?
Training - Anyone around in the 80s? I remember being on exercise from
1 Mar - 15 Jun in Shilo and Wx. Bivouac at the end of Casino Trail in
Shilo. Bivouac in Wx or Suffield with showers, sprawling modular,
satelitte TV, moview, rec runs in Wx proper, etc. Was this an efficient
use of resources. Not really. 1 CMBG for the last couple of years has
been focussed on short, focused exercises with a definite aim. Yes,
there are a variety of reasons for it, however, I think we are getting
more bang for our buck now, and soldiers, are sitting in bivouacs, less.
Gender Equity/SHARP/Diversity - Ah, the bane of our existence, to some.
However, I think the military needed to to be brought into the 21st
century I know, not til next yr. For the most of us, it wasn‘t that
big an issue, however, systemically, we did not deal with those
soldiers, NCOs and officers who didn‘t like women, blacks, asians,
reservists, regulars, etc. Quite simply we failed to enforce our own
policies and the sensationalistic stories from MacLeans‘, Somalia,
Bakovici, etc were our failures - THE MEDIA DIDN‘T INVENT THEM. When
the traveling roadshows for these prgms came to brief us, most of us
said "OK, I understood it the first time, the tenth time is now
annoying." The trouble is employment equity, etc has now become
bueaurcatically entrenched in NDHQ and it is suffering from serious
mission creep. But really, this issue doesn‘t effect the soldier on the
ground.
Operations - Yes, we are more heavily tasked then at any time since
Korea. However, part of our "job" is to go overseas and I think we are
affected by poor management, vice, not enough soldiers. Let‘s say we
are depl approx 7K pers overseas each year once Kosovo is finished, it
will be alot less. Our military is 60K, the amount overseas is less
then 15 each year. The problem is, it is mostly drawn from one
source..the army. To alleviate this the CDS has to look at how the CF is
structured and utilized. Increased reliance on ASD for ac, supply,
etc. Increased reliance on the Reserves could start by a multiyear
revitalization!. Quite honestly, I think the Army owes it‘s existence
and reeqpt to peacekeeping right now. The army is at fault as well for
allowing Regt politics to play in who and what are sent overseas ie 1HA
has not been anywhere since 92 Cyprus, and rotations overseas are bearly
meeting the mandated 20 res augmentation - 2 PPCLI in its heyday depl
with 50. I don‘t know if this is true, but someone recently said we
have 1200 MPs in a CF of 60K...does this make sense? 1 MP for every 49
CF members? Thats alot of speed traps that could be better used as
bayonets.
I think our major problem is termed "Change Fatigue", inthat, we have
come through so much and come so far in the last decade that we are
unsure of the system we have in place. It‘s easy to complain about how
we percieve the environment around us, however, if we look back with a
dispassionate eye, I think we are better now then in the 80s.
I think we‘ve come along way. Any comments?
Gunner sends......
John Dillon wrote:
>
> Dear John,
> I was reading your message about wanting to join the canadian army and was
> rather shocked as to why an americain would want to join. I‘m not putting
> you down by any means it is just that the americain military has a lot more
> to offer than the canadian.
>
> It is true that a canadian soldier has about 3 times the amount of training
> as an americain but there are terrible draw backs.
>
> First and fore most the pay. americain soldiers are paid much more than
> canadian. Some canadian soldiers had to take their families to soup
> kitchens to be able to feed them. Recent pay raises have somewhat dimmed
> that problem but they‘re not totally abolished.
>
> Secondly the canadian military is becoming to too dangerous. Our soldiers
> are not allowed to use land mines at all, making it more difficult to defend
> against silent advancing enemys. Our soldiers hand pistols were all taken
> away due to logistical problems. Personal Equipment hasn‘t been updated
> since the 1960‘s and isn‘t going to be issued until 2002. The once world
> renowed air-bourne has been cut back to 3 small support companies and rumor
> from a few connections w the military say it will be totally abolished next
> year. Also, think numbers. They always say saftey in numbers and that is
> not what the military has. Recent reg force counts peg the infantry at a
> round 5000 plus maybe 5000 reserves.
>
> If you are looking for great training, extremely compatant leadership, and a
> well equiped military i would recomend the british. But if i were you i‘d
> keep away from the canadian rusting military.
>
> JOHN!!!
>
> >From: "John Gilmour"
> >Reply-To: army@cipherlogic.on.ca
> >To:
> >Subject: Re: How can an American Join?
> >Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 09:19:37 -0500
> >
> >Yeah you have to become a Canadian citizen !
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Rob Kobold
> >To: army@cipherlogic.on.ca
> >Date: Thursday, March 09, 2000 1:08 AM
> >Subject: How can an American Join?
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >I have a quick question,
> > >
> > >Is it possible, and if so how, for an American to join
> > >the Canadian Army. I was in the American Army and I
> > >met a lot of Canadians, but when I tried getting info
> > >about joining your army off the web it didn‘t seem
> > >likely. Does anyone know any Americans who have done
> > >it, and if so, How????
> > >
> > >Thanks,
> > >
> > >Rob Kobold
> > >
> > >====
> > >"Language is a poor enough means of communication, I think we should use
> >every damn word we‘ve got"
> > >Henry Drummond Spencer Tracey, on profanity, "Inherit the Wind"
> > >Thank you for writing me, it gets lonely at the top. Please write again,
> >and, VOTE GREEN!!!!
> > >
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
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