Latest Threat to CF in Combat: Smoke Breaks?!?

[The Bread Guy]

Lucky we have MSM looking out for the welfare of the troops in such an efficient & useful manner....  :  Again, I challenge the reporter and/or the chain to share with the public the entire document on which this story is written - I'll believe it when I see it.

Shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.

Cig danger on front line
KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU, Sun Media, 27 Jun 07
Article link

OTTAWA -- Lighting up a cigarette in a combat zone could make Canadian soldiers a target, internal documents on smoking in the military warn.

Reports on tobacco use obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information say smoking has a significant impact on troops in the battlefield and could place soldiers and their units at risk.

Any form of tobacco use in a war zone adds hazards to an already dangerous environment, said a report from Donald Dery, co-ordinator for Canadian Forces anti-tobacco and gambling programs.

A lit cigarette makes the soldier a target. It could be hidden but the smell of smoke can't be hidden. The smell of cigarette smoke can travel a long way and is easy to track.

Dip spit leaves a trail that can easily compromise troop location. The Canadian Forces offers cessation programs to help soldiers kick the habit, but Dery has recommended other tough-love measures.

He urged the military to adopt a smoking ban on all CF and DND property and grounds, to establish a policy that rejects new recruits who smoke, to prohibit puffing while in uniform and to strictly enforce human resource policies on breaks.

About 75% of military personnel are already non-smokers, but the CF hopes to increase that figure to 83% by 2010. Smoking is most prevalent among sailors (27%) and lowest in the air force (21%), while 24% of men and women in the army light up daily.

The report says soldiers who use any form of tobacco are at greater risk for vision problems, as nicotine reduces blood flow and smoke affects night vision.

 

[armyvern]

I'm going out to have a smoke now.

Need to calm my nerves after reading this one!! 

 

[The Bread Guy]

I certainly hope your break doesn't reduce your combat effectiveness.....  ;D

 

[a_majoor]

If I remember correctly, this story actually dates back to WWI, where it was said that if three smokers gathered together to light their cigarettes, the third one to light up would be killed by a German sniper. (presumably he used the time of the lighting of the match and first two cigarettes to take aim).

While on the surface everything claimed is "true", it is also being quoted in isolation. I can't imagine soldiers lighting up while patrolling or doing an approach march for example, and I would bet a fairly large sum of money that the vast majority of smokers only indulge when it is safe to do so. There are lots of other, valid, reasons to quite smoking. Mr Derey is probably indulging in a bit of scare mongering to shore up his own budget and visibility inside the department.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Of course it is.....what else would you expect "Donald Dery, co-ordinator for Canadian Forces anti-tobacco and gambling programs", to say?

* "Aww, puff away kids, and stop at the casino on the way home, smokes are cheaper there."*

Hey Kathleen,
cleaning out the goop from the bottom of your 'filler' file, are ya.?? :boring:

 

[armyvern]

I'm going to assume that the anti-smoker (obviously given the tough-love comment) who was responsible for this study ... did it from the confines of a nice desk in Canada.

Apparently unaware that the smell of a bunch of troops humping their rucks on a patrol or fighting in 140 degree heat creates a sweaty smell that announces (and negates the smell of a puffers cig) one's presence as well and is most certainly trackable. That's it. The CF needs to ensure our troops never work up a sweat; especially in a war zone, it puts them at imminent risk of attack.  :

Need a study for this?? I can't be the only one who used to have to drop the kit and the uniforms outside the front door before being allowed into the house after a mere 2 weeks in the field on an exercise (and I'm a mere Sup Tech) so they could air out for 24 hours.

So, only 24% of the Army are smokers ... but all 100% of us sweat.  Hmmm. I think, tacticlly, on the ground in Afghanistan, the smell of sweat drifting through the air would do more to give our position away.

Do I advocate smoking? No. Absolutely not. If you don't smoke ... don't start!! We ALL know smoking is BAD for us. This is not news ... or shocking. Someone's budget for the FY must have recently been delivered ... with no increase.

I've already learned something new today; I'll never cease to be amazed at the value of spin doctoring.

 

[Reccesoldier]

If I remember correctly, this story actually dates back to WWI, where it was said that if three smokers gathered together to light their cigarettes, the third one to light up would be killed by a German sniper. (presumably he used the time of the lighting of the match and first two cigarettes to take aim).

A story which if my memory serves me correctly was invented by... a strike anywhere match company exec.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Anyway, I thought embedded journalists, the ones who should know, (Blatchford, Globe and Mail, LaFlamme, CTV, etc) complained that the major smell problem with Canadian soldiers is related to their tendency to produce methane gas at irregular but frequent intervals.

 

[2 Cdo]

Let's see if I have this clear. Smoking is bad for you, kind of a no-brainer. Smoking on patrol, I'm a smoker and I would probably beat you myself for this! Smoking on an advance or during a battle, guess what, the enemy already knows you're there a cigarette or chew is not going to make a difference! Another arsehole with an agenda. Now all he needs to do is tell us that incoming fire is "bad" for us! :

 

[Old Sweat]

It must have been a very slow news day.

If the smoking police wish to push their agenda (which is a worthy one), they should do so for health reasons, not on the basis on dubious tactical assumptions.

 

[armyvern]

It must have been a very slow news day.

If the smoking police wish to push their agenda (which is a worthy one), they should do so for health reasons, not on the basis on dubious tactical assumptions.

Ahhh, but tactical spins give the angle so much more importance and priority!! The value of spin. It is amazing isn't it?

 

[Old and Tired]

I gather this guy has never ventured outside the Confines of Fort Ridiculas on The Rideau.  We went through this when I was out west with the Strats.  Anti smoking Nazi's came down to lecture us on the evils of smoking.  We had a really long in tooth WO with more time on tanks than most of us had on the Planet.  He casually stood up, Lit up his Colts Cigar and asked, whether either of the two distinguished visitors from Ottawa had ever been in a Tank while it was in operation.  NO says they.  Come with me says he.  Out to Range Sixteen for a few rounds down range during Gunner Practice.  After a couple of rounds each in two different tanks, the question was asked:  What’s a little cigarette/cigar smoke compared to what’s inside a tank.  Not unsurprising was the lack of a response.

Last time I check with the guys here in CTC, there is no step in battle procedure that says, Stop here and have a smoke break.

 

[Teflon]

SMOKING IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH!??! 

 

[Old and Tired]

To quote Denis Leary,

"Holy sh*t man I thought there was vitamin C and stuff in here."

I know smoking is bad for me, however there have been more than a few occasions where My Bad Habit was good for some one elses health because it gave me a reason to walk away from them before I felt compelled to use other methods.  March the guilty bastard in would have been the next command that I had to respond to.

 

[beands]

I would have expected something along the lines of gambling and Paris Hilton getting out of the slammer in the midst of these VERY slow news days.

How much does this "echo maker" earn in a year? From what I hear, the CF could use more bullets rather than his statements.

 

[284_226]

It may surprise you (or it may not) to learn that Donald Dery is coordinator of the March 1st "I Quit" program from - you guessed it - CFPSA.

And we all know CFPSA would never do anything to attract attention to themselves to gain even more power than they already have...

 

[PMedMoe]

Quote from article:

Maj. Laurie Kannegiesser, a spokeswoman for CF recruiting, said new employees must meet medical requirements but a non-smoking policy could be deemed unconstitutional.

Ummm, ya think?  Next thing they'll be telling us not to drink!! 

You know, when everyone bans smoking everywhere and everybody quits, they'll have to find something else to tax and write stupid useless news stories about.  :

 

[geo]

Smoking is dangerous?
Duh - no kidding!

Remember the old story of "three on a match" being unhealthy for the last guy to lite up?
Sniper sees flare, sniper aims, sniper fires... real old story that goes back to ww1

the glow of the cigarette and the smell of the cigarette giving away your position?... hell - there are a hell of a lot larger clues that will do that.... the rumble of the LAVs diesel engine, the drone of the generator, the wire, the trenches, etc, etc.....

Crap!

 

[FascistLibertarian]

Anti smoking Nazi's

But Nazis smoke, those long evil cigs.  ;D
Or at least thats what the movies told me.

 

[TN2IC]

I gather this guy has never ventured outside the Confines of Fort Ridiculas on The Rideau.  We went through this when I was out west with the Strats.  Anti smoking Nazi's came down to lecture us on the evils of smoking.  We had a really long in tooth WO with more time on tanks than most of us had on the Planet.  He casually stood up, Lit up his Colts Cigar and asked, whether either of the two distinguished visitors from Ottawa had ever been in a Tank while it was in operation.  NO says they.  Come with me says he.  Out to Range Sixteen for a few rounds down range during Gunner Practice.  After a couple of rounds each in two different tanks, the question was asked:  What’s a little cigarette/cigar smoke compared to what’s inside a tank.  Not unsurprising was the lack of a response.

Last time I check with the guys here in CTC, there is no step in battle procedure that says, Stop here and have a smoke break.

Waste of budget..... that money could of went for a few more litres of diesel for us!

I guess these guys haven't started up a whole fleet of HLVW's in the dead winter morning too? Hehehehe.... Marco.....









Polo.....






Regards,
TN2IC