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Topic: Politics and the Military

Cowboy X
FNG
Member # 388

posted 08 July 2021 22:36

I know this topic is probably beat to death but I beleive it is an important one and should be debated as often as possible. So here it is again. Why do we continually allow our armed forces to be overrun with waste, while our General Staff gets bigger every day! But yet we (members) and the general citizenry rollover and think this is fine.

Recently, in a discussion I had with a close freind, who is now in Moosejaw for pilot training, I was made privy to some interesting events. This freind by the way, had to wait for four years to get a slot after the the entire training structure of the Air Force was gutted on a CF policy Change that lasted less then a year.....was told in an open briefing, by the General in charge of training (the General in charge of open breifings must have been busy) that the pilot candidates were to behave as gentleman and officers while on course and not go running to the press (no one had at that point gone to any new agency) about the minor detalis of their careers and training policy in the CF's. This was in regards to the Bombardier managed training center now responsible for training our Air Force. The General then went on to say, to snikering and giggles by the way, that the cousres were now on track and that the CF's did not forget about them and they were now entering into one of themost effective forces in the world etc etc.....by the end of that month the course dates were yet again extended canceled or rescheduled....course candidtaes were yet again sent home or RTU'ed to the various museums, crosswalks and canteens they were kept at while more bugs were "massaged" from the training system. The final comment on this is; The friend I am speaking of had celebrated his 21'st birthday two weeks after completeing his basic officer training course.... two days ago he celebrated his 24th...still no wings on his uniform.....

Posts: 1 | From: nova scotia | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged

the patriot
Infantry Forum Moderator
Member # 144

Member Rated:

posted 14 August 2021 22:17

By the way, the General Staff has now been reduced considerably compared to what it was ten years ago. About your friend's situation, it comes down to an old saying called "hurry up and wait" which can get absolutely annoying at times. Something they probably won't tell you is that they're literally bleeding to death by losing pilots who leave the Canadian Armed Forces for cushier paying jobs with the commercial airlines. It's called the 5 year "Air Canada" program... Maybe it's just that they don't have instructors around to teach your friend.

-the patriot- [Canadian]

Posts: 278 | From: The Great White North | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Grubby
Veteran Member
Member # 432

Member Rated:

posted 20 August 2021 04:25

The Patriot,

Hear! Hear! Fact: They DND are hurting...only now they finally have figured that out. Almost a little too late. These next few years will be interesting for sure. Like my old CSM said "I'm on the 20/30 plan....I have my 20 someodd years for full pension and if anyone pisses me off, I'm out in 30 days!!!!" I only think he was out faster than that....just like me. he he he whether a Private or a Master Warrent Officer....they don't give a ****!!! Oh yeah if your hurt, well kiss your career bye bye...hell there's always the kit shop, or RSS where they send people to finish off their years for pension.>>>>>>>>>>>FIRE IT UP<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Posts: 38 | From: ALBERTA,CANADA | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

Yard Ape
Veteran Member
Member # 158

Member Rated:

posted 06 September 2021 08:12

20/6 plan now. Only the 6 is in months.

Yard Ape

Posts: 143 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

the patriot
Infantry Forum Moderator
Member # 144

Member Rated:

posted 08 September 2021 11:34

Grubby,

AHA!!!!!! So RSS isn't really Total Force to make the Militia a better trained cadre of soldiers?! Sounds like it's a retirement home for those who don't have the heart to outright quit.

-the patriot- [Canadian]

Posts: 278 | From: The Great White North | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Jungle
FNG
Member # 480

Rate Member

posted 08 September 2021 14:10

How about this to keep people in units: stop sending large numbers of people on summer tasks... they even do this weeks after members come back from a tour!!! Now, training is one thing, doing it right is another!!! We need to SPECIALIZE our units, we need a dedicated airborne unit and an amphibious unit (actually, by unit i mean battle-group) so we can keep up with the rest of the modern armies... and deploy rapidly... for real!!! [Canadian]

Posts: 4 | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

the patriot
Infantry Forum Moderator
Member # 144

Member Rated:

posted 08 September 2021 18:43

I guess we already have that with the Para Companies in each of the Light Infantry Battalions of the RCR, PPCLI, and the Van Doos. As for amphibious ops, they try to address that with various exercises from what I've seen at the Reserve level. The danger with over-specialization is that people then start to get slack with basic soldiering. At the end of the day, once you've hit the ground running or landed on the beach..... everyday pepper-potting will save your rear end. If you can't even do that, you're pretty much dead.

-the patriot- [Canadian]

Posts: 278 | From: The Great White North | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Jungle
FNG
Member # 480

Rate Member

posted 09 September 2021 16:53

Yes, the Para coys look good on paper, but they are virtually useless. I served in the Airborne Regt a few years, then a few more in a para coy, and there are a lot of differences: First, the jump coys are a way to maintain parachuting expertise in the army, but are not designed to carry out Airborne operations. The reason for this is that there is no combat support or combat service support deployable with these coys. Second, the CO's of the LIB's would rather have "heavy metal" units (ie: LAV-3) and don't care much for parachuting. The Airborne Regt was a rapid deployment unit, and it was equipped and trained as such. When i talk of amphibious ops, i am not talking about crossing a river with an assault boat, i am talking about assaulting a coast line from the sea... Amphibious ops are the most complex a force may have to carry out, and we are not ready or equipped for that kind of ops. Now, you will see the LIB's disappear in the next few years, and possibly the para capability as a whole at the same time...

Posts: 4 | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

recceguy
Veteran Member
Member # 256

Member Rated:

posted 09 September 2021 20:31

Being armour, I don't think of or know that much about paras. However, one question has always come to mind. With today's easy to come by black market arms, what's to stop a couple of creeps on the ground with say, a couple of old Redeyes or Stingers taking out a whole company of quick reaction\ deployable airborne troops in the air and what would be the backup plan for the mission? Not being smart here, it's a genuine question of interest. Does this scenario not go towards making large airborne drops obselete?

Posts: 116 | From: Ontario | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

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