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Topic: Dark ages? (Read 260 times)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Geez, I thought the Conservatives said they fixed this and everything was hunky poooo...
Reality says... the army is not growing, it is shrinking.
Military dark age continues
Just as the highly popular Gen. Rick Hillier steps down as Canada's top soldier, comes this bleak assessment from Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, head of the country's land force, about the state of things in Canada's military: "The Army is now stretched almost to the breaking point and something is going to have to give if we are to be sustainable over the short and mid term."
The Ottawa Citizen
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
That strategic assessment was written in January. It was obtained by the Citizen and published last week, just days after Gen. Hillier announced his retirement. Similar assessments from the navy and the air force paint a picture of an armed forces pushed beyond its capacity in many areas.
The assessments are not necessarily related to Gen. Hillier's retirement, but they put it in context. And they raise legitimate questions about the state of Canada's armed forces.
The Defence Department says the forces are continuing to receive "stable, predictable funding, with annual increases which will directly result in a stronger, better-equipped, flexible Canadian military," from the federal government. A Defence Department spokesman says the assessments by Lt.-Gen Leslie and others may give a misleading impression.
Critics and senior military officers are casting doubts on that.
Last fall's throne speech promised to both increase and modernize the military "to provide effective surveillance and protection for all of our country, co-operate in the defence of North America, and meet our responsibilities abroad to the United Nations and our allies ..."
As Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate committee on national security and defence, has pointed out, the beefed up version of the armed forces promised in the throne speech proved skinnier in reality. Just weeks after the throne speech was delivered, the department announced it would "reprofile" the expansion of the armed forces from the stated goal of 75,000 regular troops by 2011 to 68,000.
Senator Kenny says the years of underfunding the military by previous Liberal governments have not ended, despite assurances from the Conservative government to the contrary.
Which should concern all Canadians, given the level of Canada's military commitment right now.
Lt.-Gen. Leslie warned that the army has actually shrunk by 30 soldiers since 2005 and is in need of 240 officers and 1,000 non-commissioned members. In addition, the armed forces are in need of equipment and spare parts. The navy is also warning its capabilities will be reduced in coming years as it sidelines some ships with no replacements in sight. The air force has warned that it may have to ground some of its planes.
Canada's military has long been underfunded, something exacerbated by the commitment in Afghanistan, where Canada has just extended its mission. In addition, thousands of troops will be needed to help secure the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. And then there are unexpected needs for Canada's Forces. In an increasingly unstable world, it is difficult to predict where else the Canadian military may be called on in coming years.
The federal government needs to make its commitment to the military clear and dispel growing concerns it is not following through on its pledges. Canada's new top soldier, Gen. Hillier's replacement, needs to hold the government to its word.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Young Ken
Veteran 300+ Member
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Fort York - 2 RCR 67-70 * 1 RCR Recce 70-74
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And this surprises you?
When Ottawa refuses to deal with Veterans issues fairly like Gagetown, Suffield, Chalk River, Nevada bomb testing, Claw back, VIP, and the theft of untold Billions from pension funds. When Ottawa changes the Military Pension plan to pay out a Maximum of $250,000 which amounts to only 7 1/2 years of the pension it replaced wile calling it a better pension for the soldier. When they make soldiers buy and pay for their own insurances, most would be soldiers know that it is safer and better paying to work for the body guard business or as a jail guard.
As much as I loved the Army, if I knew new then what I know now, I doubt that I would have joined the Canadian Army.
Ken
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Logged
?? ranrad
