LFRR

[TonyM]

For those of you following the LFRR, there's an excellent discussion going on over at the D-Net site. Check it out, here's an example:


"LFRR can work. The problem is that there is a great deal of mistrust regarding the manner in which it is being carried out. The fact that DND seems to be considering rebadging combat arms units into logistic and support units has created a great deal of unease at the unit level. Most soldiers consider the prospect of being re-rolled into a MLBU or transport company to be a fate worse that actual disbandment. Most of us joined combat arms units and wish to remain in the combat arms and I know that many would consider leaving before watching units that they have served for years lose their combat arms status.
The ranks also view LFRR as being permeated by politics. Unit viability revealed very real deffiencies on the part of many units. But if unit viability was the main determinent in whether a unit would survive or fail, then the process should be further along by now. It now appears as if unit honouraries and unit associations have become involved so much so that the fact that unit x has a former BGen lobbying for it is viewed as giving it an advantage over other units that finished higher in the unit viability study but who lack the political pull of unit x.

Finally, LFRR does not seem to be moving towards turning the reserves into a viable field force. Right now we have a collection of Infantry Companies, Artillery Batteries, and Armoured Squadrans masquarading as Regiments. They are not able to train effectively and only operate at the Regimental level once a year and then on a very ad-hoc basis. The time has come to start building real regiments. The easiest way to do this would be to combine units with each pre-existing unit contributing a company or subunit to the new organisation. If, in a given Brigade, there are two artillery "regiments", it would be better to combine those two units (actually two batteries) into a single unit with a single CO and RSM and allow them to train as a regiment (ie two firing units and a regimental HQ). This would result in some very hard decisions, especially when it comes to infantry units and unit identity. I believe the British TA did something similar in the 70's and 80's in which each company in the new regiment was allowed to carry the unit traditions of its parent unit.

LFRR can be an opportunity, but it can also make a bigger mess of the reserves than is already the case. The key must be making the reserves ready to provide the basis for mobilisation."

[Cole]

I just went over to the BB and it was pretty cool.
My question is this: is there any other Bulletin Board dedicated to the Canadian Forces? I would like to soak up more info on the forces in general.

[Enfield]

What's the LFRR?
It's very true that we don't have regiments, just companies and batteries and squadrons - which, I have to admit, makes the title "regiment" a little awkward to fill. We call ourselves a regiment, administer ourselves like a battalion, have a company on the roster, and get a platoon and a half on training nights....
Combining could be dangerous - I know in NS there have been rumours of amalgamation off and on for years, and in the ranks nobody wants anything to do with the other regiments. The standards are different, the personality of the unit is different.. combining would be hard.
If the combat arms units are made into Service support, I guarantee 90% of the troops will leave - only the admin staff will be left.

Enfield

[TonyM]

LFRR is an attempt to "improve" the Reserve force. Already from what I've seen, the empasis is being placed on Great Big Problems. Like "should we make all units in support staff?" instead of fixing things from the bottom up. Like most high-level projects, this one will probably result in few (if any benefits to the common soldier), vast sums of public funds squandered, heated polictical debates, staff careers made and broken and medals all around for the boys at NDHQ. Like Chief Wiggins said when his tie gets caught in Apoo's hotdog machine (and he's being pulled in slowly by the neck) "Oh, boy. This'll get worse before it gets better."

[TonyM]

Did anyone cath the news on Friday morning about the 1st step of LFRR? "..increase funding to the reserves of 42 million for purchase of equipment and increase of strength to 18,000..."
Can I have my goretex jacket now?

[Enfield]

They nee dmore money to increase the size? The problem now is recruiting and holding enough to fiull the ranks. If the Reserves were mad emore professional - better courses, more high-speed training, then people would stay in. At the moment, the low-speed high drag situation drives the motivatd troops into the Regs and fails to attract nough quality recruits.
FIBUA training, Jump Courses, more travel, better exercises (I dream of MILES gear...) would all contribute. And toning down the PC/touchy feely aspect I think would actually increase retainment and not drive people away.
And of course, gortex is alway welcome...

Enfield

[FNG]

I agree with Enfield. The recruiting problem seems to be more of a pressing matter. But we can't keep blaming the lack of courses and opportunity in the Forces for the low enlistments. Rather, it seems to be a problem with the world and the youth today.

In this generation of lazy MTV teenagers, there is no sense of patriotism, service or sacrifice. What does the Canadian Army offer that would get young people motivated enough to work harder than their friends, for less pay? As you suggested, highspeed courses can be offered, but really, how many new recruits know the difference between a Driver's course and a recce course? Do they even know that they will have to attend QL4s after their 'summer employment' as advertised in ineffective recruiting posters? The Army offers new and difficult challenges, but do kids these day want more challenges? Do they even know what we are about?
I've ran into my share of people who ask if I'm in the American military, or ask if there is a war somewhere when they walk by the armouries and see some reservists standing outside. So I think the answer is no.

I think that the latest trend of Militia 'open houses' are a good start to show what we are about, but we have to find a good target audience. If the reserves is continually marketed as a 'summer job', then that's all the service we will get from most new recruits. They will quit after their summer training.

Maybe this year's Reserve Uniform Day might bring some interest to the general public, but I don't think it has been particularly successful in the past.

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TonyM, we just got our Gortex kit. I think I'm going to go out and play in the rain http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

[TonyM]

There's more! Get a load of this:

".... As noted earlier, however, the average Reserve soldier will see improvements on the Armoury floor starting almost immediately. What follows is a brief summary of what Army Reservists can expect to see over the next couple of years.
The year 2000
The first thing Reserve soldiers will notice is a marked improvement in personal equipment. When they draw kit, soldiers will be issued exactly the same amount and type of personal equipment and clothing as every Regular Force soldier. This includes all of the state-of-the-art Clothe The Soldier items, many of them being issued in the new Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT) camouflage design. In addition, the Army Reserves are in the process of purchasing new weapons such as grenade launchers for the infantry and engineers, along with new three-tonne trucks, half-tonne jeeps and other equipment.
Reserve soldiers will also notice a sustained effort to recruit and maintain their units at strength. Brigades will be able to mount recruiting campaigns, thanks to a special allocation of $10,000 per brigade for this purpose. Additional resources will be provided in the form of unit level recruiting staff, including the establishment of Reserve recruiting positions in units. Innovative enrolment initiatives will be developed and disincentives now associated with enrolment will be minimized.
The requirement for Personal Development Review (PDR) for all part-time Reservists will be eliminated and other changes related to training will be adopted. The Army Reserves will incorporate training requirements and methods designed for those who serve on a part-time basis while holding a civilian job or attending school or university. Infantry soldiers will see QL2 and 3 course length reduced this year; engineers, armour and artillery soldiers will see their QL2 and 3 courses reduced in length in 2001...."


Head over to the dnd site and read all the news.
http://www.army.dnd.ca/Chief_Land_Staff/Land_Force_Reserve_Advisors/Land_Force_Reserve_Restructure/LFRRSitreps/main_e.htm

Damnit! I want that friggin goretex in camo now! LGen Jefferies sez I can have it. C'mon, CQ, please, please....

[Enfield]

FNG, your right, we need more publicity. People don't knows a thing about the Reserves. I tll people I'm in the Army Reserves and they usually say "Like cadets?". It's sad that the cadets seem to be more famous than the rest of the Army...
Last year, at an air show, my unit did a platoon attack from choppers in front of thousans of people, and it was a huge hit. Afterwards, the troops were allowed to wander around and talk to the public, with their weapons and gear. We need more stuff like that. Not just a booth at High Schools, but actually getting out there and showing what we do.
DND isn't exactly helping matters. The current Recruiting ad (with the Inuit EME woman) is embarassing. Show a patrol through Sarajevo, or Ice Storm Relief, or when we boarded that ship. Even better, really kick the PC crowd in the nuts and show Airborne patrols in Somalia =o)
The fact is, the Canadian Army as a whole doesn't hav anything to offer like the US military - college money for all, health care, etc. Soldiers in Canada (Reg and Reserve) serve because they are professionals that love their job - there is no other reason to do it! We need to attract people like that, at least for the Combat Arms, and showing "miss politically correct recruit" running around with a bunch of similarly PC smiling models is not going to do it.

TonyM- Did that article say 2002/3 for all the new gear? My god.. they started to brag about it years ago. Reg Force doesn't have the new combats yet, do they?

Enfield

[FNG]

Agreed... we also did a blank firing section attack on a defensive position demo for our recruit drive last year, and we got a good turn out of civilians coming out to watch. We had maybe around 40 people join up total, but not that many remain this year. I've been told that a few years back, an attack was done on the University campus some years ago, and that year there were sixty recruits; many of which made it through all the training.

No, Reg force hasn't gotten all their CANPAT kit yet. According to the Maple Leaf, Roto 9 is supposed to be fully CANPAT equipped, so I assume it'll be a little while after that before we get them in our grubby paws. As to the M203 PI, it is in service with Reg Force, and some reserve units were testing them last year, so I assume we would see those soon.

[Cree Warrior]

I saw a posting at clothing stores, Edmonton Garison which said we are supposed to get the new combats in January. They have 40,000 or so made and are contracting out for another 40,000 in September.
Anyway, we'll see what happens. Those numbers don't add up to me.
Unless only combat arms gets them (which is the way it should be).

Sua Sponte

[Enfield]

Only Combat Arms will get the new combats. I heard that we only get one or two pairs, to wear in the field, and we wear the old combats around garrison. Which is okay.. wearing the CANPAT stuff around garrison might make us look aggressive or something...
In the spring and summer some NCO's/SNCO's in my unit were getting the name tags for the new combats issued to them. Don't know why they got the name tags before the uniforms, or why only a few got the tags, but they did.

Enfield

[Tm]

Better check the message board at LFRR. There's some officers looking at spending $75,000 on a mail campaign for recruiting. That could be a recce, mg , or new kit. Make your opinion known, these guys have no clue.

[Reverend B]

I think that you guys have deviated off topic. T Mac, CQ won't get the new kit to you, because then, he would have to do his job, and he knows that there isn't anywhere else for the regs to bury him, so why should he give a fuck? He's warm in his crew-cab. Give me a .303 and some ammo and I'll still do my job.... not as good perhaps if I had all the energy weapons and death beams that are promised to us....Oops...just about got that carrot this time!! Ahh, maybe next step....
Myself, I finally had enough this year, after teaching in the 'Centre of Excellence' (what a frikkin joke, that one) I was going to quit all together. Then I thought 'Fuck, I'll just be a thorn, they can give me the boot', at least then, something might be accomplished. I realized that it isn't a small slope, IT IS HUGE! I know a guy that just got off his 6B and he said that people passed even after scoring 36% on a PO. Those are our future WO's. Yummy!! Leaves a sweet taste in my mouth, more incompetent, egotistical fucksticks in the chain of command.
The only thing that can kill us is us, and we are doing it fine. 'summer employment', 'career', 'charge' (instead of beasting the wrong-doers like a dog that pisses on the carpet)--these things are all our 'kiss of death'

[Cree Warrior]

Hey I like that idea, instead of quiting, if anyone is considering it, we should all be thorns. I have made a committment to push the PT limits until I get charged for it! ie ruckmarching, getting smoked etc. We'll see how long I can last. heh heh We sound like a bunch of subversives!

Sua Sponte

[Enfield]

Any of you guys check out the LFRR bulletin board on the DND webpage? Excellent discusions going on, I recommend (if you haven't already) checking it out.

Enfield

[garett]

Yeah checked it out today. There seems to be a lot of good ideas being presented, by Mcpl.'s and Sgt.'s. The officers seem to be like "what theres a problem?" (No offense
Cree Warrior. I think if I do become an officer its going to be incredibly frustrating to work with people who just don't give a shit and want to stay in their warm little panel van while everyone else is out in the cold rain trying to find a way to get dried off and warm.