cool website

[enderr]

diemaco.com check out the small arms lockup

[Cree Warrior]

Their new C8 won out over Colt, Bushmaster, Armalite etc. in testing for Saudi Arabian forces(I think it was last year). I believe the Brit SAS were in on the testing as well and will be using their "C8", or whatever they are calling the SF/M4/204 gizmo laden thing.
My point, the C7's we have are very good weapons, well respected internationally...The scope, well thats another story....

Sua Sponte

[garett]

I'm trying to remember shit from the Infantry School that I read in a memo a little while ago. They're putting a better front sight on the weapon then they are going to distribute it. They're getting rid of the 9mm for a new pistol. They putting a retractable stock on the C-9 and putting the option forward to get rid of the C-79 from the C-9. They're cutting the inventory of .50 cals in half. They're starting trials for a new sniper rifle soon. Can't remember what else was on there.

[Enfield]

Here's my vote for best CF website: www.army.dnd.ca/lfwa/Train%20&%20Strive/DEFAULT.HTM (http://www.army.dnd.ca/lfwa/Train%20&%20Strive/DEFAULT.HTM)

Incidentally, I had John Fraser, author of the Fraser Report, in my section for the FIBUA ex last weekend. Very cool guy, did the rehearsals, insertion, march in and then stayed up all night in the house with the rest of us watching arcs - and killed a few Granovians in the morning. Damn brass kept dropping by to talk to him though...

Any comments from LFWA troops on Cougar Cock 2001?

[Cole]

I was down at Fort Lewis for the entire exercise. Although I didn't get to partake in any of the FIBUA due to the fact that I was a QL0, I got to do some cool stuff. A sergeant from the RM Rangers ran a course on the Browning 9mm and we got to take the test and get it put on our UER's. Also got to see a mueseum, learn some fieldcraft, and monkey around on a Chinook.
Although I couldn't do any of the cool stuff, it was still alot more interesting than peeling potatoes for 10 days.
Cole

[TonyM]

I was at Cougar Saliva too. Got to fire of 1 box C-6, 1 box C-9, 10 rnds C-7, 15 rnds 9mm, 2 rnds 84mm and 4 60mm mortar. Not the big "gun camp" thing I was lead to believe it was. It was more like being on a QL3 course again, stupid anal rules (no bush hats allowed!) and cock to boot. I couldn't believe it. We got amalgamated with another coy, had to move in their shacks and play by their rules. Some of our guys just about had it and were looking to E&E back home. Only saving grace was that I had set up some good training on my own beforehand for the last weekend, got to shoot the US Navy pistol qual (got sharpshooter), the USMC Combat pistol course (got marksman) and the US Army NG Combat pistol (no medal, but did qual). That was definitly a good go. I can't believe the 60mm mortar. No sight, no bipod, you just hold it and eyeball the target. When the range staff asked what I thought I told them straight:"Well, I see it this way. One second I'm in a 21st century modern army, next I'm crouched down in 17th century France looking over this thing for Wellington. What's next, the Blunderbuss range?"

[Enfield]

Originally posted by TonyM:
I was at Cougar Saliva too. Got to fire of 1 box C-6, 1 box C-9, 10 rnds C-7, 15 rnds 9mm, 2 rnds 84mm and 4 60mm mortar. Not the big "gun camp" thing I was lead to believe it was. It was more like being on a QL3 course again, stupid anal rules (no bush hats allowed!) and cock to boot. I couldn't believe it. We got amalgamated with another coy, had to move in their shacks and play by their rules. Some of our guys just about had it and were looking to E&E back home. Only saving grace was that I had set up some good training on my own beforehand for the last weekend, got to shoot the US Navy pistol qual (got sharpshooter), the USMC Combat pistol course (got marksman) and the US Army NG Combat pistol (no medal, but did qual). That was definitly a good go. I can't believe the 60mm mortar. No sight, no bipod, you just hold it and eyeball the target. When the range staff asked what I thought I told them straight:"Well, I see it this way. One second I'm in a 21st century modern army, next I'm crouched down in 17th century France looking over this thing for Wellington. What's next, the Blunderbuss range?"

Ah, your a C Scot... We (Seaforths) ended up with quite a grudge against you guys, but it's nice to see you got plenty of cock too. I did the 60mm range, fired 4 bombs. Did the Carl G range, fired 1 round (heard some C Scots got to fire 4-6 rds - true?). Zeroed my C7, and then fired a couple mags in the kill house, a cool experience. Took part in the Penetration Demonstation, fired 17 C7 mags in that (my weapon is now NS, flash suppressor came off). Did the C6 SF night shoot, fired 6 boxes in that. Did the C6 light role and C9 range, fired about 4 or 6 boxes each. Worked out to something like 2300rds of 7.62, 520 rds of C7 5.56, and 800 rds of C9. Managed to get out of the nigt nav - thank god!, and did not get taken away in an ambulance from the confidence course (you Scots cheated on the truck pull!) . First ex sucked, spent 6 hours occupying the church doing jack all. Last ex was cool, got killed a lot, took a few houses. MILES is cool, but it's not the ultimate training tool I thought it was.

Overall and in hindsight, it was good. But waaaaay to much cock. Too much BS, it took away severely from the experience. Turn out for Urban Ram will be less because of the screw-ups in Cougar Salvo.
Even us Seaforths felt bad when we heard the Scots were crammed into one building - why???!. No wonder you guys always looked so depressed. A lot of us were thinking of going back early too.

Enfield

[Reverend B]

Yup. Every night that I returned to the shacks, the troops told me about all the cock that they were receiving. Hell, even us range staff got the cock, we would do ranges all day, then return to play silly fucker under the company for the night. I brought it up that the troops are grumbling, but the higher (who don't really do fuck all physically all day) think that it is good training. "It is the way the army is, suck it up."
Oh well, maybe next time I'll kick the shit out of a junior rupert and say: "It is the way that I am, suck it up." Just make sure that you boys put in a good written post-ex, with ideas on how to improve it for the next time. If you just bitch with no solution, then nothing will get done.
What do you mean, we cheated on the truck pull....next time, after adding both our teams times together, if one of your teams are still within 5 minutes of that time, then perhaps I'll listen to your "cheating" theories, until then....

[TonyM]

I hear you about the Urban Ram thing. I'm not going. I'll be in Edmonton, but doing other stuff. I was going to go, but after this last demonstration of command by puzzlement, they can...well you know what they can do. I'm very "disheartened" with the CF now and need some cooling off time or the next time some idiot with bars tells me to do something stupid.......

The yanks, as always, were a lot of fun to be around. Best one I heard was a SEAL telling us "..OK, in this evolution you have to run to that shed, do 5 pullups, 15 pushups, run back, fire this .45 and put 4 rounds on target, fire this berreta and put 4 rounds on target then fire 3 rounds for score with this shitty old .22 rifle. We took this off a dead guerrilla and it jams like a son of a bitch, which is why he's dead".

Good shooting Rev. I think you got a 10 with that .22

[This message has been edited by TonyM (edited 03-27-2001).]

[Quimby]

Last years Cougar Salvo was much better. About the same amount of ammo but alot less cock. Which genius thought having troops and officers in the same shacks would be a good idea? It seemed every spare moment was filled with some pointless activity. Some officer looks in and sees the boys relaxing and says, "They must be bored. I'll find them something to do." News to higher ups, troops like to relax and shoot the shit with their buddies. Its what keeps most of us coming back. Last year when the shooting was done we were left alone except for the odd task.
That Seaforth Lt.Col who said he wouldn't apologize for keeping us busy has his head shoved up his ass. I hate going to the States and doing the same training I could do on a Thursday night. Night Nav? I mean I'm not opposed to working on basic soldier skills but is this the best training we could get in America? Someone ain't trying hard enough.
The confidence course was a blast. I really didn't want to do it as I'm trying to avoid injuries at this point in time, but ended up having a good time. I suppose our crushing victory helped as well. What's up with the other infantry regiments? I thought we were totally slack and idle but I guess not.

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An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

[TonyM]

Yeah, the whole ex had a very distinct "just slapped together at the last moment" feel about it. I was told that we had "run out" of range activities by Wednesday morning. WTF? Next ex I attend I want to see the training schedule first. And who's in command. Then I'll consider if I'm going. I told one of the officers there that "you know, this is costing me about $200 per day to be here. For $200 a day, I should be getting blown every morning"

[Cole]

You highlanders were lucky that one Westie team got disqualified and the other did not get a bonus minute that they should have got...I'm still convinced someone was out to get us....
Being a 0 in depot company, we kicked around the barracks everyday for a while. When we would go for lunch the mess hall was chalked full of Private Recruits and Majors and Lt. Col's...kinda intimidating. Never seen these guys do anything though. (Except that Seaforth who gave that good speech at the PENDEM).
All and all I, in my starry-eyed newbie blissful ignorance, had a good time on the exercise, which I'll chalk up to new experiences. Hopefully I don't become a cynical bastard like the rest of you. http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Cole (edited 03-29-2001).]

[DukeM]

TonyM and Reverend B, you seem to have nothing good to say about the training that is provided by your units. What are you doing to be apart of the solution and not the problem?

[TonyM]

Some of the things I've tried;
1) Offered personal time to assist the unit in any way possible.
2) Established contacts with forign militaries for possible joint excercises / exchanges.
3) Offered financial aid for additional equipment / ammo.
4) Donated money and tried to sponsor a team for military competitions.
5) Arranged 3rd party liability insurance for additional training activites.
6) Lobbied politicians for more support of the reserves.
7) Attempted to start a rifle team.
There's more, but this will do for a start.
Every one of these has been met with resistance, and in some cases, reprimand. If you have any good ideas that might work, let me know. I'm still trying.

[garett]

Start your own militia

[Enfield]

check out the dnd homepage, we made the front page...
now how the hell did 6th Field Engineers get in all the pics? =o)

Enfield

[DukeM]

TonyM,
Apologies for not getting bask to you sooner but I only had time for one post and comments from Towhey had to be responded to. Anyway it’s good to see that there are people like yourself out there trying to make a difference, but as you might be aware the CF wheel grinds slowly (I think it actually goes backwards most of the time). Offering personal time on things that are doable is excellent. Rifle teams and lobbying politician should be every reservist hobby. Time is money and that’s where your financial contribution should end. Working with foreign units is a good time, but if it hasn’t been done by some other CF unit that is close to yours in type and location (ie two different infantry reserve or regs units) chances are your regular support staff are to lazy to make it happen. Remember they are probably on their retirement posting and do not have any interest in committing there own time. So with that in mind, think smaller, how can you make training good for yourself and the people around you on a weeknight or weekend. Take what the RSS give you and make it as good as you can without help from higher. Then complain to them that training would have been stupid if you did not sort it out at your level.” What kind of monkeys planned this exercise anyway” is always a good quote to use. Every exercise that make troops want to quit while the retards that planned it pat themselves on the back for making a really good ex. is the reason the CF needs people (like you) who try to make a difference. If you don’t keep trying then the retards win.

ReverendB, Giving you the benefit of the doubt I agreed with some of you remarks because I believe in them too, but I guess Towhey was right, you must have been chewing too many Vancouver Island mushrooms. I asked you earlier, “Within are political climate, what would you do to rectify this situation. I am asking you to look at all sides of this discussion and at all levels when you comment. At least you could enlighten myself on some of the things you have done at your unit like TonyM has done in his. Things within your units mandate”. And you can’t even answer that logically? All shit and no substantiation. Is that what your all about?

[Reverend B]

Ok, DukeM, I must say that yes I was a tad bit off on your reply, I took your remark as just another "what have YOU done" without thinking. Perhaps it was.

Since I have been in I have tried to start a shooting team, a "rod'n'gun" type club, tried to start a karate club, volunteered free time to help to get people ready for there JNCO, made a nav course on our camp on my own time just to get the reply of "who the fuck said you could" with the "must be shit if it wasn't made by a reg" attitude, and tried to organise other smaller activities, tried to get a team together for patrolling competitions, all of us on our free time, amongst other things. The reply is always"no extra training on your own". I have submitted numerous training plans WELL WITHIN our training schedule to make training more interesting and better for the troops. I have also on numerous occasions put my neck out for the troops, to save them from doing bullshit jobs, only to be told that I have a bad attitude...and then see the troops come back groaning that what they did was a waste of time.

I have seen numerous senior NCO's (there you go Towhey--but I am sure that there are other semantics that you will rant about--and yes, I agree, I was being an asshole) quit because they, before me, beat there heads against walls just to finally get fed up and leave. I have seen guys like TonyM submit excellent proposals and do ALL the legwork himself, just to have a "no, because I said so" response.

Perhaps I am cynical and bitter and more than a tad ignorant at times, but mostly it is because I am on shoestrings right now with packing it in, but I refuse to leave things in a mess, so I will probably stick around some more. We have just got ourselves a new OC, and he is has stuck his head out for us, and I have seen improvements already. He inherited a mess of a situation when he took over, but he does seem to be an excellent OC.

One of the biggest problems that I see is that those above never really talk with the troops, they always get the "yup, everything is good" answer. I agree, troops will always grumble and groan, which is good. But, I think that they should first say "Wow, that was kick ass, but this could have been better..."

Ah, that is enough for now. I hope that somewhat there is now an understanding, and that I have somewhat answered some of what you ask.

[Barney]

Reverend B and TonyM, though I have seen the same situation you've found yourself in, let me offer a few comments. Yes, it's from 'the officer side' but it might help explain why your initiatives didn't get met with open arms.

1. Cross Border Training - seems cool, I love it, everybody does - right? Well, as a former Ops O, who tried to set up some training in Ft Drum, it's not that easy. Cross Border clearances are a must. And, there's a pile of crossing the t's and dotting the i's for this stuff. And, if you don't do it 100% right remember this - anything that happens is an 'International Incident' so that means it skips right to the House Of Commons when it hits the fan. That's why we can't easily set this stuff up on our own initiative. It has to go from Area HQ to Ottawa.

2. Why did your other plans get refused? Well, I've also done budgets for four years. typically, I had up to $750,000 for a Res Med Coy of 65 effectives. I had to balance courses, admin, training, operations and maint expenses. Basically the whole meal deal. I also had to make all the crappy decisions that you troops always hated. I limited how many Cpls got their JLC/JNCO, so that I could get more drivers, or QL4 Med A. I had to balance that budget to within 2% annually. There was just no more room for anything extra, that wasn't identified during the planning cycle (Dec to Feb).

3. NCO's jumping on you for initiative: Can't really say why, as I don't know ya personaly. But, I've seen this happen occasionally, usually when an NCO or Junior Officer is insecure of their abilities. When this happens, they rely on autocratic rule, and tend to scream and shout. Those leaders who are confident in their skills, and control, usually welcome input, and will take the time to explain why they can or can't make it happen.

Yes, it does piss me off to hear about troops getting so pissed off with the system that they want to quit. I don't know about you, but if your leaders took the time and explained why they couldn't make changes, would it help?

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Death to the Purple One

[medic1]

Hey is anybody going to EX Urban Ram? It should be a good one. I was at the TEWT for the ex this past weekend and there is going to be reg force leopards and air force griffons participating. the enemy force is going to be the recce squad of the PPCLI plus we ALL get MILES gear for once too. I can say I think after talking with the planners that this is a very promising ex for once. I've been reading posts on this board for a while but never posted. since i'm new here i'll tell you a little about myself. I'm a Med A with 14 svc in Calgary and also a civillian paramedic. anybody else here from Calgary?

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