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That's what I've heard, five bunkbeds in a room.Is that actually what the living quarters are like there?
That's what I've heard, five bunkbeds in a room.Is that actually what the living quarters are like there?
Depends on the TF Comd and how stringent they are about stuff like leave in theatre and the left and right of arc for troops in situ.Asking the question.
Would there not be a ton of people wanting to go to Europe and Latvia? I thought it was nice but I just got a one day visit. Not as expensive as other European countries plus with Estonia next door even cheaper.
@dapaterson hit the nail on the head. Folks are packed in like sardines, and it's not just a Canadian problem. Couple with the fact that Germany took 40 years to go from being what it started out as to what we left, not a sustainable model.We did 40 years in Germany......did we forget how?
Why do 6 months? Move the family?
I don't think that's the problem. The problem, IMHO, is that the CAF as a whole is led by people (military and civilian) who are a product of the Afghanistan method of doing deployments. The CFE generation is, like me, sitting at home in retirement and gnashing their teeth.Moving families requires a large infra footprint, to a place where we currently have people ten to a room. Might be a long term objective, but can't see that happening in the near term.
@dapaterson hit the nail on the head. Folks are packed in like sardines, and it's not just a Canadian problem. Couple with the fact that Germany took 40 years to go from being what it started out as to what we left, not a sustainable model.
We are having a hard enough time housing families in Canada, on land we own, let alone dropping a large enough PMQ patch in a country smaller than New Bruinswick.
or - let folks live on the economy like many did in Europe. So many options. Only our risk aversion is getting in the way.... dropping a large enough PMQ patch in a country smaller than New Bruinswick.
You're assuming the GoC is interested in spending that kind of cash on the CAF.I don't think that's the problem. The problem, IMHO, is that the CAF as a whole is led by people (military and civilian) who are a product of the Afghanistan method of doing deployments. The CFE generation is, like me, sitting at home in retirement and gnashing their teeth.
We've been in Latvia since shortly after 2016 when the Warsaw summit as a result of Russia's first bit of nastiness in Ukraine. We've had well over five years to figure out that this would be a long term commitment. It's been almost a year and a half since the 2nd outrage which makes it plain that it's a real long-term commitment. This isn't rocket science; it's basically common sense. If the army truly doesn't want to burn its people out with continuous 6 month deployment cycles it needs a different paradigm. Again, IMHO, that's solved by a fairly robust posted logistics and (robust but not gigantic) headquarters structure, at least some posted unit elements, small rotos for a full-time presence and a flyover plan for major exercises (all of which can have a total force construct.
Make a plan and build the infrastructure or, better yet, have the Latvians build the infrastructure.
I find that whenever an institution doesn't want to progress, it can find a hundred reasons for not doing so.So, can the local area around the base in Latvia support 2K CAF members and families? Are there sufficient apartments/ homes for rent? Are there schools for their children?
Or should we just say fuck it, you're military, figure it out for yourself?
Honestly, I don't think its a big cost matter. Salaries are a wash anyway and there are certain allowances that wouldn't be necessary for posted folks. If you work something out with the Latvian government so that they build and own the infrastructure (including single quarters) in exchange for tenants renting (at their expense) then you are left with a much smaller capital outlay.You're assuming the GoC is interested in spending that kind of cash on the CAF.
I suspect that the GoC doesn't care about CAF member's burnout, they just care about getting people there while they are spinning up for the next election.
But you're right. Unless DND does the math, comes up with options, and sells it to the GoC as a viable COA, it'll never happen. The GoC isn't going to come to this wisdom by osmosis.
No that was guys teaching Ukrainians. Totally different situation.Isn't this the same mission where they currently are months behind on paying people their per diem, and they had to bring in a tiger team of clerks to catch up?
Hopefully the increase comes with suitable admin to do the basics; that's pretty embarassing.
Everyone wants more 'teeth' while hoping the things the 'tail' do just magically sort themselves out.
I honestly can't tell if that's sarcasm or not.No that was guys teaching Ukrainians. Totally different situation.
Half Sqn at a time, they’re moving to three tank Sqns. So in theory everyone will go every three years. 12 RBC and RCDs will take on the Recce troop task.
Not at all. The per diems and buying their own food issue wasn’t Latvia. Unifier is where those problems came up.I honestly can't tell if that's sarcasm or not.
They’re sending 15 but deploying half Sqns so I assume they have included spares.Half a Squadron effectively is the same as a Swedish or Ukrainian Company isn't it? About 10 tanks?
Well I did recall seeing that @Humphrey Bogart posted something about CP rail building condos inside 6 months…Moving families requires a large infra footprint, to a place where we currently have people ten to a room. Might be a long term objective, but can't see that happening in the near term.
48 condos in six months to be exact.Well I did recall seeing that @Humphrey Bogart posted something about CP rail building condos inside 6 months…
I’m pretty sure the CAF and the Latvian Gov could get something done fairly quickly.
And as big as CP is, something tells me they aren’t as big as the GOC or GOL in terms of procurement $48 condos in six months to be exact.