- Reaction score
- 114
- Points
- 680
That therein is the kicker though. Soldiering first and foremost above being tradesmen is probably the very best arguement for each and every entrant to the CF being required to serve in a cbt arms trade first, then remuster over to the support trades, including ResF personnel.
The problem is maintaining those skillsets once you are indeed rolled over into the support trade. That is a problem now, and will continue to be in the future. Simply put, those pers will then be required to maintain to a fighting level (and that trg and level is constantly changing as our enemy and their tactics change). But then, they must also maintain their skillset as a tradesmen, for if they don't...the support to those actually using the fighting skillsets won't be there; and you can't continue to fight for long if you don't have a competant and trained support system (tail wagging the dog) to back you up. That little tidbit was borne out to the German Parachute Regiment in Ortona very nicely by the 48th Highlanders et al. No support...no victory, someone is always behind you providing you the ammo, rats, vehicles, maint capabilities etc that you need up front.
There needs to be a fine balance of both skillsets and a recognition that both are required. Where is the happy medium?
The problem is maintaining those skillsets once you are indeed rolled over into the support trade. That is a problem now, and will continue to be in the future. Simply put, those pers will then be required to maintain to a fighting level (and that trg and level is constantly changing as our enemy and their tactics change). But then, they must also maintain their skillset as a tradesmen, for if they don't...the support to those actually using the fighting skillsets won't be there; and you can't continue to fight for long if you don't have a competant and trained support system (tail wagging the dog) to back you up. That little tidbit was borne out to the German Parachute Regiment in Ortona very nicely by the 48th Highlanders et al. No support...no victory, someone is always behind you providing you the ammo, rats, vehicles, maint capabilities etc that you need up front.
There needs to be a fine balance of both skillsets and a recognition that both are required. Where is the happy medium?