Divining the right role, capabilities, structure, and Regimental System for Canada's Army Reserves

[WLSC]

In 1990 I was on ED&T for 5 months (Jan to May) going to school in England. I was extremely surprised to find out from a phone call with my parents that a letter had arrived telling me I was loaded on a CLC course 3 weeks before I returned to Canada and 4 weeks before my ED&T ended.
When I arrived home, I was even more surprised to find out that the RCR BSL seemed to think I was awol from the course…

30th FD seemed to have forgotten I was gone, and was equally as surprised as the RCR BSL that I hadn’t shown up - which back in the time of paper claims and route letters, I found odd that no one had realized I hadn’t got one and even more odd they no one seemed to notice I was gone for 4months by then.
I realized later that my FOO had never replaced me as his Tech, after he (plus the BC and CO) had signed my ED&T, and he and a signaler had been doing the FOO Party with the two of them and no one else in the Battery seemed to realize I was gone.

It was even funnier in September when the BSM was sure I’d been promoted after my CLC…

I was call a Tuesday while I was on a course in Gagetown by the unit new Chief Clerk. She told me that as a sgt, I was a bad exemple because she was going to put my name on the NES list because I didn’t show up for the last month. She wanted me at the unit, in Montreal that evening

 

[brihard]

I was call a Tuesday while I was on a course in Gagetown by the unit new Chief Clerk. She told me that as a sgt, I was a bad exemple because she was going to put my name on the NES list because I didn’t show up for the last month. She wanted me at the unit, in Montreal that evening

Pffft, that's nothing. Buddy of mine in my section at the time got an NES letter from his unit while we were in Afghanistan. If memory serves, he mailed it back, and included the envelope his mom had forwarded it in, with his deployment mailing address in Afghanistan. I think he added something not overly polite in black sharpie.

 

[WLSC]

Pffft, that's nothing. Buddy of mine in my section at the time got an NES letter from his unit while we were in Afghanistan. If memory serves, he mailed it back, and included the envelope his mom had forwarded it in, with his deployment mailing address in Afghanistan. I think he added something not overly polite in black sharpie.

Ok, I can’t compete whit that …. I heard about that, always doubted it.

 

[brihard]

Ok, I can’t compete whit that …. I heard about that, always doubted it.

Saw it with my own eyes. Almost the angriest I’ve ever seen him.

 

[WLSC]

Saw it with my own eyes. Almost the angriest I’ve ever seen him.

Totally understandable! Completely unbelievable!

 

[ueo]

Simple proxies. Pick suitable countries, calculate a ballpark multiplier- call itt he average of population and GDP multiple * percent GDP defense spend multiple. Apply the multiplier to their forces and compare it to what we have.

Ex (rough) Denmark: ~(6.4xpop+ 5xGDP)/2 * (1.27/1.39) = 5.2
So in rough terms, relative to Denmark we should be able to field forces of comparable capability but 5.2 times the size.
Focusing just on heavy metal, fighter aircraft, naval combatants, ignoring trivialities like GBAD, rocket artillery, SP mortars, modern ATGM's)
44 Leo 2A7 x 5.2 = 220+ fully updated, common fleet MBT's
44 CV9035 x 5.2 = 220 + tracked IFV's (plus nearly 1900 Pirhana V's)
19 155mm SPG x 5.2 = 98 SPG's
23 F35 x5.2 = 119 5th generation fighters
3 Iver Huitfelt = 15 21st century AD frigates
2 Absalon = 10 21st centrury ASW frigates

Ex (rough) UK: ~ (.57xpop +.64xGDP)/2 * (1.27/1.39) = .36
227 Challenger 2's x .36 = 81 MBT's
721 Warriors x.36 = 259 track IFV's (plus 235 CVR(T)s and 558 Protected Mobility Vehicles)
89 155mm SPG's x .36 = 32 SPG's
101 Typhoons x.36 = 36 4th generation fighters
80 F35s = 28 5th generation fighters
10 Assorted SSN/SSBN = 3-4 SSN's
... the surface Navy gets messy based on the carrier/amphib weighting


Do the same for the US, France, Norway, is the CAF going to come out looking like it delivers value?

Edit Norway super rough - multiplier 3.3
=
178 Leos
475 CV90's
79 155m SPGs
89 F35s
18 SSKs
15 Destroyers

Hmmm. this set of calcs are seemingly based on one persons definition etc. Does nothing for me with the exception of eye strain and a massive headache.

 

[ueo]

But would that actually work? Something like half of Canada’s population lives in our 10 largest cities. If we can’t attract urban Canadians, then we can’t attract Canadians.

Not that I’m saying that Thunder Bay and Windsor shouldn’t have recruiting centres — it’s just that it shouldn’t be seen as a panacea.

Seem to remember that the smaller dets had little difficulty filling monthly intake quotas. No , or little direct competition and the folks posted/employed were part of the community and much more attuned to local conditions. Along came TQL etc with accompaning $ restraints and pfft! no more local intel.

 

[ueo]

The career managers have sometimes viewed Res units as a place to "give someone a rest", or as a place to park an individual with temporary or permanent medical limitations.

A WO with medical limitations that preclude full time work, preclude the ability to get themselves to and from work, preclude the ability to be employed in trade and unfit field is, regardless of their character, not an optimal person to post to a Res F unit as a one of one.

Anyone posted to a PRes unit should be fit in all aspects therefor setting an example/standard for that unit! Using these positions as place holders is just plain wrong in my opinion.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Anyone posted to a PRes unit should be fit in all aspects therefor setting an example/standard for that unit! Using these positions as place holders is just plain wrong in my opinion.

At my former unit the last RSSO I dealt with had been seriously injured in a parachuting accident so was 'exempt everything', pretty much. He was medically released. Regardless, he was deeply disrespctful and conniving, amongst other poor personality traits, and I would have fired him mainly for a really bad attitude and a lack of any kind of leadership control over the full time staff.

Before that: one of the most toxic people I've ever met and a perfect example of a Militia hater. He wasn't well liked by his Reg F counterparts either, which was fun to watch. He was kicked out of the CAF, thank Gawd.

Before that: PTSD. Like really bad PTSD I think. A good guy at heart, but it wasn't fair to put him in that job. Medically released.

Before that: we had a guy that never went into the field or worked weekends which, with a Reserve Unit, is pretty much a disability. He was posted here on a family compassionate thing where he had to look after a disabled family member, so was constantly 'unavailable''/ working the system. He seemd to be a bit disabled himself, and was a very slow 'thinker' if you get my drift. He never left the office much, and managed to hang on there for about 6 years (OMFG) until he hit CRA. One of the dullest people I've ever met, seriously.

Before that: a random assortment of 'awkward squad' types, as I recall, who were clearly sent here to get them out of the way and who did nothing to bring credit to their Regiment, sadly. One had been another parachute accident type (but also a dangerous idiot), another was clearly not interested in being in the Army any more and was sent here by the Reg F to avoid having to put up with his shit, and was subsequently released.

The overall effect was to provide a very bad impression of the quality of Reg F Officers at the Captain level, as well as the quality of the decision making by the higher levels of leadership who decided to inflict these people upon us.

Having said that the guy who is 'in the chair' now is, by all accounts, excellent so that would be the first time that's happened <checks cave wall paintings> since about 1993...

 

[MilEME09]

Before that: one of the most toxic people I've ever met and a perfect example of a Militia hater. He wasn't well liked by his Reg F counterparts either, which was fun to watch. He was kicked out of the CAF, thank Gawd.

Funny I have a similar case unfold recently, irony was he had a hissy fit because the career manager didn't offer any postings he wanted, si he pulled pin and the unit turned his position into a class B, he became the very thing he hated, even if it was full time

 

[Halifax Tar]

At my former unit the last RSSO I dealt with had been seriously injured in a parachuting accident so was 'exempt everything', pretty much. He was medically released. Regardless, he was deeply disrespctful and conniving, amongst other poor personality traits, and I would have fired him mainly for a really bad attitude and a lack of any kind of leadership control over the full time staff.

Before that: one of the most toxic people I've ever met and a perfect example of a Militia hater. He wasn't well liked by his Reg F counterparts either, which was fun to watch. He was kicked out of the CAF, thank Gawd.

Before that: PTSD. Like really bad PTSD I think. A good guy at heart, but it wasn't fair to put him in that job. Medically released.

Before that: we had a guy that never went into the field or worked weekends which, with a Reserve Unit, is pretty much a disability. He was posted here on a family compassionate thing where he had to look after a disabled family member, so was constantly 'unavailable''/ working the system. He seemd to be a bit disabled himself, and was a very slow 'thinker' if you get my drift. He never left the office much, and managed to hang on there for about 6 years (OMFG) until he hit CRA. One of the dullest people I've ever met, seriously.

Before that: a random assortment of 'awkward squad' types, as I recall, who were clearly sent here to get them out of the way and who did nothing to bring credit to their Regiment, sadly. One had been another parachute accident type (but also a dangerous idiot), another was clearly not interested in being in the Army any more and was sent here by the Reg F to avoid having to put up with his shit, and was subsequently released.

The overall effect was to provide a very bad impression of the quality of Reg F Officers at the Captain level, as well as the quality of the decision making by the higher levels of leadership who decided to inflict these people upon us.

Having said that the guy who is 'in the chair' now is, by all accounts, excellent so that would be the first time that's happened <checks cave wall paintings> since about 1993...

There is a real disconnect from the Reg Force about what is required for pers posted into an RSS position. I am dealing with this right now.

At the same time, the reserves have to remember they a have duty to look after their members. And working RSS people 8 days a week for extended period time is not sustainable, and the reserve folks in leadership positions need to step up and do their job as well, you cant just leave every thing for the RSS folks.

Its a balance, and both sides are at fault.

 

[dapaterson]

Look, there are 168 hours in a week. Work life balance means you should be working at least 84 of them.

 

[MilEME09]

There is a real disconnect from the Reg Force about what is required for pers posted into an RSS position. I am dealing with this right now.

At the same time, the reserves have to remember they a have duty to look after their members. And working RSS people 8 days a week for extended period time is not sustainable, and the reserve folks in leadership positions need to step up and do their job as well, you cant just leave every thing for the RSS folks.

Its a balance, and both sides are at fault.

Agreed its a balance, the reserve side needs to do its part, but the RSS side also needs to do its part for day to day operations. I've seen some RSS never come out on a weekend EX, whole I've seen others show up to every one, that's not fair either, but that's on the Adj to deal with if people aren't pulling their weight. On the reserve side people need to follow through when they say they are going to do something, the Class A members represent the manpower to actually execute everything, and we need to better police our dead weight. Though I know that's being more tracked 41 CBG recently demanded an explanation for all our dead weight troops who have been in 3+ years without qualifications.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Agreed its a balance, the reserve side needs to do its part, but the RSS side also needs to do its part for day to day operations. I've seen some RSS never come out on a weekend EX, whole I've seen others show up to every one, that's not fair either, but that's on the Adj to deal with if people aren't pulling their weight. On the reserve side people need to follow through when they say they are going to do something, the Class A members represent the manpower to actually execute everything, and we need to better police our dead weight. Though I know that's being more tracked 41 CBG recently demanded an explanation for all our dead weight troops who have been in 3+ years without qualifications.

Its very high and mighty to demand a constant commitment to a unit when the actual members of the unit (non RSS) aren't committed to it.

Agreed, RSS positions should not be treated as dumping grounds, no contest there. But if you are going to work people 7 days a week and two evenings you need to compensate them. If you dont, dont be surprised when the go to the BHosp and fix the problem for you.

 

[MilEME09]

Its very high and mighty to demand a constant commitment to a unit when the actual members of the unit (non RSS) aren't committed to it.

Agreed, RSS positions should not be treated as dumping grounds, no contest there. But if you are going to work people 7 days a week and two evenings you need to compensate them. If you dont, dont be surprised when the go to the BHosp and fix the problem for you.

Yeap, if they work a full weekend, give them Monday and Tuesday off. We need to be fair, that said the RSS need realistic expectations of the class A too, I've had emails asking for who wants X task, let me know by tomorrow at 1700. Read the email chain and they sat on it a week. Class A types can't take 3 weeks off work on a days notice, and never will.

 

[dapaterson]

Yeap, if they work a full weekend, give them Monday and Tuesday off. We need to be fair, that said the RSS need realistic expectations of the class A too, I've had emails asking for who wants X task, let me know by tomorrow at 1700. Read the email chain and they sat on it a week. Class A types can't take 3 weeks off work on a days notice, and never will.

TBH, some can, and they are usually not the ones you'd want to send.

 

[MilEME09]

TBH, some can, and they are usually not the ones you'd want to send.

Currently I am trying to coordinate doing ATIs during university reading week when about 1/3 of my platoon will be free, good opportunity for OJT and get ATIs done fast. I agree very few will be free, given enough notice more could be though

 

[Halifax Tar]

Yeap, if they work a full weekend, give them Monday and Tuesday off. We need to be fair, that said the RSS need realistic expectations of the class A too, I've had emails asking for who wants X task, let me know by tomorrow at 1700. Read the email chain and they sat on it a week. Class A types can't take 3 weeks off work on a days notice, and never will.

Correction your CBG/regimental/battalion leadership needs to realistic about what class As can or want to do.

Look, I'm not interested in this back and forth.

This is so Canadian Army it hurts. Reg V Res.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Look, there are 168 hours in a week. Work life balance means you should be working at least 84 of them.

The Legal profession enters chat and nods vigorously.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

My experience as a reservist and up to Snr NCO in the 70-80's was that the RSS staff were generally from good to excellent. Still friends with a couple of them and count one MWO as my mentor for the era. I did meet a short PPCLI MWO who was in my opinion a bastard, I am sure his opinion of me was less than flattering as well.