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

[Haggis]

As an added note, you are not able to merge Army Reserve, ARAF and NRDs training goals in most communities to the point where it is logical to have one reserve building. This discussion is about the changes to the Army Reserve, so adding in the NRDs (not armouries)  into the discussion is not useful at this point.

At the BMQ and PLQ level (mods 1-5), why not?  The QS is the same, regardless of uniform.

 

[dapaterson]

Nav Res and ARAF do the full Reg F BMQ, so it will not work there.  Besides, ARAF annual ab initio training can be measured on one or two hands; it is overwhelmingly populated by former Reg F members.

 

[Haggis]

I know.  In fact the Air Reserve only accepts Reg F qualifications.  However, as noted a few pages back, the IT&E system is in need of overhaul.  Perhaps it's best to start the fix at the BMQ level.

 

[geo]

The Air, Nav & Comms were Reserves .... while everyone else (Arty, Armd RECCE, Engrs, Infantry, Svcs) were all "militia".  Air, Nav & Comms would all take the regular BMQ in St Jean... VS the BMQ/SQ courses given by local CBG schools throughout the training year. 

Now that Comms command has been tossed into the Militia basket & Medical types have been spun out - into their own command, not sure what standards are being applied.

 

[Monsoon]

The Air, Nav & Comms were Reserves .... while everyone else (Arty, Armd RECCE, Engrs, Infantry, Svcs) were all "militia".  Air, Nav & Comms would all take the regular BMQ in St Jean... VS the BMQ/SQ courses given by local CBG schools throughout the training year.

Actually, NAVRES (along with some AirRes) runs its own BMQ school in Borden just like the CBGs. The only difference is that the NAVRES/AirRes course has CDA certification as meeting the reg force BMQ standard, which they manage to do by making a bit of the training (first aid, SHARP, etc) modular and run at the unit before the summer courses. Also gives flexibility so that NAVRES/AirRes guys can get sent on the St-Jean courses if there's space available during the winter. I've never understood why the militia hasn't troubled to get CDA certification; guess it's a case of "different ships, different cap tallies."

 

[dapaterson]

Because, after assessment, there's a lot of "fluff" on the Reg F course not needed by the average Reservist.

This does speak to a much larger problem:  today's corruption of the Reserves into a "Reg F lite" organization, with thousands upon thousands of Reservists employed on a continuing full-time basis, performign ongoing, continuing tasks related to the Defence of Canada.  That is the role (and legal definition) of the Regular Force.

A Reserve is held back and committed to decisively defeat the enemy - and once committed is a new reserve is rebuilt.

Today, we have the Air Reserve committed and unable to surge to provide aditional augmentation.  That Reserve is spent.

The Nav Res has ongoing defence of Canada tasks in manning the MCDVs.  That represents over 10% of their paid strength (or about 15% of their paid trained strength).  Throw in management of the formation plus twenty odd NRDs and there is a very limted surge capability remaining - particularly in key leadership ranks (*), which have over 50% of their pers on full-time service.

The Army Reserve has about 1/3 of its paid strength on full-time Service; at key leadership ranks close to 50% are on full-time service.

The commitment of the Reserves was made on an ad hoc, piecemeal basis, without an overriding national plan, meaning low-priority tasks are being performed at the expense of higher priority activities.  We have no plan to reconstitute a reserve, leaving the CF without any significant surge capability.

It's time for a long, hard look at how we are abusing the spirit and letter of the law vis a vis Reg and Res F.  It's time to be honest:  if we need permanent full-time personnel to perform a function, that is the role of the Regular Force - and if we lack the reg F PYs to perform a task, we either get out of the business, drop a lower priority item, or go to government to get priorities.  No more "Reg F on 85% of the pay" - unless we move to a different Reg F paradigm, with sliding pay scales depending on post-ability (if that's a word) and deployability.


But right now, we've broken things badly - and no one wants to 'fess up, or try fixing the mess.

(*) For these purposes, MS/MCPL through CPO2/MWO, and Lt(N)/Capt and LCdr/Maj

 

[geo]

well said DAP
Saw the CLS last night on the news.... Broken vehicles, broken army.... broken reserve/militia.... might as well line up our ducks and look at talking to our political masters about fixing em all at the same time.

 

[Monsoon]

Because, after assessment, there's a lot of "fluff" on the Reg F course not needed by the average Reservist.

Agreed. In fact, I would argue that there's a lot of "fluff" on BMQ that isn't needed by most people in the Reg F, either.

This does speak to a much larger problem:  today's corruption of the Reserves into a "Reg F lite" organization, with thousands upon thousands of Reservists employed on a continuing full-time basis, performign ongoing, continuing tasks related to the Defence of Canada.  That is the role (and legal definition) of the Regular Force.

I'm not going to go there - suffice it to say that the powers that be have decided what the role of the reserve will be in the Canada, regardless of historical (and legal) definitions.

The Nav Res has ongoing defence of Canada tasks in manning the MCDVs.  That represents over 10% of their paid strength (or about 15% of their paid trained strength).  Throw in management of the formation plus twenty odd NRDs and there is a very limted surge capability remaining - particularly in key leadership ranks (*), which have over 50% of their pers on full-time service.

Actually, it's closer to 50% of TES for all ranks, at the moment.

 

[Kirkhill]

So what you seem to be suggesting to this ex-Militiaman is that the Regs should be handling the expeditionary commitments, the standing patrols in defence of Canada and all the administrative burden.

The Militia would be focused on supplying people with pointy sticks, people to serve the guns and various drivers. ie, not a full slate of soldierly skills but people with a narrowly focused set of skills that are required when things go pear-shaped.

In the meantime, they are more valuable for their civic commitment than for any of the more esoteric military skills they might have.

Seems like a reasonable prescription to me.

 

[Haggis]

Actually, NAVRES (along with some AirRes) runs its own BMQ school in Borden just like the CBGs. The only difference is that the NAVRES/AirRes course has CDA certification as meeting the reg force BMQ standard, which they manage to do by making a bit of the training (first aid, SHARP, etc) modular and run at the unit before the summer courses. Also gives flexibility so that NAVRES/AirRes guys can get sent on the St-Jean courses if there's space available during the winter. I've never understood why the militia hasn't troubled to get CDA certification; guess it's a case of "different ships, different cap tallies."

An Army Reservist who has completed the Army Reserve BMQ and SQ (AKA DP1 BMQ (L)) since 2003 will be granted the equvalency of Reg F BMQ. That is a CDA certification.

 

[Monsoon]

An Army Reservist who has completed the Army Reserve BMQ and SQ (AKA DP1 BMQ (L)) since 2003 will be granted the equvalency of Reg F BMQ. That is a CDA certification.

CDA certification is certification by the CDA to grant the same MITE code for the qualifications - my understanding is that the MITE codes were differentiated between militia and regular force BMQ, though I could be mistaken. Is what you're saying that the completion of SQ along with militia BMQ grants the same MITE code as regular force BMQ and SQ?

 

[dapaterson]

So what you seem to be suggesting to this ex-Militiaman is that the Regs should be handling the expeditionary commitments, the standing patrols in defence of Canada and all the administrative burden.

Should there be a surge need (for skills scarce in the Reg F, or to meet unplanned expeditions) make a conscious decision to bring the Reserves on line.  Or, better yet, for a situation like A'stan today, stand up the Special Force - bring a BG together for 3 years: 12 mos training, 6 mos deployed, 6 mos recovery / confirmation trg, 6 mos deployed, 6 mos leave - and get two tours out of them vice the one we get now.

The Militia would be focused on supplying people with pointy sticks, people to serve the guns and various drivers. ie, not a full slate of soldierly skills but people with a narrowly focused set of skills that are required when things go pear-shaped.

A part-time organization cannot maintain the full skillset - it's not cost or time effective to do so.

In the meantime, they are more valuable for their civic commitment than for any of the more esoteric military skills they might have.

Seems like a reasonable prescription to me.

Indeed, it's worked well historically.

The decision to "Regular-ify" the Reserves must be revisted - if we need limited deployabilty full-time pers ("Post me and I release!"), make it a Reg F subcomponent.  If the Reg F refuses a task because it's not sexy enough, start firing General and Flag officers until you get one who will obey an order.


(Edit for typos)

 

[Haggis]

Hamiltongs:

What I'm saying is that if an Army Reservist CTs to the Reg F and has completed the Army Reserve BMQ and SQ s/he will be granted Reg F BMQ (AINT).  This will likely be accomplished through a PLAR.

 

[PPCLI Guy]

well said DAP
Saw the CLS last night on the news.... Broken vehicles, broken army.... broken reserve/militia.... might as well line up our ducks and look at talking to our political masters about fixing em all at the same time.

Exactly what he is trying to do.  A lot of thought went into that speech, and the testimony.  The Press conference not so much - that was an ambush scrum pure and simple.

Bottom line - he spoke truth to power.

 

[geo]

(a play from the Codfather's play book ?)

 

[PMedMoe]

Not sure if this belongs here or not.

Army looking to overhaul reserves through amalgamation

The Canadian Armed Forces are set to amalgamate some of the current 140 regiments into a smaller number of bigger units, CBC News has learned.

The changes would come into effect after Canada concludes its combat mission in Afghanistan in 2011.

"We are going to mess with the basic structure of the army reserve," Brig.-Gen. Gary O'Brien, the head of the army reserve, told CBC News in an interview. "It isn't about closing more locations or getting smaller — it's about getting more efficient."

Many of the army's reserve units have about 100 soldiers each, and those regiments are often too small to train for large operations, O'Brien said.

He also said it's hard to find qualified soldiers to lead units, and creating a smaller number of larger units is an attempt to address that problem.

More on link.

 

[ltmaverick25]

Well I guess that settles our debate!  If it is implemented well, I think this could be a very good thing for the army reserves.

 

[dapaterson]

Brig.-Gen. Gary O'Brien, the head of the army reserve, told CBC News in an interview.

No, he isn't.  He's the senior advisor to CLS on Reserve issues, but there is no formation "The Army Reserve", unlike Nav Res.

Army Reserve units are part of formations (usually CBGs) which in turn are part of Land Force Areas, which in turn report to the Army Commander.

BGen O'Brien is staff, not line.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

No, he isn't.  He's the senior advisor to CLS on Reserve issues, but there is no formation "The Army Reserve", unlike Nav Res.

Army Reserve units are part of formations (usually CBGs) which in turn are part of Land Force Areas, which in turn report to the Army Commander.

BGen O'Brien is staff, not line.

Sounds like piss poor reporting by the MSM.

 

[Haggis]

Sounds like piss poor reporting by the MSM.

And that surprises you how, again?