Forces Halts Soldiers' UNMARKED Care Packages

[Fishbone Jones]

There was stuff so bad that the Salvation Army in Pembroke wouldn't even take it andalthough I didn't expect praise you are right one person gptthe commendation.  I wanted to take triwalls and dump on his lawn here in Pet but nobody thought that was a good idea

We handed it out to the locals, they looked at it, left a lot of it in the field and walked away. We had an ML and two SUVs. He showed all geared up behind the MG of a Bison ;D

Ahhhh, but it's all good........and all done. At least we did our part.

 

[PMedMoe]

It was some of the most disgusting lawn sale reject stuff that I've ever seen.

Sounds like the box of crap we got when in Trenton for Op Parasol.  Hard to believe that some people can be so lazy, ignorant and rude!

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Sounds like the box of crap we got when in Trenton for Op Parasol.  Hard to believe that some people can be so lazy, ignorant and rude!

Those drives are nothing more than an excuse for people to clean out their basements and attics, without having to take it to the dump. That stunt just about put the kibosh on accepting any kind of aid from uncertified sources. Many good donation efforts were shelved due to that one, poorly executed plan developed by an overinflated ego with no control of it's project.

 

[Roy Harding]

The policy is a good one.  Let's make we give our soldiers what they need to take care of themselves and the Afghans before we start sending over more soccer balls, candy and other assorted stuff that is really not needed.  This was brought to light very poorly.  Instead of saying that we don't accept anything, why isn't the Canadian Public being encouraged to write?  Send a card, tell a soldier what is happening in their home town.  Or, are they just not hearing the whole message?

The public is being encouraged to do such - re-read the press release above and I think you'll agree.

I think you hit it on the head in your last sentence - the public just isn't hearing the whole message.

I'm involved in a local Christmas charity here - and I've made a few folks angry with my view that there shouldn't be $250.00 toys in the hampers - toys, yes - but the kids we're delivering to don't need $250.00 Radio Controlled Jeep CJs - it's my view we (the charity) should be putting a variety of toys in the packages, and oh, I don't know - some snowpants, or mittens, or toques or some such in there as well.  Folks who argue with me don't seem to get the reality involved for the kids we're supporting.

It's the same thing with the general public when it comes to soldiers - they want to feel good and send packages over - just like Gramma did in WWII - but they don't seem to get the concept of an air bridge which has a limited capacity.  And they aren't paying attention to the message from the CF - I read a variety of papers daily, and I recall seeing that press release printed in various papers.

God bless 'em for their good intentions, but they don't seem to realize what the situation really is.

 

[riggermade]

Those drives are nothing more than an excuse for people to clean out their basements and attics, without having to take it to the dump. That stunt just about put the kibosh on accepting any kind of aid from uncertified sources. Many good donation efforts were shelved due to that one, poorly executed plan developed by an overinflated ego with no control of it's project.

I agree recceguy and I'll tell you there was often time I was afraid to stick my hand in a box...Thank God for rubbergloves and a face mask

 

[Blindspot]

Or send Tim Horton's certificates...? Is Dave Murphy still promoting this campaign?

 

[Roy Harding]

Or send Tim Horton's certificates...? Is Dave Murphy still promoting this campaign?

Check out this thread:  http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/39242.0.html

 

[armyvern]

Dammit Roy, you're getting too quick! 

 

[Roy Harding]

Dammit Roy, you're getting too quick! 

That's what my wife says, too.

 

[riggermade]

That's what my wife says, too.

You wouldn't have that problem if you didn't spend so much time here...hasn't there been studies done about males and spending to much time on the computer

 

[Roy Harding]

You wouldn't have that problem if you didn't spend so much time here...hasn't there been studies done about males and spending to much time on the computer

Who said it was a problem?  For my wife, maybe.


Anyway - I apologize for taking this thing off track - let's get back to Soldier's Care Packages.

 

[The Bread Guy]

(....)

I think you hit it on the head in your last sentence - the public just isn't hearing the whole message.

(....)

You're more than half way there - the MSM is not REPORTING the whole message (I'd be interested to see how many stories done after the 5 Dec 07 news release included the fact that, "you can't send PARCELS to 'Any Canadian Soldier' - if you send a parcel, it must have someone's name on it".)

- edit to add following -

And here we be, folks - right after the 5 Dec 07 news release, the Cowichan Valley Citizen carried the story on p. 34, the CanWest News Service shared it with its member papers, the Belleville Intelligencer had it on page 2 and the Vancouver Province on p. A40.... (crickets)

And now?  CBC carries it (didn't have the 5 Dec story, though), Montreal Gazette carries it on p.A1 front (in spite of having access to the earlier story, and not running it), Windsor Star on p. B8 (buried a bit, but they, too, have access to CanWest's syndicated material), and Ottawa Citizen on p. C3 (buried a bit, but also with access to earlier story).

 

[davidk]

While I wish Mr Bisson well, and hope that he gets a package, I'm sure that when it all boils down, the ammo and supplies will come in more useful. Besides, there's nothing wrong with Christmas in February - beats no Christmas at all!

Interesting to read this, I was on course with the guy...

Edited to add: updated sitrep here: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=3478b50f-6831-49ec-9c7a-3a6ebfaab73a&k=56154

 

[The Bread Guy]

Wonder who's going to check them all for security issues?

 

[armyvern]

Wonder who's going to check them all for security issues?

No doubt the lowest ranking troops who happen to be in the vicinity.  :-\

 

[Roy Harding]

No doubt the lowest ranking troops who happen to be in the vicinity.  :-\

That would be MY solution, too - but that's just me.

Given MarkOttawa's research regarding the word getting out in the MSM - I wonder if that will make a difference?

 

[armyvern]

That would be MY solution, too - but that's just me.

Given MarkOttawa's research regarding the word getting out in the MSM - I wonder if that will make a difference?

That'd be almost anyone's solution Roy.

Hopefully, the MSM does put the WHOLE story out there this time --- these parcels are not, nor have they been acceptable since this mission's inception. It got lots of news coverage though ... so someone changed their mind. Hopefully, it doesn't now lead to a huge precedent -- I can just imagine the outcry in some other location now when they do up a bunch of parcels and get told NO in accordance with the long-standing policy.

I wonder if my now retired fellow Sup Tech Kevin P. who collected tonnes of care packages etc way back in 2004 from a community drive for the troops will have something to say ref this flip-flop now; his all ended up going to area food banks; it too was originally intended for troops and was collected for them by Canadians who did so for the troops. No different than this situation. And, that situation also made the news (with CBC actually going so far as to air footage of a bucnh of them out picking up cases of KD from a local grocery store for inclusion in the parcels) ... but that community's stuff still didn't go.

Sorry, but this decision doesn't sit well with me. Expect more. And, who can justify saying no to anyone else now? My biggest hope is that actual care packages from the troops' loved ones or mission essential items -- don't get bumped just because the media has the focus on (I hate to say it) ... what essentially amounts to low priority cargo given the CFs current circumstances.  :-\

 

[GAP]

From the West Island with love: Troops get care packages after all
'It's a sigh of relief,' volunteer says. 'It's good they're going'
RENE BRUEMMER, The Gazette Published:
Article Link

More than 1,700 care packages collected by West Island residents for soldiers in Afghanistan will be shipped to the troops after all, the Canadian military says.

Volunteers and organizers who spent nearly six months collecting toiletries, playing cards and letters had been told last week the parcels would not be delivered because of logistical and security problems, even though 1,600 of the boxes were already stacked up at the Royal Canadian Hussars Armoury on Côte des Neiges Rd.

But after a flurry of media attention Monday and Tuesday, organizers received a call Tuesday evening saying the packages will be collected today and sent in a container ship on Dec. 22.
More on link

 

[geo]

There is a thread around here that brings up the idea of "adopting" an Infantry platoon/Coy, Engineer/Armoured troop/sqn, Arty bty, etc...... whereby a civic group/organisation gets the names & particulars of the sub-sub formation they adopt... and to which they write & send care packages.....

If you know what you are looking for & know what you have to do, it's not that complicated a thing to do....

 

[armyvern]

There is a thread around here that brings up the idea of "adopting" an Infantry platoon/Coy, Engineer/Armoured troop/sqn, Arty bty, etc...... whereby a civic group/organisation gets the names & particulars of the sub-sub formation they adopt... and to which they write & send care packages.....

If you know what you are looking for & know what you have to do, it's not that complicated a thing to do....

No you're absolutely correct; there are indeed work-arounds to "the system."

THAT does NOT change the fact that space is still limited for shipments overseas -- and personally, I'd rather have a care package from my family. Circumventing the system in the manner that you have described, puts other items at risk of being bumped off flights etc. Possibly, my buddies parcel from his FAMILY. That's not on.

Maybe it's just me though ...

Until we have a lift schedule (AND the AC/AirCrew necessary to entertain the possibility of an increased re-sup schedule), things like this shouldn't be occuring simply due to "spotlighting in the media", because that IS exactly what happened. You know, something isn't being sent ... which should be, in order to accomodate these parcels. It's going by container ship so it's NOT bumping anything?? Well, I too can think of things the troops need more overseas that the money it cost to contract that container could have provided for.  :-\