Informing the Army’s Future Structure

[daftandbarmy]

Well conscription does make the whole process easier doesn’t it?

Uh... no.

Conscription is a disaster IMHO, and leads to large numbers of really poor quality troops.

It's also insanely expensive and, as Ukraine and Russia are discovering, a huge drain on their national economies.

And the last two times we tried it, near the end of WW1 & 2, there was a huge outcry and the government nearly fell.

 

[markppcli]

Uh... no.

Conscription is a disaster IMHO, and leads to large numbers of really poor quality troops.

It's also insanely expensive and, as Ukraine and Russia are discovering, a huge drain on their national economies.

And the last two times we tried it, near the end of WW1 & 2, there was a huge outcry and the government nearly fell.

However, conscription is popular in Scandinavia, and the Baltics, where it also means that your volunteer reservists don’t require expensive, long, sometimes arduous, initial training. For which any reasonable person would expect to be paid.

Home guards in such countries are also ways where you can keep doing that fun stuff you did as an 18 yr old even though your nation doesn have a full time professional army ( Finland) or it’s quite small (Estonia, Denmark).

 

[Kirkhill]

Well conscription does make the whole process easier doesn’t it?

You don't want to listen do you?

The members of the Home Guard take part in the defense and support of the country on a voluntary and unpaid basis.

Men and women from the age of 18 can apply for membership. A military background is not necessary. The desire to participate is more important.

• The Home Guard is a volunteer military organization.
• The Home Guard had 43,374 members as of August 2022.
• The active force had 13,485 volunteer soldiers as of August 2022. The remaining volunteers belong to the Home Guard Reserve.
• Approximately 15 percent of all volunteer soldiers are women.
• The task of the Home Guard is to support the Armed Forces – nationally as well as internationally. In addition, the Home Guard supports the police, the emergency services and other authorities in carrying out their duties.
• 1,572 people applied for enrollment in the Home Guard, and 1,028 volunteers signed a contract in 2021.
• 66 percent of the new volunteers were aged 18-32.
• The appropriation allocated to the Home Guard in the Finance Bill amounted to DKK 526.2 m in 2021.

https://www.hjv.dk/sider/english.aspx

In Denmark they turn away most of eligible conscripts.

The regular army is made up of salaried soldiers.

There are more willing volunteers than there are conscript slots available.

Number of participants[edit]​

In 2006, 76% of conscripts were volunteers, a number which rose to 99.1% in 2014. The other 0.9% (19 individuals) were forced to serve in the military.[17]
In 2012, the number of conscripts was lowered from 5,000 participants to 4,200 participants. This is being upheld until 2020.[18]

Conscription in Denmark​

Conscription in Denmark (Danish: Værnepligt) is mandatory for all physically fit men over the age of 18, according to the Constitution of Denmark, §81[1] and the Danish Law of Conscription, §2.[2] The service lasts between 4 and 12 months.[3] Women may participate, but are not obligated to conscription.[4] Under the Danish Realm and protected by the Danish Defence, men from Greenland and the Faroe Islands are not required to serve as conscripts.[5]

​

Every male person able to bear arms shall be liable with his person to contribute to the defence of his country under such rules as are laid down by statute.
— Constitution of Denmark, §81[1]

'Day of Defence'[edit]​

Every male over the age of 18 will be drafted into the 'Day of Defence' (forsvarets dag), where they will be introduced to the Danish military and have their health tested.[8] Men who are not physically fit are not required to participate in the draw[7][9] Men considered healthy or partially capable have to participate in the draw, while women have the right to complete conscription same as men.[10]

Drawing[edit]​

Physically fit people and partially fit people have to draw a number. Men deemed partially capable draw a number but do not have to serve their conscription if they choose not to, even if it is a number where a physically fit man would have to serve. Men determined to be physically healthy can be forced to fulfil their conscription, depending on which number they draw.[10] The numbers 8,000-36,000 (frinumre) will not lead to conscription in peacetime. The numbers 1–8,000 can lead to conscription — even in peacetime — if there are not enough volunteers.[10][11]

Service[edit]​

Conscripts in the Danish Defence (Army, Navy and Air Force) generally serve 4 months,[12][13] except:

• Conscripts of the Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron, who serve 12 months.
• Conscripts with Cyber-conscription, who serve 10 months.[14]
• Conscripts aboard the Royal Yacht Dannebrog, who serve 9 months.[15]
• Conscripts in the Danish Emergency Management Agency, who serve 9 months.[16]
• Conscripts in the Royal Life Guards, who serve 8 months.

Military and non-military duty[edit]​

According to the Danish Law of Conscription from 12 December 2003, §2, one must provide conscription for the military (the Danish Defence) or perform a non-military duty, for example in the Danish Emergency Management Agency, as an aid worker in a developing country or, if a conscientious objector (militærnægter), in the civil service. Voluntary service in the armed forces or emergency services can, according to rules set by the Minister of Defence, take the place of military service.[2]

About us

Through our participation in international conflict-prevention, peacekeeping, and peace-building efforts mandated by the Danish Parliament, we cooperate with other countries to ensure a more stable and secure world. In short, our mission is to create a more stable and secure everyday life for...

www.forsvaret.dk

Most of the Home Guard have no previous military service. They train on their own time. And their own nickel.


The Home Guard doesn't enter into Force Planning unless they volunteer for the regs first and get the necessary training.

The Home Guard volunteers to manage local emergency scenes and facilities.

They aim to be there when the Army isn't.

 

[Kirkhill]

Sadly, for a lot of other reasons (but not this one ) we are not in Scandinavia. Teh culture would need quite a bit of adjustment.

But volunteer firemen, and coast guard auxilliaries, and St John's and Red Cross among others all volunteer to put themselves in harms way for free.

We are not short of willing citizens.

 

[Kirkhill]

Relevence? I’m not sure they have opted to do the job part time for free.

This refers to @FJAG's comments about the enforceability of contracts and the willingness of participants.

 

[markppcli]

You don't want to listen do you?

You don’t like to be questioned do you?

https://www.hjv.dk/sider/english.aspx

In Denmark they turn away most of eligible conscripts.

The regular army is made up of salaried soldiers.

There are more willing volunteers than there are conscript slots available.

Yes we agree on this.

About us

Through our participation in international conflict-prevention, peacekeeping, and peace-building efforts mandated by the Danish Parliament, we cooperate with other countries to ensure a more stable and secure world. In short, our mission is to create a more stable and secure everyday life for...

www.forsvaret.dk

Most of the Home Guard have no previous military service. They train on their own time. And their own nickel.

Source ? On the no previous military service? None of your links point to that. Is it supposition or from something else.

The Home Guard doesn't enter into Force Planning unless they volunteer for the regs first and get the necessary training.

The Home Guard volunteers to manage local emergency scenes and facilities.

They aim to be there when the Army isn't.

Yes all of this from their Wiki. Again how does their initial training work? If they don’t the majority of their guys trained via conscription, do they do a month of initial training at no pay? You seem to have this researched I’m curious.


You also went broad on Scandinavian’s ( I assume you mean Nordic and include Finland), and the Baltics. Yet you’re only responding with one example ?

 

[Furniture]

But volunteer firemen, and coast guard auxilliaries, and St John's and Red Cross among others all volunteer to put themselves in harms way for free.

We are not short of willing citizens.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary doesn't do it for "free", and neither do fire fighters. They aren't paid a "wage", but they receive money for their time. They also essentially choose when to go, when to not go, and when they have had enough. Lastly, they train to save fellow citizens, not go to far away lands and kill other people.

You can't have an effective armed forces if you can't compel people to do things they don't want to do, when they don't really want to do them.

 

[FJAG]

However, conscription is popular in Scandinavia, and the Baltics, where it also means that your volunteer reservists don’t require expensive, long, sometimes arduous, initial training. For which any reasonable person would expect to be paid.

I remember being with a German Division while FACing in Germany when they still had conscription. I remember how much pride 4 CMGB had in how well the local Germans treated them. I'll tell you how well the Canadians were treated didn't hold a candle to how well the public treated their own troops. They were "our boys" and the civvies couldn't do enough for them. Where Canadians were freely given the barns to sleep in, the German conscripts were given the living rooms.

A nation is much more invested in their conscript sons than they are in some professionals that spend the vast majority of the time out of sight and out of mind of the public.

 

[WLSC]

But volunteer firemen, and coast guard auxilliaries, and St John's and Red Cross among others all volunteer to put themselves in harms way for free.

We are not short of willing citizens.

You are telling me that volunteer firefighters do that for free?

 

[WLSC]

A nation is much more invested in their conscript sons than they are in some professionals that spend the vast majority of the time out of sight and out of mind of the public.

May I add, when the proper culture is there. Culture that has grown over time during peace and war.

 

[FJAG]

May I add, when the proper culture is there. Culture that has grown over time during peace and war.

Interestingly the Americans vastly supported their draft system ... until Vietnam and TV and ... (except of course certain heel-spurred people)

 

[WLSC]

Interestingly the Americans vastly supported their draft system ... until Vietnam and TV and ... (except of course certain heel spurred people)

Interesting yes. Usually Anglo-saxon country and draft in peace time is not a popular mix.

 

[markppcli]

The Coast Guard Auxiliary doesn't do it for "free", and neither do fire fighters. They aren't paid a "wage", but they receive money for their time. They also essentially choose when to go, when to not go, and when they have had enough. Lastly, they train to save fellow citizens, not go to far away lands and kill other people.

You can't have an effective armed forces if you can't compel people to do things they don't want to do, when they don't really want to do them.

Actually, in my research of the Danish Homeguard, they are also compensated for time away from work. So I guess everyone needs their money.

 

[Kirkhill]

You don’t like to be questioned do you?

I thoroughly enjoy being questioned. I don't enjoy covering old ground.

Yes we agree on this.

Good

Source ? On the no previous military service? None of your links point to that. Is it supposition or from something else.

Going back over the ground

https://www.hjv.dk/sider/english.aspx

Facts about the Danish Home Guard​

• The Home Guard is a volunteer military organisation.
• The Home Guard had 43,374 members as of August 2022.
• The active force had 13,485 volunteer soldiers as of August 2022. The remaining volunteers belong to the Home Guard Reserve.
• Approximately 15 percent of all volunteer soldiers are women.
• The task of the Home Guard is to support the Armed Forces – nationally as well as internationally. In addition, the Home Guard supports the police, the emergency services and other authorities in carrying out their duties.
• 1,572 people applied for enrollment in the Home Guard, and 1,028 volunteers signed a contract in 2021.
• 66 percent of the new volunteers were aged 18-32.
• The appropriation allocated to the Home Guard in the Finance Bill amounted to 526,2 m. DKK in 2021.

The Volunteers in the Danish Home Guard​

The members of the Home Guard take part in the defence and support of the country on a voluntary and unpaid basis.

Men and women from the age of 18 can apply for membership. A military background is not necessary. The wish to participate is more important.

When membership has been granted, members are admitted into one of the following branches:

• The Army Home Guard (link to the site in Danish: Hærhjemmeværnet)
• The Naval Home Guard (link to the site in Danish: Marinehjemmeværnet)
• The Air Force Home Guard (link to site in Danish: Flyverhjemmeværnet)

Yes all of this from their Wiki. Again how does their initial training work? If they don’t the majority of their guys trained via conscription, do they do a month of initial training at no pay? You seem to have this researched I’m curious.

Training

The Home Guard's Basic Training​

The Home Guard's
Basic Training (HGU) is Basic Military Training, which must be completed by all new members who have not completed military service or have equivalent training from the armed forces. The basic education consists of 4 courses. All 4 courses must be completed within 3 years of joining the Home Guard.
Where can I take my HGU?
The courses are conducted by the Home Guard School and are held at the training centers around the country or the Marine Home Guard section at Slipshavn near Nyborg. You decide for yourself, in consultation with your sub-department head/deputy commander/educational support officer, where you complete your HGU.
HGU 2 is common to all branches of the Home Guard and contains basic topics such as weapons training, first aid, SINE terminal (radio system) and home guard members' help to the police. The training lasts 9 days and typically starts on Friday and runs until Sunday the following week.

In order to complete the Home Guard's Basic Training, it is necessary to be in generally good shape. If you are not used to moving on a daily basis, it may be a good idea to walk or run a few trips in the period leading up to the start of the education.

At the Bootcamp, you complete the entire Home Guard basic training in 23 days. The bootcamp is held twice a year: in July at the Skive barracks (Education Center North and Central Jutland) and in August at Zealand (Education Center Zealand).​

The HGU Bootcamp is the closest you, as a Home Guard soldier, will get to military service. It is a compact and exciting training course that, in addition to the basic military skills, also gives you a really cool experience and a close association with other new Home Guard soldiers.

https://www.hjv.dk/sider/english.aspx

So to be precise - you can train at home, on line, on your own time - or you can go down to the local community center and enjoy the lectures and company - or you can spend 3 weeks of your annual vacation (usually about 5 weeks) at a Boot Camp.

You also went broad on Scandinavian’s ( I assume you mean Nordic and include Finland), and the Baltics. Yet you’re only responding with one example ?

Sweden, Norway and Finland benefit from conscription for a year - continuing service is voluntary

Sweden

Requirements[edit]​

The Home Guard soldier must fulfill the following requirements in order to be object to admittance:

• Swedish citizenship
• Minimum 85 days of basic military training (2 weeks for specialists such as signalists, drivers, dog handlers etc. in addition to their role specific training)
• Approval of personal appraisal - personal examination by the Military Intelligence and Security department, the police and the municipal authorities - and otherwise be suitable for service
• Availability for duty in the Home Guard
• Approved "disposition right". A person who is "war placed" at another institution is required to be at that institution during an emergency or war. If, for example, a police officer applies to the National Security Forces, the unit will be denied disposition right for this applicant. The officer can still hold a peacetime role, but can not be assigned a war time placement.

Troops are trained regularly and conditions of suitability abilities tested continually.

Norway

Most of the personnel are soldiers who have been transferred after completing 12 months of initial service.

The Norwegian Home Guard
The Norwegian Armed Forces (Norwegian: Forsvaret) is divided into four branches of defense. This are The Norwegian Army, The Royal Norwegian Navy, The Royal Norwegian Air Force and The Norwegian Home Guard.

The Norwegian Home Guard (Norwegian: Heimevernet), is a rapid mobilization force. Founded on December 6th, 1946, it is the youngest branch in the Norwegian forces. It is divided into districts, which again is divided into smaller units, typically covering a single Municipality. In a wartime situation Heimevernet will typically be used to protect the local infrastructure and population, but may also be used as regular troops. As it for the most part comprises locals, it is ideally suited for guerrilla warfare (sabotage, ambushes, etc.)

There is one Task Force per district. The Task Force is the speartip of the Norwegian Home Guard, and contain flexible and mobile units. It also have top priority when concerning weapons, material and training resources. They are ready to respond within 24 hours to acts of terrorism, bomb threats, and or other emergencies. The Task Force consists of several different units within each district. In this way, each district will be able to respond to any kind of incident that could occur, without having to rely on outside help.

The Norwegian Home Guard (Norwegian: Heimevernet – "HV") is the rapid mobilization force within the Norwegian armed forces. Its main focus is local defense and civil support, but it can also detach volunteers for international operations. Its main tasks are safeguarding territorial integrity, strengthening military presence, and protecting important infrastructure.

It has land defense units, and has volunteers and conscript personnel with backgrounds from all branches. Founded 6 December 1946, it is the second youngest branch in the Norwegian armed forces after the Norwegian Cyber Defence Force (Cyberforsvaret).

Extra Funding Enables the Norwegian Home Guard Train More Than In Previous Years

New funds from the government allow Norwegian Home Guard soldiers to train more than in previous years. Training the Home Guard to a greater extent has been one of the most essential measures to better facilitate for receiving allied troops, says State Secretary Bent-Joacim Bentzen.

www.highnorthnews.com

Finland

Universal male conscription is in place, under which all men serve for 165, 255, or 347 days, from the year they turn 18 until the year they turn 29. Alternative non-military service for men and voluntary service for women is available.

The Terrritorial Defence Force is made up of Volunteers on contract - all of whom have got their 347 days of conscript service at least..

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are "Gentlemen's Clubs" if you like. Privately organized


Estonia

The Estonian Defence League (Estonian: Kaitseliit, 'Defence League') is the name of the unified paramilitary armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Defence League is a paramilitary defence organization whose aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area and its constitutional order.

The Defence League possesses arms and engages in military exercises, fulfilling the tasks given to it by the law. The organization is divided into 4 Territorial Defence Districts that consist of 15 Defence League regional units, called malevs, whose areas of responsibility mostly coincide with the borders of Estonian counties.

Mission[edit]​

The Defence League is a voluntary military national defence organisation, which acts in the area of government of the Ministry of Defence. The Defence League possesses arms and engages in military exercises. The main goal of the Defence League is, on the basis of the citizens’ free will and initiative, to enhance the readiness of the nation to defend its independence and its constitutional order, including in the event of military threat.

The Defence League plays an important role in supporting the civil structures. Its members aid in putting out wildfires, volunteer as assistant police members, and ensure safety at various events. Units, consisting of voluntary members of the Defence League, also participate in international peace support operations such as in the Balkan states. The Defence League and its affiliated organisations have positive relations with partner organisations in the Nordic countries, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Latvia

The Latvian National Guard or NG (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas Zemessardze, ZS) is a part of the Latvian National Armed Forces. The National Guard is a basic land component, consisting of volunteers who perform traditional national guard duties such as crisis response and support for military operations.

Mission[edit]​

The main task of the National Guard is to support the regular Land Force units by defending the national territory during military threat and to perform NAF combat support and combat logistics functions. At the same time, the National Guard will continue providing assistance to the public regarding crisis control, as well as to the Latvian State Police regarding provision of public law and order, and continue the safeguarding of sites of national security importance.[5]

Conscription was abolished in 2007 but the locals are making them rethink that decision.

In 2007, Latvia abolished conscription, switching to a professional, volunteer-based service model.[10] However, after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014, calls for reintroducing mandatory military service reappeared, with the full invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 being a decisive boost to this momentum, despite initial skepticism from the top leadership in the NAF and the Ministry of Defence.[11] In July 2022, Defence Minister Artis Pabriks announced a plan for the re-introduction of military service – officially called the National Defense Service (Latvian: Valsts aizsardzības dienests, VAD) – first on a voluntary basis and then in compulsory form at a later date for males aged 18–27, starting from January 2023.[12] The Government of Latvia supported the plan in September, with the next required step being the approval of the Saeima. The Cabinet also supported the proposed transitional period from 2023 to 2028, that the length of the service would be 10 months and that service can be postponed until 26 years of age. Alternative service options would involve serving in a National Guard unit on a part-time basis for 5 years; civil service for those unfit for military service due to health or special military courses for students.[13]

Lithuania

After the January Events, the Voluntary National Defence Service was formed from lightly armed volunteers.

The January Events (Lithuanian: Sausio įvykiai) were a series of violent confrontations between the civilian population of Lithuania, supporting independence, and the Soviet Armed Forces. The events took place between 11 and 13 January 1991, after the restoration of independence by Lithuania. As a result of the Soviet military actions,[2][3] 14 civilians were killed and over 140 were injured.[4] 13 January, sometimes referred to as Bloody Sunday, was the most violent day. The events were primarily centered in the capital city Vilnius, but Soviet military activity and confrontations occurred elsewhere in the country, including Alytus, Šiauliai, Varėna and Kaunas.

January 13th is the Day of the Defenders of Freedom (Lithuanian: Laisvės Gynėjų Diena) in Lithuania and it is officially observed as a commemorative day.[5]

The National Defence Volunteer Forces or NDVF (Lithuanian: Krašto apsaugos savanorių pajėgos [KASP], previously Savanoriškoji krašto apsaugos tarnyba [SKAT]) is a branch of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Volunteer forces were officially established on 17 January 1991 by the law of the Supreme Council of Lithuania on the National Defence Volunteer Service providing basis for establishing Voluntary National Defence Service. This decision made legal already existing volunteer formations that began appearing as early as 1990. Voluntary National Defence Service was reorganised into the National Defence Volunteer Force. In 2003 Volunteer Force was integrated into the Lithuanian Land Force. Tasks of volunteer soldiers were inevitably altered when Lithuania became a full-fledged member of NATO: approach of territorial defence was changed into territorial defence and training of modern active reserve. There are around 5000 volunteers and around 800 professional soldiers in the force.

Current Duties[edit]​

Volunteer units provided support to civilian authorities in the event of natural or industrial disasters. In the summer of 1992, thousands of volunteers assisted in fighting fires in wooded areas and peat lands; they participated in cleaning hazardous spill on the Nemunas River subsequent to an ecological disaster in Belarus. They also took part in relief activities during the flood of the Nemunas Delta in the Western part of Lithuania. In 1993, during a visit of Pope John Paul II to Lithuania, thousands of volunteers helped the police maintain public order.

The Volunteer units took part in the first military exercises organised by the Lithuanian Armed Forces including the first joint military exercises Safeguard '93, Wind of Spring (1997–1998), Baltic Challenge (1998), Amber Hope series.

Starting in 1994 members of the Volunteer Forces began participating international peacekeeping missions.

In 1998 the Voluntary National Defence Service (SKAT in Lithuanian) was reorganised as the National Defence Volunteer Forces, KASP – in Lithuanian) and became an integral part of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Denmark, Norway and the Balts all launched their home guards because the citizenry felt let down by their governments and their professionals when they allowed their countries to be occupied.

Often they were reconstituted partisan brigades - Like the Azov Brigade and the Ukrainian national defence brigades

Ukraine

The Territorial Defence Forces (Ukrainian: Війська територіальної оборони, romanized: Viiska terytorialnoi oborony) are the military reserve component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Territorial Defence Forces were formed after the reorganization of the Territorial Defence Battalions, volunteer militias created during the war in Donbas under the command of the Ministry of Defence.[4] Territorial Defence units existed from 2015 until 2021 in semi-organized forms until 2022 when they were formally organized into a unified defense corps under the Territorial Defence Forces.[5][6]

It is formed by a core of part-time reservists, usually former combat veterans, and in cases of war can be expanded to include local civilian volunteers for local defense, in a case of mass mobilization,[7] with the core expected to lead the mobilized volunteers.

 

[Kirkhill]

The Coast Guard Auxiliary doesn't do it for "free", and neither do fire fighters. They aren't paid a "wage", but they receive money for their time. They also essentially choose when to go, when to not go, and when they have had enough. Lastly, they train to save fellow citizens, not go to far away lands and kill other people.

You can't have an effective armed forces if you can't compel people to do things they don't want to do, when they don't really want to do them.

I'll stand corrected on the compensation.

But you can indeed have an effective Armed Force without compulsion. The CAF hires volunteers that sign on to a contract for a period. The fill their obligations according to the terms agreed.

Sometimes people decide that a nice quiet spell in a cell is preferable to facing another run up yon hill.

 

[Kirkhill]

Interesting yes. Usually Anglo-saxon country and draft in peace time is not a popular mix.

Standing Armies and Lobsterbacks are not our cup of tea. Who knows when the next republican will come crawling out of the woodwork.

Thus you get kept on a short leash with only a one year authorization. Or were.

And the Household Brigade had to contend with the County regiments.

 

[Kirkhill]

Actually, in my research of the Danish Homeguard, they are also compensated for time away from work. So I guess everyone needs their money.

Being compensated for days of duty when you might have been paid at work, or getting paid expenses, is a bit different to being paid for working as a soldier.

 

[Kirkhill]

What EMS shortages mean for volunteer firefighters​

• 1 month ago
• Radio
• Duration10:01

Close to 80 per cent of firefighters in Canada are volunteers. In Alberta, a shortage of paramedics means those unpaid firefighter jobs are getting more difficult. Ariel Fournier went to see what that looks like in the town of Bonnyville.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2172614723793

Tofino volunteer firefighters may soon be paid to work weekends

The days of unpaid mandatory on-call shifts may be coming to an end for the Tofino volunteer fire department.

www.langaravoice.ca

Tofino volunteer firefighters may soon be paid to work weekends​

Among those changes is a proposed $450 per weekend honorarium paid to volunteer firefighters for on-call weekends during holidays and peak summer months.

Currently, each officer is required to commit to seven weekends per year where they must be ready and willing to work between Friday night and Monday morning, totalling 62 hours.

Making a tough choice​

This creates a hardship, said Baker, as many members of his team have jobs outside of the fire department.

“Not very many people can turn down paid work to be on call on a volunteer basis for 62 hours straight,” said Baker, who would like to ease the financial burden for staff, many of whom work in the tourism industry. “By providing guaranteed wage, they can make that financial decision for themselves to sign up and be committed to that and not necessarily feel like maybe they have to pick up an extra shift at their place of employment.”

The proposed honorarium would equate to an hourly wage of $7.26 for on-call staff and cost the city nearly $19,000 annually, an amount that would be coming from property taxes.

Across the province, many fire departments are looking for ways to keep their stations staffed.

In a blog post by fire chief Vince Mackenzie of Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., a census conducted earlier this year by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs counted about 100,000 volunteer firefighters across Canada.

That is a noted decline from 126,000 volunteers in 2016, from a census conducted by the National Fire Protection Association.

Fire chief Dustin Curry, of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., said that about 70 per cent of firefighters in the province are volunteers and many have careers outside of emergency response.

“They’re trying to manage their own lives. They don’t necessarily have the free time that they used to. Everybody’s just gotten so much busier in the last few years managing their businesses.

Canadian firefighters call for more support amid shortage

Amid a shortage of firefighters across Canada, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) is calling on the federal government to address the grave impact these shortages will have on vulnerable communities.

www.ctvnews.ca

McMullen says volunteers currently receive a tax exemption of $3,000 annually, however the CAFC is looking to get that increased to $10,000 to not only help the current volunteers but also incentivize younger recruits.

It would seem that, sometimes, money changes hands. Sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Kirkhill]

Volunteers

Volunteers

www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca

Canadian Coast Guard Auxilliary.

Volunteers​

Would you like to serve as a volunteer with the Canadian Coast Guard?
Then consider joining the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary as a search and rescue volunteer! Search and Rescue volunteers are most often experienced navigators who combine their passion for boating with their desire to help others.

Pay and benefits​

Volunteers are not paid for the work they do. However, Auxiliary volunteers are reimbursed for eligible expenditures related to their participation in authorized marine activities (i.e. training, fuel costs, first aid equipment etc.).

On the other hand, a person who becomes a member of the Auxiliary will be part of a great team, whose history is filled with many feats of successful missions, and lives saved. Auxiliary membership is motivated by pride and the thanks received from the victims and their families.

I could add in Ski Patrol and search and rescue.

 

[WLSC]

Volunteers

Volunteers

www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca

Canadian Coast Guard Auxilliary.





I could add in Ski Patrol and search and rescue.

I don’t believe that you by yourself will be able to turn the Canadian society on that. No one will stand up against enemy bullets for free.