- Reaction score
- 4,716
- Points
- 1,160
The premise of the original article is wrong. The "heart and soul" of the CF, not just the army, is found in ships, regiments and squadrons - in the officers', sergeants' and, indeed, junior ranks' messes. The "heart and soul" are the committed, career NCOs and officers who "soldier on" (and the Navy and RCAF equivalents thereto) despite the cuts and despite the less than fully coherent guidance from a plethora of HQs.
But, the "heart and soul" leaves the fleet and the field and flying forces and they go to HQs, including to NDHQ and to schools and bases and all manner of strange places.
I would argue that the top two levels of HQ (NDHQ and the dot coms and some functional and regional HQs are bloated. I suggest, based on a lot of experience, that almost all HQs are almost always overstaffed - except that every so often, when the you know what hits the fan, one or two HQs are actually worked off their feet and could use a few extra hands, if only to answer the inane queries from HQs that are "fat."
There are a couple of groups who are not part of the "heart and soul:" the junior folks, officers and ORs who have too little experience to have, yet, made the deep emotional commitment that is characteristic of the professional naval and military man and woman; a small slice of the more senior folks who have replaced their commitment with careerism; and a rather general, across the board, slice for whom the CF is just a job. But the youngsters are learning and some will take their places in the ranks of the "heart and soul;" some, maybe most of the careerists did give us good value at one time - and they will all be gone, eventually; and even the "job doers" make a contribution.
Some of the "heart and soul" is indeed away from units, schools and HQs, where their skills and knowledge would help - but the rest of the "heart and soul" will take up the slack and will, indeed, be better for having risen to the challenge.
It's a tempest in a teapot and it's a damned small tempest in a damned small pot at that.
But, the "heart and soul" leaves the fleet and the field and flying forces and they go to HQs, including to NDHQ and to schools and bases and all manner of strange places.
I would argue that the top two levels of HQ (NDHQ and the dot coms and some functional and regional HQs are bloated. I suggest, based on a lot of experience, that almost all HQs are almost always overstaffed - except that every so often, when the you know what hits the fan, one or two HQs are actually worked off their feet and could use a few extra hands, if only to answer the inane queries from HQs that are "fat."
There are a couple of groups who are not part of the "heart and soul:" the junior folks, officers and ORs who have too little experience to have, yet, made the deep emotional commitment that is characteristic of the professional naval and military man and woman; a small slice of the more senior folks who have replaced their commitment with careerism; and a rather general, across the board, slice for whom the CF is just a job. But the youngsters are learning and some will take their places in the ranks of the "heart and soul;" some, maybe most of the careerists did give us good value at one time - and they will all be gone, eventually; and even the "job doers" make a contribution.
Some of the "heart and soul" is indeed away from units, schools and HQs, where their skills and knowledge would help - but the rest of the "heart and soul" will take up the slack and will, indeed, be better for having risen to the challenge.
It's a tempest in a teapot and it's a damned small tempest in a damned small pot at that.