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(hmmm ... reminds me of an old Shell commercial: "We go further with less" ...)
MILITARY WANTS MORE OUT OF THEIR SOLDIERS
By Stephanie Rubec, Sun Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA -- The Canadian Forces wants more bang for their buck from the people they hire and train. Doug Lock, Defence Department spokesman, said the military has concluded it's not getting a full return on its investment when training soldiers and has launched a full-blown review of its enrolment contracts to make up the shortfall.
Lock said the Forces wants longer commitments than three years from many of those without a university degree who sign up with the army, navy or air force.
"If we find the right people who have the right attitude and right commitment, then the theory is that they'll stay longer," he said, admitting that the longer contracts could "drive candidates away."
The brass heading 100-plus military occupations have been ordered by month's end to hammer out how long each soldier must serve to cover the cost of their training.
Lock said the new, lengthier enrolment contracts to be drawn up by January will see those soldiers enrolling in trades that require extensive training committing to longer terms of service than those in occupations that demand much less schooling.
The new, lengthier contracts are also meant to stop soldiers from ditching the military before even completing their training or immediately after.
"There is some problem with specific occupations with early attrition," Lock said, pointing to the infantry as a prime example.
The military shells out $80,000 to shape a recruit into a battle-ready infantry soldier over eight months of training - that's at the bottom of the cost scale. It takes about seven years to train someone to fix a fighter jet.
As for officers, Lock said their nine-year initial contracts are likely to be reduced in some trades that require little training, and extended for trades like fighter pilot.
And to keep soldiers serving longer, the Canadian Forces is implementing a plan next year that requires they work five more years - or 25 years - before they are eligible for their pension.
MILITARY WANTS MORE OUT OF THEIR SOLDIERS
By Stephanie Rubec, Sun Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA -- The Canadian Forces wants more bang for their buck from the people they hire and train. Doug Lock, Defence Department spokesman, said the military has concluded it's not getting a full return on its investment when training soldiers and has launched a full-blown review of its enrolment contracts to make up the shortfall.
Lock said the Forces wants longer commitments than three years from many of those without a university degree who sign up with the army, navy or air force.
"If we find the right people who have the right attitude and right commitment, then the theory is that they'll stay longer," he said, admitting that the longer contracts could "drive candidates away."
The brass heading 100-plus military occupations have been ordered by month's end to hammer out how long each soldier must serve to cover the cost of their training.
Lock said the new, lengthier enrolment contracts to be drawn up by January will see those soldiers enrolling in trades that require extensive training committing to longer terms of service than those in occupations that demand much less schooling.
The new, lengthier contracts are also meant to stop soldiers from ditching the military before even completing their training or immediately after.
"There is some problem with specific occupations with early attrition," Lock said, pointing to the infantry as a prime example.
The military shells out $80,000 to shape a recruit into a battle-ready infantry soldier over eight months of training - that's at the bottom of the cost scale. It takes about seven years to train someone to fix a fighter jet.
As for officers, Lock said their nine-year initial contracts are likely to be reduced in some trades that require little training, and extended for trades like fighter pilot.
And to keep soldiers serving longer, the Canadian Forces is implementing a plan next year that requires they work five more years - or 25 years - before they are eligible for their pension.