Pusser said:
Semantics. I used the term "service" because "environmental command," besides being a mouthful (and not a pleasant one) is not a complete statement. The Commander RCN made it very clear when the name was reinstated that the RCN is NOT just an environmental command. He very clearly stated that the RCN includes ALL personnel wearing naval uniforms.
The CANFORGEN, released by the CAS (as he is the only one entitled to do so) stated it was just a renaming of the three environmental commands. That is true unless they change the NBA.
The MARGEN, by the Comd RCN, said the RCN is more than an environmental command... it is the institution all member's wearing the Naval uniform belong. The term institution has no definition or standing in the organizational structure.
The Comd RCN has no legal authority over someone not actually in the RCN... ie in his chain of command, ie what used to be called MARCOM. The chain of command you work for does. If they order you to wear CADPAT that is a legal order, full stop.
The only thing the whole thing did was further confuse C2 in an already confused organization. We had an Air Force LCol at SHAPE that insisted he was in the RCAF...he wasn't, he was in VCDS, and the CO had to explain it to him.
The Comd RCN should have been put back in his box by the CAS, but that would have been contrary to the flavour of the day, and the result is now we have NCMs believing they can challenge their chain of command over uniforms... lovely. Funny thing is other countries that have legally separate services, and us when we did as well, would never allow that. If you were in the real RCN and we're attached the the Army you would never have thought it was appropriate to question things like this. Do you think a USN Corpsman attached to the US Army questions what he's told to wear.
Ironically, I think Naval Air should be just that, Naval... to avoid the situation. In no way does Canadian Naval Air ever completely belong to the RCN, even when embarked. Full Command remains back through the Sqn and the RCAF. Which means there are things they can't be ordered to do, which this same RCN gets all bent out of shape over, even while still trying to influence command in the Army. FUBAR.
Make Naval Air belong to the Navy, like everywhere else... but understand if you are not in the RCN they have no legal authority to tell you anything.