Who'll be the next CDS? Speculation here, please!!

[OldSolduer]

One never knows.....I just hope that they select the best person for the job, regardless of element.

 

[armyvern]

I'm hearing one name coming through the static as a replacement: Walt Natynczyk.  For what it's worth...

I'd certainly be OK with that.

 

[Gazoo]

LGen Natynczyk was just here at CFSACO last week, it would have been interesting to know if he knew anything about Gen Hilliers plan back then.  He sure seemed to be smiling a lot, but maybe that was his son just graduated the AEC Weapons course.

 

[KevinB]

FYI since they dont seem to want a Patrica, I think LGen Natynczyk would be a excellent choice.

I think Gen Hillier has had an excellent run, but it is time to pass the torch and let the next one take over.  Failure to ensure cycling of the systme will result in stagnation -- not nec. Gen H - but those below him.

 

 

[kincanucks]

LGen Natynczyk was just here at CFSACO last week, it would have been interesting to know if he knew anything about Gen Hilliers plan back then.  He sure seemed to be smiling a lot, but maybe that was his son just graduated the AEC Weapons course.

Has it been that long since I enrolled his son for ROTP?

 

[Edward Campbell]

FYI since they dont seem to want a Patrica, I think LGen Natynczyk would be a excellent choice.

I think Gen Hillier has had an excellent run, but it is time to pass the torch and let the next one take over.  Failure to ensure cycling of the systme will result in stagnation -- not nec. Gen H - but those below him.

Bang on, I-6, he's done a great job but change is good.

As to not wanting a Patricia: maybe it's just a matter of good taste?

 

[Yrys]

Peter MacKay just said in the "question period" that they (gov) will work with the forces to assured the same leadership for the next CDS
(after speaking of the qualities Hillier had/has as CDS).

 

[OldSolduer]

Same type leadership as General Hillier?? Yikes.,......two in a row...?? Be still my pounding heart!!

 

[Babbling Brooks]

I've posted some speculation about the possible successors here:

http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2008/04/breaking-cds-gen-hillier-to-step-down.html

I will say that I had heard RUMINT last week that Hillier could be stepping down as early as this week, and dismissed it as unlikely.  Shows what I know.  :

But the name I'm hearing this week - from the same place that was right about the timings last week - is Uncle Walt.

We'll see...

 

[RHFC_piper]

Not up on names, but I worry about statements attributed to the incumbent to the effect of, "General Hillier directed that no soldier injured in Afghanistan is to be released from the military without his express authority."

No matter who comes in next, I'd like to see a clear, unequivocal re-iteration of such a policy - anything less, sadly, can always be used to make things happen VERY differently.

Esp. with the minority political machine seeking more Quebec support...

You're worried about this?  I'm a little more than worried.

Since 04 SEPT 08, everything for me had been on a "day by day" basis... until I had been given options; by the CDS (letting broken soldiers stay in), the CMP (for working out the kinks) and the LFCA Cmdr for offering me work where ever I want it, whenever I want it, as well as the option to go back to school...  Since all these options have been offered I have felt a profound sense of security and stability; enough to start planning for the future...  Now that the LFCA cmdr and CDS are moving on, everything seems to be up in the air again... and all I can do is "watch and shoot".

Perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but I've been hosed before...   


I just hope who ever is on deck has the same mindset as Gen Hillier.

 

[armyvern]

You're worried about this?  I'm a little more than worried.
...
I just hope who ever is on deck has the same mindset as Gen Hillier.

Perhaps more of a mindset??

We have soldiers who are broken from missions OTHER than Afghanistan too -- but they sometimes seem to be forgotten by the wayside. They ARE out there. Perhaps this should be expanded to include them?? I know a couple of them who are most certainly feeling "hosed" because their injuries happened to have occured under "blue" or other "NATO" rather than in the sandbox.

My .02 cents worth.

Edited to add: Focus on Afghanistan is good -- we are an Army at war after all, but others still exist ... and it seems we forget them more and more often these days. Witness the thread about the still-lacking recognition from Op Sculpture and Op Halo. Still no medal to show for their great efforts, still dealing with their injuries too.

 

[RHFC_piper]

Perhaps more of a mindset??

We have soldiers who are broken from missions OTHER than Afghanistan too -- but they sometimes seem to be forgotten by the wayside. They ARE out there. Perhaps this should be expanded to include them?? I know a couple of them who are most certainly feeling "hosed" because their injuries happened to have occurred under "blue" or other "NATO" rather than in the sandbox.

My .02 cents worth.

Edited to add: Focus on Afghanistan is good -- we are an Army at war after all, but others still exist ... and it seems we forget them more and more often these days. Witness the thread about the still-lacking recognition from Op Sculpture and Op Halo. Still no medal to show for their great efforts, still dealing with their injuries too.

Agreed.  My main worry is that things will revert rather than improve.    At least now we have someone who has taken a proactive role in supporting the troops... What if (this is a speculation thread) the next CDS believes the "old way" wasn't broken and doesn't seen the need for the improvements that have been made? Lot's of troops are going to find themselves at VACs door step...  If VAC is having problems now, it'll only be worse in this scenario.

Granted, there are a lot of other wounded soldiers who should be equally cared for, but change is difficult. Things have changed for the better, very quickly, for those who have been wounded in combat, thanks to the CDS directives, it only stands to reason that, in time, these changes could/would spread across the board to all the wounded/injured.  Gen Hillier has set a lot of new precedence in his time as CDS. 

Here's hoping this progressive ideology continues... and grows.





BTW; I'm very surprised about Op Sculpture and Op Halo....  Thats just BS (the fact that they're not recognized by medal).    But that's a discussion for another thread...

 

[Nordman]

I've posted some speculation about the possible successors here:

http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2008/04/breaking-cds-gen-hillier-to-step-down.html

I will say that I had heard RUMINT last week that Hillier could be stepping down as early as this week, and dismissed it as unlikely.  Shows what I know.  :

But the name I'm hearing this week - from the same place that was right about the timings last week - is Uncle Walt.

We'll see...

this article in the above post is the most realistic examination of the topic I have seen....

I do not think simply trowing around army names is going to find us a realistic hypothesis of who we might see in the CDS role!
you do not have to be VCDS or CLS to become a contender for CDS

lets here some conversation about Angus Watt...... lets here some conversation about some other dark and light blue guys.....


Maybe even some complete outsiders to the traditionational command roles like Lgen J. Arp.... or Lgen Bouchard

 

[riggermade]

Perhaps more of a mindset??

We have soldiers who are broken from missions OTHER than Afghanistan too -- but they sometimes seem to be forgotten by the wayside. They ARE out there. Perhaps this should be expanded to include them?? I know a couple of them who are most certainly feeling "hosed" because their injuries happened to have occured under "blue" or other "NATO" rather than in the sandbox.

My .02 cents worth.

Edited to add: Focus on Afghanistan is good -- we are an Army at war after all, but others still exist ... and it seems we forget them more and more often these days. Witness the thread about the still-lacking recognition from Op Sculpture and Op Halo. Still no medal to show for their great efforts, still dealing with their injuries too.

Vern

I have to agree with you, after doing four tours before I got out I saw guys injured and then shoved aside...while I agree the guys in Afghanistan need to be taken care of there is alot of soldiers out there who have done their time and have had injuries and have had no support from the CF or VA

 

[Babbling Brooks]

Hillier's retirement message, now up at DND:

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2622

Godspeed, General.

 

[GAP]

Like everything else Hillier has approached, his retirement message was a class act...

 

[aesop081]

Like everything else Hillier has approached, his retirement message was a class act...

And when he sent it on Outlook, he even recalled it twice....LOL

 

[MarkOttawa]

Nordman: I've been lucky enough to hear Lt.-Gen. Watt speak to a small group.  One of the most impressive people I've ever seen.  Smart, witty, knowledgeable--and pretty frank.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Edward Campbell]

Here, reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright Act, is an extract from today’s National Post that provides neat, thumbnail bios of the five candidates:

Among the leading candidates to succeed Gen. Hillier are:

Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier: Responsible for all troops overseas as head of Canadian Expeditionary Force Command since September 2005. Sublimely bilingual combat engineer with UN peacekeeping tours in Croatia and Bosnia. Was previously attached to CENTCOM, which directs the U.S. war on terror. Also headed military intelligence. Praised for Canada’s Kandahar mission by General Dan McNeill, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan. Kept a low profile until recently, when he began to promote what Canadian troops were achieving in South Asia.

Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie: Commander of the army. Artillery gunner with an infantry background. His father and grandfathers have served at the top of Canada’s military/political establishment. Peacekeeping stints in Cyprus, Croatia and Afghanistan, where he was the deputy commander of NATO’s International Security and Assistance Force. Highly educated. Polished public performer, at ease with the media and politicians as well as with the troops, who admire his willingness to go in harm’s way to get an understanding of the battle space.

Lt.-Gen. Walt Natynczyk: Vice-chief of defence staff. An armoured officer and a westerner. Peacekeeping assignments in Cyprus, Bosnia (twice) and Croatia. As an exchange officer, served as deputy commander of the U.S. Army’s III Corps. Deployed to Iraq for one year, where he held a senior position in plans and was deputy commanding general of the Multinational Corps. Highly respected by Americans he served with there. Popular with the troops because of his affability and magnetism. Currently helps with some of the most ticklish files, such as helicopter procurement.

Lt.-Gen. Angus Watt: Commander of the air force. A helicopter pilot with several graduate degrees. Worked closely for much of his career with the navy. Has held senior staff jobs with NATO and NORAD. Served for a year in Kabul as commander of NATO’s complex air war in Afghanistan. Like almost everyone in the air force, he advocates giving it a bigger role in South Asia.

Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson: commander of the navy. A graduate in engineering physics and a surface warfare specialist with numerous commands of warships. As a commodore after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, assembled the largest Canadian fleet since Korea and took it to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea in support of operations in Afghanistan. Regarded as modest, reserved and cerebral with an ability to nourish collegial relations.

There are five well qualified candidates and that means that we need to upgrade our estimates of, at least:

• Gen (Ret’d) Ramsey Withers – CDS from 1980-83

• Gen (Ret’d) Gérard Thériault – CDS from 83-86

• Gen (Ret'd) Paul Manson - CDS from 86–89

Those worthy gentlemen created a climate in which young officers like Rick Hillier, and admirals/generals Gauthier, Leslie, Natynczyk, Robertson, and Watt could serve with pride and good career prospects. It was not easy to do in the ‘80s. Gen Hillier’s famous “decade of darkness” was, in fact, decades of neglect including several years in which the CF was actively denigrated by the national leadership.

The fact that we’ve had a Rick Hillier and are very likely to get another strong leader with outstanding military qualifications is a tribute to those most senior officers who, thirty-five or so years ago, worked very, very hard to defeat the political and social “barbarians at the gate” who were determined to emasculate the CF and turn us all into baby-blue beret wearing peacekeepers.

 

[observor 69]

Anglo-Franco

Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier ?

And after Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier put his foot in it  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080415.AFGHAN15/TPStory/TPInternational/Asia/

Harper might see the political benefit in Quebec.