-Alot of the equipment is inadequete
-DND should hustle the CADPAT uniforms to release them to the full forces sooner
-Army Cadets needs to have the Army put into it
-Better care for the forces

Email me if you are with me

The DND comments URL is http://www.dnd.ca/eng/comment_e.html

Actually, I have planned an exercise that involves as much military as I could put in there. My Training Officer says it's a good plan and we are most likely going to do it.

Right now, we are finished the star training for the year and are going to do optional training. There is almost everything. Fieldcraft, Shooting (the two I signed up for), Pipes and Drums (I am already a level 4 after going to basic (I have been playing for 5 years)), Highland dancing, drill and more I can't remember.

I am trying to get the whole Army cadet system to become more "armyish" not just my corps. We are already trying to bend the rules so we can do military things.

I have actually talked to the CO about my concerns and he supports me as well as other cadets in my corps. My CO has fought so now cadets from our corps can go on exercises with the militia.

Albainn Gu-Brath

People say I will be the next RSM. We are having the change of command parade for the cadet RSM at the end of the month. Then the next RSM is not going to be me. There will probably be a few more, then I will be RSM.

Our corps isn't doing any more star level work except for green for the rest of the year, so next year I will work on my Gold Star.

I was the best Silver Star teacher, I was also good at Map and Compass. We got some tips from the new inspector from London. He is a Sgt. in the RCR and ex-airborne. To me he is a very good soldier, with a chest of Tour medals.

When someone gets on here and says Canada needs better forces, really has no idea what the CF is all about. I realize that you probably meant better kit and vehicles, with that I agree. I think the CF is the size it should and probably will always be. If it gets to the point where we start mass recruiting just to bring up the numbers the quality of soldier will suffer. Anyone out there who has taught on a QL2 knows what it feels like when the OC comes down and says we need good numbers of people graduating. I can site a couple of courses that I have been a part of that the oc and PL WO stopped just short of "Everyone WILL pass this course!" It was an experiment that failed. Militia units are still today conducting recruit courses at the unit level. How can that compare with six weeks of every day training on a base, with top-notch instructors.

I think the CF should take a look at this open door recruiting policy and really weed out the chaff, before the level of soldier in the CF drops off to the level of our friends south of the border. The almight U-S military has turned into a three year holding cell for wanna-be college kids.

I guess to sum up, Canadian soldiers are considered some of the best in the world, and if we change our standards when it comes to recruiting, then the best equipment in the world will not help!

I got alot of things out of Cadets (i'm in the process of joining the Army Reserve, i'm 16)

I learned ALOT of drill (which sorta sucked)
I learned -basic- hand signals
and a bunch of other stuff like rank structure, clean up after yourself.

to tell you the truth, i'd rather join the Army than stay in cadets,

what's the point of shooting a weapon in cadets? will you ever use it because Canada wants you to protect it? probably not.

My advice to you is to join the army as soon as you hit 16

Ocknod points out that with an over burden of recruiting, the quality will drop off.

Don't get some bursting at the britches kid to start thinking such crap. Do you want echo to become the lowest common denominator for what will inevitably be a lowered standard for the CF.

Echo, do yourself a favour, enjoy cadets, I can admit it was probably the greatest time I ever had wearing any type of uniform. But if I say anything in this here little den of thoughts on the net, finish your education.

Education wasted in youth is, longed for in adult hood. Don't blow it. When I was 16, I almost did such a thing. I had this old RCR infantry Sgt at CFRC put me straight. He actually scared the shit out of me. So I finished high school got some life experience and then joined.

I will never forget it and the fact that education is a non-stop journey.

The desire to soldier for some youth is almost insatiable, the belief that you are invincible, the need to be part of something, wanted. Well echo that lasted until the first time I came under fire, real fire. When you are half a world from home and it is just you and some poor driver, the world gets real big and your piece of real estate gets real small.

Next I keep hearing this bullshit about lowing standards to get more people to join. What standards are we talking about. females, muslims, the legally blind, those incapable of doing 20 pushups??- what. If you are a member of the Militia you will have noticed by now poeople aren't exactly beating down the doors to join. (the Reg F adre in the same boat). I would be willing to take anyone who is does not have any physcial affications (ie wheelchair) who has the geniune desire to be a soldier. As a NCO it is my job to train that person to our standard not eliminate them before they join.

Where else can you get a job that trains you in high tech, pay you $41,000 a year with out necessarily a high school diploma.

Hmm, tells me that we will be lowering the education level to pre '85ish. If you paid attention this past week, the recruiting system let it be known that regional quotas, etc are gone.

So, yes RCA, if someone wants to be an infanteer or a jet jock, all the power to them. But I see the epic BS of the 80's again were the majority of the recruits will come from economically depressed regions. That's not a prob, but to lower the education standards to accomidate this, yes I have a prob. If we want the best candidate, then make the incentive to join more realistic.

Don't lower the standard and make the CF into an over rated make work project. It is a fact that we are screaming for people and it will get worse, but at what cost too make it better. Shake your head and get your composure around this, the hords are not beating a path to our door, gee I wonder why. Those who not that long ago were deemed undesireable will soon be making up your courses.

If we truly want the best then we have to make our offer a little better. Of interest, there is a bit of consternation as to why one of our largest groups from whom we draw a large percentage of recruits is drying up. Those of families with a military history, amazing, wouldn't have anything to do with seeing the truth up close.

Next

Hey echo, RCA is on the money. Just don't forget to enjoy your adolescence, you will grow old, but you can never grow young.

Cheers

The 90s were the first time we (the army) tried to justify and enforce a standard that was more than based on the whim of the instructor. In 1994 I had instructors come into my office demanding a candidate be tossed of the course because the recruit couldn't "handle it". The reason for this was because the recruit wasn't motivated enough and looked sloppy. How long had the course been on? About two days.

It's not as easy to get recruits or soldiers tossed off courses these days. It takes time, administration and hard work. While I share you sympathies about the fate of the NHL, etc. It's not quite the same situation when the CF is hovering around 60K....there are alot more Gretsky's, Lemieux's, Messiers waiting to be found and join our "hockey team".

Gunner sends...

Someone said it was a mistake to quit cadets and join the army when you are 16. I have to disagree.

Many of the soldiers I know who were in cadets have a huge chip on thier shoulder, and thier soldier skills are patchy. One of my friends from my unit was in cadets and is a good guy, but he doesn't tell people he was in it.

I don't think cadets are soldiers by any strech of the imagination. It's more analogous to boy scouts.

The rate of pregnancy among female cadets is really high. And smoking, and drug use... (all anecdotal evidence because they don't publish these things)

And it really annoyed me when I was on my QL3 working my butt off to get my engineer cap badge, and some little kid in the canex is wearing it..

And I don't like the fact that we are supossed to salute cadet officers.

If you are a real keener and want in cadets, go for it. But as soon as you can, join the real army. High school is the best time to join the reserves because you have your summers off.

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Perhaps this was before condoms were made availiable. (and I've also heard the stories of condom machines running out at cadet camps)

If I see something happening that I know is wrong, I do my best to stop it. Like I went to the recrutiting centre on time to complain about the treatment of a friend of mine that joined up. (the pt instuceter told her to do what was practically diamond pushups for her test, she passed anyway, but it seemed like systemic discrimination to me) I try to pick my battles, but I don't let important things slide.

These aren't really fair statements to be making IMHO. Do you realize that all of these allegations could be made of the Militia by the Reg Force...well, they actually all have at one time or another, with the probable exception of the smoking.

Do some ex-cadets in the Militia and Reg Force have a chip on their shoulder? Sure. Do some ex-Militia in the Reg Force? Sure. Some ex-Regs who transfer to the Militia on release? You bet. Of course, civies have chips on their shoulders as well. If the person is an egomaniac the person is an egomaniac...

Regs, Militia and Cadets all have their role to fill and everyone should be sensitive to that and not make it a habit to judge the collective on the faults of a few. Cadet training does not equal Militia training does not equal Reg Force training.

Condoms. They've been available for ages and not from condom machines which run out. Cadets on course, staff cadets and CIC officers on staff have very strict rules regarding frat while at camp and if caught it's a guranteed trip home with probable dismissal from their Corps and a possible charge for the CIC officer. Does sex happen? Sure, in isolated instances but it's not like they're a bunch of rabbits.

"I don't like the fact that we are supossed to salute cadet officers." By this statement I assume that you mean the CIC (Cadet Instructor Cadre) officers and if that is the case it's apparent to me that you don't understand the reason for the salute. Next time you see one of those cadets wearing your cap badge, walk over and ask them why it is officers are saluted. If they have been in any longer than a year they'll be more than happy to give you the answer and probably a detailed history of the origin of the salute we use today as well.

Keep an open mind and you'll be surprised at what sneaks in.

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Thinking about this I have realized that I am being very hostile, even distainfull, towards cadets. I think I am making judgments based on the first few ex-cadets who I met, who were idiots. And that's not fair to the majority of cadets, most of whom are keeners who like army stuff.

I am aware of the origins of the salute, that you arn't really saluting the officer you are saluting the Queen's commision. But I don't undersand why CIC officers hold any sort of commision.

My main beef about cadets is that I think DND money could be better spent elsewhere. But I realize that's what some reg's think about the reserves.

Aplogies to any cadets or ex-cadets on this forum whom I may have insulted.

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[ 25 March 2001: Message edited by: Soldier of Fortune ]

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SECURITAS

OCKNOD

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The masterful warrior picks his battles and his victories from the blur of battle.

I suggest that while you and I and many others on this net are more than aware of what these young warriors will encounter while serving our Grand Lady, they will still have to make our same old mistakes, learn from them, adapt and overcome and become the old WarHorses that will chafe and chastise the young of the future.

From some of what I've seen from the various posts, 'our' future may not be secure but some will carry the torch for us forward to the next generation or warriors. Many will pay the supreme price but some will survive to teach, learn and teach some more.

I learn everyday and I think that you do too.

As now, more than ever before...

Dileas Gu Brath

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