The War Diary: Accepting the Queen's Shilling

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Topic: Accepting the Queen's Shilling

Tommy Atkins
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Member # 448

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posted 18 September 2021 03:56

Most of the pers on this forum are current members serving in the CF in one capacity or another.My question is this.....As a serving member of the CF if Canada was called to war how many would actually go?????What about the civi members?The facts are that despite the bluster and chest beating there are members of the CF that never had any intention of putting their lives on the line if called upon.Does one's morales override the call to duty???What about religion??Simply put you sign up and collect the pay WILL YOU DO YOUR DUTY????

INFANTRY,LET US PREY!!!

Posts: 20 | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

meathead
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Member # 211

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posted 18 September 2021 10:13

As an active member of the reserves for almost 4 years now I have seen many different "types" of reservists. It is my strong belief that if the call came out to go to war or put our lives on the line, I know for a fact that there would be a large portion of reservists including myself that would answer the call. But I also know for a fact that there would be a large number of reservists that would pull pin and run with their tails between their legs. Correct me if i am wrong, but i believe this was a problem at the time of the Gulf War in 1991.

Posts: 9 | From: Ottawa | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Rick Goebel
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Member # 78

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posted 18 September 2021 21:22

There were reservists (of several nations) who "opted out" of the Gulf War. There were also regulars (of several nations including Canada) who tried to "opt out".

Many of the stories of US reservists failing to serve or objecting to service in the Gulf War were actually about professionals like doctors and lawyers who were called up to serve backfilling deployed regulars on US bases rather than in theatre and who had a problem with their practices going broke while they essentially did nothing on some obscure base somewhere.

I suspect that there were more reservists disappointed that they weren't called up than there were who objected to call up as I suspect that there were more regulars disappointed that they weren't deployed than there were who objected to being deployed.

Posts: 18 | From: Calgary | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

Tommy Atkins
Recruit
Member # 448

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posted 19 September 2021 00:54

The reserve aspect is interesting as a Reg you are already "activated".The idea that someone would object to be called up because "their civi job pays more" is frankly appalling.If you accept the pay you do your job...end of story.It's not all about Milcons or Ice Storms.

INFANTRY,LET US PREY!!!

Posts: 20 | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

meathead
Recruit
Member # 211

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posted 19 September 2021 09:50

quote:
Originally posted by Tommy Atkins:
The idea that someone would object to be called up because "their civi job pays more" is frankly appalling.If you accept the pay you do your job...end of story.It's not all about Milcons or Ice Storms.

Yes the reserve world is different that our regular force counterparts, but in the defence of my fellow reservists, many are forced to give up more when called to duty. As with a regular force member who works monday to friday as a soldier belonging to their unit, reservists do not. Many are full time students studying a vast selection of programs. Some are medical professionals, some are law professionals. Some work in high tech, some work inconstruction. Their commitment to the reserves is on top of their daily lives and that makes it more of a sacrafice when called up. This is something you need to understand because it is not as easy as "you accept your pay...you do your job". I usually support the regular force in arguments against the reserves, but in this case i have to side with my reserve colleagues. As for you Tommy Atkins, don't make ignorant comments like that. All it does is contribute to the seperation between the regs and reserves while we should be working to narrow that division. Ensure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!

Posts: 9 | From: Ottawa | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Master Blaster
Veteran
Member # 60

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posted 19 September 2021 22:52

Mr. Atkins;

I'm sure that in your vast wealth of military knowledge you have encountered many instances where you have personally been involved n combat and seen the devastation first hand. If that is indeed the case, Charge On! and let the fodder fall where they may. If it is not the case, where do you get off telling a story of implied fear and cowardice? When you have heard the crack of a bullet that has missed your head by inches or scraped the contents of someone's intestines off of your kit after a patrol you have the right to complain that someone else should be there instead of you!

I have addressed this issue with others on this page and for the most part have been satisfied that the majority of young soldiers that have signed up in the last few years would (some reluctantly) go if directed by their commanders to complete the mission as directed by their political masters. I have trained some that would not go no matter the threat or consequence and that is one of the reasons that I am considering retiring from the army. I can no longer control the end results of wether or not a soldier is "good to go" and that is the saddest part of this whole issue.

Even if these young men and women complete the mission the attrition rate will exceed the very worst case scenarios that can be imagined by the numb nuts in NDHQ.

Dileas Gu Brath

Posts: 64 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Tommy Atkins
Recruit
Member # 448

Member Rated:

posted 20 September 2021 04:16

The intention was not cause friction between the Regs and Reserves,the fact is there are some on all sides who have refused service.As for my self I have been there done it and got the Wound Stripe,(wrong place wrong time!!!)The point I was making is that if you are being paid to do a job then you had better do it or rethink you decision.Will Canadian Forces be involved in the WAR ON TERRORISM??? I would put money on it maybe not now but sooner or later the call will come.From what I have seen in both Regs and Reserves we have a fairly well trained Army,Navy,Airforce but as mentioned above how many will simply pack up and go homewhen the call up comes or refuse to serve,in my books that's called desertion.

Posts: 20 | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

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