-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