Posted by Brad Sallows from Burnaby BC Canada on September 14, 2021 at 15:03:56:
In Reply to: Canadian and US Reserve Forces posted by Matt Fisher on September 13, 2021 at 15:00:49:
Concentrations are not in fact cancelled more often than they are
held. With the exception of 1998, 39 CBG (and its predecessor HQs)
has invariably held an excellent annual one-week concentration each
year in March. 1998 was an exception.
Whether weekly evening parades are used constructively is determined
by unit leadership. One can do pre-exercise preparation, routine
periodic maintenance of equipment, or a short series of training
lectures focussed on a particular topic .. or not. Certainly in my
unit noone has time for extended breaks (barring one 5 minute canteen
opening) until the parade night ends and people gather in the mess.
Everything I have read indicates we will continue to use a system in
which employer support of reservists is voluntary. There are
provisions in QR&Os; to compel (order) reservists to attend training
up to 60 Class A days and 15 Class B days per year; they simply are
not used.
I agree formal course training time is either insufficient, or could be
structured to use it more productively. I would choose to do more in the
field. I wonder how many COs would choose to run SHARP, DTP, and so
forth locally rather than teach soldiers weapon drills so that individual
battle task evaluations can be attempted.