Re: Bachelor of Arts in Weekend Warrioring?
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Posted by Michael A. Dorosh from Calgary AB Canada on December 21, 2020 at 12:17:22:
In Reply to: Bachelor of Arts in Weekend Warrioring? posted by Dickey on November 20, 2021 at 23:04:49:
How does it serve the troops to have a BA? Introducing them to problem solving and thinking beyond the Grade Nine level surely can't hurt, can it? Soldiers have to be able to process a lot of information in this day and age - going beyond the basics of weapons (how many weapons in an infantry platoon - C7, C6, C9, 84mm, SRAAW, grenades, 9mm pistol), communications equipment, first aid, arctic survival, navigation, tactics, fieldcraft, etc. look at the restrictions placed on troops during peacekeeping - rules of engagement, target identification, etc. etc. Getting troops to use their brains in different ways can't seem to be a BAD idea, if it doesn't come at the expense of field training. Too much field training can be just as bad as not enough, and a mix of challenges are healthy. The Second Division got its ass kicked in Normandy in part due to the unhealthy emphasis it placed on battle drill training, which didn't adequately prepare them for combat (not that anything really could). Not to say BA programs would have changed that, of course. But the point is it is possible to train soldiers in different areas (military, educational, citizenship), to their benefit, both for use while in the service and, as you point out, once they leave the military.And don't scoff at the idea of preparing soldiers for civilian life. The point of a peacetime army and a Militia is to give a basic indoctrination to military ways to as many people as possible, so when it hits the fan for real, you have a wide array of people with at least a LITTLE bit of a clue as to how to soldier. No point training 1000 guys for 10 years, to the exclusion of others - cause they're probably gonna get killed in the first two weeks of a war. If you have 10,000 troops with a bit of experience, they can train 100,000 in time of war, and while they will not be as effective - well, look at how we fought WWI and WWII - in 1939, even PPCLI, RCR and R22eR went overseas mostly composed of militiamen and civilian-soldiers - the regs stayed behind. So offering BAs to guys is going to be a draw for some to join the Forces - if you have any better ideas on recruiting, now is the time.
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