Canada moves to 2% GDP end of FY25/26 - PMMC

[Furniture]

Or the moment they are asked to piss in a cup or fill out a security questionnaire…

Or told that no, they can't be a ninja sniper seal posted to Toronto.

 

[WestIsle]

The 54% of people withdrawing is something we need to address because in willing to bed a large amount of that is just due to time.

From my experience 50% in a major city simply going "no further contact" is pretty much par for the course. It was actually much worse when PRs were first allowed in but that is a different story. A lot of people I have met who talk about applying but not hearing back/took too long etc had files which indicate they struggled to complete their medicals or provide the necessary information for their security screening. Like anyone I have my issues with CFRC but a lot of people arent willing to commit to the process to join.

 

[Grunt_031]

My former police service (well, actually the government ministry that does these things), gutting a 1920s building to 'maintain the aesthetic'. It does look nice but they figured it cost about twice as much as had they simply torn the original building down. The community collage right next door build a couple of dorms in a style that reflected the old buildings. They look surprisingly the same.

Many of the RHUs I have seen on a few bases look to be Cold War-era 1 1/2 storey rectangular boxes. If the thought was to go engineered and plop a new house on the existing foundation, It would probably have to be a custom design since I doubt any builder of engineered homes makes something that would fit that footprint. There might be some savings if the design was repeatable enough. Are most of these places slab-on-grade or do they have basements, or perhaps 'it depends'?

They had no problem with using the old Calgary and Edmonton PMQs , on old and new foundations, and upgrades to sell for Hundreds of Thousands of $.

 

[MilEME09]

From my experience 50% in a major city simply going "no further contact" is pretty much par for the course. It was actually much worse when PRs were first allowed in but that is a different story. A lot of people I have met who talk about applying but not hearing back/took too long etc had files which indicate they struggled to complete their medicals or provide the necessary information for their security screening. Like anyone I have my issues with CFRC but a lot of people arent willing to commit to the process to join.

Some also just move on, I signed my paperwork in Jan, got everything done in Feb. The i heard absolutely nothing from the MFRC until August when they called me and said my vision wasnt good enough for combat engineer, and gave me options. Selected weapons tech on the spot, hind sight, great decision as i love my trade, I was sworn in a month later. Thats still 6 months of 0 communication about my file, including multiple call it made with no reply. This was in 2009, sounds like it ain't much better now, we can do better.

 

[WestIsle]

Some also just move on, I signed my paperwork in Jan, got everything done in Feb. The i heard absolutely nothing from the MFRC until August when they called me and said my vision wasnt good enough for combat engineer, and gave me options. Selected weapons tech on the spot, hind sight, great decision as i love my trade, I was sworn in a month later. Thats still 6 months of 0 communication about my file, including multiple call it made with no reply. This was in 2009, sounds like it ain't much better now, we can do better.

Yeah but two different issues from the same organization.

Some examples I have heard and/or seen include having much shorter training then even their PRes compartments when they do get on course, minimal to no processing files of files for weeks while staff attend recruiting events, closing or not processing files because the applicant didnt phone the office within a week of submitting their file(not that they were asked to), keeping the door to the building locked and requiring preplanned bookings, etc etc. While the CAF has put a stupid amount of money into those places and added recently some career bonuses to working there the fact is that its a great way to get not the most motivated people out of your unit for a few years.

Theres actually been a few times recently that fairly senior people have tried to drop by with their kids at their local CFRC det only to be told they wouldn't talk to them and they had to make an appointment. Wouldn't even sit down to explain the process to their kids or give a pamphlet. Ironically in one case they had no problem finding a local PRes recruiter to talk to with their kid in the same day after. Needless to say those stories made it pretty far up the CA chain at least.

 

[Furniture]

Yeah but two different issues from the same organization.

Some examples I have heard and/or seen include having much shorter training then even their PRes compartments when they do get on course, minimal to no processing files of files for weeks while staff attend recruiting events, closing or not processing files because the applicant didnt phone the office within a week of submitting their file(not that they were asked to), keeping the door to the building locked and requiring preplanned bookings, etc etc. While the CAF has put a stupid amount of money into those places and added recently some career bonuses to working there the fact is that its a great way to get not the most motivated people out of your unit for a few years.

Theres actually been a few times recently that fairly senior people have tried to drop by with their kids at their local CFRC det only to be told they wouldn't talk to them and they had to make an appointment. Wouldn't even sit down to explain the process to their kids or give a pamphlet. Ironically in one case they had no problem finding a local PRes recruiter to talk to with their kid in the same day after. Needless to say those stories made it pretty far up the CA chain at least.

Part of it is the recruiting centre staff are overloaded, so things slide.

If the CAF was serious about recruiting, they'd have more people doing recruiting.

As it stands, the CAF has been allowed to bleed people to the point that there are no extra people to send to recruiting, without shutting down something else.

 

[YZT580]

Part of it is the recruiting centre staff are overloaded, so things slide.

If the CAF was serious about recruiting, they'd have more people doing recruiting.

As it stands, the CAF has been allowed to bleed people to the point that there are no extra people to send to recruiting, without shutting down something else.

Can they hire retired vets. on contract, not affecting their pensions, to man the desks?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Can they hire retired vets. on contract, not affecting their pensions, to man the desks?

I saw that movie!



Recruiting sergeant: "Congratulations, son, the Mobile Infantry made me the man I am today."

 

[PrairieFella]

FYI that's the HRM budget for bike lanes this year

Good for them. Great for people.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Part of it is the recruiting centre staff are overloaded, so things slide.

If the CAF was serious about recruiting, they'd have more people doing recruiting.

As it stands, the CAF has been allowed to bleed people to the point that there are no extra people to send to recruiting, without shutting down something else.

That is not the entire reason.

Most CFRCs have embraced the online recruiting model without fully considering what happens when they remove the human touch. Some CFRCs are experimenting with a more blended approach.

 

[PrairieFella]

I found a chart breaking down the applications and recruiting by each of the years covered in the report. As the charts shows, the 2024-25 time period should be viewed as a success overall.

View attachment 96383

Recruiting div - caf wide is fantastic.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Recruiting div - caf wide is fantastic.

I'll assume you're being ironic...

Canadian military falling short on recruitment, housing needs: AG reports​

The Canadian military is falling short on recruiting and training enough members to meet this country’s operational requirements, a new audit finds.

Amid a renewed recruitment push and massive spending commitment from the federal government, a report tabled in the House of Commons this morning from Auditor General Karen Horgan found that while thousands apply annually, on average, only around one in 13 applicants end up starting basic training.

Between 2022 and 2025, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) planned to recruit more than 19,700 new members. During this time frame, close to 192,000 people applied, and they ended up recruiting around 15,000.


The audit found that the military wasn’t fully tracking why thousands of candidates dropped out or did not complete the recruitment process, and while the military aimed to have a recruitment time between 100 and 150 days, it often took twice as long.

Canadian military falling short on recruitment, housing needs: AG reports

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is falling short on recruiting and training enough members to meet this country’s operational requirements, a new audit finds.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[PrairieFella]

Just shy of 7000 is a good thing. CFLRS is at full capacity. Is there room for improvement and a need for massive IT investment? Of course. Is it objectively positive to recruit those peoplrle? Of course.

 

[Kirkhill]

There are some 150 under-utilized parade squares, clothing stores, orderly rooms and classes in urban area all across Canada.

They have the wherewithal to immediately engage any and all interested parties in familiarization by conducting training in unclassified subject matter.

Have the likely recruits head down to the local armouries once or twice a week.

My first experience with the Militia was actually with the SD&Gs. I showed up, said that I was interested and even before being attested I was slapped into a black coverall, stood to attention, taught how to report my name in a suitably military manner and then engaged for the rest of the evening placing aiming sticks and learning the finer points of how to bubble up the 81mm mortar.

Grab them and don't let go.

 

[Furniture]

There are some 150 under-utilized parade squares, clothing stores, orderly rooms and classes in urban area all across Canada.

They have the wherewithal to immediately engage any and all interested parties in familiarization by conducting training in unclassified subject matter.

Have the likely recruits head down to the local armouries once or twice a week.

My first experience with the Militia was actually with the SD&Gs. I showed up, said that I was interested and even before being attested I was slapped into a black coverall, stood to attention, taught how to report my name in a suitably military manner and then engaged for the rest of the evening placing aiming sticks and learning the finer points of how to bubble up the 81mm mortar.

Grab them and don't let go.

While I suspect we might not want to go quite that far, I think having more open opportunities for people to come out and see/interact with the CAF in some capacity would likely help maintain interest.

 

[Kirkhill]

While I suspect we might not want to go quite that far, I think having more open opportunities for people to come out and see/interact with the CAF in some capacity would likely help maintain interest.

Even if we started with first aid, weapons safety and military history it would be a start. Wearing and understanding uniforms and understanding military organizational structure could be appropriate as well.

Even if we get not one useful days work out that individual they might at least better understand the conversation.

 

[PrairieFella]

Even if we started with first aid, weapons safety and military history it would be a start. Wearing and understanding uniforms and understanding military organizational structure could be appropriate as well.

Even if we get not one useful days work out that individual they might at least better understand the conversation.

So basic training?

 

[Furniture]

So basic training?

There is slightly more to BMQ than that, but yeah... I'm not a fan of "training" as much as a famil day for everybody who has applied or is thinking of applying.

Something to whet the appetite before people get distracted by something else.

 

[Kirkhill]

So basic training?

Get them started. And if they drop out we have lost very little and might have gained a bit.

 

[Kirkhill]

This line has got me thinking. Sorry..

What if...

What if every Reserve/Militia unit had an individual tasked to manage walk-ins and referals from recruiting centres.

Welcome the individual.
Put them into costume (this is role play, not soldiering)
Tour the facility.
Audit a class.
Get a briefing on one of the many unclas subjects,
Get a presentation on structure, history and on current ops that would be updated weekly.
Take them to the mess.
Invite them back next week.