Recent content by BruceinAlberta

Now that I'm living in Canada, I've been fascinated by the upcoming election.  One thing that has not been raised too often is Quebec Separatism.  Do you think it will raise it's head again in the near future and will it happen?  Don't mean to be contentious but just a curious American living in...

Read a good book in my travels over the holidays  (by the way, I took the family up to Banff and was awed.  Sure better than the bayous I left behind.  We Americans aren't told how gorgeous the Canadian Rockies are)  The book is called Cold War Hot (edited by David Touras) and it is 10 alternate...

How does the Canadian Militia work in terms of training a reserve soldier.  Is basic and skills training done all at once or in different years?  Does Canada ever deploy a militia unit as a unit?                                                                The US guy in Calgary

I'm that retired US officer.  I found the book because of this forum but could not find the sequel.  Just curious how the war ends

As I travelled from Calgary to Ottawa and then back this week I read First Strike (This forum helped me remember the title of the book and I found it on Amazon)  I finished it on the plane.  The follow up book, Counterstrike, is not available on Amazon.  What happens in Counterstrike?  Thanks...

I'm catching an early flight to Ottawa and closing a transaction early.  I'm flying back by early evening so I won't have a chance to get to the museum this time.  My wife let me know in no uncertain terms that I was not to spend extra time in Ottawa this close to Christmas since her family is...

rechecked my post and I forgot Dari.  If you speak any Afghan dialect you'll find yourself over there.  Where does the Canadian Army do in it's lingual training.  US forces go to Defense Language School in Monterey CA.

An American in Calgary here and when I served in the Gulf Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" was considered the "national anthem of the Saudi." 

I've served in both Afghanistan and Iraq in the US Army (National Guard).  In Dec 01 I got mobilized and sent to Afghanistan and served in the XVIII Airborne Corps G3 shop.  I was amazed at how most people took to us.  The average person over there really just wants to live a peaceful life. I...

and I was impressed with the Canadians I saw in Afghanistan.  True professionals.

I have to head to Ottawa for business this week (nothing like the week before Christmas).  Would you recommend the War Museum there? 

Today there is one basic route to becoming an infantry squad leader, and it is about the same as active duty (AD) with a few differences.  Every enlisted inf.man must attend Basic Combat Training (BCT) at FT Benning, GA (other MOSs attend BCT at other posts..i.e. artillery at FT Sill OK...

I just got back from Iraq a few months ago where I commanded a NG mech inf BN.  Gunner's Palace is pretty good on showing the complexities facing our guys in Iraq.  However, you're not going to find our guys in palaces anymore.  We're basically in secured base camps or base clusters.  The...

I'm waiting for one good movie on Gulf War.  I fought in the Gulf War in the 1st Cav and we saw plenty of action in the Wadi al-Batin and around the Rumalyah Oil fields.  So far the big Hollywood movies are Jarhead, Courage Under Fire and Three Kings (I think that's the one...with Clooney).  I...

No, not joining the Canadian Army.  I just did 20 yrs active and NG in the US.  Just living in Calgary now and interested in learning about the Army here.