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The TB are the SAME culture as the "local native population."

I've thought a little about this, and I'm not ready to condemn the Psyops guys. Yes, it was a stupid psyop from our western perspective. Calling Taliban fighters "girly-men" isn't a bad idea though. They regard "us" as cowardly 'cause we go out in armoured vehicles, all tooled-up with...

IIRC at Level 5 the VTA is every six months - though that may be only for unaccompanied posts (in lieu of HLTA?) I'm not sure.

US Warrant Officers cannot hold Command. They can serve staff functions (thus equivalents to commissioned officer ranks) or be in charge of small units or detachments. Acorn

Baloo, I won't call you a "retard," but I will question your reading skills. Or are you so simple as to think it makes a jot of difference to the average Afghani that we aren't American?

My access to the 'net has been spotty lately, so sorry for the delay. Sandbag, I know some of what you're talking about. However, I'd argue that those "benefits" (other than dip status) are what I would think the CF would provide if they had an operation similar in size to an embassy in any...

All non-merit medals are "give me" medals by your criteria. We volunteered for service, and go where we are told. Sometimes we get a gong for it. The way you describe it every medal I have other than the CD is a "gimme" since all I did to "earn" them was be in the right place at the right time...

All Saudis are Arab. Guest workers aren't entitled to Saudi citizenship.

Local Embassy guards at other Cdn embassies are usually given some items of kit that ID them as Cdn employees. I think it was in Beirut that they had guys equipped almost identically to the guy in the photo (vest, ball cap, shades, cdn flag, except with MP5 in place of the AK). Yeah, he looks...

Who're the non-Arab Saudis?

As pointed out, I'm not an MP. I know a few guys who've done the MSG "tour." None got an "easy" posting like Rome - do they have MPs at the Embassy in Rome? I know for a fact that not all missions get MSGs - it's based on threat (as determined by FAC). I do know a couple of guys that earned...

Jumper, you may be a member of the Branch, but you've strayed a bit out of your lane on this one. Not surprising, the details of the MSGU are a bit sketchy. First off, they are seconded to FAC (former DFAIT) not hired by them. They still get pay and benefits from the CF at CF rates. I'd be...

OK. It's "possible" to contract aviation out, but is the risk worth it? Consider these two points: 1. Combat insertion of troops is a perishable skill, and requires considerable coordination. Do you want to contract this to a civvy company that will have to learn this on the job and create the...

Sorry. I was IN the "Arab World" on Sept 11. There was almost no celebration in the streets (mainly confined to the Palestinian areas). Quite the contrary, believe it or not. What the Arab "Street" thinks about is important. Unless, of course, the actions of the US are exactly what the AQ...

Which means what? You don't have to have resided in Canada for 10 years in order to apply for the CF. If you have those 10 years, it is easier to do the clearance (pre-screening not required, no involvement of FAC). Explain what is wrong with that statement (other than crappy grammar and...

What's old is new, I guess. The CF used to have clearance background checks done by SIU. It was decided that CSIS should do it in order to centralize it, and to reduce the load on the Security Branch (there were probably other reasons). What doesn't appear to have been taken into account is the...

Not sure how many will concur, but of the European armies I've dealt with the Dutch are among the best - union or not. Acorn

"Speeding" is a silly law, but the fact is that it is the best qualtifiable means to enforce traffic rules. It's hard to prove "reckless driving" but if you have a radar gun, you can easily show "exceeds the speed limit." The fact that many speed limits are stupid isn't relevant doesn't matter...

Could we quit calling them "forge caps?" I just get an image of a bug guy with an apron hammering on a piece of metal. It's a "forage" cap. That being said, I think officers should wear it - we have few enough uniform distinctions.  >:D

Well, it'd be the lazy way out if we had a choice. Frankly, I think it's the cheap way out (by the gummint) - those enamelled anodized WOG badges must have cost a fortune. I recall a comment from a few years back (few in the geological sense): a SALH NCO was jacked by someone from another Reg't...