Army Reserve Restructuring

[Kilted]

Depending on when they run the training week, they'll likely run out of Reserve instructors. You won't get civies giving up their Easter, Christmas and the like holidays, to come learn army stuff.

Run it on a regular work week and let old farts like us to come back and Instruct.

I don't know how other brigades are doing, but with the current op tempo, we are basically at our LOE with instructors just to cover the courses we are running now.

I can't image the staff that it would require to run 300,000 people through a five day training cycle each year.

 

[Harris]

What about this:

• The programme starts with a very good communications plan and we lay out the expectations/requirements in advance, including pulling the emotional strings about service before self, benefits, etc...
• Then we acquire/build/lease sufficient space across the country to conduct the training in year around, including wpn storage (if required), bulk storage/space for boats, consumibles, DOMOPS kit etc...
• Next we recruit and train a civilian cadre of folks to do the actual training, we focus on pers who already have the qual either civie side, or from the retired military ranks. Hell, if we did it right we might even get them to do it for a stipend, or for the cost for consumables
• Finally we have a web portal where volunteers can apply for trg slot vacancies in their region (no more than 100km from their community). Again stresing the benefits of doing so. And at the end of training we take the course photo and post it on a portal again stressing service and maybe give each successful candidate a token of our appreciation (A Coin perhaps?) Those that fail are not shunned, but given the opportunity to register again for another session. Fail twice and you get a "Thank you for your service, we'll be in touch." certificate. They remain on a list titled "In case of emergency break glass" because they'll be general labour in an emergency.
• Those that pass are then added to the instructor pool if they're interested. If not interested then we'll see them again next year. Participate 5 years in a row, get a nicer coin. 10 yrs and 15 yrs gets additional coins. (Or a small stipend, say $500)