FJAG
Army.ca Legend
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But also, AFAIK, still has lax voluntary release policies except in cases of obligatory service.That's why the CAF has a VIE (variable initial engagement), to provide that RoE.
But also, AFAIK, still has lax voluntary release policies except in cases of obligatory service.That's why the CAF has a VIE (variable initial engagement), to provide that RoE.
I don't think we can afford to emulate that to the same extent. But I'd love to more generous education reimbursement program that is tied to training completion for reservists and time in for reg force. $5000 eligibility for finishing BMQ/BMOQ. $10 000 eligibility for becoming trade qualified. Then adjust the current VAC Education Benefit limits of $40k for 6 years and $80k for 12 years. We gotta give our reservists more than $8k total. I would also love to see something equivalent of a VA loan. Maybe the government pays CMHC fees for trade qualified members and veterans? And heck, given the enduring doctor shortage, even healthcare access might be an inducement to serve, these days.
The application of the Education and Training Benefit to reservists is fair. We qualify if we show up and out the work in. We shouldn’t be seeing a whole heap of money thrown at us just for periodically showing up when we feel like it and maybe doing class B for a couple summers. Don’t forget that we aren’t like the U.S.- we deploy if we volunteer to. MND isn’t signing an order mobilizing the Fort Frances Fusiliers to be called to active duty for nine months in wherever.
I did 14 and a bit years in the PRes; squeeze out the air bubbles and I have a bit over six years pensionable, so I qualify for the lower tier ETB. It’s indexed, so it started at $40/$80k but is quite a bit more now. I hope to start making us of that next year for my master’s. I think it’s more than generous for my pretty paltry service.
I’d be fine with something to help veterans access home ownership- a military career can make it hard to get into ownership, particularly if spousal career opportunities are limited. There are lessons to learn from the U.S. there.
It’s not even that hard. Some demanding training, some decent shooting, some occasional tough patrolling that will make for good mess stories, and some sort of level 2 or 3 live fire late in each training year. Just rinse wash and repeat that with some cycling of the variables and you’ll be a solid core of troops happy to show up and feed force generation.<controversial opinion warning on>
The more poorly led, boring, dumbed down, pointless and screwed up the training, the more benefits and perqs you'll have to dangle in front of reservists (UK and elsewhere) to keep them engaged.
<controversial opinion warning off>
It’s not even that hard. Some demanding training, some decent shooting, some occasional tough patrolling that will make for good mess stories, and some sort of level 2 or 3 live fire late in each training year. Just rinse wash and repeat that with some cycling of the variables and you’ll be a solid core of troops happy to show up and feed force generation.
To be fair, the vast majority of the population went along with the mandates. Canada had some of the highest rates of vaccination in the world. The few that were troublesome were really so.
I think it also depends on how national service obligations are constructed. How long is it? Are there options beyond military service? Are skills taught transferable? What do they get in return? Etc.
I wonder if US conscription would have continued without Vietnam? Between the Cold War's looming threat, WWII "we whipped the Nazis" mythologizing, and the whole Minuteman colonial militia mythos, I could see it continuing in some form to today, either doing a great deal of good (even with all the exemptions, system-gaming, and whatnot, it was a forced societal mixer) or leading to a different sort of Fortress America mindset.I think it has more to do with why conscription is happening. The population has to see the existential threat.
Conscription without a bonafide reason why leads you to national cultural problems like during Vietnam War, which I am not sure the USA ever really overcame.
Generally people in the Reserves want to do something that feels useful, different and pushes them to be a bit tougher than a average civy street job would. Something they can feel proud of and some bragging points. personally I think we need the PAO's to start changing how the average Canadian sees the military and the Reserves. They also need to do it in other languages beyond French. Here in BC, the Farsi and Mandarin speakers generally have a dim view of military service, thanks to their home country issues and I suspect that attitude is not confined to those specific ethnic groups either. That is a wall that needs to be broken through.It’s not even that hard. Some demanding training, some decent shooting, some occasional tough patrolling that will make for good mess stories, and some sort of level 2 or 3 live fire late in each training year. Just rinse wash and repeat that with some cycling of the variables and you’ll be a solid core of troops happy to show up and feed force generation.
Not wishing to turn this into an ARes thread, but ...Generally people in the Reserves want to do something that feels useful, different and pushes them to be a bit tougher than a average civy street job would. Something they can feel proud of and some bragging points. personally I think we need the PAO's to start changing how the average Canadian sees the military and the Reserves. They also need to do it in other languages beyond French. Here in BC, the Farsi and Mandarin speakers generally have a dim view of military service, thanks to their home country issues and I suspect that attitude is not confined to those specific ethnic groups either. That is a wall that needs to be broken through.
The US still had a peacetime draft after Korea. Even Elvis was drafted.
Conscription started long after the Aleutian Islands campaign.In the Second World War, Cdn conscripted soldiers were not sent overseas (until near the end due to Infantry casualties in NW Europe) unless they volunteered to go "Active". Don't know about the Aleutian Campaign as it was still North America.
They were disparaging the idea throughout the campaign. I don't think there is a chance that they will bring back national service.Now that the UK has a new government are they going to drop this idea?
In the Second World War, Cdn conscripted soldiers were not sent overseas (until near the end due to Infantry casualties in NW Europe) unless they volunteered to go "Active". Don't know about the Aleutian Campaign as it was still North America.
I think Britain’s Conservatives are now more preoccupied with bringing back Britain’s Conservatives.Now that the UK has a new government are they going to drop this idea?