Calgary Highlanders......full company

[William Webb Ellis]

I heard the Calgary Highlanders were raising/had raised a full company to be assigned to the Strats. for a tour in Afghanistan.

Is this correct, and is this now common practice?

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I heard the Calgary Highlanders were raising/had raised a full company to be assigned to the Strats. for a tour in Afghanistan.

Is this correct, and is this now common practice?

The Highlanders are recruiting towards the goal of sending a full company on Task Force 4-07. The question of whether or not that goal will be met will be up to the level of individual commitment (ie securing time off from work, etc.), but my understanding is that at present, given current commitments, etc., at the least several sections if not a couple of full platoons will be going over as formed subunits - the current tasking of 4-07 has not been decided - it may not be Afghanistan.  To my knowledge, no other reserve unit has reached this level of commitment.

Our CO, LCol Manley has set the bar very high and frankly, from my perspective, it has generated a lot of positive energy and given the unit a unique sense of purpose.  Recruiting this year is up about 300 percent over last year.

 

[dapaterson]

(1) TF 4-07 currently has no task.  TF 2-07 has been dramatically reduced; the same fate will likely befall 4-07.  The MND has stated that, given the current commitment to Afghanistan (odd-number TFs, that is, 1-07 and 3-07 in this context) that we will not see another major commitment of troops to another theatre.  (The limiting factor would appear to be support more than bayonets.)

(2) The Calgary Highlanders are among the four strongest units in LFWA (in terms of parade strengths).  That being said, their ability to generate a full company would be problematic; leadership positions are difficult to fill in all reserve units. 

Good luck to the Clagary Highlanders in their efforts; I am concerned that expectations may be dashed if the second line does not deploy.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

One additional note - the Highlanders currently have or have had over 2 dozen soldiers deployed in Afghanistan serving in various locations in different subunits. Some have already expressed the desire to return there as part of a Highlanders' company so there will be a certain level of direct experience brought to the mix.  Whether or not a company goes I think the unit has benefited from having a goal to work towards other than the same battle task standards at MTSC in Wainwright for the xth year in a row. One hopes that other units will set similar goals for themselves.

 

[pbi]

Our CO, LCol Manley has set the bar very high and frankly, from my perspective, it has generated a lot of positive energy and given the unit a unique sense of purpose.  Recruiting this year is up about 300 percent over last year.

As I would expect from Tom Manley. I had the great honour and pleasure to serve with him in 1PPCLI, including our Croatia tour in 94. He is without any doubt one of the finest officers I have ever met.

Cheers

 

[cbt arms sub tech]

Are Highlanders being kept in the loop that are currently interested in doing a tour....How fast & furious is the information coming down the pipe?

 

[little jim]

It’s been mandated that any potential Calg High coy must include 20% regular force.

NDHQ will with-hold all information on which positions they are until people have been promised the tour and CDS/CLS have told COs “you’re going”

 

[Gunner]

Calgary Highlanders were raising/had raised a full company to be assigned to the Strats.

The Calg Highs may be raising a coy for TF 4-07 however there is no task for a formed reserve coy on TF 4-07.

It’s been mandated that any potential Calg High coy must include 20% regular force.

Totally false.  There is no company task so why is there a mandate to include 20% regular force.  You may be confusing this with the intent to fill all TF's with 20% Reserve personnel.

Cheers

 

[little jim]

Totally false.  There is no company task so why is there a mandate to include 20% regular force.  You may be confusing this with the intent to fill all TF's with 20% Reserve personnel.

Cheers

I know.  Tongue in cheek stuff.  Me bad.  I will go and sit in my room for two minutes.

(Please don't flame me too badly - I know you can all point out to PALADIUM Roto with reserve sub-units and the job everyone is doing now.  Comment was made in light of the present state of morale of people who thought the second line of ops was a go)

 

[Gunner]

Tongue in cheek stuff.

You need to add a 

PALADIUM Roto with reserve sub-units and the job everyone is doing now.

If there was a need for a res coy, I have no doubt the reserves would be able to provide one capable of operating in any theatre of operation if given the right level of training and personnel.

Comment was made in light of the present state of morale of people who thought the second line of ops was a go)

The second line of ops still exists and forms and important part of the MRP, the government has hasn't commited it to a mission for a variety of reasons. 

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Well, just got the bad news about 4-07 tonight.  The CO is looking for other means of employment though and had a few ideas without making any promises; on a positive note, we will be concentrating a little more on unit training rather than operational training in the new trg year.

 

[cbt arms sub tech]

May I ask what happened, as I've seriously considered quitting my full time job in Calgary in the past & considering the positions with the next or few task force's.

 

[Siovan]

My Grandfather served with the Calgary highlanders in WWII, the historic info I was given stated that the Highlanders had been disbanded?  How can I get more history on the role the Highlanders played in WWII

Sorry for hi-jacking your thread

 

[PhilB]

wow, not a hijack at all, the thread has been dead for over 2 years. At least you searched though. The highlanders have not been disbanded, try going here www.calgaryhighlanders.com

 

[Michael OLeary]

You can find info on the battle honours of the regiment here: The Calgary Highlanders