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Canada eyeing reservists to bolster force in Afghanistan

That therein is the kicker though. Soldiering first and foremost above being tradesmen is probably the very best arguement for each and every entrant to the CF being required to serve in a cbt arms trade first, then remuster over to the support trades, including ResF personnel.

The problem is maintaining those skillsets once you are indeed rolled over into the support trade. That is a problem now, and will continue to be in the future. Simply put, those pers will then be required to maintain to a fighting level (and that trg and level is constantly changing as our enemy and their tactics change). But then, they must also maintain their skillset as a tradesmen, for if they don't...the support to those actually using the fighting skillsets won't be there; and you can't continue to fight for long if you don't have a competant and trained support system (tail wagging the dog) to back you up. That little tidbit was borne out to the German Parachute Regiment in Ortona very nicely by the 48th Highlanders et al. No support...no victory, someone is always behind you providing you the ammo, rats, vehicles, maint capabilities etc that you need up front.

There needs to be a fine balance of both skillsets and a recognition that both are required. Where is the happy medium?



 
So they want a year of work up training followed by 6 months of tour?

Ouch
 
Kiwi99 said:
The priority is to get the supplies through to the other end, not killing the enemy.  
 

Matt - I will argue this point -- I would argue that killing the enemy CAN job #1 in that respect -- supplies can be replaced - it might suck someone fuel or mail or whatever got shot up -- but

If ambushed at night, what then. CSS trades are not trained to fight a battle at night, and there is mass confusion.  My experiance has been that if with CSS you keep moving if possible.  That being said, every soldier is a soldier first, tradesmen, driver, medic second.  And the fact that many CSS trades are not trained as rifleman first is our own fault.
Secondly, training soldiers on kit is easy.  We are training res on LAV right now.  But LAV is an extremyl perishable skill, and  there must b continuation training back in the units.
Remember, soldier first, everything else second.

The CF needs more NV and the willingness to train to fight at night.
  The CF barely has enough MNVG's to equip the deployed troops -- let along train upcoming troops.




The more tools in the tool box we have the better we are off.

Secondly I dont think one should ever limit the use of LAV's due to thinking the enemy may want to draw them away -- uhm if they have that capability - they could WIPE out a unescorted convoy....
 
Flawed Design said:
So they want a year of work up training followed by 6 months of tour?
Ouch
Since the shootin' war began, that's pert much what's been given
TF 3/07s main body formed up in Sept of 06... training thru to Jan, FTX in Ft Bliss Tx for a month, Valcatraz for a bit, CMTC for April, Valcatraz for a bit and Kandahar in July/August time frame..... (12 months +/-) followed by 6 mths in theatre (unless you are part of the NCE which is there for 9 months - shortage of staff weenies).
 
Kiwi99 said:
One thing that I must stress is a thing noted by members of my pl CoC.  'Those that you think are mentally weak...they will be.  Those that you think are tough c**ts...they will be tougher'.

"In WWII, U.S. psychiatric combat casualties had the same rate of decoration for bravery as those who were wounded in action. The stigmatization of such casualties as cowards was less when this was known." (HOLLOWAY, HARRY C. "Combat Psychiatry", Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2002)

 
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