Canada moves to 2% GDP end of FY25/26 - PMMC

[dapaterson]

Well, the CAF has metrics to deliver on first.

• stop the bleed of those who can train
• train past BMQ, in fact develop the forces well and way past BMQ
• properly house, support and supply what and who they have now
• equip what we have now
• demonstrate that’s all been properly done in good working order.

I’d argue no larger force unless and until they can accomplish those very basic items. Good luck, BTW.

The CAF doesn't have a bleed.

It has an indecent obsession with retention, instead of an obsession with excellence.

 

[McG]

The multi person rooms are only appropriate for DP1 training according to the department’s own standards. According to that same standard, bathrooms should not be shared between more than two people after DP1.

 

[Cloud Cover]

An organization of 67.8k + 25k people should be able to walk and think about plans for tomorrow at the same time.

Why yes, yes they should be able to do that.

 

[PuckChaser]

if you are a Cpl now, 90% chance you are a MCpl in 3 years, a new program has started as well in the reg force to identify those with stronger leadership potential early

I said competent MCpl, not "hit the minimums MCpl" which is still ridiculously fast at 5 or 6 years as per the new policy (which is just sliding left a year). 8000 people recruited FY 25/26 should not be ready to instruct until FY 33/34. You don't just magically change how competent someone is by moving the promotion goal post a year to the left.

 

[MilEME09]

I said competent MCpl, not "hit the minimums MCpl" which is still ridiculously fast at 5 or 6 years as per the new policy (which is just sliding left a year). 8000 people recruited FY 25/26 should not be ready to instruct until FY 33/34. You don't just magically change how competent someone is by moving the promotion goal post a year to the left.

Competency is an open metric based on experience, and comprehension. I am not suggesting we push unready people to PLQ, infact i hate that notion. However we also shouldn't put a hard wall either of no promotion before X time either if a person is ready. Im not saying someone recruited today will be in plq in 3 years, a cpl today likely has 4+ years already, so 3 more would make it 7+ which is the sweet spot for a PLQ

 

[ArmyRick]

Having trained many a soldier, my thoughts on readiness to progress is
-EVERY single person is an individual and grows independently. Some will NEVER be able to handle leadership

-The above comment being said, in the infantry I noticed a rare few are able to handle being MCpl really fast (one of my battleschool peers made it to MCpl in 2.5 years and then a year later joined JTF2 as an Assaulter, so that kind of guy). Looking at the infantry, I would say most should be ready for MCpl (after passing current courses) in 4-6 years. Some may need a little longer. And as I said, some will never be able to handle leadership.

-A pet peeve of mine was seeing people that are eager and willing from trying to progress because CoC get locked into "too new" or "But we have so and so should do his course first because he has been in longer.." I wanted to attend 6B INF PL WO (later 3B) when I had 2 years as sergeant (knowing I would not be promoted for a few years), my RSM said no because X, Y and Z were more senior to me and he was trying to get them on it. X, Y and Z never had the balls to do the course and I ended up passing them anyways. So lose the dogma and bureaucratic thinking

-We are talking MCpl level (and for context, I was infantry), and what we expect of a MCpl and a Sgt are much different. SO I see times were its justifiable to accelerate people to Master Jack but not sergeant

My opinions, take them for that they are worth.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The multi person rooms are only appropriate for DP1 training according to the department’s own standards. According to that same standard, bathrooms should not be shared between more than two people after DP1.

The RCN frigates laugh at this in mouldy gray paint talk.

 

[ytz]

Sovereign launch capability coming. This has been on the 3 CSD wishlist for a while:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/space-launch-pad-nova-scotia-9.7130406

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Youre the first person Ive heard from who held that opinion, so I'll work from the assumption that its a minority opinion.

Every other person that I have spoken with prefers a private room when studying, working on homework, and relaxing the weekends. Remember, most of the new people aren't plastered from noon Friday through Monday morning anymore...

Just take the Infantry School circa mid 2000s approach to training... your six person room will be a single person room in a few weeks from all the injuries and VRs . I had a different bed to sleep in every night! Kept the one beside my desk "inspection ready" . Beer and Preserves kept in another barrack box for some after hours morale

No need to get acquainted with your classmates, the man eating truck would eat them on our various forced marches, never to be seen again .

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Having trained many a soldier, my thoughts on readiness to progress is
-EVERY single person is an individual and grows independently. Some will NEVER be able to handle leadership

-The above comment being said, in the infantry I noticed a rare few are able to handle being MCpl really fast (one of my battleschool peers made it to MCpl in 2.5 years and then a year later joined JTF2 as an Assaulter, so that kind of guy). Looking at the infantry, I would say most should be ready for MCpl (after passing current courses) in 4-6 years. Some may need a little longer. And as I said, some will never be able to handle leadership.

-A pet peeve of mine was seeing people that are eager and willing from trying to progress because CoC get locked into "too new" or "But we have so and so should do his course first because he has been in longer.." I wanted to attend 6B INF PL WO (later 3B) when I had 2 years as sergeant (knowing I would not be promoted for a few years), my RSM said no because X, Y and Z were more senior to me and he was trying to get them on it. X, Y and Z never had the balls to do the course and I ended up passing them anyways. So lose the dogma and bureaucratic thinking

-We are talking MCpl level (and for context, I was infantry), and what we expect of a MCpl and a Sgt are much different. SO I see times were its justifiable to accelerate people to Master Jack but not sergeant

My opinions, take them for that they are worth.

I too have noted these individuals throughout the time I served. What generally happens is one of the following:

1. They stream into a SMU (JTF2, CSOR, JTFX, SARTECH, Clearance Diver, etc)

2. They become an Officer (One of my former Privates is now a Maj, probably will be a LCol soon, guy was an absolute stud and just way too smart for what he was doing)

3. They leave the CAF entirely and move on to wildly successful private careers. (My former Signaller is one of these types. Guy was a Rockstar and basically good at everything he did, went to Snipers, did that for a few years, then punched his ticket and is now multi-millionaire in the private sector).

 

[Underway]

I would say most should be ready for MCpl (after passing current courses) in 4-6 years. Some may need a little longer. And as I said, some will never be able to handle leadership.

Huh its almost like it takes 5 years as an apprentice to become a journeyman...

The trades have it mostly correct here. Education covers off the knowledge, hours ocver off the experience. You'll see a number of various supervisors in you time. Then you do you exams and get qualified.

Military didin't invent this system. We copied it, and then sometimes forget why it works. It's also why you'll get very Jr. folks in higher leadership positions during extended conflicts. The bad and unlucky are weeded out ruthlessly, and you get waaaay more hours in your apprenticeship in a short period of time.