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

[ytz]

You're not wrong. But also, the CA is building the airplane while flying it. I think it's just fine to create brigades to hold these new unit and a Div focused on reserves. There's a limit what they they can build simultaneously. Trying to build a Corps while building subordinate divisions would be a lot. On top of the CA, the CAF is going through a restructure with Joint Forces Command taking over force development.

I would give it a few years. Once the new capabilities, units and divisions are up, a higher level reorg may happen.

 

[McG]

Pretty sure canning SQ was a CA internal decision not pressure from purple folks.

I heard a former CTC Comd identify the 10 CBGs and certain CTC schools as having been the driving proponents to make SQ disappear … only to become the loudest to wail when their wish was granted and training was downloaded to branch/corps schools without allowing extra DP1 course days or was downloaded onto units themselves.

The biggest problem with SQ & BMQ-L on the Reg F side was that LFC did not did not assign a single institution to deliver it for everyone and there was nobody with responsibility across CA. So an ATC would run an SQ serial at half load while soldiers on a distant BTL get told they will be waiting another 6 months for DP1 because today was the last possible day to start an SQ and meet the start of the nearest DP1.

Hopefully Army Training Centre does this smarter and tasks Meaford to run all English language CASFC, Wainwright to run all English language Infantry RQ Pte, and leaves Valcartier to do both in French. Then resource & organize those schools to do their courses.

In addition to the 3 CMBGs, the Div is getting a Light Infantry Regiment that is brigade sized, a Combat Support Brigade, a Sustainment Brigade, a fires brigad and a battalion sized Signals Regiment.

6 CCSB is not a new thing. Some of its units will be, but it is not. And, aside from being an island of misfit toys, it has no substantiating purpose or doctrine.

 

[FJAG]

Yep. Way too many are daydreaming of Corps and Divisions here. Go back to first principles. What do we need? What do our foreign and defence policies say? Division level warfighting and defence of the homeland don't commit us to hundreds of brigades. Doesn't even commit us to dozens of brigades.

Once you have an army over 10,000 people you need to think divisions. Once you have two divisions you need to think corps. Its simple organizational hierarchies and creating the staff structure to manage large forces. Canada's army has been mired in the battlegroup for three decades. It needs to grow up

That mobilization reserve will mostly be ex Reg and PRes to start

That's the role of the SuppRes. Whatever the "mobilization reserve" is envisioned as, it isn't that. At least in any serious discussion.

How often is the average reservist with 3 hrs per week training on drone warfare? The goal here should be to get them trained as a basic soldier locally so that you can take them to a regional training centre in the future where they get to learn and practice drone warfare.

Stop thinking average reservists. It begets the concept of augmentation. Sure they need basic training but they need to get beyond that step. Reserves must be capable of functioning in battalions to be useful. Their leadership may need to be RegF - and IMHO they should be. The goal is to create employable battalions when it comes to any force, regular, PRes, home guard, you name it.

I am saying let's start with making sure a recruit in Toronto doesn't need to go to Meaford every second weekend to get BMQ and CASFC done.

That I agree with 100%. When I went through the equivalent of BMQ in Toronto all the training was done locally except live FNC1 and section tactics which were done at Winona.

Frankly I’d like Canada to have 3 Maneuver Divisions, in a 30/70 sort of setup between Reg and Res.

30/70 is good. 3 divisions is too few.

What I see is Canada making a mini corps out of 1 CDN DIV. Which I beleive will end up both under resourcing the force while also making it ponderously slow should it need to deploy.
A Div is a maneuver unit, it is not supposed to be a static command.

1 Div is counterproductive. It is turning into nothing but a static force generator for a rump brigade in Latvia. I agree entirely that a div ought to be a tactical level manoeuvre unit. Unfortunately they are following the older You'all example of what a mech division should look like.

The CSB to me is getting way too much pushed into it. It seems to be a placeholder unit where needed capabilities get thrown without fully thinking as to their role, and if there is a better option for their positioning.

Again I fear this is a development coming from the US structures of four years ago and the infamous "protection" brigade.

The ADA BN/Reg’t to me should be part of the Fires Bde, as the ADAM cell needs to be involved from the ground up.

Agreed.

I’d like to see specialized Engineer Regiments (BN) at the Div that are relevant to the Division.

Agreed

As well as some that are relevant to the Corps.

And again agreed. This is where the specialized engineer resources should be parked and assigned from.

As well I have a major concern still about the Tank / Infantry integration, as I am a firm believer in Tank/IFV mutual support. Something the LAV cannot do.

With 2 Tank BN’s (it’s easier to phrase it that way for apples to apples) 1 CMBG has a 4 maneuver unit Bde.

2 and 5 have 2 LAV Bn, and 2 not tank Armoured BN’s who seem to be reimagining as Cavalry.

We agree but I think that ship has sailed here. My hope is that half of the 25mm LAV section carriers be replaced in each company with ACSVs that carry more dismounts and are equipped with more relevant anti-air and anti-armour RWS.

Then the 3 LIB LI Regiment, which whose attachment to 1 CDN DIV makes pretty much zero sense other than running of the day to day events.

If the LIBs do not get transferred to 2 Div then we are assured that there is no intent to ever use 1 div as a deployed formation.

More disappointing to me was the fact that the PRes got tossed lock stock and barrel into 2 DIV. Pretty much all PRes units are Light (if for no other reason than they do not have vehicles for their role) and the LIR would seem to be the capability that they could suppprt most easily.

I don't have a problem with 2 Div being light. I'm disappointed that there aren't 10,000 ARes assigned , equipped and trained for 1 Div (which should really be a 1 and 3 div. 2 Div needs much more RegF offr and NCO leadership reaching down to the bn and coy level.

Given the size of the CA, it’s pretty hard not to actually justify a Corps at the current numbers. Let alone any expansion.

I keep saying 4 divs for starters until equipment comes in and then 7 or 8 divs. I'm not sure if a "corps" is needed per se. I do envision small tactical division in Europe assigned to 1 GNC and while that means we don't need a "corps" headquarters, we do need a Canadian theatre level headquarters providing key enablers to the div.

Filling line infanteer positions is pretty dead nuts simple. Higher level staff positions and experience working and supporting a large formation is not.

Testify. Far too many folks think we can ad hoc grow div and above leadership out of thin air when the need finally comes. Growing a colonel who can actually command a brigade in modern combat is a ten year process at least during peace time.

Canada needs a lot of non Army and non CAF enablers as well.
Watching the goings on of both 4thID’s take on NGC2 (Anduril) as well as 25th ID’s (LocMart) the requirements of JADC2/JADC6ISR are enormous and will require investment in personnel and equipment.

Yup.

 

[FJAG]

You're not wrong. But also, the CA is building the airplane while flying it

Too true. They've had since 2014 to work out the preferred force structure. This feels slapped together and I say that knowing that there are some good folks working on it. The problem is that Advancing with Purpose was a 20 year scheme to get us to a place which was useless for the future. We blew the last decade completely. We don't have 20 years and we aren't agile. We're a 9 to 5, 5 days a week CAF for whom the words "sense of urgency" and "vision" have little meaning.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Facts, or align them the same way we align LogOs. For the RCLS world, I have never understood how the RCLS leadership can say with a straight face that a MCPL/MS or PO/SGT who matriculates in the RCN can just slide over to the other service with ease. Now they have to learn how that service works while also doing leadership things. OFC the senior leadership in the RCLS never faced that issue as they do their leadership position within their own service (or in purple jobs where service matters less). Heaven forbid they take care of their NCMs the same way they have been treated

The Log Branch exists so failed officers from other branches can continue to get a pay cheque. The NCMs are seen as an unfortunate by product by our leadership.