CF Not What it Used To Be!

[Michael Dorosh]

Lets be accurate here...... Hellyer entered the airforce, completed basic training, then wound up getting put in the army, which he absolutely resented, and some say was part of his hate for the army.  However, he served with the RCA as a gunner starting in Normandy.  He was not a 
Zombie.

No, he resented having to basic a second time, and I don't blame him, as much of the syllabus was identical.

If the discourse in this thread doesn't start to improve, I'm dropping the hammer on it.  Lawndart, dial the language back, you're not impressing anyone.

Your assertions about the Canadian Army priding itself on "superiority" over the Americans are waaaayyyyy off base, incidentally; pbi's response was just the tip of the iceberg.

Your other "historical" information is a bit laughable, as well.

 

[NCRCrow]

OUCH!!!

 

[big bad john]

Everytime I hear someone talk about how it used to be in the OOOLddd Army I am reminded of the story of a young Recruit upon arriving at depot for Basic training.  He was the first to arrive, so the Staff told him to go wait and sit on a bench.  An hour or so later the next young Recruit arrives.  He too is directed to wait upon the bench.  The two Recruits introduce themselves.  After a moments silence the first Recruit turns to the second and says, "let me tell you how it was in the Old Army".

Things change.  Sometimes for the better, sometimes not.  But the one thing that you can be sure of is that things WILL change.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Things change.  Sometimes for the better, sometimes not.  But the one thing that you can be sure of is that things WILL change.

And somebody, somewhere, will be upset by every little one of them. ;D

 

[big bad john]

Amen Michael

 

[old medic]

No, he resented having to basic a second time, and I don't blame him, as much of the syllabus was identical.

I'll slightly disagree with you on this one Michael.  Some brief books on the history of the CF say he resented having to do basic over again.
Some papers on unification suggest he was bitter at the army, as his choice was the airforce.  Some suggest this is why the the DND base command structure is very much like the old RCAF structure.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I'll slightly disagree with you on this one Michael.  Some brief books on the history of the CF say he resented having to do basic over again.
Some papers on unification suggest he was bitter at the army, as his choice was the airforce.  Some suggest this is why the the DND base command structure is very much like the old RCAF structure.

I trust Granatstein on this one - see WHO KILLED THE CANADIAN MILITARY.  I've seen the interpretation you've presented also - tellingly, I haven't read his biography, and would be foolish to argue with his own words - do you recall if he stated it one way or the other in his own words?

It is quite possible he resented the Army, and I won't argue that point with you.  Whether it affected his opinions on unification is another story.  Say what you will about Hellyer, there were some very good points in (GRAMMAR EDIT: favour) of unification.  I'm not saying I agree with how it was implemented, nor agree on how much should have been unified.  Again, I'm with Granatstein on these basic points.

 

[old medic]

I have both that one and Bercuson & Granatstein's Dictionary of Canadian Military History, which just mention the Basic training.
I don't have Paul Hellyer's autobiography immediately handy, but I'll take a look.
But lets save this one for the real history forum,  The prognosis on this thread isn't good.  :warstory:

 

[Michael Dorosh]

The prognosis on this thread isn't good.  :warstory:

You're a skilled practitioner!

 

[combat_medic]

*ding ding*

This round's over, everyone to their corners to cool off.