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Divining the right role, capabilities, structure, and Regimental System for Canada's Army Reserves

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yard Ape
  • Start date Start date
The key question, though, is do we need that occupation in time of war but can't afford to have them all working as full-timers during peacetime.
Reminds me that people seem to spend a lot of time not quite figuring out how to come to grips with how to best employ and train a force of mixed full-time and part-time maintainers, while looking after materiel earmarked for full-time and part-time users.
 
No guarantees that low cost civvy designs are easy to service.
Ease of maintenance is not really a priority of engineers, and maybe never has been. It's just that for the first few decades everything was mechanically simple and was not being fitted into as small a space as possible. "Efficient" to an engineer does not refer to maintenance. I was appalled how complicated relatively simple jobs - replace a water pump, thermostat, starter, fuel filter, etc - evolved to be merely in the couple of decades from 1970 to 1990.

Some good design principles for military softskin fleets are simple to operate, simple to maintain, and approximately disposable after a few months' wartime service.
 
Some good design principles for military softskin fleets are simple to operate, simple to maintain, and approximately disposable after a few months' wartime service.
Back in my subbie days I owned one of these.

70_Triumph_Spitfire_MK3_DV_05_PVGP_001.jpg

Notwithstanding that I have very little good to say about British cars, the hood (bonnet?) was one of the positive things. There wasn't anything on that engine that wasn't easy to access and work on.

🍻
 
I guess that goes in the leadership failure bin. One or both COs for failing/refusing to negotiate compromises, and a brigade commander for not banging heads together and relieving COs when necessary.

I'm not in a position to comment with any authority because I only had 33 years of experience watching the inadequacy play out in various ways. It's possible things were different before I arrived on the scene.

TBF, I assume the Svc Bn didn't have enough bandwidth either.

And most of our vehicle servicing was done by the local CFB... where I recall one MSVS remained for several months while they waited for a bulb for the tail light to be delivered so they could replace it for us ;)
 
Back in my subbie days I owned one of these.

70_Triumph_Spitfire_MK3_DV_05_PVGP_001.jpg

Notwithstanding that I have very little good to say about British cars, the hood (bonnet?) was one of the positive things. There wasn't anything on that engine that wasn't easy to access and work on.
[Tangents]I had a 69 and then a 76 Dodge Dart. My brother had a Monte Carlo at one point. It was almost possible to stand inside the compartment while working on the engines.[/Tangents]
 
Ease of maintenance is not really a priority of engineers, and maybe never has been. It's just that for the first few decades everything was mechanically simple and was not being fitted into as small a space as possible. "Efficient" to an engineer does not refer to maintenance. I was appalled how complicated relatively simple jobs - replace a water pump, thermostat, starter, fuel filter, etc - evolved to be merely in the couple of decades from 1970 to 1990.

Some good design principles for military softskin fleets are simple to operate, simple to maintain, and approximately disposable after a few months' wartime service.


A buddy of mine drove up from Philly in 1978 in a 5 year old Honda Civic. I got a phone call from Niagara on the Lake telling me his car had crapped out. I drove down from Peterborough to pick him up.

His timing belt had shredded.

It took a week to get it repaired. The belt was at the back up against the firewall. The engine had to be removed to replace the belt.

The problem isn't new.
 
A buddy of mine drove up from Philly in 1978 in a 5 year old Honda Civic. I got a phone call from Niagara on the Lake telling me his car had crapped out. I drove down from Peterborough to pick him up.

His timing belt had shredded.

It took a week to get it repaired. The belt was at the back up against the firewall. The engine had to be removed to replace the belt.

The problem isn't new.
We use to swap those out in about 3- 4 hours. They were a pain but not difficult to do. The sideways engine setup caused lots of grief for many mechanics who preferred the larger v8s.
 
I'm not in a position to comment with any authority because I only had 33 years of experience watching the inadequacy play out in various ways. It's possible things were different before I arrived on the scene.

TBF, I assume the Svc Bn didn't have enough bandwidth either.

And most of our vehicle servicing was done by the local CFB... where I recall one MSVS remained for several months while they waited for a bulb for the tail light to be delivered so they could replace it for us ;)
Seven months for a tail light bulb. Did anyone go down to NAPA to see if they had a bulb that fit.

Years ago I blew a airline on a MLVW in the field and the Mechanics did not have a replacement or tools to make a new one. I ended up going to the local parts store with the BQMS credit card and buying a airline. Just happens the US does this regularly and the local auto parts store has a call out fee and stocks some of the not normal parts. This saved a $2500 low bed bill plus waiting a week plus to get the truck back to Base.
I do not know why we can not do this to get things going.
Contracts or not, waiting on parts especially consumables should not take more then a hour or two for the delivery.
 
Back of the cigarette pack math: a class B captain is $100,000 in salary.

If we use $200/day as the average cost per person on an Army Reserve exercise, that's $500 per weekend.

So every class B captain is the equivalent of two weekend exercises for 100 people each.

Just maybe the incessant demand for full time personnel above the GoC limit for the Reg F has negative externalities that impact the ability of the Res F to effectively train.
 
Back of the cigarette pack math: a class B captain is $100,000 in salary.

If we use $200/day as the average cost per person on an Army Reserve exercise, that's $500 per weekend.

So every class B captain is the equivalent of two weekend exercises for 100 people each.

Just maybe the incessant demand for full time personnel above the GoC limit for the Reg F has negative externalities that impact the ability of the Res F to effectively train.
On average one Class B is the equivalent of six Class A's undergoing fairly decent annual training. But then, Class Bs solve "today's" problems where Class As are merely valuable for solving "tomorrow's" problems. If you bank on tomorrow never coming then the only value that Class As have is being a gene pool for Class Bs.

Priorities!

These are the CAF's self-inflicted wounds.

🍻
 
On average one Class B is the equivalent of six Class A's undergoing fairly decent annual training. But then, Class Bs solve "today's" problems where Class As are merely valuable for solving "tomorrow's" problems. If you bank on tomorrow never coming then the only value that Class As have is being a gene pool for Class Bs.

Priorities!

These are the CAF's self-inflicted wounds.

🍻

The Reg F wants to be a force in being, rather than a force that generates readiness.
 
Back of the cigarette pack math: a class B captain is $100,000 in salary.

If we use $200/day as the average cost per person on an Army Reserve exercise, that's $500 per weekend.

So every class B captain is the equivalent of two weekend exercises for 100 people each.

Just maybe the incessant demand for full time personnel above the GoC limit for the Reg F has negative externalities that impact the ability of the Res F to effectively train.

There are slot of Class Bs double hatted in PRes roles like CO, RSM and all the way through the COC.

Think of the savings! :)
 
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