Government hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[quadrapiper]

'Merican plan, up or out. Hmmmm

Might not even need to be something like that, especially if focused on the Army, with an acknowledged, planned-for trio of options at the end of the "be young, go hard, RIP your knees and spine" contract: select into a longer-term career path in the trade, remuster/CFR/otherwise radically change your CAF role, or (perhaps with some minor incentives) leave Regular service, either to civvy street or the Reserves.

Would need to make sure that the various post-contract options are all painless.

 

[childs56]

I think what need is to have 75% of our enrollees do short contracts, meaning 1 engagement, and be very selective about who we offer a career too.

I also think if you want to shrink the full time force that's going to have to come from the Army as the RCN and RCAF are too technical and operational to rely on part timers for full time commitment.

3 - 5 years. If they stay after that then great.

Without statements to 'do stuff' by all parties, how else would you run an election campaign? 'Vote for us - we're really nice?'

They do have a basic statment talking about Northern Canadian Defence.

 

[Halifax Tar]

How do we get these conversations where the solution to all CAF problems encompasses both increased retention and accelerated attrition?

It wouldn't be Army.ca if we didn't circle argue our own points lol. C'mon man!

 

[Halifax Tar]

Why we are losing people

 

[Czech_pivo]

Why we are losing people

I'd argue that point #2 is directly related to the political directives from the previous Federal Government. This item could be turned around by a simple change in policy with a new Federal Government.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I'd argue that point #2 is directly related to the political directives from the previous Federal Government. This item could be turned around by a simple change in policy with a new Federal Government.

Is Carney the guy that's going to steer the ship to starboard and get us back to the center?

 

[ytz]

if they get creative accounting and include the coast guard 2.5

There's an actual definition for what counts and doesn't for NATO. And for the CG, it's the portion that can operate with/under the navy overseas. It's going to be hard to be creative enough for others to buy random claims of capability.

I do believe in a major decapitation of the headquarters in Ottawa including GOFOS, Cols, LCols, CWOs and MWOs and civilian equivalents and the multitude of regulations, policies etc that they are managing. Last time I looked we had some 8,000 of those for a total force of roughly 61,000 full timers. We have something like 13,500 commissioned officers for 47,500 NCMs. That just strikes me as too many although every position is undoubtedly completely justifiable to those working in the heart of the beast.

A huge part of why HQs and Staffs have grown is the proliferation of decision-making and the large areas the forces they lead cover. What was the frontage of Division in WWII vs today? What do commanders have to consider that that they did not back then? There was a Modern War Institute podcast on this topic from a few months ago. Good listen.

MWI Podcast: The Modern Commander - Modern War Institute

Would Patton or Montgomery be effective battlefield commanders in the twenty-first century? Does the changing character of warfare drive transformations in the ways in which senior officers exercise command of their formations? What explains the change from command as a traditionally individual...

mwi.westpoint.edu

 

[ytz]

Why we are losing people

And yet people say pay is not an issue.....

 

[Halifax Tar]

And yet people say pay is not an issue.....

Exactement monsieur.

 

[dapaterson]

And yet people say pay is not an issue.....

Unpopular opinion: Cpl should not be upper middle class pay rates.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Why we are losing people

Not being paid enough (extrinsic motivator) and not accomplishing anything meaningful (intrinsic motivator) ...

Looks like the CAF has all the bases covered

 

[PuckChaser]

Unpopular opinion: Cpl should not be upper middle class pay rates.

Neither should Captains.

Don't worry, they're tanking the economy so we can all make 6 figures but still live paycheque to paycheque.

 

[MilEME09]

Unpopular opinion: Cpl should not be upper middle class pay rates.

Then they should not be paying upper middle class housing rates on base

 

[ytz]

Unpopular opinion: Cpl should not be upper middle class pay rates.

Even more unpopular opinion (for this forum): you get what you pay for (in quality and quantity).

Don't want to pay more? Better be improving on every other issue on the list. As MilEME09 alludes to, that pay its needed to ensure appropriate quality of life that will recruit and retain enough numbers. If you don't want to pay more, you gotta fix all the rest.

 

[dapaterson]

Even more unpopular opinion (for this forum): you get what you pay for (in quality and quantity).

Don't want to pay more? Better be improving on every other issue on the list. As MilEME09 alludes to, that pay its needed to ensure appropriate quality of life that will recruit and retain enough numbers. If you don't want to pay more, you gotta fix all the rest.

Compare CAF Techs at Cpl to their civilian equivalents.

Then let's talk about CAF pay.

 

[Quirky]

Then they should not be paying upper middle class housing rates on base

I would say implement a housing allowance at each base and make everyone live on the economy, be it rent or own. Monthly rate based on local prices adjusted yearly.
Everyone gets the same, from Pte to LCol. Here is a $1000/month tax free allowance to live in Bloggins Lake, Alberta, stay xx kms within the base.

Shut down CFHA completely and sell off all permanent base housing.

How many base locations couldn’t support everyone living on the economy….eventually?