Informing the Army’s Future Structure

[Kirkhill]

Excuse my ignorance, but is there an actual Force 2025 doc that I can get my hands on, or is it a concept wrapped within Army Future Force models

I understand there is something like that on restricted circulation in the internal net. I don't know if there is anything available to the general public yet. If there is I would love to see it too.

In the meantime the Force 2025 focus allows room a lot of related matters to be discussed.... of course "related" is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Kirkhill]

Wow. You did outdo yourself. Far be it for me to argue with a paper from the Canadian Political Science Association.

I'll just leave it here from the British North America Act.



These of course are legislative powers and the Federal government has already legislated expensively in the field of national defence and militias.

Note in particular s. 70 of the Criminal Code:


I'm not aware as to whether or not any such OiC specifically exists (a cursory search didn't pick one up) but in the event that any Lieutenant Governor attempted to use whatever residual power there might be, the Feds could shut the system down instantly.



Just a reminder: The NDA provides -



Accordingly, a CAF member cannot "transfer their service" by a unilateral act. There is no provision, legally enacted by the Feds that would permit any such transfer.

An interesting theory, Kirkhill, but the constitutional structure of the country and the laws enacted under it would tend to make a "provincial militia" highly unlikely unless the Feds agreed to it.

But that is why we have lawyers, surely? And Constitutional Conferences and The Council of the Federation.

If Ontario and Quebec can have their own provincial armed police force, equivalent to the federal armed police force, originally raised as a military force complete with horse and rifle, pistol and saber, colours and cannon, then why not a provincial militia? One that, like the National Guard would be logistically heavy, locally "inhabited", and predominantly part time. One that could also supply local security. One that, in return for federal supply of the appropriate useful hardware - like trucks and helicopters, radios and field hospitals, shelters, water, waste and power, CBRN/HAZMAT, water bags for fighting forest fires from helicopters - that in return for access to the local federal depots of that kit in time of emergency, and limited access for training, - that in return for the federal beneficence agrees to supply drivers and operators for all that kit when the federal government asks. The National Guards agree to act as a reserve force to supplement the Army's permanently instituted reserve force the US Army Reserve.

And the federal government in the US calls on the National Guard to use that federal kit to support not just the US Army in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia, but also in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in places like New Orleans after a hurricane or California and Montana in wildfire season.


So, we could keep lots of lawyers happy debating the constitutional authority of a Provincial Militia, raised by provincial premiers under the reserve powers of Her Majesty's Lieutenants Governor.

Or.

The Army could start focusing on using the Militia as a logistically well equipped organization, requiring the creation of well stocked federal depots for each of the 10 provinces, one per Lieutenant Governor. An organization staffed by local volunteers under various contractual obligations ranging from the full time to the unpaid. And one focusing on beans, bullets and bandages. And transport. Lots and Lots of Transport.

If the southern population reacted to the Local Militia with the same enthusiasm the northerners support the Canadian Rangers, unpaid volunteers, then your recruiting problems would disappear. And if your recruiting problems disappear because of public support then your budget problems will disappear. And if your budget problems disappear then you can start buying all the kit necessary to fight a modern war overseas. Kit operated by well trained technicians in support of well trained, professional soldiers.

And logistics equally implies access to vessels like Asterix just as much as vessels like the JSS. And to transport aircraft that can equally be used for Search and Rescue as well as Emergency Response. Aircraft (and ships) big enough to load helicopters. Helicopters that don't have to be reduced to nuts and bolts to ship but can be rolled out ready to fly.


So, in my universe, the choice would be between the Army spending appropriately on meeting its logistical requirements via the local Militia and emphasizing the value of the local volunteer or continuing to wonder why it can't find dollars and people to do what it thinks needs to be done while lawyers debate the relative authorities of the Governors, both Lieutenant and General.

And the local volunteers, in the US, are also heavily invested in Ground Based Air Defenc(s)e units of the Artillery. As much as the Army likes to knock down Scuds in Iraq the denizens of Washington like to know they can hold their meetings without worrying too much about the occasional radio-controlled Cessna flying overhead.

You never know. Supporting the local militia and its volunteers might even allow you to attract those women, natives and minorities the politicians say your short of. Personally I wouldn't say you were short of them. I would just say you are missing an opportunity because they aren't coming through the armoury doors.

Slainte.

 

[Kirkhill]

Further

Investment in logistics and support.

Whatever the Army's perceived requirement is for capital investment in B Vehicles and projects like DAME, for projects like whatever the Air Force's perceived requirement is for Chinooks, Hercs and C17 replacements, and Griffons and their replacements, for projects like Big Honking Ships, - whatever the capital requirement is, I would double it and add 10% more and then another 10%.

And I would sell the additional investment as domestic emergency management requirements, to be locally stocked provincially in depots and armouries and municipal airports and managed by the Militia. The Canadian Army working for you. And then open the doors to the locals and ask for willing volunteers with the offer of part time and full time jobs.

Additional Emergency Management Projects that could be funneled through the Militia and the domestic agenda.

Advanced Sub-Unit Water Purification System​

Advanced Water Supply System​

Air Force Expeditionary Capability

Airspace Coordination Center Modernization​

Automatic Identification Technology​

Aviation Capable Weather Observation System​

Biological Warfare Threat Medical Counter Measures​

Bridge and Gap Crossing Modernization​

Camp Sustain​

Canadian Forces Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Decontamination System​

CH-149 Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade​

Chemical Agent Sensor​

Combined/Joint Intelligence Modernization​

Commercial Pattern Armoured Vehicles​

Common Heavy Equipment Replacement​

Defence Resource Management Information System​

Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement​

Enhanced Recovery Capability​

Headquarters Shelter System (HQSS)​

Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) General Service Respirator​

The Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Sensor Integration and Decision Support Project (SI&DS)​

High Risk Search Capability​

Information Technology Infrastructure in Support of Command and Control​

Interdepartmental Maritime Integrated Command, Control, and Communications (IMIC3) Project​

Joint Deployable HQ and Signal Regiment Modernization​

Land Command Support System Tactical Command and Control Information System Modernization​

Light Utility Vehicle​

Logistics Vehicle Modernization​

Logistics Vehicle Recapitalization​

Maritime Satellite Communications Upgrade​

Meridian Standard​

Multi Role Boat​

Naval Large Tug​

Remote Minehunting and Disposal System​

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Project​

Snow and Ice Control Capability Recapitalization Project​

Tactical Integrated Command, Control and Communication Air Project​

Tactical Power System​

Virtually the entire budget of the RCAF, including MMA, RPAS, Otters, Helicopters and RPAS.

And the GBAD systems.




Military Expenditure 1.4151% of GDP

Defence Budget Main Estimates 23.31 BCAD

Capital expenditure 5.1 BCAD


Result of "Doubling the Capital Budget and adding 10% and 10% more" -

Capital expenditure 12.3 BCAD

Defence Budget 30.5 BCAD

Military Expenditure 1.85% of GDP


Still under the 2% NATO cap but near enough to keep them and the Americans happy (especially if buying American gear with Canadian components).

Under the 2% so not war-mongering.

7 BCAD of additional gear built to military standards sitting in warehouses across Canada. Available for both active service and local emergencies.

A 7 BCAD investment in the safety of Canadians in the perilous world created by "Climate Change"

A 7 BCAD investment in local communities.

A 7 BCAD investment in manufacturing jobs for Canadians

A 7 BCAD investment in votes for politicians

A 7 BCAD opportunity to help Canadians feel good about themselves by contributing to foreign disaster relief


A 7 BCAD investment in Joint and Logistic support critical to deploying, sustaining and operating a modern, well-trained, efficient armed force.


When we talk about buying new kit the argument usually ends up about bodies - bodies to operate, bodies to maintain it.

Well forget about that.

Build inventory. And warehouses to store it in.

And make the inventory available to a broader public than the 65,000 members of the Regs or the 20,000 members of the Reg Force Army.


And building the vehicles and the warehouses will supply local jobs.

And jobs for night watchmen.

​

 

[Kirkhill]

Don't you guys have any salesmen on staff?

 

[Kirkhill]

'Nudder thought.

How do you keep the inventory in the warehouse fresh. Turnover.

You exploit the National Defence Act

Materiel​

Marginal noteelivery of materiel for sale or disposal

11 The Governor in Council may authorize the Minister to deliver to any department or agency of the Government of Canada, for sale or disposal to any countries or international welfare organizations and on any terms that the Governor in Council may determine, any materiel that has not been declared surplus and is not immediately required for the use of the Canadian Forces or for any other purpose under this Act.

• R.S., 1985, c. N-5, s. 11
• 1998, c. 35, s. 3

This will also keep the production lines in Canadian factories open. 8x8 trucks from Quebec. Utility ACSVs from London. etc.

Sell or donate a portion of the inventory to Global Affairs for international donations, to the provinces, to municipalities, NGOs, Crown Surplus for sale of secure items to the general public.

That office already exists somewhere in your structure. The poor buggers just have nothing to sell except beaten and abused crap.

 

[Kirkhill]

So.

In summary.

Buy lots of utilitarian support stuff from Canadian suppliers.
Park it in Canadian warehouses scattered across Canada
Establish a sales plan to keep turning the inventory.

Make the inventory available to qualified personnel for domestic crisis management.
Establish the Militia as the key to warehouse and the source of qualifications for volunteers
In exchange to access to this federal largesse the volunteers of the Militia agree to supply a supplement to the Regular Force and also to provide a Reserve in time of Federally declared emergency.

The Regs get a reserve force, augmentation, access to a solid logistical base, freedom from domestic crisis concerns, while gaining kudos and creating an employment situation more likely to attract those that would rather serve locally in a field ambulance than in a rifle platoon in Afghanistan. A situation more likely to attract the service volunteers and the local women of Canada. And the Army gets political credit and budget relief and freedom to concentrate on developing its Expeditionary Force - with the kit immediately available in warehouses all across Canada.

And coming soon to a Theatre near you - Obelix - your floating warehouse and show room.

 

[daftandbarmy]

So.

In summary.

Buy lots of utilitarian support stuff from Canadian suppliers.
Park it in Canadian warehouses scattered across Canada
Establish a sales plan to keep turning the inventory.

Make the inventory available to qualified personnel for domestic crisis management.
Establish the Militia as the key to warehouse and the source of qualifications for volunteers
In exchange to access to this federal largesse the volunteers of the Militia agree to supply a supplement to the Regular Force and also to provide a Reserve in time of Federally declared emergency.

The Regs get a reserve force, augmentation, access to a solid logistical base, freedom from domestic crisis concerns, while gaining kudos and creating an employment situation more likely to attract those that would rather serve locally in a field ambulance than in a rifle platoon in Afghanistan. A situation more likely to attract the service volunteers and the local women of Canada. And the Army gets political credit and budget relief and freedom to concentrate on developing its Expeditionary Force - with the kit immediately available in warehouses all across Canada.

And coming soon to a Theatre near you - Obelix - your floating warehouse and show room.

We can get all of that stuff already on contract, I think, without having to incur the overhead commitment.

 

[Kirkhill]

We can get all of that stuff already on contract, I think, without having to incur the overhead commitment.

Mate, you have already committed the overhead. You have the Generals, the staff, the bureaucrats and the real estate.

You're warehouses are empty. And you can't get people into your stores.


Oh..... and you're not signing the contracts.

 

[Kirkhill]

And here is your Sales Department

GCMil

Bidding on and buying federal government surplus such as trucks, office equipment, machinery and appliances

www.gcsurplus.ca

Canadian Military Surplus Assets
GCMil, a group within GCSurplus, sells surplus military assets on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND).
Assets are sold exclusively to pre-approved foreign governments, original equipment manufacturers, and their licensed representatives. Due to the controlled nature of the assets, GCMil does not sell any assets to individual persons.
Do you represent any of the following?

• A pre-approved foreign government
• An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) within the defence industry
• A licensed representative of an OEM within the defence industry
• A Canadian business registered with the Controlled Goods Program
• An authorized Canadian collector or museum registered with the Controlled Goods Program

If your answer is no:

• Occasionally, surplus military assets that have been demilitarized, and no longer considered controlled goods, are posted for sale on GCSurplus.ca.
• Please visit GCSurplus.ca to view sales listings for non-controlled assets that may interest you.

If your answer is yes:

• Please contact GCMil@PWGSC-TPSGC.GC.CA by email for more information.

Condensed future-oriented statement of operations - Canada.ca

www.canada.ca

​

National Defence consolidated future-oriented statement of operations 2020–21 Departmental Plan (unaudited)​

Consolidated future-orientated statement of operations (unaudited)​

For the year ending 31 March​

(in thousands of dollars)

	Forecast results 2019-20	Planned results 2020-21
Expenses
Operations	1,541,964	1,232,798
Ready forces	9,875,820	9,938,978
Defence team	3,417,518	3,530,954
Future force design	770,628	674,373
Procurement of capabilities	3,249,889	3,431,059
Sustainable bases and information technology systems and platforms	3,072,240	3,457,848
Internal services	619,782	679,461
Total expenses	22,547,841	22,945,471
Revenues
Sale of goods and services	392,508	387,286
Gains on disposals of assets	20,567	20,294
Interest and gains on foreign exchange	15,824	15,613
Other	13,375	13,197
Revenues earned on behalf of government	(11,637)	(11,482)
Total revenues	430,637	424,908
Net cost of operations	22,117,204	22,520,563

Note that there is a mandated and accepted Revenue stream. And that it is exploited. Poorly. But it is exploited.

 

[FJAG]

If Ontario and Quebec can have their own provincial armed police force, equivalent to the federal armed police force, originally raised as a military force complete with horse and rifle, pistol and saber, colours and cannon, then why not a provincial militia?

The reason any province can have a provincial police force is because such a force follows in part within the provisions of s 92(14) (the administration of justice in the Province) and the right of the provinces and the federal government to create police forces within their respective jurisdiction.

The North West Mounted Police were never a "military force". Pursuant to "An Act Respecting the Administration of Justice and the Establishment of a Police Force for the North West Territories" of 1873, the Canadian legislature authorized:

10. The Governor in Council may constitute a Police Force in and for the North West Territories, and the Governor may from time to time, as may be found necessary, appoint by commission, a Commissioner of Police, and one or more Superintendents of Police, together with a Paymaster, Surgeon and Veterinary Surgeon, each of whom shall hold office during pleasure.

https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/DAM/DAM-ISC-SAC/DAM-CORP/STAGING/texte-text/b73c35_1100100010229_eng.pdf

Note in particular the authority is for a "police force". There are clear distinctions between the terms police force, militia, military etc.

The structure of the force was primarily due to its first commissioner, Col George Arthur French, a gunner and at the time the head of the School of Gunnery in Kingston and Prime Minister MacDonald's being influenced by the structure of the Royal Irish Constabulary. This resulted in a para-military structure but first and foremost its purpose was that of a police force. Of note too is that the force relied heavily on recruiting retired militiamen including a fairly large number of gunners. While the initial force to deploy took with them two field guns and two mortars they were non-the-less a civil police force. A rather robust police force but a police force nonetheless.

https://electriccanadian.com/forces/ridersofplainsre00hayduoft.pdf

Just as an aside. The RCMP functions as a federal police force and, where contracted to do so within provinces as the province's provincial police as well as in some cases as municipal police.

As to why not a militia. See s 91(7) of the Constitution Act cited earlier. Apples and Oranges, Kirkhill. Apples and Oranges.

 

[MilEME09]

By the way, I also found Initiative 4.3 on International Engagement interesting

Sounds like the old commonwealth divisions we saw in the late 40s, and 50s. I haven't seen anything my self but I would be interested to see how much this multinational division is playing into Force 2025, and is there a specific role for us in said division.

 

[daftandbarmy]

The structure of the force was primarily due to its first commissioner, Col George Arthur French, a gunner and at the time the head of the School of Gunnery in Kingston and Prime Minister MacDonald's being influenced by the structure of the Royal Irish Constabulary. This resulted in a para-military structure but first and foremost its purpose was that of a police force. Of note too is that the force relied heavily on recruiting retired militiamen including a fairly large number of gunners. While the initial force to deploy took with them two field guns and two mortars they were non-the-less a civil police force. A rather robust police force but a police force nonetheless.

When I was in Belfast in '86 the RUC SNCO I did joint patrol planning with, when he found out I was Canadian, gave me a very interesting history lesson about how that all played out, right down to the similarities in uniforms.

 

[Kirkhill]

The reason any province can have a provincial police force is because such a force follows in part within the provisions of s 92(14) (the administration of justice in the Province) and the right of the provinces and the federal government to create police forces within their respective jurisdiction.

The North West Mounted Police were never a "military force". Pursuant to "An Act Respecting the Administration of Justice and the Establishment of a Police Force for the North West Territories" of 1873, the Canadian legislature authorized:




Note in particular the authority is for a "police force". There are clear distinctions between the terms police force, militia, military etc.

The structure of the force was primarily due to its first commissioner, Col George Arthur French, a gunner and at the time the head of the School of Gunnery in Kingston and Prime Minister MacDonald's being influenced by the structure of the Royal Irish Constabulary. This resulted in a para-military structure but first and foremost its purpose was that of a police force. Of note too is that the force relied heavily on recruiting retired militiamen including a fairly large number of gunners. While the initial force to deploy took with them two field guns and two mortars they were non-the-less a civil police force. A rather robust police force but a police force nonetheless.



Just as an aside. The RCMP functions as a federal police force and, where contracted to do so within provinces as the province's provincial police as well as in some cases as municipal police.

As to why not a militia. See s 91(7) of the Constitution Act cited earlier. Apples and Oranges, Kirkhill. Apples and Oranges.

Apples and Oranges - except when both the Police and the Militia are called out to shoot at the restless - and both of them take on citizen volunteers and employ artillery. Will you accept Apples and Para-Apples?

The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was a Canadian para-military police force, established in 1873, to maintain order in the new Canadian North-West Territories (NWT) following the 1870 transfer of Rupert’s Land and North-Western Territory to Canada from the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Red River Rebellion and in response to lawlessness, demonstrated by the subsequent Cypress Hills Massacre and fears of United States military intervention. The NWMP combined military, police and judicial functions along similar lines to the Royal Irish Constabulary. A small, mobile police force was chosen to reduce potential for tensions with the United States and First Nations. The NWMP uniforms included red coats deliberately reminiscent of British and Canadian military uniforms.

The NWMP was established by the Canadian government during the ministry of Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald who defined its purpose as "the preservation of peace and the prevention of crime" in the vast NWT.[2] Macdonald envisioned the police force as a para-military force, writing that the "best force would be mounted rifleman, trained to act as cavalry... and styled police".[2

Words mean a lot to you lawyers (like MacDonald) except when you want them to mean something else.

As is the specific designators for the North West Mounted Rifles, later style North West Mounted Police. Steele's Scouts. Royal Irish Constabulary, British South Africa Police. And any dragoons including the RCMP regiment.

In 1885, Police, Army, Militia and civilian Volunteers all acted jointly in a military campaign. The police and the army both employed cannons, mortars and gatling guns. Command was initially under the police but passed to the Army.

Now who is a soldier and who is a constable? And what is an Army?


Enjoy your day in court. The battles were fought and the Generals and Commissioners, gunners, constables, militiamen and irregulars returned home.


Your Good Health!

 

[Kirkhill]

Can you draw clear distinction amongst Sheriffs, Rangers, Constables, Wardens, Foresters, Regulators, County Militia, County Dragoons, Territorials, Volunteers, Irregulars and Soldiers? And their tasks, duties and responsibilities?

Acta non Verba. Let the deed shaw.

 

[lenaitch]

Interesting discussion to armchair. The fact that the RCMP was initially formed along military lines is unsurprising, given the inherent similarities (deployed, leadership, uniformity, rules-based, etc.) and the reality that the skills and structure were unlikely to be available in the broader society of the day. The first two Commissioners of the OPP were similarly ex-military. as, I imagine, were many police leaders back then. Seeing as the country was only a few years old, the laws and means to enforce them were still in their infancy; the Criminal Code - as a unified body of law - didn't come into force until the 1890s.

The Northwest Territories, as it was back then, was under federal jurisdiction. As provinces were formed, responsibility for law enforcement would have shifted, under the terms of the BNA. While the bulk of the country is currently policed by the RCMP, largely under contract, that wasn't always so. At one time or another, all of the western provinces had provincial forces (not sure about Manitoba). I don't think any of the more established Maritime provinces ever had provincial forces - they were policed by the Dominion before it merged with the NWMP. The SQ (PPQ) was established in 1870; the OPP in 1909.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Can you draw clear distinction amongst Sheriffs, Rangers, Constables, Wardens, Foresters, Regulators, County Militia, County Dragoons, Territorials, Volunteers, Irregulars and Soldiers? And their tasks, duties and responsibilities?

Acta non Verba. Let the deed shaw.

Only if you can tell me how this relates to the title of this thread.

I'd like to debate the merits of the fyrd, seriously, but the Reg Force is probably the main target/ victim for any planned reworking of the force generation/ employment schemes currently in the hopper, so it would be interesting if we could tear them apart think about that as a priority

 

[KevinB]

Can you draw clear distinction amongst Sheriffs, Rangers, Constables, Wardens, Foresters, Regulators, County Militia, County Dragoons, Territorials, Volunteers, Irregulars and Soldiers? And their tasks, duties and responsibilities?

Acta non Verba. Let the deed shaw.

Yes.
Larger than Small Arms holdings at this current moment = Not a LE entity...

The CF Reserves are much closer akin to the National Guard, and making a Provincial Guard is IMHO a train wreck ready to happen.
The question should be why, and for what purpose -- right now the Militia serves that purpose - and adding a Provincially funded Army wouldn't bode well IMHO -- Especially when the Alberta Guard decided to seize 1 CMBG when Alberta separates, or the when the Vandoos join the Quebec Guard and help dynamite any bridges to Ontario...

Honestly that would be the one point I would see a guard like that being used for -- none beneficial to Canada as a whole.

 

[FJAG]

Just one more post on this aspect and then I'll quit. I promise.

As is the specific designators for the North West Mounted Rifles, later style North West Mounted Police.

According to the sources on the North West Mounted Rifles that I could find, they were an entirely different organization formed at Duck Lake in 1879, several years after the NWMP had already been formed. One of its lieutenants was Gabriel Dumont. Their strength seemed to hover around 3 officers and 43 other ranks which seemed to be the establishment for a mounted company at the time. They were disbanded in 1884.

The Northwest Resistance

State of the Militia 1879 see pg li

This report also discusses the troubles expected in the NW due to the disappearance of the Buffalo and the resultant starvation leading to a move to expand the Militia in the territories.

State of the Militia 1881 at p 164

 

[Kirkhill]

Going back to Force 2025

We have available a small force of regular troops with a small, and incomplete inventory of weapons, lacking in ammunition and a significantly larger "cadre" of instructors, staff and bureaucrats who seem to depend, for their existence, on demonstrating their future ability to raise the entire population of Canada in arms and organizing it for deployment to Eastern Europe without them ever setting foot aboard a ship or plane.

In the meantime, in practice, they actually manage to maintain a company in Latvia and occasionally send out half a dozen troopies with snow shovels to clean the streets of Toronto, always ensuring that the detail includes a photographer.

Meanwhile, most of the regularly employed soldiery seems to see the Militia as useful Power Point augmentees. There they have the advantage of costing no rations and no training time but looking good on parade.


If the Army wants to create a Force 2025 within the next 2 years then it has to decide to work with the paid strength available to it as a result of the decisions it has made on where to spend its payroll. And with that limitation in mind decide what it can do, what it is able to do. Not what it would like to do. And once that is finalized communicate clearly to the Government the extent of its abilities abroad on expedition and also at home.

My contention is that if it wants to do anything other than that then it needs to expand its thinking beyond the needs and capabilities of the Expeditionary Company to actually engage the Canadian population employing the legal tools already in place.

Those legal tools, with a bit of imagination, allow for a great degree of creativity. But I don't see much wilingness to embrace doing things differently. Even when we can't do things the same. And all around us everybody else is changing.


Soldier. Constable. Irregular.

Where on that continuum is the Special Forces Operative? The Security Force Assistance Battalion - designed to assist the forces of foreign governments? The Rangers of Britain and the Green Berets of the US - designed to assist the irregular volunteers to oppose their foreign government? The Cyber warrior working from home? The UAS/RPAS controllers? The civilian radar and satellite people? The Little Green Men? Commandos?


Camelot. For one brief, glorious moment.... people decided to codify war, make laws and obey them while they were killing people. Except when they weren't obeying the laws.


We are trying to assign grey tasks to entities we want to be Black and White. The Black and White is new. The Grey is ancient.


The difference between the British King's men, booted and spurred dragoons, pacifying the Anglo-Scots border, and the mounted, booted and spurred mobs of Armstrongs, Nixons, Grahams and Johnsons and the French King's men, booted and spurred operating with the Scots rustlers against the constabulary dragoons, was vanishingly small.

Hobbesian if you will.

We can aspire to maintain the clarity of our Black and White codes and standards but everywhere is grey.


In that greyness black and white can get lost. But equally, in that greyness there are opportunities to do things differently. And sometimes it is worth looking back to history to see how protracted periods of instability were managed previously.


As to the 2 year time limit. Yes it is short. But drastic reorg in that time span is not impossible nor is it without historical precedent. Even in Canada.

The King's Men don't just include those who have taken the King's Shilling and put on a uniform. They include, at least in many other countries, people that are more active in foreign service but never leave the civilian realm.

Do I want a Provincial Guard? No. But I do want the Regular Force to spend at least as much time contemplating how to engage with its own civilian population as it does contemplating OMLTs and PRCs an SFORs an SFABs and ASOBs and the billion other acronyms for civilian engagement overseas.


That is what that list of names has to do with Force 2025. The exercise may be an Army exercise. But the Army will only function, adapt, and exist if it learns how to do things differently .... and take risks. Accept the 70% solution if you will.

 

[Kirkhill]

Just one more post on this aspect and then I'll quit. I promise.



According to the sources on the North West Mounted Rifles that I could find, they were an entirely different organization formed at Duck Lake in 1879, several years after the NWMP had already been formed. One of its lieutenants was Gabriel Dumont. Their strength seemed to hover around 3 officers and 43 other ranks which seemed to be the establishment for a mounted company at the time. They were disbanded in 1884.

The Northwest Resistance

State of the Militia 1879 see pg li

This report also discusses the troubles expected in the NW due to the disappearance of the Buffalo and the resultant starvation leading to a move to expand the Militia in the territories.

State of the Militia 1881 at p 164

After the NWMP were formed Gabriel Dumont joined a group of Prince Albert volunteers that were raised as the North West Mounted Rifles. That is correct.

However I am looking, unsuccessfully, for the reference I have somewhere to the discussions that John A had when contemplating raising the Police force for the prairies. As noted above, he recognized that what was needed was a patrolling organization based on the lines of Cavalry, Dragoons or Mounted Rifles. But he didn't want to call them by any of those names. Because he didn't want to have a British Cavalry unit confronting an American Cavalry unit on the medicine line over the natives. He didn't want to be seen to be defending the west by direct confrontation. He wanted to be seen to be claiming in by policing it. The tools were identical. The only difference was the name.

Oh, that and the fact that his Police Cavalry were given written authorization to implement Jeddart Justice. They were authorized to make summary judgements on the spot. It worked on the Anglo-Scots border. And in Ireland. Why not in Southern Alberta?