Justin Trudeau hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Halifax Tar]

There are people in Halifax who seriously don't think the RCN is the big priority?

Unlike Esquimalt, where the base is tucked away in another cove, it's pretty impossible not to see the Atlantic fleet when driving over the bridges.

There absolutely are.

I truly think the CBG would be better supported if it was able to establish 36 Svc (Halifax) into a 3rd line CBG supporting logistics/maintenance unit and detach from needing to go through CFB Halifax units.

And it could be done. Just need the positions and the money.

I have truly loved my time at the CBG HQ. The Army Reserve has been absolutely refreshing. The can do and positive attitude is so refreshing. I just think things from a sustainment and maintenance perspective thing could be better done independently.

 

[markppcli]

Two weeks off means just that. Off. No appointments, no “come in to sign X nonsense”, off. Everything is done while you are on your two week rotation.

So where do they do fitness training? What happens if they get injured ?

To save money buy equipment that doesn't require people.

Or at least requires fewer people.

Maybe you only need a 6 man security section and a regional maintenance team with a circuit to support.

All equipment requires people; the buildings and vehicles, even drones, require maintenance and up keep. Then those people required support.

 

[Quirky]

So where do they do fitness training? What happens if they get injured ?

At their local gym or field house, CAF could partially subsidize memberships. Is $20 a month out of your own pocket really a deal breaker for a regular gym rat? I know it wouldn't be for me. If they get injured then there's the local ER, CAF members can experience what it's like seeking medical care like everyone else. Maybe then they'll appreciate the MIR services and the instant care they receive.

 

[dimsum]

So where do they do fitness training?

Not OP, but I know that at least one unit had a deal with the nearby civ gym because it wasn't near the rest of the base and its gym.

What happens if they get injured ?

I imagine that they would go to civ hospital, like what happens during off hours.

I'm not suggesting that's a good idea...

 

[markppcli]

At their local gym or field house, CAF could partially subsidize memberships. Is $20 a month out of your own pocket really a deal breaker for a regular gym rat?

And if it isn’t available? We talk a lot, to potential recruits, about all the benefits of the CAF. Call me crazy but it seems like we should provide them. While it can be said “those that want to go will go” fitness training should be more concerned about those that won’t go, who’s going to ensure thats happening whiles Cpl Bloggins on his two weeks off? Also where are you getting a 20 dollar gym membership? Very curious.

I know it wouldn't be for me. If they get injured then there's the local ER, CAF members can experience what it's like seeking medical care like everyone else. Maybe then they'll appreciate the MIR services and the instant care they receive.

If your expecting them to regularly use the civilian medical services I would expect the provincial health authority will have something to say about it.

 

[dimsum]

Also where are you getting a 20 dollar gym membership? Very curious.

Right? The lowest that Anytime Fitness (pretty bare bones in terms of gyms) offers is $55/month.

If your expecting them to regularly use the civilian medical services I would expect the provincial health authority will have something to say about it.

I think the regular shifting of med records btwn the CAF and provincial health authorities will be a massive headache. As it stands, if you get injured and go to the ER, you then need to contact the MIR to ensure billing and records are transferred properly. But @Quirky says that folks shouldn't be doing any work-related stuff in those two weeks that they're off.

Does this count as work-related stuff? If not, would the hospital wait for up to 2 weeks before med records are transferred and/or they get paid?

Edit to add: How about folks who need long-term stuff like physio, etc? Do they keep flipping between CAF physio and civ physio, depending on when their appointments land?

 

[markppcli]

Right? The lowest that Anytime Fitness (pretty bare bones in terms of gyms) offers is $55/month.


I think the regular shifting of med records btwn the CAF and provincial health authorities will be a massive headache. As it stands, if you get injured and go to the ER, you then need to contact the MIR to ensure billing and records are transferred properly. But @Quirky says that folks shouldn't be doing any work-related stuff in those two weeks that they're off.

Does this count as work-related stuff? If not, would the hospital wait for up to 2 weeks before med records are transferred and/or they get paid?

Edit to add: How about folks who need long-term stuff like physio, etc? Do they keep flipping between CAF physio and civ physio, depending on when their appointments land?

This is what I mean; the admin hassle we have because of using our medical system becomes enormous. Let’s talk about admin; what do you do when your off and your pay is messed up and they need a signature to fix it / pay you via cashier ? Or finalize a claim ? How about your ripped you clothes day 14 of your shift do you wait two weeks to get reissued ? All of this would require some kind of support for those folks in their “off” time.

 

[kev994]

I only can speak to my own experience and observations. The most I have been exposed to how the RCAF operates were in and out of 8 Wing to head to theatre.

My point was mainly that while we need more $, we tend to take that money and piss it away in acts of delusions of grandeur thar making what we have more functional.

I would love to see more money as well. I need to get folks firing more than 49 rounds a year to stay proficient on their personal weapons. I need more money to perform the crucial O&M tasks that have been kicked down the road for decades.

The Army is garrison bound, yes; but there has been a lot of "ridden hard, put away wet." In the past 10 years that has come to roost in 2022. Especially personnel wise.

I find exercises in "who has it worst" only serve to deflect from those truly at fault, and continue the infighting between the L1s.

I’ll take some of that, and I would like my workplace to not be made out of lead and asbestos. It would also be nice if I could drink a beverage without being concerned about its content of heavy metals.

 

[Weinie]

Right? The lowest that Anytime Fitness (pretty bare bones in terms of gyms) offers is $55/month.

Fit 4 Less is substantially cheaper than that.

 

[Quirky]

And if it isn’t available? We talk a lot, to potential recruits, about all the benefits of the CAF. Call me crazy but it seems like we should provide them. While it can be said “those that want to go will go” fitness training should be more concerned about those that won’t go, who’s going to ensure thats happening whiles Cpl Bloggins on his two weeks off? Also where are you getting a 20 dollar gym membership? Very curious.

I said subsidized, meaning the CAF would cover a portion of the gym membership while you're "off" living in civilization unlike in isolated places like Cold lake. I used to take a month off during the summer away from any base and paid the 30-day fee, which was $40-50. Given the current physical fitness state of our Air Force, I doubt many would use that fitness allowance. The amount of GenZs who work-out for their own health is extremely low compared to those who game all day pounding back energy drinks.

If your expecting them to regularly use the civilian medical services I would expect the provincial health authority will have something to say about it.

You use regular medical service while on shift and use the civilian services when off for any emergencies. Like we do now. I don't book regular medical appointments when I'm on leave.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

I only can speak to my own experience and observations. The most I have been exposed to how the RCAF operates were in and out of 8 Wing to head to theatre.

My point was mainly that while we need more $, we tend to take that money and piss it away in acts of delusions of grandeur thar making what we have more functional.

I would love to see more money as well. I need to get folks firing more than 49 rounds a year to stay proficient on their personal weapons. I need more money to perform the crucial O&M tasks that have been kicked down the road for decades.

The Army is garrison bound, yes; but there has been a lot of "ridden hard, put away wet." In the past 10 years that has come to roost in 2022. Especially personnel wise.

I find exercises in "who has it worst" only serve to deflect from those truly at fault, and continue the infighting between the L1s.

Wait you get 49 “live” rounds a year?

I get less than that in the SAT, for the 9mm.

But ya, we all need more money and a procurement system and training system that will allow us to put it to good use.

 

[markppcli]

I said subsidized, meaning the CAF would cover a portion of the gym membership while you're "off" living in civilization unlike in isolated places like Cold lake. I used to take a month off during the summer away from any base and paid the 30-day fee, which was $40-50. Given the current physical fitness state of our Air Force, I doubt many would use that fitness allowance. The amount of GenZs who work-out for their own health is extremely low compared to those who game all day pounding back energy drinks.

I actually find gym use much higher in our younger troops but that could be different organizations.

You use regular medical service while on shift and use the civilian services when off for any emergencies. Like we do now. I don't book regular medical appointments when I'm on leave.

You’re also not on 2 week rotations. That’s 6 months of “off” time. Not unreasonable to assume medical needs will occur while your in your away time.

 

[Quirky]

You’re also not on 2 week rotations. That’s 6 months of “off” time. Not unreasonable to assume medical needs will occur while your in your away time.

Then we need to figure out another system that works. We could just maintain the status quo, because change is hard and sometimes expensive, and keep losing people because of stupidity like isolated bases. I prefer to see the later and let the ship sink, maybe things will change at that point. We are already combat ineffective pretty much across the board.

 

[markppcli]

Then we need to figure out another system that works. We could just maintain the status quo, because change is hard and sometimes expensive, and keep losing people because of stupidity like isolated bases. I prefer to see the later and let the ship sink, maybe things will change at that point. We are already combat ineffective pretty much across the board.

I don’t disagree I’m just pointing out that fly in and fly out creates its own host of problems; and it would also likely increase our manpower needs vs solve them.

Isolated bases should just be done away with quite frankly. The advantages of raining area proximity are offset by the costs of posting and out and retention losses. Bases closer to towns with reasonable housing and better services, by virtue of concentration, could go a long way.

Regardless which problem the CAF needs to address first, the answer probably isn’t putting an Air Defence Bn in Goose Bay.

 

[dimsum]

Regardless which problem the CAF needs to address first, the answer probably isn’t putting an Air Defence Bn in Goose Bay.

Are you referring to the 2006 Harper campaign promise? Because no one has suggested it since.

 

[markppcli]

Are you referring to the 2006 Harper campaign promise? Because no one has suggested it since.

I was referring to this suggestion

What happens if....

Goose Bay is revived as an active NATO training base but....

With a live GBAD-CRAM unit,
Enhancing drone launching capability to include the Kratos Mako UTAP-22 to complement the Kratos BQMs

Add in an MQ(CQ)-9B overwatch capability and then allow manned aircraft into the environment for training purposes.

NATO scores a useful training environment.
Canada scores useful training, new kit, an experimental facility, new capabilities and international kudos
Politicians score Newfy votes.

 

[Quirky]

Isolated bases should just be done away with quite frankly. The advantages of raining area proximity are offset by the costs of posting and out and retention losses. Bases closer to towns with reasonable housing and better services, by virtue of concentration, could go a long way.

-Navy isn’t isolated, West and East coasts in major centres. I think.
-Army has wainwright, which could be closed and relocated to Edmonton. Shilo is close enough to Brandon?
-Air Force has Cold Lake which is the biggest isolated cancer. That’s not going away with the infrastructure planned for the F-35. Greenwood could be moved to Halifax airport. Maybe?

 

[markppcli]

-Navy isn’t isolated, West and East coasts in major centres. I think.
-Army has wainwright, which could be closed and relocated to Edmonton. Shilo is close enough to Brandon?
-Air Force has Cold Lake which is the biggest isolated cancer. That’s not going away with the infrastructure planned for the F-35. Greenwood could be moved to Halifax airport. Maybe?

Wainwright is a training centre; Edmonton houses units has no training area (well nearly). It’s standard to drive to wainwright to conduct most training and it’s workable.

Shilo is very isolated, having just been posted here “25 minutes to Brandon” sounds great until you realize your out of milk / butter / eggs and the canex closed at 5 pm because it’s Wednesday. Oh and you’d love to go have a beer and watch the game at the pub but there isn’t one for 30 minutes around you and the mess is open one day a week.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I actually find gym use much higher in our younger troops but that could be different organizations.



You’re also not on 2 week rotations. That’s 6 months of “off” time. Not unreasonable to assume medical needs will occur while your in your away time.

Out west young people are very fitness conscious, either the endurance fitness like running or weight lifting/Yoga and also very conscious of what they eat. I can't speak for other region though.

 

[MilEME09]

Wainwright is a training centre; Edmonton houses units has no training area (well nearly). It’s standard to drive to wainwright to conduct most training and it’s workable.

Shilo is very isolated, having just been posted here “25 minutes to Brandon” sounds great until you realize your out of milk / butter / eggs and the canex closed at 5 pm because it’s Wednesday. Oh and you’d love to go have a beer and watch the game at the pub but there isn’t one for 30 minutes around you and the mess is open one day a week.

Messes and amenities for those on bases has been slowly dying the last ten years. I was in borden in summer 2019, every long weekend the Jr was closed, as was any entertainment on base. Canex closed at about 4 and opened at 10, realistically you want any entertainment you had to cab it off base as anyone with a vehicle to give you a lift left Friday