WOW, this topic is getting great. First of all, a couple of points of clarrification of me... I am a member of this roto, and from 5 GBMC, I also have been a member 1 CMBG and have been trained in Pet also (RCR Battle School for my JLC/JNCO).
I will not get into facts of past tours of the 5GBMC, since I have never done a tour with them (just the MDT with 3CSG), however I ask Retiredgrunt what is written on the signs of 1 CBMG... when I was there it was "The Army of the West".
As for this tour, we (I speak from my exp as a PMed/HSS pers), have been training very hard to bring honour to our country, our brigade, our unit and ourselves. Some of us, like myself have been training for a tour for over 2 years (TF 2-06, 4-06, 3-07), thats 3 wainwrights, and a handful of other exs.
Are the VanDoos cocky, damned right! Are the RCR, PPCLI, _____________(insert applicable unit/regiment/branch/service) cocky too.... IMHO damned right. Does the media sometime not understand the cockiness, yes and I mean always.
If you actually talk to the soldiers, they don't mention that we are going to "do it better", most just want to do the job. And honestly, we are under the microscope here in "La belle province", but we have another media in the rest of Canada watching us for different reasons. (Side note, I am sure none of you have ever received a mailling from peaceniks at your pvt residence...)
Every brigade, unit, branch, and service work differently. I have served or worked with all three Reg F brigades, and a couple of Res F ones too. While this may upset the way handoversare conducted, our main goals are the same:
1) complete the mission
2) help the people of Afghanistan get back on their feet
3) come home safe to our loved ones.
I thank you for the words of encouragement retiredgrunt and I thank all of you for your time today!