News Item on Reserves 12 Mar 04

[muskrat89]

OK - Back to the topic.
If the Government is trying to use the Militia as full time Counter-Terror Units, then obviously, this is doomed to fail, like a lot of other "flavour-of-the-week"s. BUT, if they are trying to provide some training so the reserves can assist after a terrorist attack, or even a natural disaster - then I‘m all for it. Remember, we‘re talking extreme events here. Properly trained? No one was properly trained for 9/11. I doubt people will be properly trained for the next event, either. Better equipped/trained possibly to deal with the event - but since no one knows what for sure it will be - there will always be room for improvement.

In my civvie job, I am involved with security, Hazmat stuff, fire protection, etc. One thing they are doing here in the US is developing CERT teams - civilian emergency response teams. Basically, it‘s like having a community fanout system to assist in natural disasters, WMD strikes, etc. The jist is that the authorities are predicting that first responders, even in big cities like mine will be overwhelmed, during some incidents, and whole communities may be "on their own" for days. The CERT teams receive about 40 hours of training. Basically, they develop networks in the community, where they learn who all of the medical people are; who the carpenters, plumbers, electricians are; who the engineers are. People that they can round up in an emergency, organize, and assist the citizens until help arrives.

Aid to Civil Power has always been a potential mission of the reserves (official or not). I think - as long as this doesn‘t replace their primary mission, and as long as the Govt‘s expectations aren‘t too grandiose, that this is for once, a common sense idea. A Reserve Unit already has infrastructure in place. They have a fanout system (snowball). They can be self-sustained with comms, rations, vehicles, weapons, etc. It only makes sense to give some kind of training to Reserve Units. Military units already in place, in the communities. Surely if Civilians (CERT) can be of assistance - then the Militia can do better?

I think a reasonable plan would: help the first responders in time of disaster, help the Unit by giving them exposure in the Community, and help the troops by giving them something new/interesting/valuable to focus on.

Coinicidentally, I (and as a lowly civilian) am attending a 3 day seminar on "Threat and Risk Assesments for WMD/Terror attacks" next week. How to work with first responders, FEMA, etc.

We tend to speak in ideals. Won‘t be properly trained. Troops won‘t show up. They will need job protection. We are talking about catastrophic events. ANY help, especially with some organization, will be appreciated. Sorry for the lengthy post. Living in the US has given me, I think, a slightly different perspective of terrorism. Add to the fact I deal with this, on a small level, in my civvie job AND the fact that I always felt, in the Militia that Aid To Civil Power was a valuable niche for us....

 

[GhostRecce]

yeah i did the c9 pwt this year, just like a c7 pwt. run down and all

 

[Brad Sallows]

>Aid to Civil Power has always been a potential mission of the reserves (official or not).

A bit of a nitpick, but as policy, it has not. "Aid" implies "armed". What has always been a potential mission is "Assistance". ("Aid" and "Assistance" have very explicit meanings in the domestic operations lexicon.)

The notion of armed domestic security conducted by reservists is quite a sea change. The difference of course is that presumably the estimate is situated in the context of anti-terrorism, not riot control.

 

[bossi]

Bang on, Brad!
Assistance to Civil Authorities can be sand-bagging during floods, or using military vehicles during an ice storm.
Aid To The Civil Power is armed assistance, and you‘re absolutely correct when you state it would be "quite a sea change" ...
However, we also have to be aware of minute distinctions between "anti-" and "counter-" terrorism activities (to the casual onlooker, these may seem just a difference in semantics, but they‘re not to people with training who work in this field). In the civilian emergency management world, counter-terrorism refers more to the actions taken in response to a terrorist event - and, one of the most important principles is to maintain public confidence. Thus, a "show of force" might sometimes be useful, or even necessary (plus, it takes some of the media attention away from other organisations who prefer to work in the shadows, vice the front page ... and, please - let‘s not launch into ANOTHER diatribe about the Dwyer Hill Highlanders, okay?)
Blurb on National Anti-Terrorism Act

Blurb on Counter-Terrorism

 

[muskrat89]

Well, semantics aside - and whether it is an extension or re-definition of the current mission - I think there‘s a way that the Reserves can fit in, and play a real role either after a terrorist attack, or during a natural disaster. I pre-qualified my statements by saying that they will never be counter-terror Units; on that, we all agree. It is interesting that some people seem to imply that the Militia can be of no help at all, while here in the US, they see a value in Civilian Response Teams - with no infrastructure, and little training.

 

[Harris]

Muskrat89, Bossi, et al,

While I agree %100 with your comments I still have a concern that what the Govt is planning, and what my troops are capable of are two different things.

Armed aid to the civil power- My soldiers are keen, hard working, and eager, but not trained to the level where I would feel comfortable with them acting in this capicity. They (andI) have not been trained, nor exposed to this type of scenario. We require a lot of training (which = $ and time we don‘t have) before we could do this properly.

Assistance to the civil power- No problem here. As a matter of fact we now have focised on this aspect and are slowly gathering equipment and knowledge for this very task. If the call were to go out I‘m sure I‘d get at least 80% of my soldiers responding within 48 hours.

My 2 cents worth

 

[Rick_Donald]

Ever since the 1700‘s the militia‘s and reserves have been the victims of the government‘s tight pursestrings. This has led to poorly trained soldiers, needless death and general confusion under fire. The regular forces has always looked down their noses at these reserve forces. Enemy commander‘s, when faced with a civilian/militia force, often walk right over these forces. This will continue to happen until both the government and DND recognize this serious error and allocate the neccesary funds to train our reserve forces. This also takes a great deal of time.Legislated job protection and income supplimentation is required to achieve these goals set out by the Canadian government.
These men and women want and deserve this treatment for stepping up to the plate and offering their services to Canada. To hold down a full time job, provide for a family and take up arms to defend their country should demand respect from all quarters.
To put them in the line of fire before achieving this is murder and criminal.
To attempt to achieve these goals without taking this into consideration will only amount to failure.

 

[Bill Smy]

I can recall during the Cold War the powers to be decided that any hot war would be over before the Reserves could be called up. They then articulated the "forces in being" policy. Knowing that they could not sell disbanding the Reserves they assigned them to National Survival tasks (rescue, traffic control, etc).

Having sold that to everyone, then it was logical that there were no requirements to classify on personal weapons, conduct tactical exercises, do any type of support weapon training, drive any type of vehicle other than 3/4 and 2 1/2 ton trucks. Even summer concentrations were limited, and focused on first aid, ropes and knots, etc.

In this Assistance to the Civil Authority proposal I can see the spectre of National Survival. Who is going to confront the terrorist here in Canada? The police of course (forces in being). Who is going to go through the rubble looking for survivors? Guess.

If that is going to the role of the Reserves we had better start teaching how to prop up structures, ropes and latters, handle fire hoses,etc. And how soon do you think it will take to argue that there is no requirement for ammunition, armoured vehicles, tactical exercises, and even if there was a requirement how is that going to fit into a forty day training cycle when, of course, the primary tasking is Assistance to the Civil Authority?

 

[logau]

You could be very right. If you measure the $ assigned to reserves it seems to be getting sma_l_er. We have to get a small website going called www.LiddleHartliveson.ca or something - that can promote reserves............... forget that - that can demote the regulars....... show its a charlatan show....... trouble is what they do is far from most people‘s experience..... just a random thought here - this week I was at the tomb of the unknown soldier taking a picture of it for my WW1 websites... 2 girls came up and said what‘s this? On of the two said - oh they found some guy and reburied him... then they merrily went on to meet their little boyfriends.

My point being that whereas in the USA or UK where there is a memorial to a VC or local soldier in every urinal in every pub in the land - here in Canada there is a billion dollars being shovelled out to have summer concerts for the local pseudo pop star.....

Canadians need 4 times as much money to get to what the Brits call their starved out level of funding. Until that happens everyone has to work at finding ways of doing more with less. HO CHI MINH and the Vietnam Army did it so what could we do - in the cost cutting effectiveness mode?

I believe that there are certain things that won`t change without a river of money - i.e.: eqpt - looks like the standard for light vehs is now Armoured Humvees - you can imagine what the new ILTIS replacements will look like when they finally meet some rag tag army.

Why not start with the obvious questions ----- why are not reserves paid 1 for 1 based on their experience and REG FORCE led training - simply put the best encouragement to parity pay is get the courses - do the time - get the pay. and maybe get a bonus. like the Brits?

Trouble is - the base of the reserves is young guys and gals who aren‘t around long enough to get influence and the top of the Pyramid has very little influence. I mean look where the priorities of the government are - healthcare - UNITY at an estimated burn rate of 2 to 3 million bucks a week in perpetuity.

No matter what you want to do - the cost of the Army will always be a big item, you want to keep the expertise in the regulars and as a government it would not seem illogical to ransack the reserves to so it, gets you about 200 million in pay - if you need to rebuild it will probably take you three years (based on Brit experience in WW2 in North Africa ---- YES!!!! I have a new paper for you all to read soon!)