Ottawa's sluggish bureaucracy leaves critical gaps in Canadian military ammo supply: AG

[daftandbarmy]

I keep adding to my own thoughts, which is bad form, I suppose. Another thing that struck me was that the senior civil servants viewed ammunition as a depreciating asset, no different from a desk, computer terminal or a pickup truck. Most had been parachuted by PCO into DND from other Departments and had no Defence background. Another constant problem.

If only there was a very senior leader, like a CDS or something, who could have a crack at fixing that problem.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

If only there was a very senior leader, like a CDS or something, who could have a crack at fixing that problem.

The CDS does not “command” DND.

The CAF, which the CDS does command, is a component element of DND, which is functionally run by the MND and the DM.

 

[dapaterson]

If only there was a very senior leader, like a CDS or something, who could have a crack at fixing that problem.

It's not the role or function of the CDS to manage the institution of Defence.

I don't want a Deputy Minister dictating tactics, either.

 

[Cloud Cover]

It's not the role or function of the CDS to manage the institution of Defence.

I don't want a Deputy Minister dictating tactics, either.

We already had an architect and how did that work out.

 

[dapaterson]

We already had an architect and how did that work out.

That was the Minister, not the Deputy Minister.

 

[MilEME09]

That was the Minister, not the Deputy Minister.

The problem is even with these reports, no one sees a problem because at the office level everything works. We would need an actual conflict to break out involving us to have the perverbial poop hit the fan

 

[SupersonicMax]

We preach "unity of command" but our authorities are so dispersed throughout different L1s, that people making decisions have 0 stake in operations. It is normal for those people to take the least risk to themselves, with often little considerations to how it impact ops (current or future). There is no way in our system to keep people accountable because so many different organizations have authorities that have direct impact on operations. Give sufficient authorities to commanders (not ADMs), keep most authorities within CAF L1s and keep them accountable for their decisions.