Reconstitution

[PuckChaser]

Last time I looked about 40% of P Res folks in the MCpl to WO / Capt/Maj ranks were already on full time service. There isn't a pool of folks ready to surge.

The Reg F needs to sort itself out and wean itself from full time Res F backfill.

GoC and CDS need to stop adding tasks before that can happen. Years after reconstitution became a priority, we're deploying more often, with less people and less O&M to cover the breakage. We're in a toilet spiral and it only stops at MND and cabinet level.

 

[OldSolduer]

GoC and CDS need to stop adding tasks before that can happen. Years after reconstitution became a priority, we're deploying more often, with less people and less O&M to cover the breakage. We're in a toilet spiral and it only stops at MND and cabinet level.

When I retired it seemed every task coming down the line was "no fail". When your troops are run ragged, their equipment basically worn out, and the maintenance budget ain't there, expect failure.
And the failure will be massive and expect lots of finger pointing at DND/CAF ....at the politicians at each other.

 

[Navy_Pete]

When I retired it seemed every task coming down the line was "no fail". When your troops are run ragged, their equipment basically worn out, and the maintenance budget ain't there, expect failure.
And the failure will be massive and expect lots of finger pointing at DND/CAF ....at the politicians at each other.

That hasn't changed, people just stopped listening and 'no fails' are more like 'yeah, sure if we can manage it but don't count on it for sure'.

 

[Navy_Pete]

So on top of all the other nuisances, making Supp Res useful (which should be in some ways easier than sorting out the various permutations of PRes existence and organization) needs looking at?

No idea really but it would be nice if you were able to have some kind of contact list for supp res folks to actively call them up for specific openings they were qualified for. Edit: didn't phrase that well; meant literally call them to see if they were interested.

Kind of a moot point with the budget cuts anyway; don't need more people if you don't have funding for them to do things like purchases. Would be awesome though if NICP and other funds get pumped up though to be able to get folks that are semi retired working part time through the supp res on supporting projects, purchases, policy updates, occupation overhauls, helping run courses and all the other tasks that come up where you need someone with experience.

 

[CountDC]

Last time we tried backfilling positions with a reservists it took about 5 months to get the paperwork in and then died somewhere before getting posted. Not really sure the details but maybe something unique about NavRes and how they are set up to only backfill shipboard type jobs. Trying to go outside that can be a challenge, and trying to get them to think about having some NTO or Log officers vice all Mars bars is like you are not only reinventing the wheel, but the entire concept of motion.

It does take time and you have to keep on top of it. it goes through the chain of command and involves the career shop. Our latest one almost died until I stuck my nose in. On the bright side I am not dealing with NavRes thankfully. Dealt with them once because they were mad we were employing someone without their approval. "we" was CMS (Navy HQ), the hiring was directed and approved by the Admiral for a specific task and the person hired was PRL. Somehow they still felt as it was a reserve hired to work for the navy we should have obtained their approval. Seemed like they didn't understand that they fall under the Admiral.

 

[daftandbarmy]

No idea really but it would be nice if you were able to have some kind of contact list for supp res folks to actively call them up for specific openings they were qualified for. Edit: didn't phrase that well; meant literally call them to see if they were interested.

This is a good idea IMHO. Managing the process, however, would be another issue.

ARes are notoriously 'fickle' when it comes to future plans, for obvious reasons... BRes? Not so much of an issue, probably.

 

[Navy_Pete]

This is a good idea IMHO. Managing the process, however, would be another issue.

ARes are notoriously 'fickle' when it comes to future plans, for obvious reasons... BRes? Not so much of an issue, probably.

Yeah, for sure. Probably seems like a better idea to me, based on the assumption I wouldn't ever have to manage the sup res contact list!

But we do have pretty good luck with some of the DND PS retiring then coming back on that contract doing 90 days a year (can't recall the name), which works pretty well for special projects, or when we don't actually plan to have a turnover then panic 6 weeks after someone retires because we just lost 40 years of niche experience and realize no one has any idea how to do that job.

 

[MJP]

Yeah, for sure. Probably seems like a better idea to me, based on the assumption I wouldn't ever have to manage the sup res contact list!

But we do have pretty good luck with some of the DND PS retiring then coming back on that contract doing 90 days a year (can't recall the name), which works pretty well for special projects, or when we don't actually plan to have a turnover then panic 6 weeks after someone retires because we just lost 40 years of niche experience and realize no one has any idea how to do that job.

Casual employment, like you said it is a great option to pull in retired folks with institutional knowledge. Best part is you can manage the 90 days with them so they only work when you really need them. I have one right now doing a two days a week during the Spring/Fall with the summer off. That way we don't waste days during the slow APS season.

I also echo that we could be doing more with the Supp Res. It is an unwieldy system to bring folks in as they are essentially reenrolling and at that stage everything dies at the CFRC.

 

[Navy_Pete]

Casual employment, like you said it is a great option to pull in retired folks with institutional knowledge. Best part is you can manage the 90 days with them so they only work when you really need them. I have one right now doing a two days a week during the Spring/Fall with the summer off. That way we don't waste days during the slow APS season.

I also echo that we could be doing more with the Supp Res. It is an unwieldy system to bring folks in as they are essentially reenrolling and at that stage everything dies at the CFRC.

Thanks, for whatever reason, I had a brain fart, and 'casual employee' seemed too obvious.

It was frustrating to do the work, to get the SWE set aside to try for a reservist to backfill empty spots, then have it go no where, so would be nice to be able to actively solicit folks on the sup res list that have relevant experience. I guess it would basically be a reservist position with some active recruiting, and ideally bypassing a lot of the admin and some other requirements (like maybe medical categories, age limit etc). Or even just get them to be a casual employee as a PS without having to jump through some of the PS hiring hoops.

 

[Quirky]

Pretty much spot on.

Rick Ekstein: Canada's military families are reaching their breaking point

Freedom isn't free, and the cost is becoming unsustainable for the families of many in our Armed Forces. They need our support

nationalpost.com

 

[dimsum]

Pretty much spot on.

Rick Ekstein: Canada's military families are reaching their breaking point

Freedom isn't free, and the cost is becoming unsustainable for the families of many in our Armed Forces. They need our support

nationalpost.com

I have never heard of that organization before. Interesting.

I will add that in my experience with the US, the public “thinks” of them in a similar way that the public in Canada “thinks” of the CAF on Remembrance Day, and even then, only certain pockets of the country (specifically ones with a large military presence). “Thank you for your service” is a line almost like “welcome to Y” and with probably the same amount of thought for most civilians. I felt it was strange, and I noticed that US civilians would say it as a filler line more than anything else.

 

[Rifleman62]

Not my experience living for many six-month periods in TX and AZ.

 

[Quirky]

I will add that in my experience with the US, the public “thinks” of them in a similar way that the public in Canada “thinks” of the CAF on Remembrance Day, and even then, only certain pockets of the country (specifically ones with a large military presence). “Thank you for your service” is a line almost like “welcome to Y” and with probably the same amount of thought for most civilians. I felt it was strange, and I noticed that US civilians would say it as a filler line more than anything else.

I could care less about "thank you for your service", that doesn't employ spouses with relocations and find housing. It's the policies and actual meaningful support that make the difference in retention.

 

[dimsum]

I could care less about "thank you for your service", that doesn't employ spouses with relocations and find housing. It's the policies and actual meaningful support that make the difference in retention.

Absolutely. That’s why I take issue with the author’s point about how different it is in the US - because it isn’t.

 

[dimsum]

Not my experience living for many six-month periods in TX and AZ.

As I noted above, it depends on where. TX and AZ have pretty significant military concentrations.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Not my experience living for many six-month periods in TX and AZ.

Me either. I've been treated worlds better in the USA than in Canada. From air port security officials opening up new lines just for me an 1 other guy, to free entrance to events, to and old lady slipped 20& USD into my pocket because "we don't make much" and she wanted to buy me a beer.

It almost feels like the USA appreciates us more than Canada does.

Also, can I move to TX with you ?

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Me either. I've been treated worlds better in the USA than in Canada. From air port security officials opening up new lines just for me an 1 other guy, to free entrance to events, to and old lady slipped 20& USD into my pocket because "we don't make much" and she wanted to buy me a beer.

It almost feels like the USA appreciates us more than Canada does.

Also, can I move to TX with you ?

I have been randomly let into amusement parks and museums for free in the US- being very, very clear that I am Canadian, not US military and not even caring if I got a discount. It is a weird dynamic.

 

[Eaglelord17]

I have been randomly let into amusement parks and museums for free in the US- being very, very clear that I am Canadian, not US military and not even caring if I got a discount. It is a weird dynamic.

With the amount of Americans that have served in the military it really isn’t surprising.

Approximately 7.7% of there population has served in the military at some point. This is due to the large size of there military, the draft in Vietnam, and there system designed for a high turnover rate/low retention. One or two 3 year terms is encouraged as opposed to us that wants to try and make a retiree out of every member.

Canada is the opposite. We are about 70 years off from having a large percentage of the population in the military. Our military is small and has been for many decades. Coupled with a high retention rate (historically, and by most militaries standards) it means much less people joining and serving. That in turn means less vets, which means less connection to the population.

Our percentage of the population is about 1.5%, over 5 times lower than Americas. Not to mention our tradition of generally having some very military oriented families (mine included), means it has even less exposure to the general public.

 

[FJAG]

With the amount of Americans that have served in the military it really isn’t surprising.
,,,

Don't forget the size and deployment history of their national guard and reserve components which not only greatly increase the numbers in thier military but reaches out into the smallest of towns throughout the country.

In effect, while they have nurtured the colonial concept of ordinary citizens in defence of the community and the nation, we have hung that concept out to dry with our post-WW2 infatuation with a full-time, all-professional military closeted off from the public.

 

[Kilted]

I have been randomly let into amusement parks and museums for free in the US- being very, very clear that I am Canadian, not US military and not even caring if I got a discount. It is a weird dynamic.

I have been able to find most of the benefits, although I have been denied a couple of times over being Canadian. Was almost arrested once because I didn't have American ID and my passport wasn't stamped.

I'm trying to remember which chain expanded into Canada and would only give military discounts to Americans.