Streamline the recruit process and solve some BIG problems in the Army at the same time.
ISSUE: 9 Reg Force Infantry Battalions that are all woefully understrength; 3 Armoured Regiments all understrength (mine doesn't even have a standing 'C' sqn. and A, B & D are ALL undermanned save and except overseas deployments when the Squadrons rape each other for personnel) 3 Artillery Regiments & 3 Combat Engineer Regiments all undermanned.
SOLUTION: This is where it should be so easy. Don't give new recruits off the street the option to be a mechanic, RMS Clerk, Supply Tech or any other trade the Army has. Give them the option of one of the 4 combat arms and train them to be a SOLDIER first. After the've given 3 years of service in one of these trades, only THEN should they be allowed to OT to a support trade. Exceptions should be made to civilians who already possess skills applicaple to their chosen Army trade, i.e a civilian Dental Assistant wants to be an Army dental assistant, fine. But someone who has no prior training or work experience in the trade should not be given the option to do that in the Army until they've given 3 years service in a combat trade. This would make things alot simpler and help rectify manpower shortages throughout the combat arms.
As well, this would ensure that our support trades personnel have some real soldier skills, rather than going to the range once a year with their C7 and firing off their PWT I rounds and thats it for another year. They would get the benefit of having served in a Unit that instills them with soldier skills, camaraderie & a daily PT regimen. It wouldn't kill anyone to serve their Country for 3 years in a combat trade before switching to a support trade.