This whole managed readiness plan is bunk as far as the units were distributed For example, as most will know, a reserve is, by definition, uncommitted troops. Why then, does the strat reserve have subunits deployed? When did the reconstitution occur?
Also, check out the LdSH (RC) being tagged as one of the TFs. Not only that, but also slid into the ORBAT for the SCTF and probably other stuff. 3 units to make 1 (+1?) is just, well, I dunno, not much sense. Too many pretty pictures with ink that was still fresh that altered their senses? I dunno.
I mean, even the brigade HQs didn't have units that came from their brigades? Here's a possible alternative:
Form brigades around units and make those brigades homogenous. (don't know if I'm using the correct word, but basically the structure of all three brigades are identical: three infantry units, one cavalry, one artillery, one engineer, one service, etc). Then, assign Brigades (or make affiliated to them) a number of reserve brigades (areas?). So, we have 5e Brigade, 2 brigade and 1 brigade (from east to west). Suppose that 5e brigade is "high readiness", 2 brigade is "work up" and 1 brigade is "reconstitution", and all that those imply. (Don't ask me how to manage the unforgiving nature of 2 RCR, 4 ESR etc sitting by themselves in Gagetown: maybe I'll come back to that). That way, units wouldn't have to travel so far just to conduct "marry up" drills. I think that once battalions/regiments became force generators for COMPANIES that we had jumped the shark.
So, whither 2 RCR, 4 ESR and the rest of the lodger units at CTC? Perhaps take them out of the loop? But what about 2 CMBG, now minus one battalion of infantry? CSOR is there, but not part of it (I don't think: CANSOFCOM, correct?). Perhaps move 2 RCR to Pet? (Can you spell "release?") Or, perhaps "form" a "2nd battalion" in Pet, and rebadge those in Gagetown to another unit (black watch? ;D) The point is this: if you want to have a brigade of multiple units, it makes perfect sense to have them at least fairly closely located (geographically). I don't know about the PPCLI, but would Edmonton be better for 2 VP than Shilo? I mean, it must be nice to have a training area virtually to yourself, but....
Now, as for the armour cavalry corps, we currently have two Coyote regiments and one regiment that is "hybrid". If we make all three regiments "homogenous", do we then stand up a fourth to be the DFS regiment? (Anyone say "8CH"?).
So, imagine an army with three brigades as outlined above (3 Inf, 1 Cav, 1 Arty, 1 Engr, 1 Svc, etc). They rotate through the operations (and suppose that the infantry units are one mech and two light: no more fleet management?) as per "reconstitution->workup->high readiness". Then, in Gagetown is the 1st Bn, RHR Can Battlegroup (heavy). A four-company battalion of infantry (armoured), complete with "old school" support platoons (couldn't care less if the mortars say "Ubique" on them or not, and the Pioneers are really engineers), an armoured Regiment (Leo C2 for now, Leo 2A6 soon), SP Arty Regt, etc etc. Then, the army would have its three brigades actually working together. Then the army would have at least a battlegroup-sized heavy force, perhaps deploying by sea "if needed" (a la SCTF), whilst the medium units are flown in ahead of them to secure the "beach-head" until the heavies arrive.
Now, the big limit to this is $, but does this make sense to anyone but me?
Garvin out