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Just some thoughts...
Posted by Kent on March 03, 1999 at 14:35:10:
I think we need to take a real look at where we are going with the reserves. When I first joined the emphasis was on realistic training. In the case of Light Infantry this usually meant weekend exercises that were fairly physically demanding because as light infantry we were expected to carry everything we needed to live and fight for the 48 hours without resupply. There were no vehicle except for the busses or trucks or dare I say choppers that got us to the training area. Excercises were tough, physically exausting and for those of us that could handle it FUN. We had fairly high numbers and the troops were keen, well trained, well disciplined and yes we had viability. Those who didn‘t like soldiering either remustered or simply released. There was little dead weight and no problem with attendance because the troops knew that they would get have challenging training and they were proud to bee a part of it.
Compare this to todays state of affairs. The emphasis now is on numbers, we have to push as many troops as possible throught puppy mills like Meaford because "...a training failure is a failure on the part of the instructor to train...". There is no longer a pass/fail atmosphere it is all about participation. Troops are not challenged by any portion of their "training" and as long as they manage to participate in training they are considered trained. This mentality does not go unnoticed to the troops themselves. They have little pride in being a soldier because they did little to earn the title. Subsequently on return to their unit the level of training is equally low as commanders struggle to keep their numbers up lest their unit "viability" be affected. We no longer have the spirit of the original Light Infantry in our reserve units because the quality of our soldiers won‘t allow it.
I think our problem lies at the top. Not our COs or even our Brigade commanders but higher still. I believe that there is a real unwillingness on the part of our leaders to prepare our Army for war. This may seem like an outdated and parnoid comment but if our Army isn‘t preparing for war why does it exist? We are told that our leaders want to have a general all purpose combat force however nine infantry battalions are not enough and we can see the strain that our present commitments are placing on them. More and more the regular battallions have had to rely on reservists to augment them on operations, and have even started to emplaoy them in leadership roles as NCOs. This can only work for so long as the older seasoned reserve NCOs are replaced with their younger counterparts who are products of our present system.
I believe that there is a solution however there are two obstacles. First the reforms changes would initially reduce "numbers" and that is unacceptable to most unit commanders. Secondly, who cares? It is the militia after all and we are merely weekend warriors. Does it really matter whether our troops are fit, trained and capable? Why don‘t you ask the troops in 1 RCR who had to deal with rioting belligerants in Bosnia who they would want their section commander or even their fire team partner to be if they had to face the situation again because without a doubt they will.
Posted by Kent on March 03, 1999 at 14:35:10:
I think we need to take a real look at where we are going with the reserves. When I first joined the emphasis was on realistic training. In the case of Light Infantry this usually meant weekend exercises that were fairly physically demanding because as light infantry we were expected to carry everything we needed to live and fight for the 48 hours without resupply. There were no vehicle except for the busses or trucks or dare I say choppers that got us to the training area. Excercises were tough, physically exausting and for those of us that could handle it FUN. We had fairly high numbers and the troops were keen, well trained, well disciplined and yes we had viability. Those who didn‘t like soldiering either remustered or simply released. There was little dead weight and no problem with attendance because the troops knew that they would get have challenging training and they were proud to bee a part of it.
Compare this to todays state of affairs. The emphasis now is on numbers, we have to push as many troops as possible throught puppy mills like Meaford because "...a training failure is a failure on the part of the instructor to train...". There is no longer a pass/fail atmosphere it is all about participation. Troops are not challenged by any portion of their "training" and as long as they manage to participate in training they are considered trained. This mentality does not go unnoticed to the troops themselves. They have little pride in being a soldier because they did little to earn the title. Subsequently on return to their unit the level of training is equally low as commanders struggle to keep their numbers up lest their unit "viability" be affected. We no longer have the spirit of the original Light Infantry in our reserve units because the quality of our soldiers won‘t allow it.
I think our problem lies at the top. Not our COs or even our Brigade commanders but higher still. I believe that there is a real unwillingness on the part of our leaders to prepare our Army for war. This may seem like an outdated and parnoid comment but if our Army isn‘t preparing for war why does it exist? We are told that our leaders want to have a general all purpose combat force however nine infantry battalions are not enough and we can see the strain that our present commitments are placing on them. More and more the regular battallions have had to rely on reservists to augment them on operations, and have even started to emplaoy them in leadership roles as NCOs. This can only work for so long as the older seasoned reserve NCOs are replaced with their younger counterparts who are products of our present system.
I believe that there is a solution however there are two obstacles. First the reforms changes would initially reduce "numbers" and that is unacceptable to most unit commanders. Secondly, who cares? It is the militia after all and we are merely weekend warriors. Does it really matter whether our troops are fit, trained and capable? Why don‘t you ask the troops in 1 RCR who had to deal with rioting belligerants in Bosnia who they would want their section commander or even their fire team partner to be if they had to face the situation again because without a doubt they will.
