Quirky
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 3,798
- Points
- 1,260
Reconstitution
- Thread starter Kilted
- Start date
- Reaction score
- 1,525
- Points
- 1,160
Western Standard: Not enough soldiers to stand on guard for thee or anybody else - Linda Slobodian - 6 Sep 23
In these “very dangerous times” the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is a “completely broken institution” on the brink of hitting an alarming personnel low, warns retired Lt.-Col. David Redman.
“We’re at 34,000 and that will be dropping to 31,000 by Christmas, because people are leaving the Armed Forces as stated by military insiders. They are saying the army, the navy, the air force and all the headquarters combined equal 34,000. That's all we’ve got,” Redman told the Western Standard.
If that’s so, it’s a stunning discrepancy from the Department of National Defence (DND) report before cabinet in June that listed 63,477 regular force members.
However, Redman maintained, based on the information he’s heard, that in terms of operational readiness, the DND “number is completely inaccurate.”
Redman served in uniform 27 years through peace, war and peacekeeping operations. The former head of Alberta’s Emergency Management Agency served as an emergency manager for 13 years in Canada and internationally.
“How do I explain the difference? The government has repeatedly said for the last six months they’re 10,000 under strength and it's dropping. They’ve also constantly said they’re having a tremendous difficulty recruiting. The intake isn’t matching the retirement and release.”
Recruitment levels across the board fell 35% last year in regular and reserve forces.
Redman isn’t the first to question whether CAF official member numbers accurately reflect the number of members reporting for duty.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michel Maisonneuve, who was widely attacked for un-woke comments made as he was receiving the Vimy Award last year, comments, “I would dare say it’s probably worse than we think but of course our politicians don’t want people to know that. The government has not acknowledged that our military is in a terrible state.”
The recent insider claims could also align with what Rick Hillier, former chief of the defence staff (2005-2008,) says insiders told him about regular force numbers last October. "I think the continued dropping in numbers is a foregone conclusion. People are leaving and recruiting is very, very slow."
That’s when Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre said the 70,000-force military is in “trouble” because it was down 10,000 regular force soldiers. At the time, Hillier told Global News the situation was far more serious than brass admitted. “Instead of being at 70,000 people, the Canadian Forces are operating probably somewhere at about 45,000 people. And out of that, there are a significant percentage of them who are not operationally deployable or capable,” said Hillier.
More have since retired. The CAF also lost many skilled members who released rather than submit to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines. Add abysmal recruitment efforts to that and what’s clear is the CAF in woefully undermanned.
Meanwhile, the “underfunded and decimated” Reserve Force struggles to fulfill their role to augment the regular force.
“Canadians don’t know they don’t have a Canadian Armed Forces. It will take a decade, if we start today, to rebuild an Armed Forces for Canada,” said Redman.
But global threats on numerous fronts are immediate.
“It has never been a more dangerous period in history. We live in very dangerous times,” said Redman.
Despite that, the left’s climate zealots push to shift much of the CAF’s role as a defender of the sovereignty of Canada and its allies to a climate warrior force.
“I’ve never been a conspiracy theorist, but at this point in time this Liberal government — and I mean him (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) and his complete inner circle, have shown their disdain for our country.”
“We are sitting here waiting for another army to either help us or take us over.”
So why should Canadians care about the military’s dwindling numbers?
Foreign and domestic threats to national security. Three coastlines to defend. A world in turmoil with aggressors getting bolder and inching closer. And allies alienated.
“I think China is very close to taking clear action. Russia is already fully engaged. Iran. The whole BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa grouping of economies) movement, the destabilization of Western democracies, the COVID crisis — we have set ourselves up,” said Redman.
The Liberal government hasn’t pulled its weight with our allies is viewed as a “parasite” rather than a “partner.”
“There’s no ally in the world right now that would take Canada seriously when it comes to national defence or national security.”
But Canada, a vast country with three coastlines, can’t stand alone.
“I’d never expect the Canadian Forces to be able to defend Canada on its own. That means we must invest in alliances.”
NORAD and NATO have both repeatedly chastised Canada for failing to contribute its 2% GDP share to defence.
“And the Liberals, through strange calculations, said we’re spending 1.4%. We’re not, not by the NATO standards.”
The current military budget is $26.5 billion. But $60 billion is needed to meet NATO’s requirement by 2025.
Also, Canada was excluded from the security pact between Australia, Britain and the US known as AUKUS.
“Why? If you don’t show you are at least a bit seriously to meet obligations, they will simply dump you.”
Redman also pointed to foreign inference in Canadian elections.
“China has no respect for us. They laugh at us. They know we don’t take our national security seriously. They’re trying the encircle the US. They’re in all the Caribbean countries. They control the governments there. And now they are perceived to be controlling our government.”
National security is a “missing entity in the Liberal government’s policy platform.” But Redman said it’s also “absent in the Conservatives.”
“Nobody in this government has taken it seriously. If it’s not an indigenous issue or a cultural issue they don’t care. Even when you talk to the indigenous people, this government doesn’t care about them either. It's rhetoric.”
“I believe no political party in Canada has discussed internally defining Canada's national interests. Until one does, then we as a nation will wander. National security then has no anchor to be grounded to.”
There has not been a White Paper on Defence since 1994. The White Papers in 1965, 1971 and 1994 “were all done by Liberal Governments trying to downsize or eliminate the military.”
But climate change, well, that gets a lot of attention.
“The left wants a dedicated force to combat climate change,” said Redman, who was asked by the Conservatives to testify on this issue before the Standing Committee on National Defence last October.
“The role of the Canadian Forces is not to do emergency management. The province’s job is to do emergency management. But the force of last resort, being the Canadian Forces, we are proud always as soldiers to protect our citizens in fires, floods, tornados, and terrorism.”
“The people of Canada shouldn’t be looking at the Armed Forces to respond to fires, floods, tornadoes, and emergencies. They should be looking at the Armed Forces to defend our sovereignty. We have no capability of working with our allies to defend our coastlines, including the Artic.”
Redman said Canada needs an Armed Forces “designated and trained to fight alone and to fight with our allies on land, sea and air” to protect sovereignty. And as a “side benefit you get response to emergency management responsibilities.”
But the Liberals are focused on climate change and repeatedly pledge to strive for an inclusive military culture.
Woke rules allowing face tattoos, hair dyed any colour and worn any length, plus a decision last December to let landed immigrants join, aren’t enticing enough people to sign up.
In fact, a recent Department of National Defence report Evaluation of Ready Air And Space Forces said the 12,219-member Royal Canadian Air Force “is experiencing a personnel crisis linked to both recruitment and retention.”
“Who would want to join this disaster when it’s more important to talk about gender pronouns in the Canadian army rather than determine whether or not you can shoot a rifle?” said Redman.
Redman's Bio: David Redman - Canada Strong & Free Network
In these “very dangerous times” the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is a “completely broken institution” on the brink of hitting an alarming personnel low, warns retired Lt.-Col. David Redman.
“We’re at 34,000 and that will be dropping to 31,000 by Christmas, because people are leaving the Armed Forces as stated by military insiders. They are saying the army, the navy, the air force and all the headquarters combined equal 34,000. That's all we’ve got,” Redman told the Western Standard.
If that’s so, it’s a stunning discrepancy from the Department of National Defence (DND) report before cabinet in June that listed 63,477 regular force members.
However, Redman maintained, based on the information he’s heard, that in terms of operational readiness, the DND “number is completely inaccurate.”
Redman served in uniform 27 years through peace, war and peacekeeping operations. The former head of Alberta’s Emergency Management Agency served as an emergency manager for 13 years in Canada and internationally.
“How do I explain the difference? The government has repeatedly said for the last six months they’re 10,000 under strength and it's dropping. They’ve also constantly said they’re having a tremendous difficulty recruiting. The intake isn’t matching the retirement and release.”
Recruitment levels across the board fell 35% last year in regular and reserve forces.
Redman isn’t the first to question whether CAF official member numbers accurately reflect the number of members reporting for duty.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michel Maisonneuve, who was widely attacked for un-woke comments made as he was receiving the Vimy Award last year, comments, “I would dare say it’s probably worse than we think but of course our politicians don’t want people to know that. The government has not acknowledged that our military is in a terrible state.”
The recent insider claims could also align with what Rick Hillier, former chief of the defence staff (2005-2008,) says insiders told him about regular force numbers last October. "I think the continued dropping in numbers is a foregone conclusion. People are leaving and recruiting is very, very slow."
That’s when Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre said the 70,000-force military is in “trouble” because it was down 10,000 regular force soldiers. At the time, Hillier told Global News the situation was far more serious than brass admitted. “Instead of being at 70,000 people, the Canadian Forces are operating probably somewhere at about 45,000 people. And out of that, there are a significant percentage of them who are not operationally deployable or capable,” said Hillier.
More have since retired. The CAF also lost many skilled members who released rather than submit to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines. Add abysmal recruitment efforts to that and what’s clear is the CAF in woefully undermanned.
Meanwhile, the “underfunded and decimated” Reserve Force struggles to fulfill their role to augment the regular force.
“Canadians don’t know they don’t have a Canadian Armed Forces. It will take a decade, if we start today, to rebuild an Armed Forces for Canada,” said Redman.
But global threats on numerous fronts are immediate.
“It has never been a more dangerous period in history. We live in very dangerous times,” said Redman.
Despite that, the left’s climate zealots push to shift much of the CAF’s role as a defender of the sovereignty of Canada and its allies to a climate warrior force.
“I’ve never been a conspiracy theorist, but at this point in time this Liberal government — and I mean him (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) and his complete inner circle, have shown their disdain for our country.”
“We are sitting here waiting for another army to either help us or take us over.”
So why should Canadians care about the military’s dwindling numbers?
Foreign and domestic threats to national security. Three coastlines to defend. A world in turmoil with aggressors getting bolder and inching closer. And allies alienated.
“I think China is very close to taking clear action. Russia is already fully engaged. Iran. The whole BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa grouping of economies) movement, the destabilization of Western democracies, the COVID crisis — we have set ourselves up,” said Redman.
The Liberal government hasn’t pulled its weight with our allies is viewed as a “parasite” rather than a “partner.”
“There’s no ally in the world right now that would take Canada seriously when it comes to national defence or national security.”
But Canada, a vast country with three coastlines, can’t stand alone.
“I’d never expect the Canadian Forces to be able to defend Canada on its own. That means we must invest in alliances.”
NORAD and NATO have both repeatedly chastised Canada for failing to contribute its 2% GDP share to defence.
“And the Liberals, through strange calculations, said we’re spending 1.4%. We’re not, not by the NATO standards.”
The current military budget is $26.5 billion. But $60 billion is needed to meet NATO’s requirement by 2025.
Also, Canada was excluded from the security pact between Australia, Britain and the US known as AUKUS.
“Why? If you don’t show you are at least a bit seriously to meet obligations, they will simply dump you.”
Redman also pointed to foreign inference in Canadian elections.
“China has no respect for us. They laugh at us. They know we don’t take our national security seriously. They’re trying the encircle the US. They’re in all the Caribbean countries. They control the governments there. And now they are perceived to be controlling our government.”
National security is a “missing entity in the Liberal government’s policy platform.” But Redman said it’s also “absent in the Conservatives.”
“Nobody in this government has taken it seriously. If it’s not an indigenous issue or a cultural issue they don’t care. Even when you talk to the indigenous people, this government doesn’t care about them either. It's rhetoric.”
“I believe no political party in Canada has discussed internally defining Canada's national interests. Until one does, then we as a nation will wander. National security then has no anchor to be grounded to.”
There has not been a White Paper on Defence since 1994. The White Papers in 1965, 1971 and 1994 “were all done by Liberal Governments trying to downsize or eliminate the military.”
But climate change, well, that gets a lot of attention.
“The left wants a dedicated force to combat climate change,” said Redman, who was asked by the Conservatives to testify on this issue before the Standing Committee on National Defence last October.
“The role of the Canadian Forces is not to do emergency management. The province’s job is to do emergency management. But the force of last resort, being the Canadian Forces, we are proud always as soldiers to protect our citizens in fires, floods, tornados, and terrorism.”
“The people of Canada shouldn’t be looking at the Armed Forces to respond to fires, floods, tornadoes, and emergencies. They should be looking at the Armed Forces to defend our sovereignty. We have no capability of working with our allies to defend our coastlines, including the Artic.”
Redman said Canada needs an Armed Forces “designated and trained to fight alone and to fight with our allies on land, sea and air” to protect sovereignty. And as a “side benefit you get response to emergency management responsibilities.”
But the Liberals are focused on climate change and repeatedly pledge to strive for an inclusive military culture.
Woke rules allowing face tattoos, hair dyed any colour and worn any length, plus a decision last December to let landed immigrants join, aren’t enticing enough people to sign up.
In fact, a recent Department of National Defence report Evaluation of Ready Air And Space Forces said the 12,219-member Royal Canadian Air Force “is experiencing a personnel crisis linked to both recruitment and retention.”
“Who would want to join this disaster when it’s more important to talk about gender pronouns in the Canadian army rather than determine whether or not you can shoot a rifle?” said Redman.
Redman's Bio: David Redman - Canada Strong & Free Network
- Reaction score
- 28,605
- Points
- 1,090
His numbers are complete and utter bullshit.
Quirky
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 3,798
- Points
- 1,260
National security is a missing entity in Canadian Society, they are oblivious to the dangerous in the world. Why would any party waste time and money campaigning on an issue that won't get you elected? Climate change and cost of living is what people worry about.
- Reaction score
- 1,525
- Points
- 1,160
A statement without substantiation just like Redman 'heard".
daftandbarmy
Army.ca Dinosaur
- Reaction score
- 33,609
- Points
- 1,160
I don't think I'd ever use a Western Standard article as a solid reference for anything, but the numbers I heard were 16,000 short. Not sure how that squares up with what this guy is saying...
Canadian Armed Forces facing member shortage 'crisis'
The Department of National Defence tells CTV News that the Canadian Armed Forces is facing a shortage of 16,000 members.
The CAF currently employs about 100,000 members: 71,500 regular force members and 28,500 reserve members.
"In terms of actual strength we're sitting about 16,000 short," says Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, commander of the military personnel generation group.
Canadian Armed Forces facing member shortage 'crisis'
The Department of National Defence tells CTV News that the Canadian Armed Forces is facing a shortage of 16,000 members.
- Reaction score
- 6,513
- Points
- 1,040
In a related note, we've been told to expect no more funding for this FY, and to expect a cut for next. For context, the demand had increased due to trying to fix a rusting out fleet, so not only are we not getting any more money to try and fix all the dangerously broken stuff, will get even less money next year, which was forecast to have an even higher demand.
So down tools to reconstitute = increase ops tempo
Increase spending to meet NATO = funding cut
improve training throughput = leave schools broken, don't fund repairs to stop total training shut downs.
WTAF? Maybe by 'don't be a sex pest' they actually mean actively grope your colleagues more in this bizarro, Orwellian messaging.
So down tools to reconstitute = increase ops tempo
Increase spending to meet NATO = funding cut
improve training throughput = leave schools broken, don't fund repairs to stop total training shut downs.
WTAF? Maybe by 'don't be a sex pest' they actually mean actively grope your colleagues more in this bizarro, Orwellian messaging.
daftandbarmy
Army.ca Dinosaur
- Reaction score
- 33,609
- Points
- 1,160
“Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. ”
― George Orwell
May wanna test that theory out on a colleague you already know pretty well, rather than that cute air force chick who works in the building beside yours...
But I mean, the logic is consistent...
Unfortunately, OP LENTUS is one of those things that will keep the CAF busy every summer for the foreseeable future.I don't think I'd ever use a Western Standard article as a solid reference for anything, but the numbers I heard were 16,000 short. Not sure how that squares up with what this guy is saying...
Canadian Armed Forces facing member shortage 'crisis'
The Department of National Defence tells CTV News that the Canadian Armed Forces is facing a shortage of 16,000 members.
The CAF currently employs about 100,000 members: 71,500 regular force members and 28,500 reserve members.
"In terms of actual strength we're sitting about 16,000 short," says Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, commander of the military personnel generation group.
Canadian Armed Forces facing member shortage 'crisis'
The Department of National Defence tells CTV News that the Canadian Armed Forces is facing a shortage of 16,000 members.ottawa.ctvnews.ca
So any efforts to reconstitute will be complicated by the annual demand for 'as many people as possible' during wildfire/flood season...
We should prioritize making sure the training schools are operating during the summer months, as close to full capacity as possible. (Better to spare 5-7 to run a DP1 and get 30ppl we can then employ, than deploy those 5-7 ppl and end up in the same boat come fall)
_______________________
Recruiting needs to get their shit together. When I was a unit level recruiter back in 2008-ish, it took me approximately 1 month to enroll somebody from start to finish. From the time someone walked in the door, to the time I had them sworn in, was approximately 1 month.
Yes we had a war in Afghanistan to fight at the time, and yes we were a combat arms unit.
But that shouldn't really matter, imo.
Treat the recruiting crisis today with the same urgency we treated the Afghan conflict with 15 years ago, and start getting those that do walk through the doors enrolled as soon as possible.
We lose a lot of potentially really good members because it takes forever to get them enrolled...
Also, recruiting centres need to communicate with applicants much better than we do.
The stories on Reddit, YouTube, here, etc of people who basically had to push their own applications through, or needed to provide some information for their application to proceed but weren't contacted until it was too late, is mind blowing...
Create a system of organisation that works for you. Organise it and keep it organized. And send out a quick email AND quick phone call to applicants as their file proceeds to each next step - not only does it keep them informed, but it relays to them that we DO care and we DO appreciate them wanting to come work with us
__________________________
Opening the doors to permanent residents was a great idea...and I couldn't help but notice that policy was changed only a few days after someone here suggested it
In addition to some extra pay, as well as the educational opportunities that come with service, implement some form of 'award' for Permanent Residents for stepping up. (Takes 5 years to go PR to citizenship? Why don't we knock it down to 3 years if one chooses to serve?)
___________________________
Build new residential housing units either on or near base. Build them to local standards & furnish them nicely, using neutral colours and decor.
Offer them for less than the local market rate, and direct the money coming in each month from tenants paying their rent a local maintenance/reserve fund.
CFHA has been surveying, discussing, consulting various interested parties, etc etc for years and have only built a few hundred of the few thousand they were supposed to have built by now...shut the f**k up and get them built already.
The 'housing affordability crisis' could be more or less solved for our members if CFHA would just build the bloody things already!
Fingers are running out of steam...rant over for now
Fabius
Sr. Member
- Reaction score
- 1,182
- Points
- 810
Oh fun with numbers.
I’m willing to bet that he is wrong but maybe sort of right.
His numbers might be right for the RCN, CA, and RCAF. However that only represents maybe half of the L1s, as per the DND/ CAF ORBAT.
He did in the article indicate that those numbers were operational which perhaps could be, a 70,000 total short 16,000 with 34,000 operational in the three elements could be a feasible break down.
If that's the case, having 31,000 deployable personnel doesn't sound too bad!!
There is a threshold at play when it comes to deploying people - people need the kit to deploy with. So unless the amount of capital equipment in the inventory grows, we do hit a point somewhere along the way where having more deployable people won't do us a ton of use.
(no sense in deploying a sonar operator if they don't have a ship to sail on, or a pilot without an aircraft, or artillery gunners without their artillery, etc)
I'll have to read the article again when I get to work. I wasn't sure if the context was 31,000 available in total or 31,000 deployable bodies. If it's the latter than we aren't as bad off as we think, BBUUUUTTTTTT I have a feeling...
There is a threshold at play when it comes to deploying people - people need the kit to deploy with. So unless the amount of capital equipment in the inventory grows, we do hit a point somewhere along the way where having more deployable people won't do us a ton of use.
(no sense in deploying a sonar operator if they don't have a ship to sail on, or a pilot without an aircraft, or artillery gunners without their artillery, etc)
I'll have to read the article again when I get to work. I wasn't sure if the context was 31,000 available in total or 31,000 deployable bodies. If it's the latter than we aren't as bad off as we think, BBUUUUTTTTTT I have a feeling...
Quirky
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 3,798
- Points
- 1,260
It’s not just recruiting. We have a huge backlog for QL3 courses. People are being sent by the dozens to operational units, unqualified and unable to be useful, they are just waiting for a course. The training system is going to be rough for the next while.
- Reaction score
- 2,541
- Points
- 1,190
Jesus what hot garbage.
First off, those numbers make no sense. Are we short? Yes. Are we short by over 50% (34k out of 70k)? No fucking way.
Then there are these hot takes:
We didn't lose "many", we lost "a few".
I can tell you that right now we have several allies taking us very seriously and looking to create closer and stronger relationships with us than ever before.
Uhh... I can think of a few worse periods, bruh.
This Redman person sounds like he's lost all objectivity and has an unhealthy hate for the liberals:
No, dude, you're completely wrong. At least in the Navy, they spend far more time on actual training and maintenance than on 'talking about pronouns."
Then the author herself:
Those aren't "woke" rules! Those have nothing to do with "woke"!
God I hate the Western Standard.
FSTO
Army.ca Fixture
- Reaction score
- 6,081
- Points
- 1,210
Was having a chat with a Chief from the Ethics Office (or whatever its official title is) in the Carling Campus flats and we agreed that likely the biggest hurdle for recruiting isn't toxic leadership but its old and worn out equipment. Kids want to have shiny and high tech gear to work on and like it or not, what they see on tv and in the movies is what they expect when they join.
- Reaction score
- 22,375
- Points
- 1,260
Bingo. No one wants to have to have their life rely upon gear their father or grandfather used, or just missing voids of gear.
Quirky
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 3,798
- Points
- 1,260
Halifax Tar
Army.ca Fixture
- Reaction score
- 11,952
- Points
- 1,260
FJAG
Army.ca Legend
- Reaction score
- 14,228
- Points
- 1,160
This is one place where what the "kids" want and the senior army leadership wants overlap. Now if one could just figure out how to keep from turning back billions of dollars each year and buying some of that kit and keeping it healthy ...
