Oh for %&$# sakes!

plan_D · 05-04-2005, 08:38 PM

That's what you get from today's society though. They all hate the military but they all cry to military when something bad happens.

Maestro · 05-04-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonskimmer

Just so I'm not being misread, I have no problem with soldiers being prosecuted for committing atrocities. The painting of Mcpl. Matchee was made from an actual photograph. The soldiers involved should have been punished for the crime of beating that guy to death, including any superiors who may have issued them any directives to do so.

Nor am I trying to use the old excuse that "Well, the brass should have known better than to send in the Airborne to do peacekeeping!". But quite honestly...they should have known better. It was a grade-A ****-up to send them over for that type of operation. But rather than listen to the generals in the know, or admit to their mistake after the fact, they punish the entire regiment with disbandment! Outrageous! It's a classic example of political correctness gone too far, and it's been getting steadily worse ever since!

People are ashamed of their armed forces (or what's left of them!), and hardly want to acknowledge us it seems! That is of course, unless we're handing out food parcels or are involved in some kind of disaster relief.

Yeah. As far as I know, even France never did such a thing.

My godfather is French. In the time he was in France (in the 60s), the military service was obligatory. Him and his two brothers all enlisted in Airborne units. My godfather fought during the war of Algeria and told me several stories. However, he never told me about a French regiment being disbanded because of such a thing.

Honestly, if ever I had to enlist in an army, my first choice would be to pay a trip to the UK and enlist in the British Airborne. If I was refused there, THEN I would try with the Foreign Legion in France. But fighting in the Canadian Army... I'm not sure.

Nonskimmer · 05-05-2005, 05:23 PM

Well it's my sincere hope that the dark age of the Chrétien era has passed! [-o<
The latest quorum of retards we have running the joint seem to be sloooooooooooowwly waking up to the realization that, like it or not, we do in fact need something that vaguely resembles a military.

Have you seen the latest defence review? General Hillier seems to be the no-nonsense type in his dealings with Ottawa. Hopefully some actual good will come from it. The need has finally been recognized it seems for new ships, aircraft, and for more personnel. But then again, there's the spectre of a federal election brewing and we both know how that usually turns out.
All the good intentions in the world ain't worth a bucket of **** until we see the hulls rolling off the slips. I should be retired by then.

But in the mean time, it looks like we may finally be able to get back to business of some sort. We've wasted enough time already.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/natio...mi_050505.html

Maestro · 05-05-2005, 07:08 PM

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the latest Defence Review. But like I thrust politicians the way I do, I could bet 50$ that they're gonna buy "used" material. Just like they did with the submarines (Britain was ready to dump them) and the helicopters.

No offence mate, but your "race" is dying.

Now, most of competent peoples who wants to work in the army either go in USA (how in the Hell is a Canadian able to enlist in the American army, I don't know. But I would like to know.), in UK or in the Foreign Legion. The Canadian army is the place where a competent rookie don't want to be.

By the way, if you're still in training to work in submarines, I wish you luck... You'll need it. Our submarines sinks... Eh, I mean "sucks".

FLYBOYJ · 05-05-2005, 07:36 PM

I feel for you guys - when I was at Lockheed we were having the roll out for the CP-140, an Argus was brought down for the ceremony. I made a comment to one of the CAF guys about getting 18 brand new airplanes. He told me, "yea these will have to last us 100 years," now I know he wasn't kidding, and that was back in 79'!

Nonskimmer · 05-05-2005, 07:51 PM

You'll get no arguments from me on the procurement process. Buying off-the-shelf cheap has been a Canadian tradition for years, and we've been buying the odd bit of used hardware since the 1950's. We've been losing a domestic production capability steadily over the years too, so it's almost to the point now where we have to buy made-to-order or off-the-shelf. In the very near future, it'll be too late to do anything about that.

The US has been fed up with us for years for not doing our part for North American defence, and who can blame them? Freeloading off of our neighbours is not a tradition I'm particularly proud of. No one in the Forces is.

The same holds true for NATO. We bring almost nothing to the table.

The biggest problem we face with respect to recruitment has to do with what I was saying earlier. We tend to be viewed as anything but a military force. Many Canadians would rather we stuck to disaster relief - that's it. The present Canadian society has been reared by the rhetoric of the Pearson and Trudeau years, and have come to believe that we're some miraculous beacon of peace. We as a society view ourselves as being in a good cop/bad cop relationship with the US, and it's killing us!
We don't promote the Armed Forces in this country. There's practically no such thing as military pride anymore, and it's due entirely to the neglect and steady erosion we've been faced with since the late 50's/early 60's.

Maestro if you're serious about joining up in the US, I know it can be done. I'm not sure how exactly, but I've known people to do it. Make some inquiries to US recruitment websites. I'm sure they could help to steer you in the right direction.

FLYBOYJ · 05-05-2005, 08:01 PM

Hey if you guys need info on enlistment here, let me know, I'll gladly hit up a recruitment center.

Nonskimmer · 05-05-2005, 08:10 PM

Thanks, but I'll stay here.

Despite the hardships and the problems we face in the running of this little mob of ours, I'm still 100% Canuck.

FLYBOYJ · 05-05-2005, 08:15 PM

Hey I'm with you my friend, although I'll always consider Canada my second country, I know where I really belong.

Maestro · 05-06-2005, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonskimmer

Maestro if you're serious about joining up in the US, I know it can be done. I'm not sure how exactly, but I've known people to do it. Make some inquiries to US recruitment websites. I'm sure they could help to steer you in the right direction.

Yeah, it could be a good idea... If it doesn't works for me in Ontario for the Correctionnal Officer job, I'll surely make a try either in the UK or US army. (Being neighbour of the US, it would be cheaper for me to go to the USA.) I'll have to wait a little, though. I'll only know about the Correctionnal Officer job next winter... if I'm lucky.

I understand that you don't want to leave Canada, you're closer to retirement than I am.

It's true that Canadian army is saw like a cop. I remember seeing rookies crying after knowing that Canada was going at war against Afghanistan. Man, a soldier is a KILLER, not a piss-keeper... Eh, I mean a peacekeeper. Does it looks like I hate Blue Helmets ?

I'll surely go on some recruitment web sites... I did it for the Royal Navy three years ago. Unfortunately, I was broke, too young for my father to let me go (I was 17) and the Recruitment Center refused to send information packages outside the UK.

Think about it : I could have been piloting a Royal Navy Lynx over Afghanistan or been in the Royal Marines IN Afghanistan !

Life is cruel...

Anyway, I'm still broke, but now I'm 20 (I'll turn 21 next month). Then no one could stop me...

US or UK ? I still don't know. I like UK and recruitment would surely be easier there, but I have not enough money to pay the trip there. I also like US and it is closer to me (so cheaper), but I heard that recruitment was hard as hell.

Anyway, I'll ask for informations to a US recruitment web site. We'll see how it will go...

Nonskimmer · 05-06-2005, 08:05 PM

So then I guess the Vandoos (Royal 22e Régiment) is out of the question.

A friend of mine used to be posted to CFB Valcartier and from all I've ever heard about them, the Vandoos make the other regiments look like choir boys.

They're pretty insane I hear. I'd have thought you'd be right at home.

Medvedya · 05-06-2005, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maestro

easier there, but I have not enough money to pay the trip there.

This might sound a bit simplistic, but I think if you were serious about the British Army they'd give you a travel warrant to come over.

At least I think they would, you'd have to ask.

This is what I found here http://www.army.mod.uk/

How do I join the Army if I come from an overseas Commonwealth Country?

Due to the high volume of applications received from potential overseas applicants, the British Army is not accepting further applications till the 1st June 2005. This pause in recruiting may be extended.

If you have not found the answer you are looking for why not log into the Online Office? This is the Army Online Careers Office. You can log in to the chat room and talk with a serving British Army Soldier. The office is open Mon to Fri 1200-2200hrs and Sun 1200-2000hrs. Click on the link below.

Which is here....

http://www.army.mod.uk/careers/enquire/index.html

Nonskimmer · 05-06-2005, 09:43 PM

If you were already a member of the Canadian Forces (not that I'm suggesting such a thing.

) it might even be a little bit simpler.
Though I don't know of the exact channels one would take, as I've never bothered to look into it, I do know of fellas who have transferred directly to the British and Aussie navies, and vice versa. We have two or three Kippers in the Canadian Navy who came from the RN.

It was pretty much a direct transfer, and I do know of at least two guys who left our navy to go and work for the RAN.

It can be done. I can only assume it would be similar for the Army.

Maestro · 05-07-2005, 01:48 PM

Thank you for your help, guys. I'll have a look.

Concerning the Royal 22nd Regiment, it is "parked" right in my region. I know they have a Commando unit (Green Berets) but I wonder if they ever had an Airborne unit. I'll also have a look at this. If I can, I'll enlist and ask for a transfer to the British Army.

I also contacted a recruiting officer in USA yesterday. I'm still waiting for a reply.

Nonskimmer · 05-07-2005, 01:55 PM

Woah, hold up! It may not be quite that easy. If you join the Canadian Army it may be possible that you could transfer to the British Army, but I don't think they make a habit of letting everyone go who applys. Also, we're in the process of trying to bolster our own numbers a bit right now, so I think it's doubtful that they'd let you go so easily.

By the way, all regular Canadian troops wear green berets.

And yes, the Royal 22e have a jump company of paratroops. They're the ones with the maroon berets.