The State of Canadian Armed Forces

[PoonMaster]

It makes me upset when I think of the state of our armed forces. Having family members in the Canadian armed forces for many years I am fully aware of all the problems they face. We should make the members of parliament go for rides in the helicopters, the subs, and the patrol craft at least once a year. Maybe then they would become safer for the men and women who help maintain our sovereignty for so little in return.

The Americans are not much better. They are producing an aircraft that has killed over 36 people (V22 Osprey) in testing and the V22s they build are put into storage since they stall (drop from the sky) when coming to hover under dusty or wet conditions. The General in charge of the program (who quit )suggested that they use the aircraft to transport members of congress and the senate LOL.

What is wrong with these people in power besides being fat, balding old men.

 

[static]

If your dumb enough to join the army, perhaps you should have to share a kevlar helmet.

On a different note, we don't need a military, cause we a peaceful non nuclear nation. Mess with us, and you'll be messing with U.S.

 

[PoonMaster]

Actually we have had Nukes here, still do on many occassions and to mantain your way of life, without at least a pretend military the North would be owned by the US and Russia by now.

 

[roadwarrior]

JAG

And if there is one think lacking in the world to day, it seems to be a willingess to take responsibility.

Dereliction of duty!

I think every Tuesday night, they run the JAG program. Seems like one giant recruiting show to join the Navy, become a lawyer.
I think that lawyer guy gets more flying time, then an actual carrier pilot.

Having a big military can get you a seat at world conferences.
Tell that to the Russians.

Does Canada need a seet at world conferences?

 

[roadwarrior]

GIs

Well if the basic infantry is suffering, then one can only assume how much something like submarines is suffering.

I'm not even sure if the Canadian infantry gets to fire off a clip of 30 rounds in practise everyday.

Do they?

 

[dirtydan]

If your dumb enough to join the army, perhaps you should have to share a kevlar helmet.

On a different note, we don't need a military, cause we a peaceful non nuclear nation. Mess with us, and you'll be messing with U.S.

We do need a military. Not only for trying to provide some sort of national defence, but taking part in foreign operations.

 

[tongue]

Compulsory.

Smaller countries than us seem to have a small but decent army. In fact, they even have compulsary military duty in some: Israel (naturally!), Norway, Taiwan, etc.

 

[Buntoss]

Members of the armed forces, like in any other NATO trained army do not go off and fire their weapons every day. They often spend their time doing other training, administrative work or work in their trades training, like a vehicle mechanic, communications operator, supply tech, etc.

When they do weapons and infantry tactics training, they get trained to the same level as in any other NATO country or better. Canadian Infantry Battalions are considered as good if not better than US Special Forces units such as the Rangers. This was proven in Afganistan as they work side by side with US Rangers. The US Commander said he wish he had more Canadians there.

The Canadian Airiborne Regiment before it was disbanded won an award as the best infantry unit in NATO.

Generally speaking, the Canadian Military does a very good job with what resources they have.

The big difference is the US spends over $1 Billion US a day on defence or in the current budget over $400 Billion US a year. Canada spends about $10 Billion US annually, we would have to spend close to $40 Billion US to match how much they spend per capita. Where would all this money come from?

It's easy to say we don't spend enough on defence, but it's extremely expensive to purchase, devleop and mantain different weapon systems out there. The government needs to ask itself would it better for Canada as a whole to have lower taxes, build roads, and airports, and provide heathcare, or to have a fleet of attack helicopters and hundreds of new tanks, and big shiny transport aircraft.

As well, any locally produced weapon systems will cost more, such as the C7 Rifle mentioned above. We are a small market, Canada can buy 60 000 rifles, the US would buy several million so of course the price will be lower. It is just like the new BC Ferries that being built in Germany, they will cost $200 Million less to build there than here.

I bet if the Federal government increased taxes, cut health care even more, cut infrastructure, etc for a large military everyone will be saying get rid of the new tanks and planes, we don't need a military.

FYI - those poor American national guards and reservists that are used to guard convoys often have to share their body armour in Iraq, or ask for donations or buy a set off of Ebay before they get shipped over. As well, some units do not have enough rifles or ammunition to go around so they "borrow" captured AK-47s and other weapons.