Recent Posts

1

Military Current Affairs & News / Re: Canadian military’s template for perfect recruits outdated: Vance

« Last post by AbdullahD on Today at 01:12:31 »

I do not think lowering fitness standards is the correct way to go. I think integrating a "fit-to-fight" model would be best, a person can hire on for a specific role then spend 'x' amount of time of the work week in the gym. Once they are 'fit' they start bmq either how the reserves do it or full time. Now the harsh realization is some people who may really desire to be in the forces, be competent to do a specific job may need a year or more to get fit.. so have an addendum to the contract that time spent not bmq qualified and in the 'fit-to-fight' program only counts as half time.. so if you sign on for say four years.. but take two getting fit your in for 5 or so.

Also looking at pay specs for a lot of trades.. I do think pay raises are in order.. but i could be out to lunch here.

The culture and mentality I cant speak to, so I wont really.. but if it is as bad as some here lead me to believe by their posts.. then asking a person to take a pay cut or deal with drama and bs may not be worth it for them. Heck I'm 32 and I am very curious if I can handle the drama of bmq and military life..  or if it is just not worth it (no i am not looking to apply CN is taking care of me right now quite well and this last year I've been lazy so yeah lol just wanted to put a disclaimer on that).

A lot of the educated, skilled people the CAF needs to attract may not be interested due to perception and stereotypes in the CAF. Now a targeted advertising campaign, enforcement of a new culture (possibly) and a realization that north Americans are typically over weight and becoming fit doesnt happen over night needs to happen. Telling someone if they get fit (however long that takes), they can take a 5 grand pay cut and serve their country.. does not seem to be working.

I'd be in the CAF right now and not at CN if these things were implemented.. but I got the job offer at CN before I was ready for the CAF.. so i chose CN because i couldn't wait. Now i have a career and yea i want to get fit.. but now is it worth it?

This is my bias from my experience take as you will.
Abdullah

Ps I personally do not care about targeted recruiting regarding minorities, women etc. I think the best person should get the job, regardless of sex, race or religion.. so the minorities thing is a meh point to me but address the other issues and that gets addressed to, to an extent.

2

Security and Emergency Services / Re: Wearing of non recognized medals in EMS

« Last post by daftandbarmy on Today at 01:11:11 »

(Unpopular Opinion I think?)

I ... kinda understand being a wee bit irritable about current and former GG's wearing decorations out of order or incorrectly... - as it is their sovereigns honours and awards system in the first place... but to sh!t all over some random municipal or provincial employees about the medals system they have found themselves in seems like a huge waste of energy.

To those folks, the medals aren't imaginary. They've earned their long service medals the same as if you got your 35 year watch at Safeway or Hudsons Bay Co. They represent a career of unique experiences, some dangerous, and full of service to community. Sure, they haven't been blessed by a sovereign, but I'm pretty neither have cadet medals and we cheerfully allow our youth to wear them without much squawking.

Hell, I could invent the Long and Illustrious Service to the JesseWZ Family Order of Medallion Wearing Fanatics Medal and as long as I don't breach CAF orders and policy, could happily wear it on my civilian clothing.

 (LAISTTJFOMWFM for short - and comes with the aforementioned post nominal)

At the end of the day, the only people who really care about our honours system seem to be the ones within it and even then we have lots of folks complaining about receiving medals they will elect not to wear (the Diamond Jubilee for example) as if it is optional.

I sat across the table from a guy at a Mess Dinner, he was an Honorary from another unit, who had several 'Idi Amin' type decorations, including one work around his neck on a ribbon.

He apparently had them made for himself, based on his personal designs.

How he was allowed to do this, I have no idea, but it was clearly a slap in the face of CAF as a whole.

3

Security and Emergency Services / Re: Wearing of non recognized medals in EMS

« Last post by JesseWZ on Today at 01:04:29 »

Somebody was blogging about it,

Calgary Police: "Crazy About Imaginary Medals"
http://wearingyourmedalswrong.blogspot.ca/2016/05/calgary-crazy-about-imaginary-medals.html

(Unpopular Opinion I think?)

I ... kinda understand being a wee bit irritable about current and former GG's wearing decorations out of order or incorrectly... - as it is their sovereigns honours and awards system in the first place... but to sh!t all over some random municipal or provincial employees about the medals system they have found themselves in seems like a huge waste of energy.

To those folks, the medals aren't imaginary. They've earned their long service medals the same as if you got your 35 year watch at Safeway or Hudsons Bay Co. They represent a career of unique experiences, some dangerous, and full of service to community. Sure, they haven't been blessed by a sovereign, but I'm pretty neither have cadet medals and we cheerfully allow our youth to wear them without much squawking.

Hell, I could invent the Long and Illustrious Service to the JesseWZ Family Order of Medallion Wearing Fanatics Medal and as long as I don't breach CAF orders and policy, could happily wear it on my civilian clothing.

 (LAISTTJFOMWFM for short - and comes with the aforementioned post nominal)

At the end of the day, the only people who really care about our honours system seem to be the ones within it and even then we have lots of folks complaining about receiving medals they will elect not to wear (the Diamond Jubilee for example) as if it is optional.

Edited to add: The above quoted blog seems to be indicative of a cultural attitude within the military and retired veteran communities that I can't quite put my finger on. It seems to circle around "the things we feel are important - are important - period." not realizing the only reason something has value in our community is because we have given it such. It's like yelling at a civilian walking on the grass on a base... he has no reason not to walk on the grass, no appreciation for why military members may choose to avoid doing so and exists outside that regulatory system entirely.

4

Global Politics / Re: The US Presidency 2018

« Last post by FJAG on Today at 01:01:59 »

On a different topic - the ongoing feud with Adm McRaven:

Architect of bin Laden raid: Trump 'threatens the Constitution' when he attacks the media
By Jake Tapper and Devan Cole, CNN
Updated 5:29 PM ET, Sun November 18, 2018

Washington (CNN)Retired Adm. William McRaven on Sunday stood by his previous statement that President Donald Trump's attacks on the news media represent "the greatest threat to democracy" after the President dismissed him as a "Hillary Clinton backer" in an interview that aired on Fox News.

"I did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else," McRaven, who oversaw the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, told CNN. "I am a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for. I admire all presidents, regardless of their political party, who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the nation together in challenging times."

"I stand by my comment that the President's attack on the media is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime," McRaven said, referencing remarks he made about Trump last year. "When you undermine the people's right to a free press and freedom of speech and expression, then you threaten the Constitution and all for which it stands."

. . .

See rest of article here:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/18/politics/donald-trump-william-mcraven/index.html

 

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Global Politics / Re: The US Presidency 2018

« Last post by Fishbone Jones on Today at 00:49:11 »

Tu Quoque.

I'm not condoning it, but at the same time, if you want to try define his lies, they need to be taken in the context of presidential lies. This is not a, he did it, so can I. It is simply a way of defining what a presidential lie entails and the severity of those lies.

Simply, there are those that will demonize Trump for lying, but will give a buy to others who lied as President and killed people and countries.

That your hypocracy right there. It not right for Trump to lie. However, it's not alright to try define him as the worst liar. He may tell more than others, but his lies are nowhere near as dangerous and fatal as those told by other presidents.

The hypocracy also bleeds though for those that only concentrate on his faults.

Tu Quoque for sure, but not from my end.

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Military Current Affairs & News / Re: Canadian military’s template for perfect recruits outdated: Vance

« Last post by JesseWZ on Today at 00:46:58 »

We could try something radical and stop treating people like crap.

Slow your roll... you know senior officers lurk these boards...

They may actually try it... and then where would we be?! 

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Military Current Affairs & News / Re: Canadian military’s template for perfect recruits outdated: Vance

« Last post by standingdown on Today at 00:32:55 »

We could try something radical and stop treating people like crap.

8

Global Politics / Re: The US Presidency 2018

« Last post by Infanteer on Today at 00:32:20 »

Tu quoque...again.

9

Military Administration / Re: Phoenix Pay System - crap's Horrible

« Last post by daftandbarmy on Today at 00:23:13 »

Hmm... an internal job posting for the public service has gone up, looking for an ADM at PSPC.


Among the qualifications that are desirable:

EXPERIENCE:

AE1: Experience in administering pay.

AE2: Recent(1) experience in leading large-scale renewal and change management initiatives in a large complex organization.

AE3: Experience in managing transformation and/or delivery of IT-enabled projects.

AE4: Experience in managing horizontal issues of a sensitive nature requiring a high degree of coordination and collaboration.

AE5: Significant(2) experience in consulting, negotiating, collaborating and working on horizontal issues with central agencies and other federal departments or agencies.

Definitions:
(1) Recent is defined as experience normally acquired within the last five (5) years.
(2) Significant experience is understood to mean the depth and breadth of the experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of various, complex related activities at the executive level over a period of two (2) years.

How about being a 'victim' of all those things, does that count?

10

Global Politics / Re: The US Presidency 2018

« Last post by Jarnhamar on Yesterday at 23:56:42 »

like Fast and Furious, that has killed hundreds in Mexico and the death of US Border agents and other civilian Americans? How many troops have been killed because Trump lied about the reason to start a war? Have Trump's lies created any situations like Benghazi?

This is the main reason why I think Trump was and will always be a better choice for president.  The US has a sorid history of invading countries or getting involved in their affairs under bullshit reasons leading to soldier and civilian deaths.