Canadian soldier charged with feeding cannabis cupcakes to artillery unit during live-fire exercise

[Jarnhamar]

Bdr Cogswell did something unforgivable and tried to use her diagnosis to save her own skin; that in and of itself is deplorable. Mental Health diagnosis is an explanation, not an excuse. The first thing you're told is that regardless of your struggles, you're still accountable for your actions. She tried to shirk that accountability and I hope she gets what's coming to her.

Sounds like something a lawyer may come up with as well.

 

[OldSolduer]

True leaders prepare their soldiers for war.
The CF did a horrible job at that (I would assume still does - but I am long stale for that comment to have 100% accuracy ) - as do most Militaries outside of their SOF. In the same vein that most LE and other first responders do a piss poor job of preparing their members for emotional trauma.

Proper mental training, effective and realistic training would do a heck of a lot more do reduce issues of CSR/PTSD.
As opposed to a bunch of BS bravado in training that does nothing for downrange effects.

Education into what the body and mind do under stress, and giving member the tools and conditioning to function during and after critical incidents is going to pay off a whole lot more than soley dealing with issues after the incidents.

Proper counseling after issues helps, and not some half baked counsellor - but real professional mental health specialists who specialize in the specific area of trauma.

You are so correct. I said over 20 years ago we do a great job of prepping soldiers physically - PT, weapons training etc - but we never took the time to prep their headspace and timing, if you know what I mean.

The CAF started the Road To Mental Readiness in about 2008 IIRC. R2MR for short. We adopted it in Corrections here in Manitoba. I actually teach it. I think its a good program, but we have to wait a few years to see if its effective.

 

[OldSolduer]

Altess we are better that US if you check the forum or the others platform you wiol see that every soldier quit because of poor leadership ect....

What are you trying to say?

 

[Z.E.R.T.]

What are you trying to say?

The US soldiers are tired of poor leadership and be threated like sht* alots of them leaving after only 1 enlistment..Because of that! if you go on U.S Army W.T.F! moments forum and facebook page. Always the same story coming out.

 

[dangerboy]

You are so correct. I said over 20 years ago we do a great job of prepping soldiers physically - PT, weapons training etc - but we never took the time to prep their headspace and timing, if you know what I mean.

We gave out a bunch of copies of Dave Grossman's book "On Combat" and had him speak to the BNs. That was enough to tick the box off I guess

 

[OldSolduer]

We gave out a bunch of copies of Dave Grossman's book "On Combat" and had him speak to the BNs. That was enough to tick the box off I guess

Not enough IMO. Realistic training - where things go wrong -, the focus on the Big 4 and how to destress yourself are huge components. Hyper vigilance is a real concern once you leave the theatre.

Speaking of which my sneaky granddaughter caused my amygdala to startle me - she's a good stalker. Sneaky little thing. Maybe sniper material?

 

[ArmyRick]

Not enough IMO. Realistic training - where things go wrong -, the focus on the Big 4 and how to destress yourself are huge components. Hyper vigilance is a real concern once you leave the theatre.

Speaking of which my sneaky granddaughter caused my amygdala to startle me - she's a good stalker. Sneaky little thing. Maybe sniper material?

Jim, we used to see you as the instructor with pearls of wisdom for us greenhorns in battleschool. Good insights.

 

[OldSolduer]

Jim, we used to see you as the instructor with pearls of wisdom for us greenhorns in battleschool. Good insights.

Thank you very much. I’m not sure about the wisdom thing….

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Thank you very much. I’m not sure about the wisdom thing….

What not to do, from personal experience, is still wisdom

 

[Kat Stevens]

What not to do, from personal experience, is still wisdom

Hey everybody! I gots wisdom. A whole stinkin' truck load of wisdom.

 

[LittleBlackDevil]

Sounds like something a lawyer may come up with as well.

Of course it is ... a defence lawyer's job is to advocate for his/her client and do whatever they can to mitigate consequences. Prosecution role is to advocate for harsher penalty. The judge makes the final decision after hearing both sides.

 

[dangerboy]

For those that are interested the Courts Marital Sentencing decision for this case has been posted on the Office of the Chief Military Judge's website. Worth a read.

Cogswell C.H. (Bombardier), R. v. - Chief Military Judge

 

[Halifax Tar]

For those that are interested the Courts Marital Sentencing decision for this case has been posted on the Office of the Chief Military Judge's website. Worth a read.

Cogswell C.H. (Bombardier), R. v. - Chief Military Judge

30 days in Club Ed! Yikes! She was on her way out anyways... The dismissal for he is no bigger regardless of the category.

 

[Maxman1]

Sounds like they wanted to make an example.

 

[Navy_Pete]

Sounds like they wanted to make an example.

She could have gotten people killed, and she got a bunch of people high against their consent. If you read the judgement she could have easily gotten a lot longer, and sounds like she's going to start getting treatment for her MH issues while in custody.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Meh. 30 days to lose some weight. She's on Release, so it's not like she'll be participating in the standard prisoner routine around there anyway.

 

[Kat Stevens]

Meh. 30 days to lose some weight. She's on Release, so it's not like she'll be participating in the standard prisoner routine around there anyway.

There were people being released during my brief all inclusive. I seem to remember them getting belt fed rooster the whole time. That was in the early 80s though, so I'm sure CFSPDB is a more enlightened place now.

 

[Blackadder1916]

There were people being released during my brief all inclusive. I seem to remember them getting belt fed rooster the whole time. That was in the early 80s though, so I'm sure CFSPDB is a more enlightened place now.

It is unlikely that she will go to the CFSPDB to serve her sentence. Generally, those being released are dealt with in accordance with the Notes to QR&O 104.04 and "will typically be transferred to a civilian prison or penitentiary as soon as practical within the first 30 days following the date of sentencing. The member will ordinarily be released from the Canadian Forces before such a transfer is effected". In the sentencing decision can be found the following:

[127] By means of an Agreed Statement of Fact submitted in the context of the sentencing hearing the prosecution presented the following evidence to the Court:
“The following accommodations for continuing care will be made by the New Brunswick Women’s Correctional Centre:

1. Access to CAF psychiatric services will be accommodated while a CAF member is incarcerated;
2. Access to CAF nurse practitioner will be subject to discussion with the Centre’s medical doctor, who makes weekly on-site visits for all inmates, and is available to the Centre on an on-call basis;
3. Current prescriptions will be continued subject to the Centre’s policy on reducing access to certain addictive narcotics within the prison; and
4. Any recommended changes to medication by CAF psychiatrists will generally be accommodated, but are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Centre’s medical doctor.”

Once Ms. Cogswell's (I used a civilian title) appeals have run their course, my expectation is she will be spending that 30 days at the New Brunswick Women's Correctional Centre.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Once Ms. Cogswell's (I used a civilian title) appeals have run their course, my expectation is she will be spending that 30 days at the New Brunswick Women's Correctional Centre.

That is normally what should happen.....over my 32 years I've seen about 10 guys sign their release while actually serving their sentence.

 

[Blackadder1916]

That is normally what should happen.....over my 32 years I've seen about 10 guys sign their release while actually serving their sentence.

Would any of them have been serving a court martial imposed sentence or were the majority inside after a civilian conviction and subsequently released?