• Thanks for stopping by. Logging in to a registered account will remove all generic ads. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Divining the right role, capabilities, structure, and Regimental System for Canada's Army Reserves

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yard Ape
  • Start date Start date
dapaterson said:
(Plus, the Army decided to spend lots of money on vehicles for which the necessity has yet to be determined - imagine if the Army had sunk that kind of money into acquiring radios instead.  But the Army has huge blinders on anything "support", so radios, logistics and support vehicles, and anything like that goes far down the list after mistakes like the TAPV).

Or anything for fighting in low light. I'm deployed and finally was issued a set of PVS-14 (basically brand new!) and a PEQ-2, then later a PEQ-4 (meh). Previously the only other time I even came close to NVGs was a famil on basic training, with a burnt out tube PVS-14, in 2003. I know the the RegF side has the same problem/shortcoming, so this isn't just a PRes issue. For a modern army, this is underwhelming.
 
They exist, the stopgap measure for the idiots who didn't plan for having manpacks when they made all 522s into vehicle only radios should be the 152/152A. It won't be in massive numbers, but that radio is basically the same size and weight as a LAR (521), but it actually works.
 
daftandbarmy said:
The Yanks use these. They are excellent. Why don't we buy some off of them (and tell everyone they were made in PQ)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PRC-117F

The Canadian Forces have been using the 117F as well as other American radios(148s, 152s) for years. The 117F is an older radio as mentioned above, I believe the 117G replaced it. Being CCI brings restrictions though as PuckChaser noted above. Plus, they are quite expensive and have capabilities they probably aren't required for the PRes. A simple VHF man pack/vehicle mountable and handheld radio(152 size) non CCI radio(that a RQ/CQ) can hold/issue is required. Plus enough EIS for all the radios.

Also, I believe the Americans use a different radio for their Platoon RTOs.
 
LightFighter said:
The Canadian Forces have been using the 117F as well as other American radios(148s, 152s) for years. The 117F is an older radio as mentioned above, I believe the 117G replaced it. Being CCI brings restrictions though as PuckChaser noted above. Plus, they are quite expensive and have capabilities they probably aren't required for the PRes. A simple VHF man pack/vehicle mountable and handheld radio(152 size) non CCI radio(that a RQ/CQ) can hold/issue is required. Plus enough EIS for all the radios.

Also, I believe the Americans use a different radio for their Platoon RTOs.

And this is an example of how far out of my lane I am :)

But seriously folks, the main thing that differentiates an army from a street gang is a good comms net.

It was the radio that defeated France in 1940, not tanks.
 
daftandbarmy said:
And this is an example of how far out of my lane I am :)

But seriously folks, the main thing that differentiates an army from a street gang is a good comms net.

It was the radio that defeated France in 1940, not tanks.

Whereas it was a part-time dentist that defeated England in 2016...
 
dapaterson said:
Whereas it was a part-time dentist that defeated England in 2016...

I think it's been obvious for many years that England has no full time dentists...
 
Brihard said:
I think it's been obvious for many years that England has no full time dentists...
 

Attachments

  • rimshot.gif
    rimshot.gif
    60.7 KB · Views: 2,118
I think Brihard missed the point here.

But then again, maybe he is not a fan of the beautiful game. He doesn't know yet about  the "Miracle on Grass"  ;D
 
PuckChaser said:
If you're in a TIC and your CoC is worrying about noise discipline, they've not paid attention to any military training, ever. Hand signals are taught on the AVCC course, you can find that on the CTC website and print it out.

I watched this too, just to be ready :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSK3maq8Cyk
 
https://m.facebook.com/NationalPost/posts/10154309017359595?fb_comment_id=1071076976304822_1077354812343705&comment_id=1077354812343705

Cant seem to copy and paste it from my phone but here is an official reply to an earlier article about the lack of equipment especially radios. Sounds more like to me that the general is giving the political answer and down playing just how bad the situation is.

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

 
See also: http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/news-publications/national-news-details-no-menu.page?doc=recruitment-retention-and-equipment-the-focus-of-the-canadian-army-reserve-renewal/iptirjvg
 
The radio problem is not unique to the PRes.  It may be more acute in the PRes, but I have been in the field with the Reg F over the past year and dealing with a shortage of radios that was partially related to our manpack radios haven been taken for modification by this project.  The other (and probably more significant factor) is that the CAF has a history of buying insufficient quantities of operational equipment and providing token distribution (ie. Everybody gets some kit, but few to none get enough kit to train with it properly).
 
You won't get those manpacks back. Everyone involved in the CNR(E) didn't realize if you take all the radios, upgrade them so they only work in vehicles, that you now have a giant gap where manpack radios used to be. Someone should be fired, but won't.
 
I think the bigger question we're all forgetting about is......they found vehicles to install the radios in!?

I don't believe it.  Unless it's some MilCots. 
 
https://m.facebook.com/NationalPost/posts/10154309017359595?fb_comment_id=1071076976304822_1077354812343705&comment_id=1077354812343705
Letter to the Editor: National Post

“Canada’s ragged reserves have too few vehicles, little ammo and now, no radios”

I am writing in response to an article published on June 27, 2016, regarding the current state of the Canadian Army Reserve and would like to clarify several points that would benefit your readers.

I have had the privilege of wearing an Army uniform for the last 31 years; 20 years of which have been as an Army Reserve Officer, and in that time, I have witnessed first-hand the professionalism and dedication of the entire Army Team. A Team comprised of Regular Forces, Reserve Forces, Canadian Rangers and civilians all working together to achieve our common objectives.

Let me first clarify the role of the Army Reserve which is a professional part-time force that provides local engagement and a responsive integrated capability, at home or abroad, in support of the Army mission. This role has evolved significantly since the Second World War, and is the rationale from which we currently organize, train and equip our Army Reserve.

In terms of concrete output, the emphasis is to have an Army Reserve that contributes with formed Arctic Response Company Groups and Territorial Battalion Groups on the domestic front and to reinforce individually and formed elements from 10 to 100 personnel with mission-task such as convoy escort, surveillance and force protection on overseas operations. To support the training requirement associated with those missions, the Army, in 2014, re-established Annual Summer Reserve Concentrations across all Divisions to provide an additional week of high quality training to the one night a week and one weekend a month of normal duty.

To set the record straight, it is true that radio equipment across the Canadian Army have commenced a life extension phase, but mitigation measures are in place to ensure that Units have access to what they need to conduct their mandated training and tasks. For example, when the Canadian Army identified there was an issue with vehicles, 80 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were purchased to enhance the mobility of the Territorial Battalion Groups. We also centralized fleets of Military Patterned Vehicles and other essential equipment to Training Centres with views to facilitate their access, use and management. As for rations and ammunitions, I can assure you that there are rigorous management systems in place to ensure all Army Reserve Units have the necessary resources to conduct their mandated training.

In recent years, the urbanization and changing demographics throughout Canada have challenged the Canadian Army in relation to recruiting. To address this issue, the Canadian Army has made it a high priority to grow the Army Reserve by streamlining and decentralizing the recruiting process. For example, the Canadian Army has established 117 full-time recruiter positions at the unit level, reduced the initial course length to an optimum level, and is working hard to find ways to improve the retention of current members to ensure the Canadian Army maintains valued skills and experience.

What concerns me the most about your article is the insinuation that the Regular Army is not providing sufficient support to the Army Reserve out of fear or spite; this is a completely unsubstantiated statement. In fact this statement does more damage to our young Army reservists who consider themselves as part of One Team. My role as Chief of Staff – Army Reserve is to ensure our Reserve Units and soldiers are supported, and I can assure your readers that the Regular Force, Reserve Force, Canadian Rangers and our civilian members are truly part of the One Army Team.

I believe we have the right type of leaders in the Canadian Army to overcome our current challenges. While there remains work to be done as indicated in the recent OAG Report on Army Reserve, I am proud of the recent initiatives and ongoing changes we are making to the Canadian Army Reserve, so that it may continue to support the needs of the Government of Canada and their communities.

Strong – Proud - Ready,

Brigadier-General Rob Roy MacKenzie
Chief Of Staff - Army Reserve
Canadian Army Headquarters

.......and I have had the privilege of wearing an Army uniform for 31 37+ years, Reg & Reserve and I call 'out of touch bullshit'. The General should get out of his office and go visit a Reserve Unit's Jr NCO Mess and WOs' & Sgts' Mess, buy a couple of rounds and ask them what they think. He'll find it nowhere as spiffy and harmonious as he thinks it is. :salute:
 
MilEME09 said:
Tried to horn thing, was told in a not so pleasent way it was bad noise discipline in a tactical environment, and I am not even going to start on hand signals cause that is a loosing battle i've been fighting. To sum it up radios are broken, troops are trying to create a solution, COC says no in one way or another

Go hook up with / talk to / exchange email with some peers at a Armd Recce unit if you can.

Unless the world has changed, they use hand signals and other signals all the time.  In fact, ops normal is (or used to be) RLS until first contact and tons of messages were passed visually before, and after, first contact using hand signals and other means.
 
Eye In The Sky said:
Go hook up with / talk to / exchange email with some peers at a Armd Recce unit if you can.

Unless the world has changed, they use hand signals and other signals all the time.  In fact, ops normal is (or used to be) RLS until first contact and tons of messages were passed visually before, and after, first contact using hand signals and other means.

We are usually ordered to be on radio silence 99% of the time so radios are pretty much useless anyways :)
 
daftandbarmy said:
We are usually ordered to be on radio silence 99% of the time so radios are pretty much useless anyways :)

Even easier to manage when you don't give the PRes radios in the first place.  ;D
 
semaphore.gif


visual_1937_flags.jpg


exeter2_09180920.jpg
 
Back
Top