Talk about "stop gap" - read this (CIL takes on a whole new meaning ... sure hope it‘s "anti-IR" latex paint)!!!
Canadian troops forced to paint uniforms
‘We were looking around ... at how much we stand out,‘ one says
(From Toronto Star)
CP PHOTO/Kevin Frayer
Soldiers of the Princess Patricia‘s Canadian Light Infantry shown at Kandahar Airbase in Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2002.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) — A group of Canadian soldiers are using beige paint, brushes and sand bags in a chameleon act aimed at adapting their forest green camouflage for the desert environment of Kandahar.
Members of one platoon of the Princess Patricia‘s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, some of whom could be on patrol by this weekend, spent today altering their helmets, weapons and rucksacks in what could become a standard for the entire battalion.
"We were looking around — at how much we were sticking out," Sgt. Matt Austin, of Five Platoon, B Company, said Thursday.
"We took it upon ourselves, like all Canadians have done from the First World War, to improvise, adapt and overcome."
"We skillfully acquired some paint, and we‘re just blending our equipment as much as we can into the desert environment. And we managed to grab some sand bags and do our helmets."
It all started when the battalion, based in Edmonton, found itself with no desert camouflage when it was called on to serve in Afghanistan. Desert uniforms, they were told, would not be ready until the summer.
The soldiers had to deploy with the stark forest green uniforms, raising concerns about their utility and safety against a uniformly dull, beige background.
The issue was a major controversy in Ottawa, where it was framed as yet another example of how government underfunding has hurt the Canadian Forces.
In Edmonton, some of the soldiers had already begun spray-painting their gear, before they were issued a lighter coloured blanket of sorts that they could wear on top of their uniforms if needed.
But on Thursday morning — after a few days of being on the ground and taking in their surroundings — the Five Platoon‘s commander made the call that all the gear should be painted and shown to the battalion‘s top soldier.
Equipment, flak jackets and weapons are getting a light, patchy paint job with latex paint scrounged up from around here, sometimes topped up with a sprinkle of sand. Helmets are getting a light base coat, then a bit of netting to give them depth.
Commanding officer Lt.-Col. Pat Stogran is so impressed that if after a trial run the camouflage looks good, the entire battalion will have to fall into line.
"I encouraged everyone ... to be brilliant at the basics, and these guys are all experts at camouflage and they‘re doing what‘s necessary to ensure their safety," he said.
"I‘m particularly proud of the fact that these guys are using their initiative, their imagination."
Stogran is particularly impressed with one enterprising Five Platoon soldier who, prior to leaving Edmonton, had an extra camouflage blanket he bought himself sewn into a smock that could be worn over the existing uniform.
The concept was so appealing that it has been referred to headquarters back in Canada for possible mass production.
The smock has a hood, a plastic zipper, and "best of all, it breathes," its designer, Master Cpl. Chris Thombs said in an interview.
"Everybody is saying I should start working on my patent," he said.
"I‘ve released the intellectual property to the battalion, so we‘ll see what happens after that. I‘ve got more pressing concerns here on the ground."
While the Canadians are currently wearing all green, Americans on the base are dressed in desert camouflage — albeit with dark green flak jackets.
With preparations being made for the soldiers to begin operations, it was important to really look the part, said Five Platoon commander Glenn Cowan.
"We don‘t want to be just physically blending in, but emotionally and mentally," he said.
"When you take pride in what you‘re doing and you feel that you look the part, you know you‘re going to perform better. My football coach always said `look good, feel good, play good,‘ and I‘m using that sort of attitude here."
Canadian soldiers say they‘ve had the odd look and query from Americans since they arrived last week, but it hasn‘t been a big issue.
"They‘re more worried about us being here as warm bodies being able to do the job than how we‘re dressed," said Thombs.
While some soldiers blamed the government for putting them in this situation due to underfunding, Stogran said they just have to make do with what they have.
"It‘d be nice if we had attack helicopters, a Predator, and F-18s ... but it‘s really nice that were here.
"We have to focus on mission success and not cry about spilt milk or anything like that. You know the uniforms will come, but we‘ve got a job to do."
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