[bossdog]

THE CANADIAN MILITARY ETHOS

WE believe in Canada as a strong and free nation and accept that the ultimate reason for the existence of the Canadian armed forces is the preservation of secure justice and peace for canada. We believe that this can be best attained through the developement and maintenance of a professional military force.

WE believe that this profession of arms, an integral part of Canadian society, forms a destinc sub-set of the entire Canadian fabric. We are a group who have been charged with a unique mandate: To serve our country through the maintenance of its security and defence of it's sovereignty, if necessary, by application of military force.

WE accept that the authority to apply such power requires that our profession be properly structured, with adherance to a clearly defined chain of command and obedience to a code of conduct, in our case " The code of service discipline".

WE believe that the military society is a good society embodying those moral virtues, which affect our relations with our commerades in arms and ourselves, of: prudence, justice, patriotism, obedience, veracity and patience. We believe that these values, derived from a traditional code of ethics, fit into and form part of those of contemporary Canadian society.

WE accept that it is essential for all members to clearly display loyalty, first to the country then to the group, and finaly to each member of the chain of command, both junior and senior to them before taking thought for themselves.

WE accept that teamwork is essential to the survival and success of the military unit and therefore accept the necessity of continuous cycles of training and practice. This ensures not only that the group functions as a disciplined and professional entity, but also that individual members are trained to perform well, both in their assigned role and as members of the team, and that their potential for developement as future leaders is recognized and nurtured.

WE accept that in volunteering to serve our country we must endure the restriction of certain freedoms including some rights provided by democratic process.

WE accept these responsabilities in memory of those comerades who died in the service of their country and must ensure that their memory and ideals are not forgoten.

[Hester]

bossdog bossdog:

WE believe that the military society is a good society embodying those moral virtues, which affect our relations with our commerades in arms and ourselves, of: prudence, justice, patriotism, obedience, veracity and patience. We believe that these values, derived from a traditional code of ethics, fit into and form part of those of contemporary Canadian society.

Unfortunately, some of those who consider themselves the most patriotic are the ones most lacking these qualities.

bossdog bossdog:

WE accept that it is essential for all members to clearly display loyalty, first to the country then to the group, and finaly to each member of the chain of command, both junior and senior to them before taking thought for themselves.

Some service members forget this. All Canadians should practice this.

bossdog bossdog:

WE accept that teamwork is essential to the survival and success of the military unit and therefore accept the necessity of continuous cycles of training and practice. This ensures not only that the group functions as a disciplined and professional entity, but also that individual members are trained to perform well, both in their assigned role and as members of the team, and that their potential for developement as future leaders is recognized and nurtured.

That's my role.

bossdog bossdog:

WE accept that in volunteering to serve our country we must endure the restriction of certain freedoms including some rights provided by democratic process.

Something that some service members cannot accept.
Also something that many civilians are not aware of.

bossdog bossdog:

WE accept these responsabilities in memory of those comerades who died in the service of their country and must ensure that their memory and ideals are not forgoten.

We will remember them

[bossdog]

$1:

bossdog wrote:
WE accept that in volunteering to serve our country we must endure the restriction of certain freedoms including some rights provided by democratic process.


Something that some service members cannot accept.
Also something that many civilians are not aware of.

You're right. Many people don't think about how we (military members) can't exercise all the rights we fight for.

[BartSimpson]

bossdog bossdog:

You're right. Many people don't think about how we (military members) can't exercise all the rights we fight for.

True, but civvies don't get to kill the people who piss them off!

[bossdog]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

bossdog bossdog:

You're right. Many people don't think about how we (military members) can't exercise all the rights we fight for.

True, but civvies don't get to kill the people who piss them off!

You're right, but they do it anyways.

[ridenrain]

Unless we're driving or having a cocaine psychosis moment, then it's a free for all.

[MaelstromRider]

Hester Hester:

bossdog bossdog:

WE accept that in volunteering to serve our country we must endure the restriction of certain freedoms including some rights provided by democratic process.

Something that some service members cannot accept.
Also something that many civilians are not aware of.

Something about young troops today (and young officers too) - they seem to think the Army owes them something. There's an unbelievable sense of entitlement amoung the junior ranks and subaltern officers.

Its friggin' ridiculous that the first questions new button head Ptes are asking are about why they are getting FOA instead of TD, or what they need to do to get entitlement X.

[bossdog]

That's true, but that's mostly coming from (in my experience) the ones that get the hand outs from day one (ie: recruiting allowances). Those of us that have been around for a while know to "put up and shut up" and that needs to be renforced in the younger ranks. Actually, the ounger ranks aren't so young anymore but they are just as thick - for the most part, not all of them. (a little CYA there)

Another funny thought, we are one of the few professions that are actually working to terminate our own existence. We fight for peace. Once there is peace, there will be no need for the military. I doubt it will ever happen but I thought I get all zen like for a moment.

[MaelstromRider]

bossdog bossdog:

Another funny thought, we are one of the few professions that are actually working to terminate our own existence. We fight for peace. Once there is peace, there will be no need for the military. I doubt it will ever happen but I thought I get all zen like for a moment.

Tres Zen

Here's another, maybe a little more bleak observation; normally we fight on the order of a government that we barely have the faith in to control the spending of our taxdoallars (and rightly so it would seem), yet they control the destiny of all of us in uniform

I'm not being subversive, I'm just making the observation. It's ironic.

[bossdog]

but as soldiers, well, me as a soldier should never think about it like that. As soon as one member starts to question the positons of authority (and it can be contageous) everything goes to shit. Suck it up and dig in. That's what I was always taught and I still carry that in my back pocket today.

[MaelstromRider]

bossdog bossdog:

but as soldiers, well, me as a soldier should never think about it like that. As soon as one member starts to question the positons of authority (and it can be contageous) everything goes to shit. Suck it up and dig in. That's what I was always taught and I still carry that in my back pocket today.

Fair point, at least in terms of voicing these concerns (in any forum other than this anonymous void for purely academic reasons of course).

But a soldier mustn't take that habit too far lest they fall into the 'just following orders' trap.

There's another irony of the modern army by the way; we expect soldiers to think and take the initiative, (i.e. mission command), yet continue to restrict thier ability to do so (i.e. constraining orders, doctrine). There's nothing worse than getting jacked up for taking the initiative because you didn't follow your commander's specific orders.

[bossdog]

it could almost be called a science. i used to joke about the invisible initiative meter. you gotta know when to hold 'em, and know when to play 'em. nobody said the army was easy or stress free.

[SprCForr]

I'd rather be put at the chow for using my intiative. Do you want a soldier that actually uses his intiative or some dullard that wouldn't recognize the need (MR mentions the "just following orders" automaton) if it smoked them upside the head?

If the troops can't figure out why they are drawing FOA instead of TD, then the Sect Comd or 2 i/c needs to explain the differences of the two properly.

This lack of manpower has really bit deep. The chain can't afford to piss the troops off or they'll not re-engage leading to more manpower crunches. They miss out on that basic level of existence that is a great source of self-confidence.

Do the troops not dig in anymore?

[MaelstromRider]

SprCForr SprCForr:

This lack of manpower has really bit deep. The chain can't afford to piss the troops off or they'll not re-engage leading to more manpower crunches. They miss out on that basic level of existence that is a great source of self-confidence.

Another damn good point. It's kind of Twilight Zone to see Officers and Senior NCOs asking troops to do things.

Also, the new guys don't want to go career. Most of them are doing the army thing for awhile to get some war stories, make a wad of cash and nail chicks. I suppose that's the same as it's always been, but once the guys do thier first 5, they have other options - not like back in the day when once you got in (wihtout highschool or any marketable trade) you were pretty much locked in for life.

I've had troops with university educations in the same damn field as my BSc. Young guys looking for a few good years and a war story or two to dazzle the honeys when they go back to grad school.

[SprCForr]

I give the chain a large part of the blame in creating the environment in the first place. There isn't a true picture of the reality of life in an "F" ech situation that can be pointed to or used as a reference anymore.

Having the Warsaw Pact as the main enemy made us focus (however much we didn't like it) on our primary combat skills, so we could survive in that high intensity long duration fight. Our equipment was old and outdated and that forced us to adapt and improvise to remain effective while adhering to the basic survival drills (you stop, you cam up and dig in). That's not the case today. Our equipment has been modernized, doctrine hasn't caught up to the changes, and our primary forcus has shifted to small limited duration engagements.

This is simply a hasty point, I have to get going.

Fire the troop out into the field with nada in a dismounted role. Live in a firetrench (austere environment) and conduct viable training in all phases of war. Keep them out there for 10 days to a couple of weeks. It gets them in touch with the brutal basics, allows the older soldiers to remain current with their primary skills and gives everyone the base to build on. Do troops today know what it's like to live in a Bunny suit for a couple weeks?

Don't sugar coat this stuff. Be totally upfront right from the start. I knew it was going to be tough when I got in and I wasn't dissapointed. Life is easy and takes on a different perspective after you realize the section vehicle carrying your crew-served weapons and kit is a luxury, you don't need a mess tent, TV and cot to survive. Eating your supper off Mel-mac is special occassion!

Gotta scoot...