Army Guy

How many military members did you interact with ? How long did you serve? I know the military community is pretty small, and rumours within it spread faster than a speeding bullet. If anything serious happened on any base it would be well known within days by everyone. And yet this report dictates there is something seriously wrong. But according to your personal experiences, you did not experience anything serious. I served for 34 years, including many tours overseas, and not once did I hear off any DND member sexual assaulting another member. While in KAF,Afghanistan our women were told to stay out of certain areas of the camp, I say camp, but it was a small city of over 75,000, with some nations not having the same moral values as most Canadians. Yes there was plenty of romances going on, romances that crossed the rank barrier, and those members were charged and sent home, including one commander, even a battle group RSM. But these were consenting adults, nothing was forced or an abuse of authority. I will say however the use of colourful language is rampant, bravado is common place, but then again, and drinking although still , they for the most part is not to excess. What scares most military members now, is what DND and the government will mandate as corrective action. Once again any action that prevents one serious sexual assault would be a great measure. But you and I know that DND does not do anything half way, it takes the extreme right or left.

One does not become the CDS by having a low IQ, in fact one does not compete in today's military unless you have a strong educational back ground, with in the rifle company I served with 110 guys , 38 had degrees, 15 of those had their masters, and that was a bunch of infantry guys. Again your spewing fiction as fact. You said you served have you witnessed any of this behaviour being talked about. And if so what did you do about it.

Just curious where did you get that tidbit of info from, and did'nt you claim to have served....so are you grouping yourself in that category.

To be honest I was'nt going to respond to this post, I was disappointed in what some of the poster comments and opinions were. About an organization that I have dedicated over 34 years of my life to. And while I'd be the first to admit it is not perfect in any sense, however these opinions concern me deeply. Why is that I'm sure Derek agrees with me serving was not just a job, but a way of life, there was no 8 to 4 then go home to the family....it was 24 and 7, for 34 years. And my life depended on the men and women I served with. Not saying that everyone is not entitled to express their opinions, because that is one of our basic freedoms, but those opinions should be based on facts. Not here say, or someone is going to call bull****. So I'm calling bull****... I've taken the time to read all the source material, and it presents a pretty one sided story. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that there is not a problem, because one case is to many. But Canadians as a whole are left to believe that their military is a lying sack of ****, an old boys club that eats those that do not tow the party line....that our military is full of sexual deviants.....and yet there is proof out there that this type of behaviour is not tolerated, but it is quickly swept under the carpet, there are not only very strict military regulations and QR&O which guide DND actions, but also federal laws. To top this off there are already in place many avenues to report any cases of this type, Chain of command which according to the sources is part of the problem, and yet they seem to forget that each soldier is entitled to address the next step in the chain of command if No Satisfying action is taken with the CDS being the last stop.....another would be civil police, be it RCMP or local or provincial, Military police or directly to the SIU or special investigation unit which believe or not is not tied to the chain of command. Another would be the ombudsman, which reports these actions to the minister and CDS, another is military church the Padres is not tied to the chain of command and can report their findings to any level. There is also military harassment advisors and investigators, of which although they are military you have the choice of any from across the forces, and elements. So there is a lot of options, how many organizations can say that. Is it enough I guess not , but we as society are not going to get a zero solution. Despite what new measures are placed upon DND....why is that because that is how our Canadian society is wired, this is not a strictly DND problem, it is a Canadian problem .....And yet if we were to hang on the media's every word there has been a complete melt down of our nations military and those that serve within it.... These problems are found in every industry across the country, in our schools, in our towns , and cities...And yet we as Acadians are finger pionters, we have to have to have someone to blame. First it was the RCMP , and if you think they are fixed now, and have no problems your wrong, next will be DND. So while we may enjoy a few drinks, chew on cigars, and have some colourful language I wonder where we got that from.

I think Rememberance Day is alot larger than wearing a poppy, or remembering those who have sacrificed not only their lives, health, quality of life, just about everything any man or women holds near and dear to them that has been stripped away. Rememberance Day means something different to everyone,and it is the one day of the year where we can reflect on those meanings regardless of what they are ..... Because we need to remember everything, the cost to our soliders, our families, our communities, our nation....we need to remember so we do not enter into future conflicts without some somber thinking... We need to remember that wars produce nothing but sorrow, tears, bloodshed and great sacrifice. But we also need to remember that until man learns of a different method to solve issues without violence that they are sometimes nessicary. Because of that we need to remember each conflict and why we sent our nations soldiers into combat, we need to remember the cost of everything we sacraficed, we need to remember those citizens that volunteered to take up our governments cause. And we need to remember their sacrifices, it is a promise that our nation has given to them, "We will Remember them" For me Rememberence day, is emotional, painful, joyfull, one full of tears, laughter as we remember fallen comrads, after the ceremony we head to the local legion, 10 or 12 of us gather there every year, all guys that have eaten the same dirt in some far away place, most are civilians now retired from the military, but we all take the time to meet once a year, same spot, same table, one in the dark corner.........we tell the same stories about them year after year, mostly funney, but we also recount their last moments, and drink a few pints in their memory. To honor them, to keep their memories alive and well , to keep our promise to never forget... We are not alone, the table next to us is a bunch of old vets that do the same thing, and have been for over 40 years....only difference is their table is getting smaller every year....

What is the proper treatment for mental health issues, I mean this problem has been around forever, it's had many names, and many proper treatments prescribed and yet no known cure as of yet... No one can say what the treatment is the way forward, right now all we have is giving people with mental health issues is coping skills, powerful drugs to turn them into zombies, then we turn them back onto the streets, leave them in their homes until the next vist...So i would say there is no known treatment... Next problem would be what do we do with all these people that have mental health issues, do we warehouse them like in the early years, lock them up , pump them up with drugs.....such as mental instutions....where they can not be influenced by social media.....or harm the outside world....

Well WWWTT it must have struck a cord some where or you would have not responded to "as you call it Total BS". We are talking about a person that shot a soldier at our Nation war memorial are we not, then proceeded to into our nations parliment to do what exactly, give out candy....of course it is all BS in your world ....But I'm sorry.... but from my planet it looks like a terrorist attack....And most of us on this web site are sure the FBI had nothing to do with it, Nor was it some Canadian Government plot. to some how justify sending our bombers to Iraq....

The Canadian Officer was wrong, for serveral reasons, one it is a policitcal statement, one that unless instructed by the highest authority he had no bussiness in making and if he was instructed to do so, they used the wrong dept to release that message. 2 he is a soldier, a tool for the government to use in this case to carry out foreign policy. which in his case is to close with and destroy our enemies, nothing else....All one has to do is look at the facts, our government had decided well before these attacks that they would join the coalition of countries in an air campaign against ISIL targets in Iraq.... I think every mother would say the same thing if in the same situation, however his condition allowed him to become radicalized by the intra net, and he did carry out an attack. Unfortunately we will not know his true intentions as he was killed during his attack. But if one had to pigion hole this event, i would say he was influenced by a terrorist web site, and file it under a terrorist attack....that being said it is my personal opinion, that and a 1.99 will get you a coffee at timmies. His Last words....I've heard more than my share, i think your perception is more related to the movies, the men i was with in their last moments were not thinking about what they were doing seconds before, but rather family, wifes, kids, mothers and fathers.....they knew they were dying and that is who they wanted their last thoughts to be of....they were afraid to die, as they did not know what was next..... and did not want to leave them..so i would say his last thought were the same....not very telling as to motivation.... As for showing the tape, I know some people have a want to know, those people who need to know will most likely see the tape, but does it out wiegh the following considerations the mother, her family close freinds etc, i get it they don't have to watch but like everything that is news worthy it will go viral and may be hard to not watch it or become aware of it's contents..... The men that did the shooting, nobody wants to relive that moment when they took a life, nor do they want their families or freinds seeing it....Yes the Sgt in Arms was hailed a hero, but i bet he does not re joice in the fact that he took a life, even if it is his job....i'm sure alot of them are struggling with it....As do most normal people. As mentioned here before security, anyone who is planning something similar could learn from the mistakes made on both sides, and use them to their advantage.....

"Come on" garden variety .......I think i strongly disagree that ISIL is a garden variety group, that just happens to use terrorist tactics. they are involved in much more than that, ethic cleansing, murder, rape,slavery, their tactics have caused hundrds of thousands to flee their homes concerned with their safety. What is their idealogy again....oh yes to take over the world, and destroy any of the non believers, hard to take these guys serious at any level....not to mention the savoirs of Sunnis....Would you follow these guys....And i'm sure not all Sunnis want them in power either.... Baathist factions, you mean Sadam's old party because they have such an assume record as well, that makes it all right.... Let me get this straight you think the US disposed of Sadam , and set up a government that is controled by Iran. does that make sense to anyone. And where was everyone when the Sunnis were in power, who are the minority in IRAQ , when they were in power under Sadam, who did more than antagonized the Shia majority. Oh that was all right...sorry....people have long memories it is going to take a generation or two before things return to normal. Maybe my history is bad, but muslim countries have invaded more countries than outside countries have invaded them. which would negate your piont. also you could look at the types of regimes or governments that rule most muslim countries....not many are freely elected, and most rule with an iron fist, which goes to the piont violence breds violence... I think you should relook at the defination of Guerilla warfare, which is a smaller force using hit and run tactics again'st a larger force....in most cases they are uniformed, and there targets are military in nature...not murder, ethinic cleansing, slavery, rape, forced marriages....again apple and oranges. So just to be clear, we are making way to much of ISIL, or better yet do you think ISIL tactics are within reason.....Do you not see the danger that they pose to our way of life....one man or group with a opinion can take up arms and use terror to make his piont....Our current way of life survives on our rules and laws....show me any where , that says this type of action is OK... So because National armies have killed more it's ok....like it was a game and we are trying to keep score.....and yet the last couple of conflicts more civilains have been killed by insurgents than national armies....thats ok....i wonder if we would change our outlook if this was Quebec and english Canada involved in the same type of conflict.....

The War on Terror may not of been properly named, but for most of the population they get what it means...We as a nation do not con.done terrorism in any form and we have decided it is a worth while endevor to stop it where we can.....As i explained already terrorism main focus is to tear down everything we hold near and dear about our own current freedoms...We can't allow one person with a gun or some explosive dictate his agenda over the majority that is not how our type of government works. Waterboarding while may be horriable act, is form of torture. Something else we do not condone. As for dropping bombs on civilians may also be a horriable event it is called war. it is another act we do not condone, as in diliberatly dropping bombs on civilains to cause terror, but rather it happens by mistake, and is known as colaterial damage....i think your grasping at straws here as alot of things can cause terror. You say "Our" governments , who is "our" governments and what group have they declared a terrorist group that is not fit to wear that title...questions need to be asked Have they used terror as a wpn, if so what title do we give them? Killing any enemy on the battle field has it's rules, we don't just kill someone that we think is a terrorist, it is what we can prove, for example an armed man in IRAQ operating in enemy terroritory, while conducting some sort of military mission , or crime, is a target....a man on the side of the road armed with a ak, just walking is not a target.....you may stop and ask him what he is doing, you can even detain him for questioning, but you can not just kill him.... treated normally not sure what you mean here, as operating in a war zone is not normal please explain..... ISIL are on that list do you consider them nationalists, are they trying to gain freedom or are they the few trying to push an agenda down the throats of the majority. see Taliban, Alquada, shit the list is to long to mention. who decides a freely elected government decides, Our jets are going to be involved in Iraq only, they do not have the governments approval for operations in Syria. Not sure is the Iraqi government on that terrorist list, i don't think so. Are there going to be other terroist in the area , possiably but our fighters will not be supporting them, they are going to be called in by Iraqi or coalition ground forces...no of them are on the terrorist list. Yes our government decides alot of things that we are not directly involved in, and yet we did know that when we elected them. Our system is not perfect but it has served us well in the past....for the most part. last time i checked the Iraqi government has asked for assistance, are you saying we should refuse any help to anyone in the same situation. And what if this situation decides not to stay in just Iraq or Syria, what if it spills over involves other countries, when do they cross your line to call for direct military action, and is it recoveable from your line meaning will it take more than 6 fighters to stop, and contain it...Will Canadian soldiers pay with their blood sweat and tears , because it grew into something we may or may not be able to handle..... War is a terriable thing, and i won't blow smoke up your ass, and say nobody else will die, the first to do that is always the civilian population, that is a fact, i know it does not matter to you how they die, as dead is dead ....but there are rules to how we wage war, those rules already take into account civilian deaths...the rules are there to limit that, not to totally stop that which is impossable. Comparing the two acts is apples and oranges....if that was not the case why would we bother keeping our soldiers from doing the same deeds. meaning not taking POW's just cutting the heads off as they are captured.... It's a good question, for me it is a person or group, that uses violence or terror to make a piont. be it political or ideal, For instance if i don't like the way you conduct yourself on this board, i walk over to your house kill your dog on the front lawn, then tell you if you don't do as i say i'll be back, your children are next....that would be a terrorist act.....one that we have laws for, which makes sense as we don't tolerate that kind of thinking or actions. if we did our current way of life would not be able to exist.... I did not say that Islam is a breeding ground for terrorism....i did say most of the terrorists happen to have the same religion....As for it being a breeding ground, well thats is true in some countries, where the medium of religion is used to teach hatred, see the Taliban, terrorist groups,and many more....you see it as a peaceful religion, but i see it as a religion that can be easily swayed for peaceful , to war like with a words, or pictures....i can list you dozens and dozens of instances of this. most have resulted in death occuring....i Can also list dozens of dozens of instances where i have been treated as a normal person, as per their culture and religion....

No 6 Frigates would be a huge commitment.....6 jets not so much...

Just so that i'm clear, your suggesting that terror is not an issue, that this terror problem is localized and has no effect on countries, regions. That the problem can not grow into something larger that might effect us globally. Are you suggesting that we as a people have swallowed this whole War on terror hook line and sinker.....which then allows our government to use that very acceptance into chasing any government agendas....What agenda does the Canadian government have that we as citizens should be so concern with ? well the term terrorist has been used alot, but then again it is the NEW form of warfare, anyone with any opinion can use it, all it takes is the will to do it, it is cheap, does not require an army of any great size, and yet it goes again'st our very own thoughts of freedoms, our own very existance....We as a nation have built our society around rules and laws which allows us to carry on with life as we know it today....being able to go to the food store without getting blown up, sending our kids to school, working so we can provide for our families....so we can peacefully raise our families in our current enviroment.... Terrorism wants to tear all that apart, we as a nation decided long ago that majority rules....but Terrorist don't give a rats ass about any of that , they are prepared to use violence and terror to make their piont, to get what they want...be it a new nation, or for animal rights, etc etc....We can imagine if our own nation had 36 million different opinions on how we should live and conduct ourselfs, and each of us were willing to use violence to get our own way....not just to use violence but determined to fight for these opinions until death....I thought we had already done that in WWI, WWII.... So for some of us terrorism needs to be dealt with when ever it crops up, or we need to re examine what we consider more important, the majority....or our current system of governence....or who ever has the strongest opinion that was won through violence..... Right now our planes are bombing a group that i don't think anyone would have a problem with labeling them terrorist, by any defination... I'm sure that if you asked that question, which religion is identified as having strong ties to terrorism i think the majority would say Islam....Why is that, well all one has to do is turn on the TV or goggle terrorist, and find out which race or religion is behind it, and the majority of cases it will be Islam....I'm not saying every person who practices Islam is a terrorist, but the majority of those that do, are Muslim....Why is that?

Screen them for what ? inless we have them on film, or photo fighting or doing terrorist acts what do we screen them for....unless they happen to say i'm a terrorist i was fighting how do we prove that in a court of law, we can take away a passprt , but we can't strip them from being Canadian without proof....having the laws is one thing ,having effective laws is another....in other words they are free to travel any where in the world when you get back you may be stripped of a passport....ouch that hurts give me another....

FLQ event should be in the books as HOW not to handle those events, as well as the minister being killed , a soldier was killed trying to defuse a bomb...and after all that "bringing in the Army" what is the end result of that fiasco, we loaded them terrorists up on a CF boeing 707 and gave them a free trip to cuba, then after some time we let them back into the country, to live out their lives......Now that spells out how to handle terrorist.... Terrorism is not new to Canada, it is rare but nothing new, ours is the toronto 18, the shoe bomber.....and the Khadrs....terrorism is not a day to day thing in Canada. In fact we are just learning to live with it now.... I do think our laws need to be tighten up, tougher sentences for terrorists. right now they walk amoung us, giving us the finger, as they know our laws protect them, and their is nothing we can do about it. I don't know how to do that , and i don't have a solution, but i'm getting tired of these guys taking advantage.

Yes and No, if it is approved by government the military force can be used again'st it citizens, for example OKA, FLQ crisies, along with some prison riots....But there is a seris of checks and balences that need to be present before that happens, OKA well the QPP proved that situation was beyond their resources.... AMMO was issued, but the ROE were so restrictive, you had to be fired upon first, and then you could only fire back at the person who fired at you, only the guy being shot at could respond. So if your fire team partner came under fire you could not engage to save his life, only he could and then only if he knew who took a shot at him....try doing that with a belt feed wpns in a crowd....It was a nightmare, today we have recieved alot more training and experience to deal with these types of situations , but they are best left to the experts RCMP, or local police.... As for moncton, well the citizens were spook already, with all the cops running around dressed up like army guys, last thing they needed was really army guys who love to use combined arms tactics, IFV, Tanks, Arty, air support....try to explain that on the 6 oclock news that we destroyed 6 blocks of moncton......we got our guy, but that mall , well you need to adjust your maps.....it's not there.....that and the fact there was no need, RCMP guys did a great job, and monctons maps are still all the same....

Why ? they were doing a ceremonial gaurd, the wpns are for show. We don't have the powers like police officers to use fire arms again'st any Canadian citizens. unless passed by government. And i hope it does not come to that.

I think Ottawa is the exception, there are alot of bases where you just drive onto , with no security.....just the other day some guy stopped me and asked for directions to the mall, said he was lost....

Oh i agree the score big pionts on the type of plan , it's the plan itself and execution portion that if they had any training at all,could have been alot worse.

One of the highest, names are chosen from hundards across the forces. The greatest honor is being chosen to do Remembrance day....it is the day you stand guard over the momorials that represent all the members all the depts that have paid the highest price our country could ask for....

Ya exactly, i think we will know tommorrow an what type of defensive measures all bases will implement, and what role units are going to play, like setting up presence in airports etc....but i'm only guessing....maybe it would best to remain a soft target, until we get all the Scumbags....It's a good thing they are not very good at this terrorist stuff, amatuer hour at best....

Alot of emotion here, as we have pers from this unit doing cermonial guard in ottawa....I'm hoping the government takes a pause and thinks before they act...I'm sure that soon DND will not be a hard target, i just hope the bad guys remain focused on DND instead of taking on other soft targets....

Not yet, atleast not at the unit level, but then again i'm not sure whats going on around the base and what additional measures have been put in place.Hav'nt left the office yet..... I have heard from other guys across the country that there are measures being placed upon them.

Don't mess with him Black dog i heard he has supper powers, and a box cutter.

Why because the current laws give the bad guys an advantage, there are to many loop holes that they take advantage of.... why are we just surv these 80 suspect terrorist, some of them we know have been to Sryia, or Iraq, we know they have been fighting for terrorist organizations , we just can not prove it without a shadow of doubt....they remain free to travel when they want...to comit any crimes they want...they know once in the war zone they are free to do what they want.....because nobody is watching....

There are already limits on our freedom of speach, even here on this forum, what people tend to forget is while you can say what ever you wish there are consquences... closing down these ISIL forums would be a start, along with all the other terrorist forums....that do nothing but promote hate, recruit our young people for terrorist activities. We need to do more than whats being done now to prevent these scumbags from preying on our citizens. As home grown terrorist are becoming an issue. While the report did say they were tracking over 80 Canadian citizens, what i'd like to know is how many are they not tracking ????