Well, Surprise!
Canadians have been led to believe that the social agony reflected in the reality of our troops' danger-prone presence in Afghanistan as a cohesive and integral part of NATO's ISAF mission to stabilize and support the civil compact, while teaching the country's military and police to fend for themselves in battling the fanatical Islamist insurgents has led to a low response for recruits in the military.
Didn't we read not all that long ago about a campaign to inspire young men and women to join the Canadian military? We have also read about a dire insufficiency of Canadian military personnel. We are, in fact, stretched pretty thin.
Our nation of 33-million has a standing army of 60,000 troops, with 20,000 reserves. With personnel stationed in at least a half-dozen, likely more, missions around the world, including Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sinai, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. And, of course, Afghanistan, with by far the largest Canadian military contingent; 2,700 troops.
Canada has lost, in Kandahar province where it is stationed, 133 military, two civilians, one diplomat. Proportionally more than any other country installed in the country.
Popular support for Canada's military presence in Afghanistan has declined significantly, and continues to, with each succeeding death, reflecting a like situation in other NATO countries. The Government of Canada has stated its firm intention of pulling its troops out of the country by 2011, when it will focus on other options there to continue practical and humanitarian aid.
Now, who would have believed that despite all that we had thought, Canada's infantry cannot absorb the numbers of would-be recruits eager to join the military. According to Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, "I am 1,600 infantrymen over my establishment ... it just so happens that right now if you want to join the infantry, we're completely full." Simply put, there are more volunteers for duty in Afghanistan than places to put them.
Have we the public been led by inadvertence to believe otherwise? Suddenly the military is exciting, sexy, fascinating, a life-experience not to be missed? Moreover, it would appear that the quality of those recruits so anxious to join the military in Afghanistan is acknowledged to be superior to three decades' worth of their predecessors. The military, it would appear, has learned how vital public relations can be to their mission.
Placing advertisements on television highlighting combat with the armed forces, running them during hockey games and other sporting events. "I find myself in a unique position in comparison to most of my fellow army commanders across NATO", commented Lieut.-Gen. Leslie. It's often been remarked that competitive sport symbolizes and represents as a substitute for the rigours and vigours of waging war. Strictly superficial, needless to say.
But Canada's soldiers appear to be so interested in serving in Afghanistan that the rate of attrition has fallen sharply; down to 8% from 10% over the past year and a half. Amazingly, many of those who have already served in Kandahar are anxious to return. Last chance, before Canada's combat mission morphs into training-mentors. Amazing.
Active combat as a valued, exciting, challenging life-experience. Bloody war?
Didn't we read not all that long ago about a campaign to inspire young men and women to join the Canadian military? We have also read about a dire insufficiency of Canadian military personnel. We are, in fact, stretched pretty thin.
Our nation of 33-million has a standing army of 60,000 troops, with 20,000 reserves. With personnel stationed in at least a half-dozen, likely more, missions around the world, including Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sinai, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. And, of course, Afghanistan, with by far the largest Canadian military contingent; 2,700 troops.
Canada has lost, in Kandahar province where it is stationed, 133 military, two civilians, one diplomat. Proportionally more than any other country installed in the country.
Popular support for Canada's military presence in Afghanistan has declined significantly, and continues to, with each succeeding death, reflecting a like situation in other NATO countries. The Government of Canada has stated its firm intention of pulling its troops out of the country by 2011, when it will focus on other options there to continue practical and humanitarian aid.
Now, who would have believed that despite all that we had thought, Canada's infantry cannot absorb the numbers of would-be recruits eager to join the military. According to Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, "I am 1,600 infantrymen over my establishment ... it just so happens that right now if you want to join the infantry, we're completely full." Simply put, there are more volunteers for duty in Afghanistan than places to put them.
Have we the public been led by inadvertence to believe otherwise? Suddenly the military is exciting, sexy, fascinating, a life-experience not to be missed? Moreover, it would appear that the quality of those recruits so anxious to join the military in Afghanistan is acknowledged to be superior to three decades' worth of their predecessors. The military, it would appear, has learned how vital public relations can be to their mission.
Placing advertisements on television highlighting combat with the armed forces, running them during hockey games and other sporting events. "I find myself in a unique position in comparison to most of my fellow army commanders across NATO", commented Lieut.-Gen. Leslie. It's often been remarked that competitive sport symbolizes and represents as a substitute for the rigours and vigours of waging war. Strictly superficial, needless to say.
But Canada's soldiers appear to be so interested in serving in Afghanistan that the rate of attrition has fallen sharply; down to 8% from 10% over the past year and a half. Amazingly, many of those who have already served in Kandahar are anxious to return. Last chance, before Canada's combat mission morphs into training-mentors. Amazing.
Active combat as a valued, exciting, challenging life-experience. Bloody war?
posted by Pieface | 6:40 PM
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