Calling all Canadians...how would you fix our military?

[Kontiki]

I don't think there's much debate over the fact that our military is in sad shape right now (and has been for a while). I'm curious what other Canadians think is the best way to fix it. Let's try to be realistic - saying disbanding it, upping it to 1 million strong or buying a fleet of stealth fighters is just not an option.

Personally, here's a few things I'd like to see (in no particular order):

1. Increase the budget by about $1-2 billion.

2. Scrap our armoured regiment altogether. We are not likely to ever deploy it, and even if we did, Leopard I tanks from the 70s ain't exactly top of the line. We could probably sell most of the equipment to some third-world rat-hole.

3. Develop a lightly armed, but well equiped, rapid reaction force or two that can be moved to trouble spots on short notice - say 1000-2000 men each. Here, I'd invest in some good APCs (Coyotes are a good start, but they're meant more for recon duties) and upgrade our light truck fleet (we've got to have the most pathetic jeeps in the world).

4. Increase the full-time personnel to around 80,000.

5. Keep the navy as up-to-date as possible, but stop buying used British subs.

6. Keep our CF-18s in better condition so that they can be effectively used alongside our allies if and when needed.

Just a few ideas, certainly not exhaustive. Also waiting for the smart-ass remarks from Americans like "you mean Canada actually has a military?"

[DinoDoc]

Out source it to the Americans.

[Dom Pedro II]

How to improve the Canadian military?

Add an extra star on the U.S. flag.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Out source it to the Americans.

As in rent military services from the US?

[General Ludd]

Re: Calling all Canadians...how would you fix our military?

Originally posted by Kontiki
Let's try to be realistic - saying disbanding it ... is just not an option.

Well, there goes my suggestion.

[Velociryx]

Sure....why not. You said yourself that you don't really need a military, so why not go whole hog? We've got more than we need, and you guys could rent our services for cheaper than you could maintain your own.

-=Vel=-

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Velociryx
Sure....why not. You said yourself that you don't really need a military, so why not go whole hog? We've got more than we need, and you guys could rent our services for cheaper than you could maintain your own.

-=Vel=-

When did I say we didn't need a military?

[Velociryx]

d'oh....my bad....was remembering something in another thread, 'bout how canada only had one border, and with a peaceful neighbor at that....

But seriously....why not? A 'national guard' type of reserve force for emergencies and outsource the rest? Be a good way to save some dough.

-=Vel=-

[DinoDoc]

You'd have to decide what you wanted the military to serve before deciding how to fix it.

Praising your peacekeeping commitments while slashing the budget of the military to the bone doesn't cut it.

[Switch]

Do we really need a bigger military? Perhaps we should just take a small step and stop cutting the budget, instead of upping it.

Just my two cents (which isn't much, considering my nationality).

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
You'd have to decide what you wanted the military to serve before deciding how to fix it.

Praising your peacekeeping commitments while slashing the budget of the military to the bone doesn't cut it.

I completely agree with that. Realistically, our military is going to be used for exactly the same things it always has been since the end of the Cold War - namely, peacekeeping, limited contributions to offensive operations undertaken by our allies (eg: Kosovo, Afghanistan), and some measure of homeland defence (generally, maritime patrol and disaster relief). One of the biggest problems we have, as far as I'm concerned, is that we are still equiped (poorly) to do what our Cold War role was. Canada's primary mandates in case of war with the Soviet Union were anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic and a land force to be used to help defend northern Europe. To some degree, we've scaled back on these but not enough, IMO.

That's why I suggested forming well-equiped rapid reaction units to be used for peacekeeping and those limited offensive contributions. I also advocated INCREASING the military budget, not slashing it to the bone (as has already been done).

[Asher]

Just ditch the military, we've got chicken**** leadership anyway so no point having a military that sits around doing stupid political missions.

[Shadowstrike]

Annexation by the US. Or declare neutrality.Or set up a nuclear arsenal, then update military with new equipment, better wages & living conditions, nd a heap of cash. Should Quebec feel the need to secede, I doubt they'll need the equalization payments. (joking)

[CapitanGarlic]

Mounties. Lots of them. No one will suspect a thing.

[Lonestar]

Just Let America "Protect" Canada. Of Course, the Best way to "Protect" Canada is to establish large numbers of Garrisions up and down the country.