For those of you keeping track, we’re just reaching the first hundred pages of the novel and we’ve already had the following: A briefing at the SIR room, another one at the Akwesasne Complex, another one with the CDS and the Defence Minister, then now another one at Stevenson’s Winnipeg headquarters. And that’s not counting … Continue reading 24-Okay I have questions…
23-Word on the Street…
***In the interest of dividing this deconstruction up logically by themes, I’m going to dedicate this post to Alex Gabriel’s trip to Winnipeg, and his first meeting with Sam Stevenson, the NPA commander. The next couple of parts will then deal with another briefing (_sigh_) followed by Alex's reconnaissance of Winnipeg. For anyone following along, … Continue reading 23-Word on the Street…
Fire Picket: One hour that means so much…
***Although a lot of CAF training is standardized across the board (and we actually have a Standards Cell attached to each division to ensure this) there is a lot of background and administrative activity that is not. Especially in the Primary Reserves (the Militia, baby!) where we typically have to train locally, using whatever resources … Continue reading Fire Picket: One hour that means so much…
22-Can you dig it?
So we’ve just heard how the 2006 census proves that the ‘white’ race is the real endangered minority (I think?). Now it’s time for our everyman character Col Ian Dobson to warn us about violent gangs! Not content to go by the easy route of calling in someone from, say, the RCMP to lay out … Continue reading 22-Can you dig it?
Supplemental Reading: Oka: A Political Crisis and its Legacy.
***It's worth noting that, while Swain's memoirs are both well written and valuable as an historical resource, it's fair to mention that he does come with his share of bias. Just as the more passionate Indigenous activists are uncomfortable admitting the close ties between the Mohawk Warriors and organized crime (specifically cigarette smuggling and casino/bingo … Continue reading Supplemental Reading: Oka: A Political Crisis and its Legacy.
21-Apparently Healthy but Badly Led…
The officer handling the briefing, Col Conway, doesn't seem to respect his democratically elected leadership. Before launching into his part of the briefing, he pauses in for a moment to revel in his natural superiority over the mere civilian before him: ‘Conway smiled to himself. He very much doubted that Riley knew any such thing, … Continue reading 21-Apparently Healthy but Badly Led…
Battle Procedure (or why you have to trust and delegate)
***Just to note in advance, the process called ‘Battle Procedure’ is something that has gone through a bunch of reincarnations over the years in the CAF, and exists under various other names in various other armies. So what I’m going to be discussing here should sound familiar to most military readers, even though the terminology … Continue reading Battle Procedure (or why you have to trust and delegate)
