Heard a short news piece on the radio this morning, talking about an amalgamation of some Reserve regiments after the Afghanistan mission in 2011. I cannot believe that anyone in the senior reaches of our Canadian Forces, would forget that this country's famous military tradition and reputation was built on the foundation of Regimental identity FIRST.

Individuals joined a REGIMENT because their family was in it or it represented their heritage. They would do anything for their mates in their Regiment and it led to a very strong military. It gives me a twist in the pit of my stomach to think that military bureaucrats can even consider stripping regimental identity.

Rather, why do they not try to improve "strengthening" the reserves by improving the Recruitment process which is their weakest link I believe. I hate to say it but they don't put their sharpest characters into the Recruiting Centers and we're now paying the price.

Didn't make sense to me when they laid up our Colours of the "Black Watch" or the Colours of Queens Own or Guards.I think that the people who make the rules have never been into any kind of a military establishment so therefore wouldn't have any idea what "Esprit De Corps' or Commradeship " means.
Bob

I agree with Woody, have they taken a count of how many personal left the serves rather than re-badge when they took the Black Watch out of the order of battle.Someone with another brain storm. Rick

Thanks to the Webmaster for the Re: Reserve Regiment amalgamation clip. Some interesting reading on the comments that some have put in.
Woody

I just read the news article and the funny thing is that Ge. Gary O brien used to be in the Black watch in the 70's... I know him we trained together..... I guess loyalties do change.

Tom Irvine

Tom Irvine wrote:
I just read the news article and the funny thing is that Ge. Gary O brien used to be in the Black watch in the 70's... I know him we trained together..... I guess loyalties do change.

Tom Irvine

I remember him too. He was with us when the 1st and 2nd Reg Force battalions where disbanded and could see it in the eye's of the guys who know they would no longer be in the Black Watch. I was with the Cadets then and remember the Parade at Molson Stadium.

I hope Gary reads this and does an about face. If he thinks that by doing things this way that it would streamline things, I have news for him. You can streamline all you want, if you have no morale, the job just won't get done.

I agree with this post regarding the quality of staff at the recruiting centre, the personnel appear to just go through the motions when it comes to answering questions and there is a missing link between the units and the recruiting centre. Unit recruiters saying that permanent residents are able to join and the centre saying no, this I found out directly a number of years ago. Went through the whole recruiting process, was welcomed to the Canadian Forces at the final interview and then told ".... but you are not a citizen, your application will go no further".

Regarding amalgamation of units, it takes away the units soul and places it in suspended animation for use at a later date, this too I have personal experience of, when the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards (UK) was placed in suspended animation and personnel were transferred to the 1st Battalion. Inter-battalion rivalry was lost and standards slipped, the old guard refusing to accept the demise of their parent battalion. I believe that regimental history is important and gives us foot sloggers the umph! to go over the top when it is needed ........ pride in the regiment and all it's history keeps you going. History recounted to recruits in training goes a long way when hunkered down in a trench, with no top cover and knee deep in water on a 3am stag ..... if they could do it back then, then we can do it now ..... my regiment does not falter!

Not yet being in the Black Watch after 6 years of messing with red tape, I have a pride in the unit ...... no other unit comes close to the Black Watch in Montreal as far as I am concerned, the same pride exists as it did when I was a regular in the British Army, something I am drawn to.