PRTs in Afghanistan

Two articles on the work being done by the Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan. The first in the Globe and Mail and the second in the Toronto Sun.

US Army likes older recruits

Last year the US Army increased the maximum age for recruits to 42. Now the Washington Post has an article about how the older recruits have been doing.

Open source spying

The New York Times Magazine has an article on how the US intelligence agencies are trying to use various internet software ideas (especially wikis and blogging) to share information. The article is fairly long as it details some of the problems (mostly just resistance) encountered so far.

First Orca launched

The Victoria News has an article about the launch of the first vessel of the Canadian Navy's new Orca class of training ships. The ships will be mostly used for training new Regular and Reserve Naval officers.

CF pilots training on strategic transport aircraft

This article in the Trentonian indicates that Canadian Forces pilots are already in the US training in how to fly the giant C-17 Globemaster.

Turbans in combat

The Edmonton Sun has an article about a Canadian Forces Major, who is a Sikh, who has just returned from Afghanistan. Interestingly he was able to keep his beard and turban while there. He used his turban as a helmet liner and wore the hard kevlar shell over it. Apparently his beard doesn't interfere with the current issue gas mask - I believe that was always the objection to bearded troops.

Amphibious exercise wrap-up

The Trident has an article on the results of the previously mentioned amphibious exercise.

Navy improves technology

The Chronicle-Herald has two articles about potential new technology for the Canadian Navy.

The first is about a system for managing damage control.

The second is about a remote control system for firing a ship's machineguns. Currently sailors stand behind the guns and fire them manually. The new system will also compensate for the motion of the ship in the water.

CF changing its rules on bilingualism

An article in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald says that the Canadian Forces may be relaxing its rules on the bilingualism of its members.

Successful missile test

The Halifax Chronicle-Herald reports that HMCS Fredericton has successful completed a missile test where they fired two Sea Sparrow missiles. The missiles cost about $850,000 each but were nearing the end of their shelf-life.

HMC Submarines

Two articles in the Halifax Daily News about Canadian Navy submarines. The first is about the joint exercise with the Army's Pathfinders mentioned earlier. The second is about the living conditions on the subs. They don't sound very pleasant to me but I guess you can get used to anything.

More on amphibious exercise

The Trident has an article on the previously mentioned amphibious exercise being conducted by the Canadian Forces. The exercise, properly called the Integrated Tactical Effects Experiment or ITEE will be held from November 2 to 20. The article mentions the involvement of the US Marine Corps as mentors to the CF personnel.

Another article has some more info and a small picture of the inside of the USS Gunston Hall.

Hezbollah intercept Israeli communications

According to this article in newsday, Hezbollah used equipment acquired from Iran to intercept Israeli army communications during the recent fighting in Lebanon.

RMC cadets at sea

A blog posting from an RMC cadet about a class visit to HMCS Fredericton.

Naval boarding party training

The Trident has a short article on the training of the Canadian Naval boarding parties.

Canadian Army Journal

The new issue of the Canadian Army Journal is now available as a PDF download here. I haven't read the whole thing but the article on the Army Intelligence was interesting.

Navy to borrow US ship

According to this article in the Chronicle-Herald, the Canadian Forces will be borrowing the USS Gunston Hall, an amphibious warfare ship, in order to learn about amphibious operations.

Follow up: Another article in the Halifax News.

Commanding clearance divers

The Halifax News has an article that profiles the commander of Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic - a unit that includes 55 clearance divers.

New cap badges for CF chaplains

This news release describes the new cap badges that will be used by Canadian Forces Chaplains. Instead of one for all they now have different badges for chaplains of different religions.

vi The Torch

In his own words

The Telegraph has a book excerpt where Victoria Cross winner Private Johnson Beharry describes the events for which he was awarded the medal. Beharry, who was awarded the medal for his actions in Iraq in 2004, was the first living person awarded the VC since 1965.

Beware of birds

The Chronicle-Herald has a background article on the work required to keep birds away from military runways.

Rooftop landing

Snopes.com has an article about a picture that has been making the rounds on the net. The photo shows a Chinook helicopter with its rear ramp resting on a rooftop and its front end still hovering.

Weapon safety

The Washington Post has an article about an American effort to reduce accidental firings of soldier's personal weapons. In the new programs recruits in basic training carry their weapons with them all of the time, as they would in the field, instead of just on the range.

Cheyenne Mountain to be mothballed

The Washington Post reports that NORAD's Cheyenne Mountain complex is being "idled". Built more than 1000 feet beneath the mountain during the cold war, the reduced threat of nuclear attack means that the extra protection is no longer necessary.

The entrance to the complex is well known from movies like WarGames and tv shows like Stargate SG1.

Modernizing the CF-18s

The Chronicle-Herald has an article about the modernization plans from the Canadian Forces' CF-18 jet fighters.

Israeli helmet covers

Slate has an article on the floppy helmet covers worn by Israeli troops. They are called mitznefet and their purpose is to obscure the regular outline of the helmet.

Flying drones

Slate has an article on the flying of drones (ie UAVs). It is interesting that the operators of US Air Force UAVs are officers and highly trained pilots while the operators of US Army UAVs are enlisted men (one of whom is a cook).

Airlift info

The Torch has an excellent primer on the airlift options for the Canada Forces. It includes maps showing the ranges of the various planes.

Canada's new commandos

The Ottawa Citizen has an article on the new Canadian Special Operations Regiment which is currently being formed.

Another article has some more information.

September 11 tapes

Vanity Fair has an article on the recently released tapes of conversations and phone calls from NORAD's North East command post as they responded to the events of September 11 2001. The article shows how there day evolves from a normal morning with a planned exercise ahead, to a the chaos of a full blown attack.

I was surprised at how hard it was to track the planes once the terrorists had turned off the jets' transponders. The limited number of fighters available to defend the US eastern seaboard was also a surprise.

vi flit

Ombudsman's recruiting report

For those who are interested here is a link to the Canadian Forces' Ombudsman's report and recommendations on recruiting. (It is a PDF file.)

Blind US Army officer continues his career

The Virginian-Pilot has an article about US Army Captain Scott Smiley who was blinded in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq but is continuing his army career.

Naval Arctic Mission

The Chronicle-Herald has an article about an upcoming naval exercise in the Arctic. In addition to three ships, and six aircraft, over 400 sailors, soldiers, RCMP and Coastguards will travel the northwest passage. In addition to exercises and patrols they will maintain graves at several long abandoned RCMP posts.

Leaflets

Slate has an article on the dropping of propaganda leaflets.

A little bit of India in China

The Register has an article about a discovery in Google Earth. A Chinese military base in the village of Huangyangtan has a large area that is a scale model of the terrain on the Chinese-Indian border.

How statisticians won the war

This article in the Guardian describes how statisticians used the serial numbers of captured / destroyed German tanks managed to estimate the number of tanks that the Germans had.

I am assuming that today serial numbers are a bit more random.

SAR techs make two rescues

The Chronicle-Herald describes a rescue at sea while Canoe describes a mountain rescue. Both were performed by Canadian Forces Search and Rescue technicians who parachuted onto the scene.

Bearded troops

According to The Daily Mail, British troops in Afghanistan have been given permission to grow beards when on operations. This is to improve cooperation with Afghan men who are usually bearded.

DND's plans for the north

An article in the Chronicle-Herald discusses the defence minister's (and presumably the military's) plans for the arctic. In addition to a port they would like a winter warfare training area.

Who's who in Afghanistan

The BBC have a quick summary of the major players in Afghanistan.

Paratroopers meet submarine

According to the Chronicle-Herald, an exercise has been held in the Atlantic where members of the Pathfinders parachuted into the sea and rendezvoused with the submarine HMCS Windsor. The goal is to allow the Pathfinders to operate from subs without having to spend weeks in the cramped spaces of a submarine getting to the mission.

Followup: This article in the Trident has more info and some pictures.

Training for water landings

The Halifax Chronicle Herald has an article about one of their reporters attending a course in Shearwater that teaches Sea King helicopter pilots how to do an emergency landing on water.

An amusing quote from a Warrant Officer riding with the reporter when the reporter asked what would happen if the helicopter sank on landing:

"The only thing you a’re going to feel is my foot going on top of your head, pushing myself out," he says. "Might as well tell it how it is."

CIA shuts down bin Laden unit

The Scotsman reports that the CIA has shut down the unit that has been responsible for hunting Osama bin Laden. Apparently the CIA feels that al-Qaeda is not longer hierarchical enough to be affected by bin Laden's loss.

Royal Naval gay pride

For the first time the Royal Navy has allowed gay sailors to march in a gay pride parade in uniform. This follows last years decision to activly recruit gay sailors. Note the contrast with the American "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. I'm not sure what the exact situation is in Canada but I don't believe there are any restictions on gays in the Canadian Forces.

A related article in the Telegraph has some more background.

Coffee making

The Washington Post describes new technology that US soldiers can use to make coffee in the field. It is basically a sturdy plastic bag that is used in conjunction with the normal chemical ration heating packs.

Combat Team Commanders Course

A CBC reporter who is also a reservist has a report on the Combat Team Commanders Course that he attended earlier this year.

CF on exercise at Pearl Harbour

Canoe has an article about Canadian participation in a multinational exercise in Hawaii. Three warships, divers, six CF-18s, a Hercules and two Aurora maritime patrol aircraft are involved.

Australian defence

According to this article in The Age, the Australians are also on a defence spending spree.

Laser eye surgery in the US Navy

The New York Times has an article about laser eye surgery in the US Navy. The surgery is offered to all cadets at the US Naval Academy and is having an effect of the careers chosen by the cadets. In the past many cadets did not qualify for pilot or SEAL training because of their eye sight and had to select alternative careers, the submarine service in particular.

As far as I know in Canada, pilots are not allowed to have had the surgery.

Improving SEAL numbers

The Washington post has an ariticle on how the Pentagon is trying to get more people though SEAL training without lowering standards.

New British popularity medal

This short article describes the Soldiers' Medal which is awarded to the British recruit who gets the most votes from the other recruits. I'm not sure how many are awarded each year and I couldn't find any other information on a British Soldiers' Medal on the web.

New land forces commander

The government has announced that General Andrew Leslie has been appointed Chief of the Land Staff and Commander Land Forces Command (ie the head of the army).

Followup: An article on the General's family history in the military.

Montreal Navy Reserve gets green building

This CF press release says the building will use 25% less water, half the energy and will be cheaper to maintain. The building will be shared between HMCS Donnacona and other government departments.

75 year old US Army doctor to deploy to Afghanistan

This article on Fox News is about Dr. William Bernhard who is deploying to Afghanistan for a four month tour.

Navy divers in Afghanistan

This article on canada.com describes, though with little detail for security reasons, the work of Navy Clearance Divers who are working inland in Aghanistan assisting the Army's Combat Engineers.

Canadian officer honoured by Queen

Major Ghislain Sauvé, a construction engineering officer based at CFB Borden, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony last November. Only eight Canadians have ever been awarded the MBE.

Major Sauvé was on an exchange with the Royal Engineers from 2000 to 2004. During that time he deployed with his new unit to Jordan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

I first saw this mentioned in this Macleans article on Canadians in Iraq but there are other articles:
here, in the January 2006 issue of the Maple Leaf (which also has a picture of CDS General Hillier in the uniform of a Guardsman while taking part in the changing of the guard ceremony in Ottawa), and on the Airforce website.

Changes in Japan

Japan is considering upgrading its Defense Agency to a full government ministry.

CF doctor's facing burn-out

This article on the Global TV website describes a visit by the head of the Canadian Medical Association to Afghanistan. She is worried about the effects of the stressful environment on medical workers.

Sexual harassment

According to this article in the Scotsman, two thirds of women in the British Armed Forces say that they have been sexually harrassed.

Navy divers on exercise in Malaysia

According to this article in the Lookout, fourteen Navy divers will be joining sailors from 21 Pacific Rim countries in Kuantan for the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and dive exercises.

Navy helps RCMP in drug sting off Africa

Three articles about the Navy helping the RCMP in a drug operation off the coast of Africa. One is in the Halifax Daily News, one in the Chronicle-Herald, and one at the CBC.

Navy hero to be honoured in Halifax

The CBC has an article about Robert Timbrell who rescued hundreds of troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, commanded Canada's last aircraft carrier, and later became the head of the Canadian Navy.

Timbrell died in April at the age of 86. A full military funeral will be held on Monday in CFB Halifax, and will be followed by a 13-gun salute from HMCS Sackville, a Second World War Canadian corvette.

Other obituaries in the Telegraph, and the Guardian.

Problems with submarine escape plan

According to this article in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald there are potential problems with the last ditch escape method from the new Canadian submarines.

Mock dogfights

Following the recent collision between Greek and Turkish F-16s, Slate has this backgrounder on mock dogfights.

Canadian Military ends Canadianization policy

According to this article in the Toronto Star, the Canadian defence minister has decided that foreign made products may now be good enough for use by the Canadian Forces. The article isn't very detailed but apparently the CF used to Canadianize products provided by foreign manufacturers. The article mentions spending $15 million to design a new helmet rather than just purchasing American, French or Chinese one.

I'm not sure how much of this really goes on or how much of it is unnecessary. I know that the C7 assault rifle is a modification of the American M16 but it was my understanding that it was generally regarded as a superior weapon.