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.