CF pilots retraining on drones

The Chronicle-Herald has a story about Canadian Forces Aurora patrol plane pilots retraining to fly drones.

New armoured vests for USMC

Defensetech reports that the US Marine Corps will be issuing a new lighter type of armoured vest.

A Canadian Doctor in Afghanistan

The Sudbury Star has a series of articles written by a Canadian Forces doctor who recently served in Afghanistan. Lots of interesting information.

Canadian Police ammo shortage

According to the CBC, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the consequent demand for ammunition in the US has lead to a shortage of ammunition for Canadian police.

CF sends ship to Somalia

Information Dissemination has a post where he praises the Canadian Navy for moving against pirates off Somalia.

CF rethinking fitness tests

The Chronicle-Herald reports that the Canadian Forces are rethinking their fitness standards and tests.

"Our current fitness standard is 20 years old, and with changes in technology, changes in the nature of warfare, changes in operations, there’s probably a need to give (it) a facelift."

He’s planning to develop different fitness standards for the army, navy and air force by 2010.

Map of violence in Afghanistan

The Torch has a post with a map of violent incidents in Afghanistan by province.

US Army pays big bonuses for Arabic speakers

The Christian Science Monitor reports that the US Army is increasing the bonuses paid to native speakers of Arabic. The reenlistment bonuses will be up to $150,000 the same as is paid to Special Forces soldiers.

Canada to buy blinding lasers

Danger Room reports that the Canadian Forces will be buying blinding lasers for use in Afghanistan.

Torpedo Video

The blog The Stupid Shall be Punished has a post with a video of a retired American warship being sunk by a torpedo fired from an Australian submarine.

More on CF high tech soldier equipment

Danger Room has an article about the Canadian Forces' plans to buy high tech gear for soldiers.

MP tries a sailor's life

The Lookout has an article about Canadian Member of Parliament Mark Holland who lived aboard HMCS Winnipeg for several weeks. Holland wrote about the experience on his blog.

RIMPAC wrapup

The Torch has a nice writeup of the recent RIMPAC exercise.

The Lookout Newspaper also has an article which includes a picture of a Harpoon missile being fired.

The US Army at the Olympics

The New York Times has an article abut the US Army sharpshooting unit that trains to participate in the Olympics.

The unit, established in 1956 to serve as a symbol of America’s military prowess during the cold war, continues today as a public-relations and recruiting tool. Its members have won 21 Olympic medals.

Advances in MREs

The Christian Science Monitor has an article about the effort that goes into developing new Meal-Ready to Eat (the US military's rations).

Meals can't just taste good; they've got to last ... for three years stored at 80 degrees F., be capable of withstanding chemical or biological attacks, and survive a 10-story free fall (when packed in a crate of 12).

CF to do live firing at RIMPAC

Canada.com has an article about the Canadian Forces involvement in the RIMPAC exercise which is held every other year off Hawaii.

Canada has sent frigates HMCS Regina and HMCS Ottawa, along with 150 soldiers, six CF-18 jets, two Aurora patrol planes, a refuelling tanker and a Sea King helicopter to the exercise.

A big feature of the exercise will be live firing of weapons.

For some of Canada's newest CF-18 Hornet fighter pilots, it means their first chance to fire live missiles and fly in skies with more than 50 to 60 other airplanes at a time.

"Being able to shoot a missile is a big deal," said Canadian air force Brig.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, who will be deputy force air commander of the exercise, and who is Deputy Commander Force Generation at 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg.

US removes last of its nuclear weapons from UK

The Telegraph reports that the US has removed the last of their nuclear weapons from British soil. Interestingly there was no public announcement.

Rules for riding in a LAV

The CBC has a story from one of their reporters in Afghanistan with some observations about the various issues involved in living there. I like the rules for riding in a LAV:

Here's the "To Take" checklist: shatterproof glasses ($50 US at the American PX), a long-sleeved shirt (preferably cotton, which is less likely than other fabrics to melt into your skin if there's an explosion), leather gloves (fire-resistant), earplugs (in case of a loud blast), and of course helmet and flack-jacket. If you don't have any of the above, you're not getting on. No exceptions. Water is also a good idea, albeit technically optional.

CF members march in Toronto Gay Pride Parade

The Toronto Star reports that for the first time members of the Canadian Forces will be allowed to march in the Toronto Gay Pride Parade in uniform.

There were also articles in the CBC and the CTV websites.

High tech gear for CF soldiers

The Canadian Press has an article about efforts to improve the equipment used by Canadian soldiers.

The average Canadian foot soldier on patrol in Afghanistan today is toting more than two-dozen extra batteries on his already overloaded body to power all the electronics he must carry.

During Operation Medusa in the fall of 2006, an offensive against the Taliban, one infantry company alone burned through 17,500 AA batteries in two weeks.