"Being Resilient, Being Reliable, and Being Resourceful:" Voices of Citizen-Soldiers of the Algonquin Regiment, 1960S to 1990S

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

"BEING RESILIENT, BEING RELIABLE, AND BEING RESOURCEFUL:" VOICES OF CITIZEN-SOLDIERS OF THE ALGONQUIN REGIMENT, 1960S TO 1990S Nicholas G. McGuire SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN HISTORY NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES NORTH BAY, ONTARIO © February 2018 ii Abstract "'Being Resilient, Being Reliable, and Being Resourceful:'1 Voices of Citizen-Soldiers of The Algonquin Regiment, 1960s to 1990s" examines the experiences of former members of The Algonquin Regiment, a militia unit located within the confines of the vast and dispersed region of Northern Ontario. Through these recollections, as well as archival documents and unit historical records, this major research paper examines the experiences of the Regiment and its members during the Cold War period, an era in which the Militia across Canada went into institutional decline in numbers and community presence. It explores the Regiment at the macro, local and individual levels, demonstrating how the unit functioned as a social community of citizen-soldiers shaped by regional and martial identities. 1 Lieutenant Colonel (Ret'd) Andrew Aitchison, interview by Nicholas G. McGuire, January 5, 2017. iii Acknowledgements I would like to thank the professors who helped to shape this project and those who have guided and supported me over my time here at Nipissing University, both as an undergraduate and graduate history student. I would like to thank all the History professors for their feedback and constructive criticism during this sometimes, arduous process. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Katrina Srigley for her guidance and assistance in the oral history methodology and practices and Dr. Hilary Earl for challenging me and pushing me to think outside the box. I am also grateful for the insights provided by Dr. Robin Gendron as I prepared the MRP for defense. I would especially like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Stephen Connor, mentor and friend whose guidance and passion for military history made this MRP possible, and for pushing me to explore my units' history, an area of inquiry that suited me well. Also, I would like to acknowledge the support of my peers, friends, and family. Their support, feedback and encouragement helped me get through this past year and a half. In particular, I would like to thank Sapper Jacob King, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, and Bill Alexander for generously donating photos to the project. I would especially like to say thank you to the participants of the project for generously taking time out of their lives to talk with me about their military service. They gave me invaluable insight into their personal histories, stories and thoughts that became the basis for this paper. I would like to acknowledge The Algonquin Regiment itself and those who serve in the unit today, as the unit has supported this project from the beginning. In particular, this project could not have gotten off the ground without the help from Captain Tim Feick who assisted me in my recruitment efforts, has always supported the research, and has offered insight and iv feedback. I would also like to thank Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Bryden for his support, encouragement and assistance in conducting archival research in Ottawa. The unit has certainly faced distinct challenges since its founding. It has evolved and changed with time, but despite these challenges, it still persists to this day. I dedicate this project to all those who served in The Algonquin Regiment, but especially those Algonquin's who made the ultimate sacrifice for Canada and her peoples. NE-KAH-NE TAH! v Table of Contents Pages Abstract iii Acknowledgments iv Table of Contents vi List of Figures vii List of Appendices ix "That was the nastiest part of my job:"2 The Introduction 1 Historiography 5 Methodology 15 "Truly northern Ontario’s Regiment:" Identity and Community in The Algonquin Regiment 19 "Feast or Famine:"3 The Evolution of The Algonquin Regiment, 1950s to 1990s 40 "I went. I tried it. I liked it. I stayed:"4 Motivation to Serve in The Algonquin Regiment 65 Conclusion 83 Bibliography 115 2 Major (Ret'd) Mid Kitchen, interview by Nicholas G. McGuire, January 11, 2017. 3 Colonel (Ret'd) Paul Scagnetti, interview by Nicholas G. McGuire, March 11th 2017. 4 Andrew Aitchison, interview. vi List of Figures Pages Figure 1: History of The Algonquin Regiment and Northern Pioneers 86 Figure 2: The Algonquin Regiment Crest and description, 1930’s-Present 86 Figure 3: Senior officers of the 97th Regiment, Algonquin Rifles, 87 Camp Niagara, 1909 Figure 4: Regimental accouterments of the 97th Regiment of Rifles 88 and Algonquin Rifles Figure 5: Regimental accoutrements of the 23rd Regiment, Northern Pioneers, 88 1903-1936 Figure 6: Algonquin Regiment personnel with FN Battle Rifle 89 on firing range, circa 1970s Figure 7: The Algonquin Regiment Colours and Battle Honours 90 Figure 8: 1988 The Nugget article featuring Lieutenant Colonel James Savage, 91 CO from 1988-1991 Figure 9: Photo of Junior Ranks Mess members, Ted King (2nd from right) 92 and Andrew Aitchison (Far Right), circa 1970s Figure 10: New Year's Levee, 1967 93 Figure 11: Photo from The North Bay Nugget for article on New Year's Levee, 93 circa 1970s Figure 12: The Algonquin Regiment (26th Armoured Regiment) manning Sherman, 94 circa 1954-1965 Figure 13: Algonquin soldiers posing atop a Sherman tank, 94 circa 1954-1965 Figure 14: Cpl Fern Taillefer in Egypt with the Canadian United Nations Egypt Force 2 95 (UNEF 2), October 1977 to April 1978. Figure 15: Algonquin soldiers on patrol in Grayling Michigan, 95 circa 1970s Figure 16: The Algonquin Regiment Armour Guidon with Colour Guard, 96 circa 1980's vii Figure 17: The North Bay Nugget article on The Algonquin Regiment concentrated 97 summer training, July 10 1972 Figure 18: Map of Ontario with possible locations for new sub-units, 98 from Unit Expansion Plan for The Algonquin Regiment, North Bay Ontario, 20 June 1987 Figure 19: News article on Algonquin soldiers deployed on peace-support operations, 99 Timmins Daily Press, January 3rd 1994 Figure 20: Erik Growen, The Algonquin Regiment, during military training, 99 circa 1985-1987 viii List of Appendices Pages Appendix A: Short Interviewee Biographies 100 Appendix B: Information Letter and Consent for Participants 103 Appendix C: Biographical and Military Service Worksheet 107 Appendix D: Basic Interview Questions for former members 110 ix Introduction: "That was the nastiest part of my job"5 I had the opportunity to interview Major Mid Kitchen about his experiences of military service and his role as the Deputy Commanding Officer (DCO) of The Algonquin Regiment in the 1960s. Before we talked, Mid Kitchen did not know what he had to offer. He served in The Algonquin Regiment from 1964 to 1966, "hired for a specific purpose."6 As he described during our discussion, "it was purely an administrative task that I was faced with and I knew it when I came on. Somebody had to do it."7 The administrative task that Mid Kitchen referred to was the downsizing of over half of The Algonquin Regiment in Northern Ontario, which included the forced closure of three companies and various detached platoons spread out among rural locations, and the forced retirement of many long serving soldiers, non-commissioned members and officers. This moment near the end of his military career is where Mid Kitchen played a prominent role in the unit's history. My Major Research Project examines the experiences of former members of the Algonquin Regiment, an infantry militia unit dispersed throughout Northern Ontario.8 The Algonquin Regiment's long history traces back to 1900 when, as the 97th Regiment of Rifles, it boasted companies in Sault-Ste-Marie, Sudbury, Thessalon, and Sturgeon Falls. Since then, while passing through several iterations, the unit maintained a presence in the north and contributed soldiers to every Canadian military conflict from the Great War to Afghanistan 5 Mid Kitchen, interview. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 The term Militia and Reserve is used interchangeably. The term 'militia' is a historic name was slowly replaced by the term Army 'Reserves' starting in the 1980s and it is officially known today as 'The Primary Army Reserves of the Canadian Army.' 1 (Figure 1).9 Outside of its military function, Anglo-Canadian sociologist T.C. Willett defined the militia as a hybrid, an institution that has "both military and civilian ideologies and processes," and "the link between the regular Army and the civilian world."10 In small and dispersed northern towns like Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Timmins and Kapuskasing, The Algonquin Regiment, composed of part-time citizen-soldiers, linked the civilian community with the Army, simultaneously maintaining military, civic and social functions.11 As Mid Kitchen tells us, "all these towns which had these small units in them, were small towns, but they were well aware that they had a militia unit in it and many of their citizens participated."12 Memories of former members of the unit reveal the contours of such connections and reveal a trajectory of decline or 'slow bleed' throughout the Cold War. Reaching an apex following the Second World War, as memory of the conflict remained fresh and many war veterans continued as active members, within twenty years militia-community linkages began to loosen.13 Indeed, during the 1960s, across Canada, the militia fell into sharp decline due to the cumulative demoralizing effects of budget cuts, the unification of the military into the Canadian 9 The official linage of the Regiment begins with the founding of the 97th Regiment of Rifles, on 1 July 1900 through the amalgamation of the independent volunteer Companies in Sault Ste.
Recommended publications
  • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS, Octobre 2010
    A-DH-267-000/AF-003 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS BADGE INSIGNE Description Description Gules a Dall ram's head in trian aspect Or all within De gueules à la tête d'un mouflon de Dall d'or an annulus Gules edged and inscribed THE ROCKY tournée de trois quarts, le tout entouré d'un anneau MOUNTAIN RANGERS in letters Or ensigned by the de gueules liséré d'or, inscrit THE ROCKY Royal Crown proper and environed by maple leaves MOUNTAIN RANGERS en lettres du même, sommé proper issuant from a scroll Gules edged and de la couronne royale au naturel et environné de inscribed with the Motto in letters Or. feuilles d'érable du même, le tout soutenu d'un listel de gueules liséré d’or et inscrit de la devise en lettres du même. Symbolism Symbolisme The maple leaves represent service to Canada and Les feuilles d'érable représentent le service au the Crown represents service to the Sovereign. The Canada, et la couronne, le service à la Souveraine. head of a ram or big horn sheep was approved for Le port de l'insigne à tête de bélier ou de mouflon wear by all independent rifle companies in the d'Amérique a été approuvé en 1899 pour toutes les Province of British Columbia in 1899. "THE ROCKY compagnies de fusiliers indépendantes de la MOUNTAIN RANGERS" is the regimental title, and Province de la Colombie-Britannique. « THE ROCKY "KLOSHE NANITCH" is the motto of the regiment, in MOUNTAIN RANGERS » est le nom du régiment, et the Chinook dialect.
    [Show full text]
  • Movie-Going on the Margins: the Mascioli Film Circuit of Northeastern Ontario
    Movie-Going on the Margins: The Mascioli Film Circuit of Northeastern Ontario A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY JESSICA LEONORA WHITEHEAD GRADUATE PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, ONTARIO February 2018 © Jessica Leonora Whitehead 2018 ii Abstract Northeastern Ontario film exhibitor Leo Mascioli was described as a picture pioneer, a business visionary, “the boss of the Italians,” a strikebreaker and even an “enemy alien” by the federal government of Canada. Despite these various descriptors, his lasting legacy is as the person who brought entertainment to the region’s gold camps and built a movie theatre chain throughout the mining and resource communities of the area. The Porcupine Gold Rush—the longest sustained gold rush in North America—started in 1909, and one year later Mascioli began showing films in the back of his general store. Mascioli first came to the Porcupine Gold Camp as an agent for the mining companies in recruiting Italian labourers. He diversified his business interests by building hotels to house the workers, a general store to feed them, and finally theatres to entertain them. The Mascioli theatre chain, Northern Empire, was headquartered in Timmins and grew to include theatres from Kapuskasing to North Bay. His Italian connections, however, left him exposed to changes in world politics; he was arrested in 1940 and sent to an internment camp for enemy aliens during World War II. This dissertation examines cinema history from a local perspective. The cultural significance of the Northern Empire chain emerges from tracing its business history, from make-shift theatres to movie palaces, and the chain’s integration into the Hollywood-linked Famous Players Canadian national circuit.
    [Show full text]
  • Shilo D-Day ʻ44 Canada in Normandy Stag RCA MUSEUM WE WILL MATCH
    1947 - 2017 Shilo D-Day ʻ44 Canada in Normandy Stag RCA MUSEUM WE WILL MATCH... ADVERTISED PRICES ON ELECTRONICS, CAMERAS, COMPUTERS & MAJOR APPLIANCES. DETAILS ARE June 6 @ 1 p.m. AVAILABLE INSTORE OR ONLINE AT WWW.CANEX.CA Your source for Army news in Manitoba Volume 58 Issue 11 Serving Shilo, Sprucewoods & Douglas since 1947 May 30, 2019 INSIDE This Issue There’s a method to eating lobster. Page 2 Military members help with Day of Caring. Page 6 Trauma teams treat helicopter ‘crash’ victims The skills of CFB Shilo’s EMS and military medical personnel were put to the test May 16 in a training exercise simulating a crashed helicopter on the Base. 2PPCLI DP1 grads volunteered to be patients for the exercise. Here, medical offi cer Steven Nordstrom Invasive insect can deci- assesses a soldier who arrived in the trauma bay with leg burns and a few upper body injuries. 11 CF H Svcs Shilo CO/BSurg Maj mate ash tree. Page 8 Keith Wilson tested each of his medical teams on what they would do based on the wounds following an assessment. For more on the exercise see page 10. Photo Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag 2 Shilo Stag CELEBRATING 72 YEARS PROVIDING ARMY NEWS May 30, 2019 Eating lobster is not an exercise in etiquette Jules Xavier • Lobster bib to protect clothing from sprays of sea water, Shilo Stag lobster juice and butter • Claw cracker — like a nutcracker — to crack the claws so you can extract the claw meat, which is a delicacy. My fi rst exposure to lobster came as a child when my late • Small fork or “lobster pick” — this slender instrument is father was posted to a RCAF radar base at CFB St.
    [Show full text]
  • Specialization and the Canadian Forces (2003)
    SPECIALIZATION AND THE CANADIAN FORCES PHILIPPE LAGASSÉ OCCASIONAL PAPER No. 40, 2003 The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs Carleton University 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6 Telephone: 613-520-6655 Fax: 613-520-2889 This series is published by the Centre for Security and Defence Studies at the School and supported by a grant from the Security Defence Forum of the Department of National Defence. The views expressed in the paper do not necessarily represent the views of the School or the Department of National Defence TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT 3 Introduction 4 Determinants of Force Structuring 7 Canadian Defence Policy 16 Specialization, Transformation and Canadian Defence 29 Conclusion 36 REFERENCES 38 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 40 2 ABSTRACT Canada is facing a force structuring dilemma. In spite of Ottawa’s desire to promote international peace and stability alongside the United States and the United Nations, Canada’s minimalist approaches to defence spending and capital expenditures are undermining the long-term viability of the Canadian Forces’ (CF) expeditionary and interoperable capabilities. Two solutions to this dilemma present themselves: increased defence spending or greater force structure specialization. Since Ottawa is unlikely to increase defence spending, specialization provides the only practical solution to the CF’s capabilities predicament. Though it would limit the number of tasks that the CF could perform overseas, specialization would maximize the output of current capital expenditures and preserve the CF’s interoperability with the US military in an age of defence transformation. This paper thus argues that the economics of Canadian defence necessitate a more specialized CF force structure.
    [Show full text]
  • GAUTHIER John Louis
    Gauthier, John Louis Private Algonquin Regiment Royal Canadian Infantry Corps C122588 John Louis Gauthier was born on Aug. 28, 1925 to French-Canadian parents, John Alfred Gauthier (1896-1983) and Clara Carriere (1900-1978) living in the Town of Renfrew, Ontario. The family also comprised James (1929-1941); Margaret (1932 died as an enfant); Blanche (1933-present) and Thomas (1937- present). Mr. Gauthier worked at the factory of the Renfrew Electric and Refrigeration Company. Jackie, as he was affectionately known, attended Roman Catholic elementary school and spent two years at Renfrew Collegiate Institute. After leaving high school, he went to work as a bench hand at the same factory as his father. In the summers, he was also a well-liked counsellor at the church youth camp in Lake Clear near Eganville, Ontario. Both his sister, Blanche, and brother, Thomas, recall Jackie’s comments when he decided to sign up for military at the age of 18 years old. “He told our mother that ‘Mom, if I don’t come back, you can walk down Main Street (in Renfrew) and hold your head high‘,” said Blanche. “In those days, men who didn’t volunteer to go overseas to war were called ‘zombies‘.” It was a common term of ridicule during the Second World War; Canadians were embroiled in debates about conscription or compulsory overseas military service. Many men had volunteered to go but others avoided enlistment. By mid-1943, the government was under pressure to force men to fight in Europe and the Far East. 1 Jackie Gauthier had enlisted on Oct.
    [Show full text]
  • Canadian Infantry Combat Training During the Second World War
    SHARPENING THE SABRE: CANADIAN INFANTRY COMBAT TRAINING DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR By R. DANIEL PELLERIN BBA (Honours), Wilfrid Laurier University, 2007 BA (Honours), Wilfrid Laurier University, 2008 MA, University of Waterloo, 2009 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in History University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, Canada © Raymond Daniel Ryan Pellerin, Ottawa, Canada, 2016 ii ABSTRACT “Sharpening the Sabre: Canadian Infantry Combat Training during the Second World War” Author: R. Daniel Pellerin Supervisor: Serge Marc Durflinger 2016 During the Second World War, training was the Canadian Army’s longest sustained activity. Aside from isolated engagements at Hong Kong and Dieppe, the Canadians did not fight in a protracted campaign until the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The years that Canadian infantry units spent training in the United Kingdom were formative in the history of the Canadian Army. Despite what much of the historical literature has suggested, training succeeded in making the Canadian infantry capable of succeeding in battle against German forces. Canadian infantry training showed a definite progression towards professionalism and away from a pervasive prewar mentality that the infantry was a largely unskilled arm and that training infantrymen did not require special expertise. From 1939 to 1941, Canadian infantry training suffered from problems ranging from equipment shortages to poor senior leadership. In late 1941, the Canadians were introduced to a new method of training called “battle drill,” which broke tactical manoeuvres into simple movements, encouraged initiative among junior leaders, and greatly boosted the men’s morale.
    [Show full text]
  • A Historiography of C Force
    Canadian Military History Volume 24 Issue 2 Article 10 2015 A Historiography of C Force Tony Banham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Tony Banham "A Historiography of C Force." Canadian Military History 24, 2 (2015) This Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. : A Historiography of C Force FEATURE A Historiography of C Force TONY BANHAM Abstract: Following the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941, a small number of books covering the then Colony’s war experiences were published. Although swamped by larger and more significant battles, the volume of work has expanded in the years since and is no longer insignificant. This historiography documents that body of literature, examining trends and possible future directions for further study with particular respect to the coverage of C Force. h e f a t e o f the 1,975 men and two women of C Force, sent T to Hong Kong just before the Japanese invaded, has generated a surprising volume of literature. It was fate too that a Canadian, Major General Arthur Edward Grasett, was the outgoing commander of British troops in China— including the Hong Kong garrison— in mid-1941 (being replaced that August by Major General Christopher M altby of the Indian army), and fate that his determination that the garrison be reinforced would see a Briton, Brigadier John Kelburne Lawson, arrive from Canada in November 1941 as commander of this small force sent to bolster the colony’s defences.
    [Show full text]
  • The Canadian Militia in the Interwar Years, 1919-39
    THE POLICY OF NEGLECT: THE CANADIAN MILITIA IN THE INTERWAR YEARS, 1919-39 ___________________________________________________________ A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board ___________________________________________________________ in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY __________________________________________________________ by Britton Wade MacDonald January, 2009 iii © Copyright 2008 by Britton W. MacDonald iv ABSTRACT The Policy of Neglect: The Canadian Militia in the Interwar Years, 1919-1939 Britton W. MacDonald Doctor of Philosophy Temple University, 2008 Dr. Gregory J. W. Urwin The Canadian Militia, since its beginning, has been underfunded and under-supported by the government, no matter which political party was in power. This trend continued throughout the interwar years of 1919 to 1939. During these years, the Militia’s members had to improvise a great deal of the time in their efforts to attain military effectiveness. This included much of their training, which they often funded with their own pay. They created their own training apparatuses, such as mock tanks, so that their preparations had a hint of realism. Officers designed interesting and unique exercises to challenge their personnel. All these actions helped create esprit de corps in the Militia, particularly the half composed of citizen soldiers, the Non- Permanent Active Militia. The regulars, the Permanent Active Militia (or Permanent Force), also relied on their own efforts to improve themselves as soldiers. They found intellectual nourishment in an excellent service journal, the Canadian Defence Quarterly, and British schools. The Militia learned to endure in these years because of all the trials its members faced. The interwar years are important for their impact on how the Canadian Army (as it was known after 1940) would fight the Second World War.
    [Show full text]
  • The Coils of the Anaconda: America's
    THE COILS OF THE ANACONDA: AMERICA’S FIRST CONVENTIONAL BATTLE IN AFGHANISTAN BY C2009 Lester W. Grau Submitted to the graduate degree program in Military History and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ____________________________ Dr. Theodore A Wilson, Chairperson ____________________________ Dr. James J. Willbanks, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Robert F. Baumann, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Maria Carlson, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Jacob W. Kipp, Committee Member Date defended: April 27, 2009 The Dissertation Committee for Lester W. Grau certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: THE COILS OF THE ANACONDA: AMERICA’S FIRST CONVENTIONAL BATTLE IN AFGHANISTAN Committee: ____________________________ Dr. Theodore A Wilson, Chairperson ____________________________ Dr. James J. Willbanks, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Robert F. Baumann, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Maria Carlson, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Jacob W. Kipp, Committee Member Date approved: April 27, 2009 ii PREFACE Generals have often been reproached with preparing for the last war instead of for the next–an easy gibe when their fellow-countrymen and their political leaders, too frequently, have prepared for no war at all. Preparation for war is an expensive, burdensome business, yet there is one important part of it that costs little–study. However changed and strange the new conditions of war may be, not only generals, but politicians and ordinary citizens, may find there is much to be learned from the past that can be applied to the future and, in their search for it, that some campaigns have more than others foreshadowed the coming pattern of modern war.1 — Field Marshall Viscount William Slim.
    [Show full text]
  • A Family Guide to the MILITARY EXPERIENCE a FAMILY GUIDE to the MILITARY EXPERIENCE 3
    WWW.FAMILYFORCE.CA A Family Guide to the MILITARY EXPERIENCE WWW.FAMILYFORCE.CA A FAMILY GUIDE TO THE MILITARY EXPERIENCE 3 Three Access Points to Services Record of Important Information In person: Information on Deployed Military Member Local Military Family Resource Centre Complete Name: Rank: Service Number: Military (Parent) Unit: Occupation or Trade: Unit deployed with, if different from Parent Unit: Addresses During Deployment Postal: Email: Name of Mission or Military Operation: Important Telephone Numbers By phone: Name: Telephone: Family Information Line Name: Telephone: 1-800-866-4546 (North America) 00-800-771-17722 (Europe) Military Family Resource Centre contact: Online: Name: Telephone: www.familyforce.ca Family Information Line 1-800-866-4546 (North America) 00-800-771-17722 (Europe) Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program 1-800-268-7708 ©Military Family Services, March 2015 4 A FAMILY GUIDE TO THE MILITARY EXPERIENCE Notes Table of Contents Greetings from Military Family Services 7 Canadian Armed Forces Family Covenant 9 1: The Military Community and Lifestyle 11 The Canadian Armed Forces 11 Military Families 20 Military Lifestyle 21 Risks 22 2: Access Points to Services for Families 23 Military Family Resource Centres 24 Family Information Line 26 WWW.FAMILYFORCE.CA 27 3: Deployments and Absences 29 Deployment 29 Family Separation 31 Emotional Cycles of Deployment 32 Family Reunion 38 Coping with the Stress of Deployment 41 Pre-Deployment Checklist 43 Communication During Deployments 47 4: Health and Wellness 53 Health
    [Show full text]
  • 2Nd Bn Irish Regiment of Canada
    2nd Bn Irish Regiment of Canada Lieutenant Colonel John Valtonen 25 June 2008 2nd Battalion The Irish Regiment of Canada • LIGHT INFANTRY RESERVE UNIT PRIMARY RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE CANADIAN FORCES • 1 of nearly 40 Reserve units in Ontario • Total of 15,500 Reservists • EFFECTIVE STRENGTH: 110 personnel • ANNUAL BUDGET: Avg $700,000 • RECRUITS: Avg 30 personnel enrolled annually • AGE: 16-60 Mission The 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada will proactively attract and train citizens in order to retain Professional Army Reserve soldiers to participate in Canada's International and Domestic operations. Regimental Motto FIOR GO BAS – FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH 112 years of Army Reserves in Sudbury 24 Aug 1896 – Sudbury’s Rifle Company No. 2 Coy of the 97th Regiment of Rifles 15 March 1965 - 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada Training Commitment -1x Thursday Night Week (min 1x weekend/month) - 2 week Collective Training Exercise every August (Ex NANOOK) Battle Rhythm Sept to Dec – Individual Battle Task Standards / Winter skills Jan to May – Collective training at the section/platoon level June to August – Career courses Effective Leadership: Duty with Honour Direct, motivate, and enable others to accomplish the mission professionally and ethically, while developing or enhancing our individual and collective capabilities. TT Block 2: Stability Operations Block 1: Warfighting Block 3: Humanitarian Operations The Irish Regiment on Operations • Cyprus, Golan Heights, Balkans and Afghanistan. • In the past decade, over 50 soldiers from the Irish
    [Show full text]
  • September 2012 Esprit De Corps  1 BOEING
    September 2012 Issue $3.95 Cdn / $4.50 US Display until October 5, 2012 Publications Mail # 40069149 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. 204-1066 Somerset St. W. Ottawa ON K1Y 4T3 september 2012 esprit de corps 1 BOEING NEW AD 2 volume 19 issue 8 e ON TARGET? Volume 19 Issue 7 With the Afghan army, you get what Publisher Manager you give — and that is amounting Scott Taylor Julie Simoneau Scott Taylor publisher to green-on-blue killings Sales Director Circulation Blake Hurdis Tiffany Taus Columnist Atlantic Rep Last month members of the Afghanistan of the intervention in Afghanistan, the Michael Nickerson Gord Crowe National Army turned their weapons on international community has in no way Contributing Editors Les Peate, Norman Shannon the NATO personnel deployed to assist demonstrated the necessary commitment Production Assistants in their training on at least four different to truly developing a professional Afghan Megan Brush, Renée Depocas instances.L Several American soldiers were Army cadre. Journalist killed in the attacks and a number of other From the get-go, the emphasis on Marlee Wasser trainers were wounded. establishing a post-Taliban Afghan security Special Events This phenomenon of Afghan allies force has been to do it as quick as possible Thérèse Darêche, Lale Eskicioglu Michèle Simoneau, Emily Walsh deliberately targeting NATO forces has at the lowest possible cost. Given the become so frequent in the past few years nearly two-decade suspension of education Contributors in this issue Vincent J. Curtis, Jeff Davis, Col. Michel Drapeau, that a new catchphrase has been implanted services during the Soviet occupation and Michael Hurley, Joshua M.
    [Show full text]