[kEiThZ]

There will be many who complain about this pay raise. I'm already seeing whining about how it's too generous. And a minority who don't think it's enough. But this is the first compensation package that I have ever seen that addresses a lot of the actual issues of the CAF. Retention bonuses for the long service. Recruiting bonuses for understrength occupations. Increasing posting allowances to compensate for more moves. This doesn't address a lot of irritants for military families. But it does at least give members the cash to try and simply buy their way out of some problems, like housing.

Prime Minister Carney announces pay raises for the Canadian Armed Forces

The demands on our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have only increased in the last thirty years – and their resources and salaries have not kept pace.

www.pm.gc.ca

This is the largest pay raise I have seen in my career. Nobody should ever say the Liberals are stingy with the troops ever.

 

[PL1]

There will be many who complain about this pay raise. I'm already seeing whining about how it's too generous. And a minority who don't think it's enough. But this is the first compensation package that I have ever seen that addresses a lot of the actual issues of the CAF. Retention bonuses for the long service. Recruiting bonuses for understrength occupations. Increasing posting allowances to compensate for more moves. This doesn't address a lot of irritants for military families. But it does at least give members the cash to try and simply buy their way out of some problems, like housing.

Prime Minister Carney announces pay raises for the Canadian Armed Forces

The demands on our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have only increased in the last thirty years – and their resources and salaries have not kept pace.

www.pm.gc.ca

This is the largest pay raise I have seen in my career. Nobody should ever say the Liberals are stingy with the troops ever.

It's super important. If we (i.e. Canada) want people to consider serving in the CAF, then we need to pay for that. Money well spent

 

[afransen]

There will be many who complain about this pay raise. I'm already seeing whining about how it's too generous. And a minority who don't think it's enough. But this is the first compensation package that I have ever seen that addresses a lot of the actual issues of the CAF. Retention bonuses for the long service. Recruiting bonuses for understrength occupations. Increasing posting allowances to compensate for more moves. This doesn't address a lot of irritants for military families. But it does at least give members the cash to try and simply buy their way out of some problems, like housing.

Prime Minister Carney announces pay raises for the Canadian Armed Forces

The demands on our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have only increased in the last thirty years – and their resources and salaries have not kept pace.

www.pm.gc.ca

This is the largest pay raise I have seen in my career. Nobody should ever say the Liberals are stingy with the troops ever.

Hopefully they heed the feedback you have shared about making postings available nearer civilization so spouses have a hope of finding employment as well, and not treat bases as rural jobs creators, the attractiveness to service members be damned.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

If one only has completed grade 10, you can become a non-commissioned member of the armed forces. If you have grade 12 AND have, or working towards a Bachelor's Degree, you may get a chance to join to be an officer. Nice career to start at than going to work at a fast-food restaurant.

See https://forces.ca/en/how-to-join/

 

[Admiral Beez]

Ultimately, Canada needs nuclear weapons. If we acquire nuclear weapons, the final item on my wish list would be a minimum of three nuclear-powered submarines to form the backbone of a Canadian nuclear triad.

SMH.

 

[lenaitch]

Hopefully they heed the feedback you have shared about making postings available nearer civilization so spouses have a hope of finding employment as well, and not treat bases as rural jobs creators, the attractiveness to service members be damned.

I'm not close to any information but I have heard nothing in the recent past about base rationalization. Operational issues aside, I doubt any government feels it is worth the political capital required. I don't think a base has been closed since the late 1990s.

 

[kEiThZ]

I'm not close to any information but I have heard nothing in the recent past about base rationalization. Operational issues aside, I doubt any government feels it is worth the political capital required. I don't think a base has been closed since the late 1990s.

Entire bases? No. But the feds have slowly divested buildings here and there. Or large chunks of bases. They've also expanded in a few places. We're moving along a path of rationalization. Not nearly enough in my opinion. But it's happening. Kingston and Trenton have gotten a lot more activity over the years. And it's a lot easier with new capabilities. For example, the space division was just setup in Ottawa. The cyber force is also heavily concentrated in Ottawa. I wish we'd see real rationalization like discussed here:

The Asymmetric Army

Transforming the Army for Force 2025

www.canada.ca

This seems to be a stretch for our political leaders though. And in stone cases we'd move in opposite direction for political reasons. The setup of the RCAF's Expeditionary Wing in Bagotville instead of Trenton, is an example.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

SMH.

tbh, recent events + Ukraine has not exactly made me averse towards the idea of a nuclear-armed Canada. I don't know how it could happen diplomatically (with subsequent political and defense implications) but the combined weakness of the United States and the example of Ukraine and Iran has shown the entire world what is required to be at the negotiating table and not a victim state.

But it is something to keep in the back of mind. There are other spending priorities befitting our current needs to prioritize.

 

[guavadelic]

It's down to Germany and South Korea in the race to build Canada's new submarines.

It was announced Tuesday that Canada had narrowed the list of contenders to build the navy's new submarines to two bidders — TKMS and South Korea's Hanwha Ocean Ltd.

The prime minister will tour the TKMS shipyard Tuesday afternoon.
Carney said he is committed to a fair transparent competition and plans to visit the Hanwha yard in South Korea this fall.

Federal officials, speaking on background, said the debate within the federal government is now whether to go the route of requesting full proposals — or straight into contract negotiations with a preferred bidder.

Hanwha submitted a detailed unsolicited bid for Canada's consideration last March. TKMS — in its interview with CBC News — last spring said it had only answered the federal government's request for information but provided fulsome responses.

Merz said Tuesday that he campaigned for Carney to visit the yard and that he believes drawing Canada into the submarine partnership with Norway is important for Transatlantic security.

In the high-stakes, multibillion-dollar gambit to replace Canada's aging — and largely inoperable — Victoria-class submarines, the German-designed, Norwegian-partnered Type 212CD is perhaps the most well known and heavily marketed of the contenders.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-germany-trade-security-submarines-1.7617600

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

It's down to Germany and South Korea in the race to build Canada's new submarines.

View attachment 676669



https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-germany-trade-security-submarines-1.7617600

"Das Boot" means "The Boat" in English. Or 더 보트 (deo bot) in Korean.

 

[afransen]

It's down to Germany and South Korea in the race to build Canada's new submarines.

View attachment 676669



https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-germany-trade-security-submarines-1.7617600

Germany has ordered 6 of the subs with a planned 3 more (total of 9) while Norway has ordered 4 with 2 more planned, for a total of 6. Altogether 15. Canada is looking to procure up to 12. I wonder if that order could come with some supply chain concessions. Either we should get a compelling deal from a value standpoint by substantially beefing up the economies of scale, or a piece of the industrial pie, or both.

 

[guavadelic]

Germany has ordered 6 of the subs with a planned 3 more (total of 9) while Norway has ordered 4 with 2 more planned, for a total of 6. Altogether 15. Canada is looking to procure up to 12. I wonder if that order could come with some supply chain concessions. Either we should get a compelling deal from a value standpoint by substantially beefing up the economies of scale, or a piece of the industrial pie, or both.

The South Koreans are commiting to deliver the first sub by 2032 and the first four by 2035. Their KSS-III is also already in service. The Germans can only deliver the first Canadian sub by 2035. That would present a dillema because the current Victoria are slated to start getting retired by the mid 2030s, so a slight delay in the delivery schedule would present problems.

The South Koreans should really be the favourites to win the bid but Canada's desire to forge closer ties with Europe might tip the scales.

 

[Admiral Beez]

The South Koreans are commiting to deliver the first sub by 2032 and the first four by 2035. Their KSS-III is also already in service. The Germans can only deliver the first Canadian sub by 2035. That would present a dillema because the current Victoria are slated to start getting retired by the mid 2030s, so a slight delay in the delivery schedule would present problems.

The South Koreans should really be the favourites to win the bid but Canada's desire to forge closer ties with Europe might tip the scales.

I think the Korean boat, with its significantly larger displacement (3,300 tons) may be the better boat for extended AIP ops. The Victoria class are 2,400 ton boats, which to be fair is about the same as the Type 212CD offered by Germany. But all that aside, we should stay with NATO sources, and I'd say go German.

Canada Must Go German For Its New Submarine

Canada's biggest defense choice in a generation: a proven German sub for the Arctic vs. a dazzling but risky South Korean design.

nationalsecurityjournal.org

Canada's very first European-sourced submarine was also German, HMCS U-190. Before that, our subs were US-sourced, then followed by the British Oberons and Upholders.

 

[afransen]

The concern is that we wouldn't be getting any of the 212s until 2035 or later.

 

[lenaitch]

I think the Korean boat, with its significantly larger displacement (3,300 tons) may be the better boat for extended AIP ops. The Victoria class are 2,400 ton boats, which to be fair is about the same as the Type 212CD offered by Germany. But all that aside, we should stay with NATO sources, and I'd say go German.

Canada Must Go German For Its New Submarine

Canada's biggest defense choice in a generation: a proven German sub for the Arctic vs. a dazzling but risky South Korean design.

nationalsecurityjournal.org

Canada's very first European-sourced submarine was also German, HMCS U-190. Before that, our subs were US-sourced, then followed by the British Oberons and Upholders.

There is a school of thought that argues that modern Li-Ion battery technology can negate the need for AIP. Battery safety in an enclosed, submerged tube, remains a concern. Beyond my mental paygrade but I have seen it mentioned.