Afstan: Upgraded LAV IIIs; more Nyalas/meanwhile more infantry in Army

Good. But I'd like to know how plans actually to increase the size of the Army are going (see towards end of speech).

In the face of increasing threats from explosive devices in Afghanistan, the Canadian military is working on upgrades for its mainstay armoured vehicle, Canada's top soldier told troops Saturday.

A host of changes are being designed to boost the LAV III's ability to withstand ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Gen. Rick Hillier said during an afternoon stop to speak with troops stationed on Ma'sum Ghar Mountain in Panjwaii District of southern Afghanistan.

He also told soldiers that a plan has been hatched to significantly bolster the number of combat troops in Canada. The plan would see more recruits being trained as infantry soldiers, even if they requested other assignments...

On Saturday [Sept. 30], Hillier said Leopard tanks are expected to arrive in the next few days, while arrangements are being made to deploy another 21 Nyalas: four-wheel-drive jeeps designed to withstand anti-tank mine blasts...

At the moment, many of Canada's nine infantry companies [battalions? - MC] are in need for more soldiers, said Maj. Mike Wright, commander of the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry from Shilo, Man.

"It's been difficult to recruit because the economy is good out West, [maybe not Manitoba - MC]" said Wright...

"Back home in the army, across the Canadian Forces, we are going to be re-rolling a whole bunch of folks in the training pipeline now into the infantry," Hillier told the troops. "They might be signed up to be an armoured soldier or an artillery man or woman, but for the next two years or so we are going to turn them into infantry men or women."

Update: Discussion at Army.ca.

Upperdate: Gen Hillier also wants to speed up replacement of casualties.

The Canadian military will refine the way troops are replaced in the Afghan mission to avoid troop shortages and exhaustion, General Rick Hillier said Monday.

The chief of defence staff said the army needs to streamline the replacement process for troops who are hurt and killed to shorten the time from the current 21 to 30 days.

“Our replacements coming from Canada have been slow coming in,” Gen. Hillier told reporters at Kandahar Airfield as he completed a visit with troops.

“We're going to accelerate that program and have them here in a week.”..

While NDP leader Jack Layton has a courageous idea: "Layton mulls trip to Afghanistan".