CF have expansion, not recruiting, problems

Further to Babbling's post below on the supposed amphibious unit, more from the horse's mouth in the Ottawa Citizen version of Mr Pugliese's article:

Faced with mounting pressures from the Afghanistan mission as well as its upcoming role in providing security for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the Canadian military is scaling back some of its ambitious equipment and expansion plans...

...plans to bring recruits into the military at a faster pace will not proceed. The expansion of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment located at CFB Petawawa will also be slowed down.

"I've had to take a bit of an appetite suppressant," Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of the defence staff, said in an interview with the Citizen.

He said a number of factors are behind the changes in the plan. The military is proceeding with an ambitious re-equipment and recruiting program, it is conducting operations in Afghanistan, and it has to prepare for the Olympics.

"All those things are increasing and a big load here and I need to balance that load," Gen. Hillier said.

He stressed that recruiting is still going strong and the military will meet its targets this year to fill the ranks.

The military is also following through on the government's plan to expand the size of the Canadian Forces to 75,000 regular troops. But Gen. Hillier added that he will have to abandon his plan to get even more recruits into the system faster.

To do that would require extra money and personnel for training, something the Canadian Forces does not have...

Gen. Hillier also pointed out that to train more recruits would require experienced personnel from combat trades.

Those soldiers, however, are needed for the mission in Afghanistan...

Gen. Hillier said excellent progress has also been made in the development of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment at Petawawa. That unit had hoped to have as many as 750 soldiers in place by 2008.

Gen. Hillier said that goal likely won't be achieved because of the need for personnel in other jobs...

Afstan clearly is straining things. But at the same time it is helping recruiting:

The Canadian Forces top recruiter says the death of soldiers in Afghanistan hasn't deterred people from joining the military.

Rear-Admiral Tyrone Pile said the effect is the opposite of what many Canadians might think.

He said there has been an increase in interest...

Adm. Pile said applications for the Canadian Forces have increased 25 per cent since October, when the military began airing new TV commercials.

He said he has every expectation the military can meet a recruitment target of 6,425 members this year — almost 1,000 above last year's objective.

The comments remind one of Small Dead Animals.