Leaning forward for the navy

This quote from an army CDS whose epaulettes still have that "new leaf smell" is surprising and encouraging:

"I've got to deliver," was the message that Gen. Walt Natynczyk took halfway around the world with him to his first meeting with a front-line operational unit since becoming Canada's new chief of defence staff. "I've got to lay keels for ships. I've got to fill up the navy divisions aboard ships," Natynczyk said Tuesday during an interview on board HMCS Iroquois.

The service whose morale was lifted least by General Hillier during his time as CDS was the navy - and that comes from speaking with officers sailing on both coasts in recent weeks. They continue to be short strength, and operate on ships whose condition deteriorates noticeably by the day. Moreover, the navy has always had a tougher time with morale than the other services, if only because of lengthy sailing schedules that wreak havoc with family lives even in peacetime. Manning and equipment issues just exacerbate that unavoidable problem.

So for Natynczyk to recognize that and publicly address it so early in his tenure is, as I said, encouraging.

Let's hope he can convince the government to spend the required cash. Because much as he says "I've got to deliver" - and means it, since from what I gather, he's not the buck-passing type - the truth is that he can't sign the cheques himself. When he says "I've got to deliver," what that really means is that he's got to persuade, cajole, bully, shame, and lead the politicians to make the right decision.

And he needs to do it as the economy slows, and as the government can point to a good deal of new spending it's already done.

So these aren't idle words - Natynczyk is really leaning forward by saying this in a public forum. Good on him.