Reserves 2000 meets with new Commander Canadian Army (CCA), LGen Jean-Marc Lanthier

Reserves 2000 was recently briefed by the Commander Canadian Army (CCA) and his staff on the progress of the initiative known as Strengthening the Army Reserve (StAR). It’s clear that progress is being made on many fronts:

Army Reserve effective strength: On the rise

In the same period, attrition of trained soldiers continued — as it always will — but we hope at a much lower annual rate once the policy changes designed to stem attrition start to make an impact.

Guaranteed summer employment is perhaps the most important of the new suite of policies within StAR. Over the next year we expect to see an increase in trained effective strength as this summer’s intake of recruits should be able to achieve their qualification by the end of summer 2019.

The Army benchmark for growth is 1,000 soldiers over 12 months. So, for the 12-month period covering November 2017 to October 2018, new growth easily achieved this goal.

According to the briefing we received, current Army Reserve remains about 5,000 soldiers below the currently authorized establishment. Thus, at the benchmark rate of progress, it will take five years to achieve full strength — perhaps longer. If the upcoming years are as successful as the past 12 months, that timeframe could well be shortened.

This is important to units because it is still the Army’s intention to re-allocate positions from units that unable to fill them to units that potentially could. It does appear that the original date of May 2019 for this to occur will now slip. In the words of the Army Commander, LGen Lanthier, “ARes strength took a decade to decline; it will take years to recover.” The recognition of this fact is good news, especially for those units that have suffered most.

Recruiting successes: 2017-18

Recruiting success has been the key driver of the increase in strength; annual attrition has remained relatively constant at 15 to 16%. The end of restrictive recruiting quotas (the Strategic Intake Plan or SIP), is the most important factor in this success. But the return of recruiting to local control has also contributed.

Still, the Army’s aim of significantly shortening the time between attraction and enrollment of a new recruit continues to prove to be difficult to fully achieve, but for reasons beyond local control, such as centralized medical approval.

The goal is to achieve 20% of enrollments in under 30 days; 60% between 30 and 60 days; and 20% over 60 days. During this fiscal year (FY) those percentages are 13%, 19% and 68% respectively, representing only a slight improvement over the previous FY.

Full Time Summer Employment (FTSE)

The other great success story, which it is hoped will eventually lower attrition, is the Army’s promise of FTSE.

This past summer 8,230 soldiers were eligible to participate and fully 7,247, or 88%, did so. The added value of guaranteed summer training (mandated by the defence policy statement Strong, Secure, Engaged) is that leadership training will be conducted in sufficient volume to begin to offset the critical deficiency of unit leaders.

The Army has committed to increase course days in upcoming years by harmonizing the national training calendar to optimize individual training for Reservists. So we should see real progress in the years ahead on this most serious issue.

Work also continues on assigning mission tasks to units. The first tranche of missions were assigned last April and additional missions will be assigned in the near future. When those are known there will still be units not assigned additional missions, but those units will be required to perform their historic roles and the missions assigned to them will be to provide those capabilities.

Primary Reserve (PRes) Infrastructure Study

Many supporters have expressed curiosity or concern about the aim and objectives of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserves Infrastructure Strategic Asset Study currently being conducted by the Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Environment (ADM (IE)). I made mention of this in our August note to supporters. As I wrote then, ADM IE holds responsibility for all of DND’s real estate, property and, of course, armouries.

In a recent backgrounder, DND indicated that the study is examining 185 PRes properties across the country — including  Army, Navy, Air Force and Health Services assets/facilities — “to determine which need repairs, where new assets may be needed, and identify locations where assets can be consolidated.”

We are told that Army staff is working closely with ADM (IE) staff on this very large review and both staffs briefed took pains to point out that the requirements of Army Reserve units are being fully considered with a mind to improving the accommodation for those units.

As we all know, a significant number of Reserve units are headquartered in or operate out of older facilities — many of which are now historically-designated buildings. Some of these armouries continue, at present, to receive long-needed restorative work on their internal ‘plumbing’, structure or facade.

The desire to lessen the maintenance burden will be an on-going consideration for DND and, as such, we urge all supporters to familiarize themselves with their own unit/armoury’s situation.

Conclusion: Reason for continued optimism

To conclude, Reserves 2000 is of the opinion that the new Commander Canadian Army, LGen Lanthier, is fully committed to continuing to strengthen the Army Reserve and deserves our wholehearted support. There is progress!

Please feel free to contact me anytime by telephone (416.868.1186) or email with your comments, concerns or suggestions on any developments in your region.

I’d like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Reserves 2000’s best wishes for a healthy and successful New Year.

John Selkirk, Lieutenant Colonel (retired)

Executive Director