Canadian Gunner 1976
MESSAGE FROM THE COLONEL COMMANDANT
While perhaps some may regret certain necessary moves, I think all members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery can take considerable satisfaction in the improvements that have been achieved in the strength and state of our Regular units this last year. It is also satisfactory to know that further improvements are planned and that new equipment, so long and so urgently needed, is beginning to arrive.
Now that the ‘Total Force’ concept has been firmly established, we must all work to ensure it succeeds. Without strong, well-equipped and highly trained Militia units, the concept has no meaning. Unfortunately, and for reasons quite beyond their control, our Militia units are now disproportionately the undernourished twin of this two-legged scheme, and to correct this imbalance must be our pre-occupation in the year ahead. Pending major policy decisions that are now undoubtedly being considered, there is much that all of us, particularly the better nourished Regular Gunner to take as his slogan for the year ahead “What our Militia wants today I should have provided yesterday.”
The Canadian Gunner 1976, Volume 11, December 1976, page iv
FOREWORD BY THE DIRECTOR OF ARTILLERY
I have now been afforded the privilege of being your Director for almost two years. During this period I have been able to visit all regular units and training establishments at least twice. I have observed you at practice camp, deployed on airfields, preparing for paradrops, in barracks, in the classroom, during guest nights, at various social events and on ceremonial parades. I have been thoroughly impressed with your dedication, enthusiasm, professional competence and friendly hospitality. Each and every member of the Royal regiment should be as proud of your achievements as I am.
This publication symbolizes to every informed observer the unobtrusive competence and high professional standards of today’s Gunners. We all owe a debt to 3 RCHA and the Shilo Gunners for their labours in compiling and publishing this edition of the Gunner. On behalf of all ranks of the Royal Regiment, I offer sincere congratulations to all concerned.
As I have discussed with many of you over the past months, we are en route to regaining our strength in numbers, to receiving new equipment and to accepting a multitude of new roles and assignments. By September another restructuring will have been completed, but this time we should have sufficient personnel and adequate equipment distributed to units geographically to allow us to meet our assigned responsibilities. We have been given or are in the process of procuring the requisite resources to meet our commitments. The responsibility of response is ours.
On the personnel side, great strides have been taken to rectify the perceived inadequacies of the human resources management system that evolved after integration. We have now achieved almost total control within the Regiment of all other ranks career management. This includes not only postings and promotions but also trades structures, training standards and qualifications. Obviously we must conform to the forces-wide rules and regulations but the responsibility for implementation and day-to-day management has been vested in the Regiment. For officers, who must be trained and prepared for many more postings outside the Regiment, we have not been delegated such extensive powers. However, here too we have achieved a degree of input that heretofore was considered by many as improbable if not impossible.
Today the Regiment is healthy and confronted with a most promising and demanding future, It is incumbent upon us to attain the defined standards in the shortest possible time then to improve. Imaginative, well-conceived results training based on initiative must be our only resource. The future of the Royal regiment lies in your hands. The results achieved over the next years will reflect your efforts and be a measure of your professionalism.
Good shooting.
While perhaps some may regret certain necessary moves, I think all members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery can take considerable satisfaction in the improvements that have been achieved in the strength and state of our Regular units this last year. It is also satisfactory to know that further improvements are planned and that new equipment, so long and so urgently needed, is beginning to arrive.
Now that the ‘Total Force’ concept has been firmly established, we must all work to ensure it succeeds. Without strong, well-equipped and highly trained Militia units, the concept has no meaning. Unfortunately, and for reasons quite beyond their control, our Militia units are now disproportionately the undernourished twin of this two-legged scheme, and to correct this imbalance must be our pre-occupation in the year ahead. Pending major policy decisions that are now undoubtedly being considered, there is much that all of us, particularly the better nourished Regular Gunner to take as his slogan for the year ahead “What our Militia wants today I should have provided yesterday.”
The Canadian Gunner 1976, Volume 11, December 1976, page iv
FOREWORD BY THE DIRECTOR OF ARTILLERY
I have now been afforded the privilege of being your Director for almost two years. During this period I have been able to visit all regular units and training establishments at least twice. I have observed you at practice camp, deployed on airfields, preparing for paradrops, in barracks, in the classroom, during guest nights, at various social events and on ceremonial parades. I have been thoroughly impressed with your dedication, enthusiasm, professional competence and friendly hospitality. Each and every member of the Royal regiment should be as proud of your achievements as I am.
This publication symbolizes to every informed observer the unobtrusive competence and high professional standards of today’s Gunners. We all owe a debt to 3 RCHA and the Shilo Gunners for their labours in compiling and publishing this edition of the Gunner. On behalf of all ranks of the Royal Regiment, I offer sincere congratulations to all concerned.
As I have discussed with many of you over the past months, we are en route to regaining our strength in numbers, to receiving new equipment and to accepting a multitude of new roles and assignments. By September another restructuring will have been completed, but this time we should have sufficient personnel and adequate equipment distributed to units geographically to allow us to meet our assigned responsibilities. We have been given or are in the process of procuring the requisite resources to meet our commitments. The responsibility of response is ours.
On the personnel side, great strides have been taken to rectify the perceived inadequacies of the human resources management system that evolved after integration. We have now achieved almost total control within the Regiment of all other ranks career management. This includes not only postings and promotions but also trades structures, training standards and qualifications. Obviously we must conform to the forces-wide rules and regulations but the responsibility for implementation and day-to-day management has been vested in the Regiment. For officers, who must be trained and prepared for many more postings outside the Regiment, we have not been delegated such extensive powers. However, here too we have achieved a degree of input that heretofore was considered by many as improbable if not impossible.
Today the Regiment is healthy and confronted with a most promising and demanding future, It is incumbent upon us to attain the defined standards in the shortest possible time then to improve. Imaginative, well-conceived results training based on initiative must be our only resource. The future of the Royal regiment lies in your hands. The results achieved over the next years will reflect your efforts and be a measure of your professionalism.
Good shooting.