Article contentWith everything we own in the storefront window, Ritchie still tried to put a rosy spin on the situation.Article content“We do not have a mirror complement of that equipment in Canada, nor is it required,” Ritchie testified, making reference to the policy change implemented last year. “The vehicles that the individuals are using for that (Latvia) deployment are the ones that they need to conduct the predeployment training on so that they understand the systems and have the trust and confidence in using that equipment.”Article contentWhich would seemingly support the very need for a proving exercise prior to deployment.Article contentHowever, Ritchie pressed ahead to further defend the decision to do the combined arms training in Latvia, saying soldiers are getting training on the ground and in the conditions in which they might have to fight.Article content“There is a deterrence effect by virtue of conducting the training in location on the front line for which the multinational group is defending,” Ritchie said.Article contentArticle contentHe added that a “conglomerate of reasons have led us to the decision to move the predeployment training to Latvia, which was exceptionally well received by Latvia and all the allies.”Article contentThere you have it folks, the silver lining, if you will. We do not have the equipment, the vehicles, the spare parts or the personnel to conduct an exercise in Canada, but it pleases the Latvians to do that training on their soil and it scares the bejeezus out of the Russians across the border.Article contentSadly for Ritchie, the on-the-job training in Latvia is not going as swimmingly as he would have his political masters believe. According to documents obtained by the CBC, during the most recent deployment Canadian soldiers did not have a “venue during workup training. This required a more academic approach to preparations” for the major NATO brigade exercise known as Oak Resolve.Article contentArticle contentIn other words, more of a classroom instructional than a combined arms tactical affair with tanks, artillery and air assets.Article contentDuring Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to the troops in Camp Adazi last month, journalists accompanying him were advised by disgruntled soldiers that much of the shiny hardware on display was, in fact, unserviceable. Despite the fact that the forward-deployed brigade group is a top priority for spare parts in the supply chain, they still have roughly 30 per cent of vehicles listed as off-road, or inoperable. This includes Canada’s few remaining Leopard 2 main battle tanks.Article contentSome could argue that by putting a positive spin on the situation, Ritchie is merely being a loyal foot soldier. He is making do with what he has.Article contentWe saw this in 2002, when we first deployed a battle group to Afghanistan. We did not have desert camouflage uniforms to equip them, so the army generals told the media this was a good thing as the dark forest green camouflage uniforms would make the Canadians stand out as Canadian. You could not make this stuff up.
Scott Taylor: Forces leadership in Canada needs to speak up
