One of the hobbies that retired soldiers seem to have (including this author) is writing to each other to explain what is wrong with the organization they once served. Part of this is a form of melancholy, a look back upon the golden aura that existed when they were in charge. This is mostly nonsense, of course. But another, more serious aspect is that the generations that have followed have somehow diminished their beloved unit, service or force. That lessons that were hard-learned have been forgotten or pushed aside.

We have read repeatedly in the media that the CAF is lost. The idea that we didn’t need a dress code, that physical fitness is not that important to the military and that every new fad, whether it’s using different pronouns (many that make NO sense) or that recruits can demand a “time out” from an instructor because the recruit is somehow traumatized by the non-commissioned officer who has raised his or her voice. (NB: there are no time outs in a firefight.)

A professor at NYU, whom I enjoy listening to, (https://www.profgalloway.com/) and who likes to rattle society’s cage with uncomfortable statistics has released new book and I believe his title and his thesis (in his case about the USA) is applicable to the current CAF. The book is called Adrift. His premise describes the armed forces well, in my opinion. The CAF is not lost, it is adrift. All three services are full of dedicated, motivated and highly trained individuals as well as units that have time and again proved their worth, loyalty and professionalism. But as an overall organization, the CAF seems not to be able, somehow, to recapture a sense of professional pride, a belief in itself, that was much more prominent in days gone by.

Much of what was bad when I served has been wiped away, if not entirely then at least partially. Women are increasingly moving into more important roles based on merit. It is not a perfect system but it is MUCH improved from the days when I was the platoon commander of the first fully integrated BOTC platoon. Racism and racial epithets are not merely frowned upon, they are chargeable offences. Pay has been much improved. There is more work to be done, but hese improvements are not insignificant.

The point I wish to make is that thinking of the CAF in these terms gives me hope. We can dare to believe that the worm is turning, albeit slowly, and that the men and women at the top will push down orders and directives to right the ship of the corporate entity we call the CAF. Likewise, those men and women of honour, those who believe in duty and service, will push from the bottom up as well as influence their peers so that the wearing of a Canadian uniform, whatever its colour, will be the public display of an armed forces that is capable, trustworthy, honourable and ready to perform the duties given to it by its nation.

Let’s hope.