Newest Podcast

In this episode, Marty and I ponder how civilians can better appreciate and understand the experiences of military personnel. We stress the need for better public education about Canada’s military history and contemporary involvement in international conflicts. Beyond honouring our fallen on Remembrance Day, we advocate for awareness and celebration of veterans and active duty members. The discussion reflects on historical and modern perceptions of the military, the importance of integrating military and civilian communities, and the complexities of forming public opinion to positively highlight military service and its contributions to our national security.


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  1. This is from an old friend and RCAF colleague who had difficulty putting it on the site. I hope we get some responses:

    Good afternoon Chuck,

    I thoroughly enjoyed your latest discussion with Marty. Some points from my perspective, generally following the thread of the questions and discussions:

    • Agree with the discussion on High School (HS). It used to be that it prepared for adult life at a rather early age. I don’t think that we have dumbed down a HS education so much as it has become so broad and so shallow as to become almost useless for preparing you for adulthood, let alone higher education. Even the latter years of high school have become more about preparing one for university or college, rather than giving one a good base upon which to build a career and life;
    • I once read a description of PTSD as an injury to the soul. Thought that it was a spot-on description of the injury. And modern treatments are going more in that direction. Not necessarily religious, but spiritual in nature – if you get my drift.
    • Agree with the discussion on celebrating the fallen to the detriment of those still serving or retired. It might be really interesting to talk to some of our classmates – those that had a short military career and then were successful in a civilian career. Compare that with those of us who had full careers, and then went on to other things. How did our military experience and training prepare us for these second careers? What skills did we leverage? And what skills did we have to learn anew?
    • Going back to education – what is the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking? What skills and knowledge are common to both, and what skills and knowledge are only particular to one or the other?
    • Why is today different? Is there really more uncertainty? Or is it the sheer volume of news and information that makes it difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff? Which brings me to the real need to educate – beginning in high school – the skills of critical thinking to students. We all learned logic and Venn diagrams. Not sure if it is still done; however, I would venture that it is much more important given the sheer volume of information (and disinformation) that comes at all of us.
      • There is indeed a great deal of uncertainty, but I am not convinced that the uncertainty we all experience is at a greater volume than in the past. When I was in Afghanistan, I was asked to teach strategic planning to a group of people who, for the preceding 30 years, were unsure that they would survive tomorrow.  Everyone’s timeframe was a little different, but the planning process remained constant. And the question of things that one could control, things that one could influence, and things that one could only monitor became the discussion points. It is the ability to recognize what one can control, what one can influence, and what one must monitor that separates the good military leaders from the mediocre and/or truly bad ones. And that is where we retired folks can become useful in passing on our wisdom/experience.
    • The discussion on the ill-educated electorate was also important. The definitions and question of civics and civic duty is a key discussion point. How does one’s vote make a difference – especially if the government is already decided before the polls in the west close? Again, civic duties mean that you make your voice heard by voting. If you don’t vote, then you cannot really complain about the outcome of an election (although everyone will). I go back to the question on what you can control, what you can influence, and what you can only monitor. Many of us have overseen elections in foreign countries. The citizens there understand civic duties, and are willing to exercise it, because for many of them it may well be their first time. So, do we think that there is a universal concept of civic duty? We can go back to Greek and Roman times to debate that question. But it may well be a worthwhile one to debate in both High School and university. Bringing in those who have never enjoyed universal suffrage would be an interesting counterpoint to disinterest or just giving up.
    • Finally, what I learned in the military, and what easily translates to civilian life, are the choices I had to make to do things, do nothing, and/or having things done to me. I know which ones I made when!

    I always enjoy your podcast discussions, so thanks for bringing these topics to light, and thanks for letting me chime in with my two cents worth. Inflation hasn’t made a dent in my opinions!

    Cheers,

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