US troops defend our country......

[MattTheSkywalker]

I would like to see a greater retention rate of the brightest and most competent.

Typically, the best and most competent do not join the military. The enlisted ranks are composed largely of poor poeple, southerners, and minorities.

 

[manny78]

Manny- I agree with your position on the Canadian Military... most of those guys wouldn't have the skills to pump gas if they weren't employed by the Armed Forces.

However... the RCMP does not (not now, not ever) hire exclusively post-secondary educated people. I go as far to say that the RCMP has probably the lowest grade applicant of any police agency in Canada (except some of the 'Reserve' agencies). Both physically and in character... many members that are pouring out of Depot are questionable officers. Most are sent to lower mainland British Columbia... where they are strictly supervised in massive detachments and can hide their fuck-ups behind other cops. The top 5% of each troop are sent to the smaller detachments, called limited duration posts. There, they work one-man-cars and have proven that they operate independently in crisis situations... w/o supervision.

I'm not saying that 90% of RCMPolice Officers are dumbasses like their Military counterparts... but its not far from that.

Things have changed in the last two years. I can speak for "C" (Quebec) and they have a specific quota of post-secondary educated to respect. From what I've heard recently, the new guidelines would ask for a good 80% with a degree and if possible, over 23-25 years old. If you're under 27 and have no degree, your name will never be picked for "C". It takes either a shitload of experience/years of patrol, or a degree.

But I can see your point. Back in Depot, I could clearly identify those who were going to be sent to BC. Not that's its a bad thing for the recruit (actually a better option than being sent to Northern Saskatchewan), but it was for a good reason...

 

[75th]

Typically, the best and most competent do not join the military. The enlisted ranks are composed largely of poor poeple, southerners, and minorities.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

It's true bro....you know this.

They do a great job, but let's not fool ourselves about who is joining.

Ranger Regiment is more selective - people are knocking down the doors to get in, and I have met Rangers with degress...even the occasional PhD Ranger.

A typical line (light) infantry unit is different...to say nothing of mech infantry, armor, or support units.

 

[overhead]

Typically, the best and most competent do not join the military. The enlisted ranks are composed largely of poor poeple, southerners, and minorities.

Just out of curiosity, do you interact with the military on a regular basis? In my experience the level of stupidity in the military is equal to the level I have found in the private sector. Well, except maybe the Marines.......j/k. Also, I did not realize the fact that you are poor, or southern, or a minority had anything to do with your level of competence.

 

[75th]

It's true bro....you know this.

They do a great job, but let's not fool ourselves about who is joining.

Ranger Regiment is more selective - people are knocking down the doors to get in, and I have met Rangers with degress...even the occasional PhD Ranger.

A typical line (light) infantry unit is different...to say nothing of mech infantry, armor, or support units.

Ha yeah I totally agree with your sentiments. I was jokin around considering I opted out of going to OCS once I got my degree and decided to enlist as a PFC.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Just out of curiosity, do you interact with the military on a regular basis? In my experience the level of stupidity in the military is equal to the level I have found in the private sector. Well, except maybe the Marines.......j/k. Also, I did not realize the fact that you are poor, or southern, or a minority had anything to do with your level of competence.

My interactions:

Three years as an Army infantry officer, in both line and Ranger units, so I guess I could say I have interacted with my share of military people.

Is leading multiple platoons enough interaction to speak authoritatively?

The fact remains that

The Army gets most if its enlisted from a very small segment of society. The easiest way to categorize that segment is low-working-class.

MOST of them have weak high school educations, and have been exposed to little other than the small towns they are often from.

As far as comparisons to the civilian world:

Outside of the military they would be blue collar laborers, typically. Some of them find law enforcement after military life to be rewarding.

The Army is not the place of intellectuals, nor should it be.

 

[DepressiveJuice]

In my experience the level of stupidity in the military is equal to the level I have found in the private sector. Well, except maybe the Marines.......j/k.

lol

 

[BO-DEN]

My interactions:

Three years as an Army infantry officer, in both line and Ranger units, so I guess I could say I have interacted with my share of military people.

Is leading multiple platoons enough interaction to speak authoritatively?

The fact remains that

The Army gets most if its enlisted from a very small segment of society. The easiest way to categorize that segment is low-working-class.

MOST of them have weak high school educations, and have been exposed to little other than the small towns they are often from.

As far as comparisons to the civilian world:

Outside of the military they would be blue collar laborers, typically. Some of them find law enforcement after military life to be rewarding.

The Army is not the place of intellectuals, nor should it be.

gods and clauds

 

[75th]

I gotta go with MattTheSkywalker on this one. I still remember the day of my physical at MEPS, the doc had a few of us read allowed some of the questions we were supposed to answer, and half of the 17 or so people who accompanied me could barely spit out a complete sentence without numerous pauses.