Recent content by BF1

I have two kids serving in Afghanistan right now.  I am a retired soldier and have also served in Afghanistan.  The soldier in me wants to stay and finish the job.  The father in me wants the mission to end now and bring my kids home safely.  I guess it all depends on your perspective.  Good...

I thought it was obvious? "Toronto: center of the universe!"

I think it just represents the natural evolution of Intelligence collection.  Before the internet, sources were cultivated using money, sex, and booze to name a few. It was very labour intensive, expensive, and time consuming.  Now, thanks to the internet, agencies can troll for possible sources...

Afghanis ARE living in the same crap conditions prior to the invasion.  First, Afghani is not a person, it is a currency. If you must make comments about Afghanistan at least try to have an understanding of the difference between an Afghan (a person of Afghan nationality) and an Afghani (a...

I see a lot of comments here on how "Army centric" LGen Leslie is.  Well, he is the Chief of LAND Staff, so I hope he is Army Centric!

In '93 I commissioned from Arty WO to Int OCdt. As far as doing BOTC with all the kids getting ready to go to RMC it wasn't a big deal.  I do have a question for Shamrock though: did someone actually order you not to wear your medals or ribbons?

An M 113 with a few VIP's poking out of the cargo hatch.......a rather devilish Crew Commander.........and a driver who really knows how to create the perfect bow-wave in a Gagetown puddle. That was fun!

Any one who has served in a place requiring one to defecate in a plastic bag can relate to the following: I was in Cyprus, early 80's. I received 30 extras from my BSM.  Completing one extra was accomplished by emptying the honeybuckets in all the OP's manned by Ledra Bty. I had a jeep and...

How about the Afghan Colonel who thought it would be fine to demonstrate how he could fire a RPG from his office window, with us in the office. :o Fortunately we talked him out of it.

A 2Lt burning charge bags behind the Gun Line.

During the entry into Kosovo in 1999, the Germans were aggressive and quickly dominated their AOR.  Don't underestimate their reaction to a territory such as Kosovo which could easily become sympathetic (more sympathetic?) to radical Islamic elements who would love a secure launching point in...

"I prefer MP BUT the way it was described to me was that theey will be full to the brim for the next while (at least a year) and that contracts were 3 years at min" So it appears your preferred end state is to become an MPO.  If that is the case, don't waste the Int Branch's already scarce...

I recently retired after 25 years in the Reg F as a WO and as an Officer.  As a WO I met all types of young Officers in the field as our troop seemed to be a training ground for young Troop Commanders.  Regardless of background, some would listen and some would not.  Those who would not listen...

For a company like BW to make a profit their customers expect anonymity. If I were doing contracts for Dept of State or a private corporation, I would want a company that can keep its collective mouth shut. From what I've seen of the PMC world, word of mouth advertising is the preferred method...

The ADATS went through the same teething problems as most other newly created weapon systems in the late 70's and early 80's.  I think the main reason for its' status as an orphan is the so called "peace dividend" brought about by the end of the Cold War.  Overall, it is still a great air and...