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So now you're redefining words. What are you, a Democrat?
Opinion Canadian military admits new sleeping bags are not suited to Canadian winters
- Thread starter LeonardoBjj
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So now you're redefining words. What are you, a Democrat?
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No, I'm highlighting the absurdity of it all by pointing out we won nearly every major battle, inflicted more casualties on them, seized control of their country, deposed them, installed a new regime, and drove them into exile. We conquered them. That's sort of what winning wars is about.
We didn't lose the war. We lost the occupation. And that's because we said from the beginning we didn't want to occupy them because we didn't want to be perceived as a colonizing power. The only objective we failed to meet was stabilizing the country, but only because we left. We could have stayed. When we were there we controlled the country. But the point was always to give the country back to the Afghani people. When the very presumption of the objective is wrong, because the Taliban reflects the popular will of the Afghani people, how is it possible to defeat the Taliban by giving control to the people who want them in power? Martial success is irrelevant.
It's sort of like saying the British lost the Indian Rebellion of 1857 because they ultimately abandoned the country in 1946. It's a shorter timetable, and ours was never a commercial enterprise masquerading as a symbiotic colony, but perhaps you'll notice the framing of the term is inappropriate.
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When you occupy someone else's country, all they have to do to win is still be there when you leave.
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Not stole, "tactically acquired"
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Concession accepted.
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Sleeping bags are so good now. The new synthetic stuff is basically as warm as down
No more playing the "do I want to be chilly? or do I want to be warm but risk death if there's a little moisture?" on winter camping packing
No more playing the "do I want to be chilly? or do I want to be warm but risk death if there's a little moisture?" on winter camping packing
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A bit of good news: the old sleeping bags from the 1960s haven't been disposed of yet! So at least the Canadian troops wouldn't freeze to death in the upcoming joint exercise in Alaska.
https://www.westernstandard.news/author/jen-hodgson
By Jen Hodgson | 13 Sep 2024
Canadian soldiers headed to training in Alaska will be using old sleeping bags from the 1960’s due to the Department of National Defence (DND) wasting $34.8 million on a modern “sleeping bag system.”
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members used the DND’s newly acquired General Purpose Sleeping Bag System (GPSBS) late in the fall of 2023 in Ram Falls Provincial Park, near Red Deer, and found they are not fit for the “typical Canadian winter.”
Troops of the 3rd battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry found “several critical issues … related to lack of warmth with the new GPSBS,” an internal briefing note states, according to the CBC.
Temperatures plummeted to -2 C at night during the 2023 northern training. Soldiers were still cold, despite sleeping in stove-heated talents, said the memo.
"The GPSBS was chosen following a rigorous competitive process," said the DND in a statement.
"The technical requirements used to make the selection included insulation value, weight of the bags and the packing volume."
With the upcoming joint northern exercise with US troops in Alaska with the Americans in January 2025, CAF asked the DND for the best apparent alternative — old “legacy” bedrolls from the 1960s.
The DND is now looking for a new sleeping bag that can be used in northern climates. The failed GPSBS are “better suited for use in weather conditions that are characteristic of late spring to early fall" and were not practical "for typical Canadian winter conditions nor the extreme cold of Alaska," said the internal note.
Officials in the briefing note recommended soldiers in the Alaskan exercise be “loaned” 500 of the old sleeping bags, which the $35 million-bags were meant to replace.
"The GPSBS remains a core component of the Canadian Armed Forces' sleeping system and is expected to stay in service for many years," reads the memo.
"However, we recognize the need for enhanced protection in extreme environments, which is why we have issued a request for proposals for an Extreme Cold Weather Sleeping Bag system initiative. This additional procurement will complement the GPSBS, ensuring coverage across all climatic conditions, including the Arctic."
"I wonder if they should have just gone to Canadian Tire," University of Calgary defence expert in Arctic military affairs Rob Huebert said to the CBC.
He said he was skeptical the new sleeping system was even tested before troops were sent out with them in subzero temperatures.
"You test to make sure that the new kit works, because it does not always work," said Huebert.
"We're getting such difficulties and challenges from a no-brainer, such as sleeping bags.”
“And when you start thinking about the over-the-horizon radars, the F-35 and its parts, and presumably the submarines, at one point — I mean, it just does not fill one with too much confidence."
www.westernstandard.news
https://www.westernstandard.news/author/jen-hodgson
By Jen Hodgson | 13 Sep 2024
Canadian soldiers headed to training in Alaska will be using old sleeping bags from the 1960’s due to the Department of National Defence (DND) wasting $34.8 million on a modern “sleeping bag system.”
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members used the DND’s newly acquired General Purpose Sleeping Bag System (GPSBS) late in the fall of 2023 in Ram Falls Provincial Park, near Red Deer, and found they are not fit for the “typical Canadian winter.”
Troops of the 3rd battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry found “several critical issues … related to lack of warmth with the new GPSBS,” an internal briefing note states, according to the CBC.
Temperatures plummeted to -2 C at night during the 2023 northern training. Soldiers were still cold, despite sleeping in stove-heated talents, said the memo.
"The GPSBS was chosen following a rigorous competitive process," said the DND in a statement.
"The technical requirements used to make the selection included insulation value, weight of the bags and the packing volume."
With the upcoming joint northern exercise with US troops in Alaska with the Americans in January 2025, CAF asked the DND for the best apparent alternative — old “legacy” bedrolls from the 1960s.
The DND is now looking for a new sleeping bag that can be used in northern climates. The failed GPSBS are “better suited for use in weather conditions that are characteristic of late spring to early fall" and were not practical "for typical Canadian winter conditions nor the extreme cold of Alaska," said the internal note.
Officials in the briefing note recommended soldiers in the Alaskan exercise be “loaned” 500 of the old sleeping bags, which the $35 million-bags were meant to replace.
"The GPSBS remains a core component of the Canadian Armed Forces' sleeping system and is expected to stay in service for many years," reads the memo.
"However, we recognize the need for enhanced protection in extreme environments, which is why we have issued a request for proposals for an Extreme Cold Weather Sleeping Bag system initiative. This additional procurement will complement the GPSBS, ensuring coverage across all climatic conditions, including the Arctic."
"I wonder if they should have just gone to Canadian Tire," University of Calgary defence expert in Arctic military affairs Rob Huebert said to the CBC.
He said he was skeptical the new sleeping system was even tested before troops were sent out with them in subzero temperatures.
"You test to make sure that the new kit works, because it does not always work," said Huebert.
"We're getting such difficulties and challenges from a no-brainer, such as sleeping bags.”
“And when you start thinking about the over-the-horizon radars, the F-35 and its parts, and presumably the submarines, at one point — I mean, it just does not fill one with too much confidence."
Soldiers forced to use 1960s sleeping bags after DND’s $35M purchase not fit for Canadian winter
Canadian soldiers headed to training in Alaska will be using old sleeping bags from the 60’s due to the Department of National Defence (DND) wasting $34.8 million on a modern “sleeping bag system.”
