David Redman was an officer in the Canadian Army for 27 yearsThe Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) stand at a precipice. After nine years of broken promises on new equipment and funding, attacks on leadership failures, misuse as a gender and DEI testbed, embarrassment at the inability to provide combat-capable personnel and equipment, and occasional exploitation as props for political shows, the CAF has reached record lows for recruitment, retention and capability. As someone who spent 27 years serving in our armed forces, the decline is impossible to accept. The organization is a broken, demoralized shell.This Canada is beset by national security challenges, arguably crises: shockingly deep and broad foreign interference in our institutions, worsening illegal protests in our streets, growing concern among our allies and trading partners, the open contempt of our adversaries. In parts I and II of this series, I traced the decline of the CAF and the requirements of a rebuild..REDMAN: The scandal of Canada laying down its arms....REDMAN: Needed, a government that takes defence seriously.If the CAF is the canary in the coal mine that signals the state of Canada’s national security, then the canary is on its back, fluttering. The political and military leadership that allowed, indeed designed and executed, the decades-long deterioration and borderline destruction of the CAF must ultimately be held accountable. The rebuild must start now, however — without those responsible for it — using people who have a clear vision of the threats to our nation and national defence requirements to overcome them.I am calling for the formation of a special task force with the mandate to create a roadmap for and initiate this rebuild.The Task Force on Rebuilding the CAF should be non-partisan and composed of members with expertise in:Current and historical geopolitics; National security in areas such as intelligence, border security, immigration security, justice and law enforcement;Military operations and affairs including in the domains of land, sea, air, cyber and near-space;Procurement, logistics, recruitment and personnel as well as financial management.Within six months, the Task Force would provide a written report that included, among other things:A new comprehensive outline for the CAF’s purpose;Establishing a team to draft, within one year, a new White Paper on National Defence, with a comprehensive assessment of Canada’s intended geopolitical position vis-à-vis Canada, North America and the world;An immediate plan to retain the CAF’s current combat-capable members;An immediate plan to recruit, train and retain new combat-capable personnel;The definition of a new, apolitical, fast-tracked procurement process for equipment and supplies, as well as a plan to restore the CAF’s existing equipment to serviceable condition.A communications plan to assure public understanding and involvement in the CAF’s rebuilding.The Task Force would remain in place for three years to draft the White Paper, implement the plans needed for recruitment, training and retaining combat-capable personnel, replenish equipment and build a sustainable procurement process, and establish a surge capacity for both personnel and equipment during times of heightened tension or conflict.The task force would work with government on whatever legislation, regulation and policies would be needed. Public engagement would be critical, with a communications strategy to foster national pride and understanding of the CAF’s role in safeguarding Canada’s future.Throughout its history, Canada has risen to national security challenges with resolve and determination. Canadians have shown that, when presented with clear threats and a decisive plan of action, they are willing to invest the necessary resources to defend their country. This crisis is no different.The cliché has never been truer: Canada must decide if it wishes to be a nation or become a puppet of other nations.The concept of a post-national state, espoused by our current prime minister, is a dangerous and deadly conceit as well as a plain lie in today’s actual geopolitics. Nations like China, Russia and Iran laugh at the notion and exert their sovereign, national influence and military power daily. Canada is shunned and ridiculed by its allies, partners and rivals. Here at home, our proud history of combat capability is fading into memory and may soon be forgotten — as are our veterans.Despite the battering our country has endured, belief in Canada remains strong. Canadians have been clearly expressing a desire for change, including restoring the nation to its former unity, strong borders, vibrant economy and defence of our way of life.A proud and strong CAF was once a cornerstone of the nation’s enviable and happy state, and the rebuilding of the CAF can become a critical component of such a broader program of reformDavid Redman was an officer in the Canadian Army for 27 years, during which he was deployed on operations in Germany, Egypt, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, the United States and across Canada, before retiring in 2001 to become the head of Crisis Management-Counterterrorism in Alberta and later the head of Emergency Management Alberta. The original, full-length version of this article was recently published in C2C Journal.
