1050-1-2 (SO D Inf)
September 2005
Distribution List
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS -
CANADIAN INFANTRY ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 25-29 MAY 2005
References: A. CIA AGM 2005 Agenda V13 dated 13 May 2005
B. Minutes from CIA Council Meeting, 28 May 2005 (NOTAL)
C. CD – Presentations and Documents, CIA AGM 2005, 28 May 05
D. http://armyonline.kingston.mil.ca/LFDTS/
Introduction
1. The Canadian Infantry Association (CIA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held in Sydney, Nova Scotia at the 2nd Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) Armouries from 25-29 May 2005. It was well attended, peaking at 194 attendees. Guest speakers, both serving and retired Infantrymen and Friends of the Infantry, participated from across Canada, Germany, the UK and the USA.
Aim
2. The aim of the AGM was to gather the senior “leadership” of the Infantry Corps in a forum to provoke thought and discussion on issues affecting the Corps today and in the near future.
General
3. Overall, the conference was lauded as a success. Seventy-five percent of the attendees that completed the post-conference questionnaire stated the conference met their expectations. The agenda was packed with presentations ranging from information briefs from Canadian subject matter experts to invited guests from allied forces. Based on the feedback from the previous year’s CIA AGM, more time was scheduled for Soldier Modernization Initiatives; Canadian, German, UK, and US equipment procurement staffs provided displays and presentations.
4. To provide more time for Soldier Modernization, working groups, which are normally conducted at the AGM, were removed from the agenda. The only opportunity provided for group discussions was during the “bull sessions” that were scheduled for COs and RSMs.
CIA COUNCIL MEETING (reference B)
5. The CIA Executive met the evening of 28 May 05. The new President thanked the outgoing council and the host unit staff for the excellent work they did in making the CIA AGM 2005 such a success. After review of previous minutes and the budget, the council conducted the following business:
a. LCol Ken McBey was nominated Senior Vice-President;
b. LCol D. Rioux will be the host branch POC for AGM 2006, which will be held 25-27 May 2006 in Quebec City;
c. AGM 2007 will be in Edmonton, with Maj Hans Brink as the POC;
d. AGM 2008 will be in Windsor, but no other details are available at this time;
e. Data Base. It was suggested the list of donors for past AGMs be used for future fundraising. A discussion ensued on the merits of investing 30% of future donations for future needs. Concerns were raised about locking donors into long-term commitments and the reality of fluctuating AGM costs between locations. It was decided that a committee should be struck to study the matter.
f. CDA/CDAI AGM 2006. To reduce costs Council limited participation to one paid representative.
g. Executive Teleconference Minutes. Council directed Executive Teleconferences minutes be posted on the Council web page.
h. By-Law Review. Council directed LCol McCuaig and HCol Cade to amend the By-Law as per the recent amendments. Final report to be posted on the Council page.
i. Longevity Review. LCol Rodaway was asked to undertake a longevity review of the association.
6. The next Council Meeting is scheduled for 25 May 2006 in Quebec City.
SUMMARY OF PRESENTATIONS (Reference C)
State of the Infantry Corps – Col T. Tarrant (D Inf)
7. Col Tarrant, as D Inf, briefed the AGM on the state of the Infantry Corps. In general, the brief detailed the state of the Corps today with respect to personnel and operations and described Infantry transformational issues. Of particular note were the following:
a. CDS/National Context. The future security environment (FSE) and the role the infantry will play within the FSE. There are new challenges and adversaries. The Infantry must still be able to operate within high intensity ops, but stability ops and humanitarian ops combined with low intensity combat ops will be the norm in the FSE. The Infantry must be able to conduct “Full Spectrum Operations” or the “Three Block War”.
b. Role of the Infantry. The discussion on the role of the Infantry has been ongoing since 1996 but after much discussion and sometimes-angry debate, it has not changed to date. This role is evolving. In the context of modern warfare, we will strive to defeat the enemy in any way possible. Ideally, we will not have to incur casualties in close combat if we can dislocate the enemy and cause him to surrender without a battle. But, in the end, the infantry soldier stands ready to close with and kill the enemy when there are no other options open to friendly forces.
c. Command and Control. The Infantry Corps will continue to produce nine uniform unit-level HQs in order to satisfy the Army's managed readiness requirements to man twelve Task Force (TF) HQs at any one time. Each HQ must be capable of exerting command and control over any subunit employed in accordance with the Force Employment Concept.
d. Infantry Battalion Organization. The director provided a snapshot of the development of the organization of both the mechanized and light infantry battalion. Each Mech/Light Rifle Coy will have 148 pers, but are organized differently. Eighteen of the 148 pers will be reservists.
e. Special Operations Forces. There is mention of a Special Operations Group in the new Defence Policy Statement. It will be formed to respond to terrorism and threats to Canadians around the world. This group will include JTF 2, a special operations aviation capability and supporting Land and Maritime forces. The infantry has capabilities that can assist SOF forces and we will be looking forward to further definition on how both our Regular and Reserve Components will be asked to contribute to the cause. Presently, the Infantry is the best option to support SOF in direct action tasks.
f. State of the Corps. The Director briefed on three main issues affecting the Inf Corps. The first being the refusal of many Cpl/MCpl/Sgt refusing leadership training and the overriding factors leading to this situation such as the recent pay raises and the plan to offer IPS to Cpl-Sgt within the Inf Corps. The second issue was the overlap between recce and surveillance within the Corps. This overlap is with the Coyote in the Armour Regiments and aspects of Infantry Reconnaissance. The issue of having an identical Infantry Bn ORBAT for Mech/Light was also discussed as well as the structure of Cbt Sp Coy and the requirement for the DFS Sqn to operate effectively with 5 Bde; and
g. Training Modernization. The Director gave insight to the modernization of training within the Infantry. The concept is to present the modern Infantry officers and their men with problems like the ones they are facing on operations on a daily basis, i.e. the three block war scenario vice the standard Warsaw Pact attack off the line of march.
Managed Readiness Plan– LCol M. Pearson (Army G3 Staff)
8. LCol Pearson provided insight on the Army Managed Readiness Plan and the 24-month operational outlook. Some highlights are as follows:
a. Army Managed Readiness System. The presentation included the challenges facing the system including transformation, expansion, regeneration, and sustainment.
b. Army Reserve Managed Readiness. The dependency on Reserves is a vital part of sustaining managed readiness. The approach, activation, and training of reserves in relation to Managed Readiness was also presented.
c. Army 24 month Outlook. A presentation of the operational forecast for the next 24 months was conducted including the plan for sustaining a second theatre of operation.
Army Doctrine and Light Forces Working Group – LCol I.M. Hunt (DAD 4)
9. LCol Hunt presented on changes in Army Doctrine including terminology, urban ops lessons learned from OIF 04/05, the impact of defence policy on the design of light forces, the indirect fire system, and an Army publications status update. Information on changes in terminology may be found at Reference D.
Developments in US Army Doctrine – LCol (Ret’d) Arthur A. Durante (Deputy Chief of Doctrine, Combined Arms and Tactics, US Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia)
10. LCol Durante briefed on the expansion plans for the US Army including the addition of 15,000 infantry, modernizing the infantry in terms of weapons and equipment, transforming the Army into a modular force, and lessons learned from operations in Iraq.
Canadian Operational Experiences: The Challenge of Command – LCol D.J. Denne (G3 LFCA and former CO of 3RCR BG Op Athena Roto 0)
11. LCol Denne spoke on his experiences as CO of 3RCR BG on Op Athena Roto 0 in Kabul, Afghanistan, and the challenges of command on operations and pre-deployment training.
Individual Training Modernization – LCol J.G.R. Melancon (Commandant of the Infantry School)
12. LCol Melancon briefed on the ongoing modernization of individual training for both officers and NCMs at the Infantry School. This included the increase in distance/electronic learning, modernization initiatives to reflect the contemporary operating environment and the Force Employment Concept and the introduction of the latest equipment and doctrine on courses. He also spoke on changes in the training philosophy to meet the challenges of full spectrum operations while maintaining the requirements for basic infantry soldier skills as the building blocks. The Infantry School is a proponent of the philosophy: “teach first and validate second.” In addition, the Infantry School emphasizes the need to think first rather than rely only on checklists and drills; students are encouraged to think outside the box. He concluded his presentation with the plans for professionalizing the LAV III within the Infantry Corps.
Director of Land Requirements 5- Close Combat Soldier Systems – LCol M.A. Bodner (DLR 5)
13. LCol Bodner initiated a series of presentations on Soldier Systems development within Canada and Allied countries. LCol Bodner briefed on developments in direct fire weapons systems, including equipment acquisition updates on ALAWS, CASW, sniper systems, small arms upgrades, CCO equip, STANO, and the Light Forces Enhancement Project.
Canadian Soldier System Programme – LCol J. Levesque (Project Manager, Integrated Soldier Systems) and Mr D Palmer (DLR 5-6-2)
14. Mr. D. Palmer gave an update on the Clothe the Soldier project as well as additional items, which may be added to the program such as the new CADPAT rain suit. LCol Levesque briefed on the Integrated Soldier System Project (ISSP) and the ongoing research and development within this project, as well as its role in the Army of Tomorrow.
Soldier Information Requirements (SIREQ) Technology Demonstration – MR D. Tack (Human Systems Inc)
15. Mr Dave Tack briefed on the experiments he has conducted in conjunction with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) on future soldier systems. These experiments have been conducted with infantry soldiers from both the RCR and PPCLI. The aim of the experiments was to define and empirically validate the performance requirements for the future Soldier System by demonstrating capability enhancements in command execution, target acquisition and situational awareness for the individual dismounted soldier in 2010-2015.
The UK FIST Programme – LCol A.M. MacNaughton (PM FIST)
16. LCol MacNaughton, Project Manager (PM) for the British Army Future Infantry Soldier Technology briefed on the requirement to modernize the British Infantry Soldier. The project’s intent is to produce an integrated fighting system to improve the mission effectiveness of individuals committed to Dismounted Close Combat (DCC). The system will assist them to move, find and engage the enemy through the integration of sensors, communications, command and control, information systems, improved load carriage, personal protection equipment and small arms. They want to have an initial operating capability by 2010.
German Soldier Modernization – LCol W. Althoff (German Army)
17. LCol Althoff briefed on the current and future plans of the German Army for producing an integrated soldier system. Currently, they are fielding a basic integrated soldier system on operations in Afghanistan as a test bed until their next generation is ready for fielding in 2008/09.
US Soldier Modernization– LCol B Cummings, Project Executive Office (Soldier), US Army
18. LCol Cummings gave an overview on the US Army’s soldier modernization program and the ongoing work as well as the plans for the future.
The Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad Initiative- Major M. Richter and Captain J Pandak (USMC)
19. Major Richter and Captain Pandak explained the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) Initiative: to man, train, organize, provide current doctrine, lead and equip the Marine Infantry Rifle Squad in an integrated, holistic and systematic fashion that increases the overall fighting ability of the entire unit across the spectrum of its missions.
20. The USMC Squad is the focus of the program as it is the smallest unit that can receive a mission in the USMC.
The Infantry Soldier, A Platoon Warrant Officer’s Perspective – WO Gregorie (1 R22eR)
21. WO Gregorie spoke on the challenges facing an Infantry Platoon Warrant Officer in the 21st Century. He focussed on his experiences on Op Athena Roto 1 in Afghanistan.
The Infantry Soldier, A Section Commander’s Perspective – Sgt Long (3 PPCLI)
22. Sgt Long spoke on the challenges facing an Infantry Section Commander in the 21st Century. His presentation focussed on his recent training experiences in the United States, training and equip issues, as well as the current high level of morale and operational focus within 3 PPCLI.
The Infantry Soldier, A Junior Leader’s Perspective – MCpl Fortin (1 RCR)
23. MCpl Fortin spoke on the challenges facing a junior leader within the Infantry in the 21st Century. He briefed that leadership today must be “situational.” Every soldier today is quite different; therefore, all leadership approaches will not work on every soldier. A junior leader must set the highest example in order for their soldiers to follow them.
CIA Business
24. The CIA Executive gave an overview of the operating budget and Heritage Fund. HCol Cade presented the Nominating Committee Report for ratification. LCol Radford (CO 3 RCR) made a motion to know the top 5-10 problems facing the Infantry Corps and this should be the focus for discussion at the next mtg. The feeling from the majority of delegates and participants was that there should have been more working groups. The president indicated that this would be considered for next year’s meeting. The location of the 2006 CIA Annual Meeting was confirmed as Quebec City hosted by the Voltigeurs de Quebec.