Quote:
Originally Posted by Spork
Now is the time to start your mercenary business!
On another note, as much as I support the Olympics (events and sports are fun, tourism advertising is great) and not support it (IOC is a joke), this security budget is out of control. I understand the need for emergency planning and such, but surely it should have been estimated as higher in the first place!
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There are alot of things i can't discuss, but here is the basic military side of things:
Our kit is old, average about 15-20 years. it needs to be replaced. The parts cost alot to maintain the vehicles, and it costs alot to order a new LAV everytime one gets damaged or destroyed.
Manpower, not enough people being recruited to fill in the lower-ranking, low-paying bitch positions. So a guy getting paid at the rank of PO 1st class is doing the job of a master seaman, basically meaning that a guy is getting paid 8000-9000 per month doing the job of a guy who would get paid 4500-5000 per month, which is what the original estimate was based off of. Also add to that they will get separation pay, sea pay, etc. and you are shelling out alot of money for one guy. Each ship is crewed by 300 guys, so it is about 3 million per ship for the olympics just to man the things, nevermind operate them. Plus all the other little details, such as army recce, the tanks, the LAV III's, the aircraft, the RCMP, the emergency service workers who will be on the job basically 24/7... Accommidations at super-inflated prices... It'll really add up.
oh, and 6 ships, including frigates and costal patrol ships likely means one frigate, one destroyer, and four little minesweeper ships. not alot fo firepower in the big picture, and IMO doesn't present an awesome picture of Canada's navy prowess... but I'm an army guy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cornholio
^^It is a joke, but what I want to know is how much of this budget includes the use of our military in what amounts to a state of the art training exercise, something they do and would do regardless if the olympic were held.
What im trying to say is the military is here its payed for and it being used for the olympics doesnt really amount to any extra costs as its already budgeted in the federal budget for the military.
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You are pretty close to being bang on. overall the numbers aren't boosted that much by the exercise, as most of us would otherwise be off doing other things anyways,
This post reflects the personal opinion of this soldier, and in no way reflects the opinion of the Army, the Canadian Forces as a whole, and any of it's divisions or other service members.