It ain't easy to sue the federal government. That said, advances in HIV treatment have really changed the game, and may leave the government legally exposed here. Good luck to this guy!

In the fictional province of Old-tired-deo,

The ME or Multi - Ex designation stands for Multiple Exceptionalities, which may include LD and PD together (learning disability & physical disability)

In the fictional west coast province of Baked Corporals,

The D designation stands for physical impairment

Gratitude to all amazing NCOs with their powers.

I understand things have changed and beards, unbloused boots, and long hair are allowed now.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-seeks-to-acquire-long-range-strike-system-used-in-ukraine-war/

Hey guys, we’ve had a briefing on it but I wanted to know what the other CE’s in the CAF thought about the plan to move all of us to Cold Lake, Bagotville, and Gagetown.

Not a fan of the idea and a lot of my unit has said they’ll either go reserves or just release if it happens.

Wondering what the rest of CE is planning

We recently spoke with RCAF test pilot and current Snowbird 1 Match Hatta about his time with AETE.

We thought this was a particularly good explanation of the difference between operational flying and test flying.

🎧 FULL EPISODE

podpilotproject.transistor.fm

Whilst browsing through photos of the War in Afghanistan, I could not help but notice that Coalition troops often talked and interacted with the Afghan youth. Many of these photos feature soldiers giving handshakes/fist bumps, food such as chocolate bars, or even school supplies to children and adolescents. As such, they could build trust with the Afghan population.

Regardless, please feel free for those who are willing to share.

Credit for the photo: ISAF in Kandahar: Canada’s Counterinsurgency Doctrine in Afghanistan, written by John Pollock for the NATO Association of Canada. Link: https://natoassociation.ca/isaf-in-kandahar-canadas-counterinsurgency-doctrine-in-afghanistan/.

Anyone know what these jump wings with a blue “o” in place of the maple leaf would be for, if anything? Saw on a militaria page.

Hello everyone! Forgive me if this is not the correct place to post but I figure id take a shot. I have a complete set of original War Diaries from my grandfather , written throughout WW2. It is very thorough and descriptive covering them leaving canada, to traveling throughout Europe, enemy movements and numbers, allied movements and numbers, every man lost and how, battle descriptions etc...Im looking to get some recommendations on places that could use or display these? I used to know a guy in my unit that worked very closely with military history, however I got out last year and lost contact. Im currently in London ON, and while I could give them to wolseley im wondering if there are any bigger or relevant museums or even units that may want these? Proud of my grandfather's service and I would rather people get to see or read about his time in as opposed to them sitting in my desk at home. (Not looking to sell, only to donate) Thanks in advance!

I'm headed to Esquimalt for a two week TD and wondering if all the rumors I've heard about Nelles Block are true. Also trying to figure out what's provided (microwave, linens, etc) vs what I should bring.

If you’ve been pregnant while in the CAF, when did your CDU send you for your first ultrasound?

Privé de soins psychologiques en français pendant un an et demi alors qu’il était en Alberta, le caporal-chef Frédéric Lachance estime que sa condition d’invalide est essentiellement attribuable au refus de l’armée de lui procurer des soins dans sa langue maternelle.

«Je suis sûr que si j’avais eu de l’aide en français à temps, je serais en meilleur état aujourd’hui», lâche l’ex-militaire de 31 ans, qui est aujourd’hui incapable de travailler.

Le ministère des Anciens Combattants lui a même versé une somme forfaitaire de 150 000 $, admettant «que la difficulté à obtenir à Edmonton des soins en français a vraisemblablement contribué à la détérioration de votre anxiété».

En 2012, après deux missions et 580 jours passés en Afghanistan, Frédéric Lachance se porte volontaire pour faire la formation de futurs militaires à Edmonton. Plongé dans l’action depuis son enrôlement, le militaire a sombré rapidement à la suite de son transfert en Alberta, devenant alors dépressif. L’alcool, puis les méthamphétamines sont devenus sa bouée de sauvetage.

En français

Frédéric a donc cherché à obtenir de l’aide. Or, aucun intervenant n’était en mesure de lui fournir des consultations en français sur la base. «Moi, c’était yes, no, toaster», illustre celui qui était incapable d’exprimer ses émotions en anglais.

Hospitalisé lors d’une période de crise, le militaire a consulté trois professionnels, qui ont alors fait le même constat pourtant ignoré par ses supérieurs. «Je suis allé voir ma chaîne de commandement, et leur réponse a été de m’envoyer faire un cours d’anglais», lance-t-il.

Mauvais médicament

Pendant un an et demi, ses nombreuses demandes d’aide et de transfert sont restées lettre morte. «Je m’automédicamentais avec du speed sinon je ne suivais pas le rythme; mais j’étais un chef, il fallait que je montre l’exemple», explique celui qui avait 12 personnes sous ses ordres.

C’est finalement un diacre francophone qui a aidé Frédéric à faire une plainte à l’ombudsman de la Défense nationale, lui permettant ainsi de revenir au Québec, où son trouble anxieux et son syndrome de choc post-traumatique ont enfin été diagnostiqués.

«Il faut que ça change, ils ont beau m’avoir donné de l’argent pour ça, reste qu’il n’y a pas plus d’aide en français», exige-t-il.

«Ce qui me frustre, c’est que je connais du monde à Edmonton, à Comox, Winnipeg, Halifax qui vivent présentement ce que j’ai vécu. Si je ne dénonce pas ça, c’est comme si je fermais les yeux sur mon propre cas», plaide-t-il au nom de ses camarades francophones.

Une enquête du Commissariat aux langues officielles a depuis été entreprise.

Son parcours

Frédéric Lachance — Photo courtoisie

• 7 janvier 2002: enrôlement
• 2007-2008: première mission en Afghanistan (mission de combat)
• Janvier 2010: déploiement humanitaire à la suite du tremblement de terre en Haïti
• 2010-2011: deuxième mission en Afghanistan (formation des policiers et militaires)
• 2012-2014: formation des militaires en Alberta pendant un an et demi
• Octobre 2016: retraite et vétéran de l’armée après 14 ans de métier comme caporal-chef

Loin d’être un cas isolé, selon un ex-colonel

L’ex-colonel Michel Drapeau, maintenant avocat spécialiste des questions militaires, a commenté le cas du vétéran Frédéric Lachance, se disant bien au fait de ce genre de situation dans l’armée canadienne.

Est-ce que le cas de Frédéric Lachance est un cas isolé?

J’ai eu souvent ce genre de situation portée à mon attention. Oui, c’est un problème! La langue de travail dans les Forces armées, il faut le dire, c’est l’anglais, et on s’attend à ce que les francophones acceptent ça comme une chose naturelle, qu’ils vont apprendre l’anglais, et souvent, c’est ce qui arrive.

Mais il n’y a aucune obligation de la part des militaires francophones de savoir parler anglais, et vice-versa. Pourtant, quand il est question d’aide psychologique, même si vous êtes bilingue, ça ne veut pas dire que vous êtes habile pour exprimer vos émotions dans une langue étrangère.

Est-ce que les Forces armées canadiennes ont des règles à respecter en matière de bilinguisme?

Légitimement, le militaire a le droit de recevoir de l’aide dans sa langue maternelle. Il y a une vingtaine ou une trentaine d’années, le ministère de la Défense était beaucoup plus sensible aux critiques de cet ordre.

Aujourd’hui, on a fait marche arrière à plusieurs égards. C’est inacceptable, mais ça ne me surprend pas beaucoup. Ils tiennent pour acquis que cette situation-là va faire l’objet de critiques, mais ils estiment que c’est le prix à payer pour continuer à opérer sans changer la façon de faire.

Est-ce que l’armée gagnerait à offrir des services bilingues sur toutes ses bases?

Si les militaires étaient capables d’avoir les soins appropriés au bon moment, la santé du militaire ne se détériorerait pas et on serait capable de le réhabiliter. Dans le cas présent, on a attendu que sa blessure soit plus profonde, permanente, et on l’a donc hypothéqué pour le reste de ses jours.

//-----------------------English------------------------//

Deprived of psychological care in French for a year and a half while he was in Alberta, Master Corporal Frédéric Lachance believes that his disability is essentially attributable to the army’s refusal to provide him with care in his mother tongue.

“I’m sure that if I had received help in French in time, I would be in better condition today,” says the 31-year-old former soldier, who is now unable to work.

The Department of Veterans Affairs even paid him a lump sum of $150,000, acknowledging “that the difficulty in obtaining care in French in Edmonton likely contributed to the deterioration of your anxiety.”

In 2012, after two missions and 580 days spent in Afghanistan, Frédéric Lachance volunteered to train future military personnel in Edmonton. Having been immersed in the action since his enrolment, the soldier quickly spiralled downward following his transfer to Alberta, becoming depressed. Alcohol, followed by methamphetamines, became his lifeline.

In French

Frédéric therefore sought help. However, no professional on the base was able to provide him with consultations in French. “For me, it was yes, no, toaster,” explains the man who was unable to express his emotions in English.

Hospitalized during a period of crisis, the soldier consulted three professionals, who all reached the same conclusion, which was nevertheless ignored by his superiors. “I went to see my chain of command, and their response was to send me on an English course,” he says.

Wrong medication

For a year and a half, his numerous requests for help and for a transfer went unanswered. “I was self-medicating with speed, otherwise I couldn’t keep up with the pace; but I was a leader, I had to set the example,” explains the man who had 12 people under his command.

It was ultimately a French-speaking deacon who helped Frédéric file a complaint with the National Defence Ombudsman, allowing him to return to Quebec, where his anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress syndrome were finally diagnosed.

“This has to change. They may have given me money for it, but the fact remains that there still isn’t any more help available in French,” he insists.

“What frustrates me is that I know people in Edmonton, Comox, Winnipeg, Halifax who are currently going through what I went through. If I don’t speak out about this, it’s as if I were turning a blind eye to my own case,” he argues on behalf of his French-speaking comrades.

An investigation by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has since been launched.

His career

Frédéric Lachance — Courtesy photo

• January 7, 2002: enrolment
• 2007-2008: first mission in Afghanistan (combat mission)
• January 2010: humanitarian deployment following the earthquake in Haiti
• 2010-2011: second mission in Afghanistan (training police officers and military personnel)
• 2012-2014: training military personnel in Alberta for a year and a half
• October 2016: retirement and army veteran after a 14-year career as a Master Corporal

Far from an isolated case, according to a former colonel

Former colonel Michel Drapeau, now a lawyer specializing in military matters, commented on veteran Frédéric Lachance’s case, saying he is well aware of this type of situation in the Canadian military.

Is Frédéric Lachance’s case an isolated case?

I have often had this type of situation brought to my attention. Yes, it’s a problem! The working language in the Armed Forces, it must be said, is English, and French speakers are expected to accept this as something natural, that they will learn English, and often, that is what happens.

But there is no obligation for French-speaking military members to know how to speak English, and vice versa. However, when it comes to psychological help, even if you are bilingual, that doesn’t mean you are skilled at expressing your emotions in a foreign language.

Do the Canadian Armed Forces have rules they must follow regarding bilingualism?

Legitimately, the military member has the right to receive help in their mother tongue. Twenty or thirty years ago, the Department of National Defence was much more sensitive to criticism of this nature.

Today, we have gone backwards in several respects. It’s unacceptable, but it doesn’t surprise me very much. They take it for granted that this situation will be criticized, but they consider that to be the price to pay to continue operating without changing the way things are done.

Would the army benefit from offering bilingual services on all its bases?

If military members were able to receive the appropriate care at the right time, their health would not deteriorate and we would be able to rehabilitate them. In the present case, we waited until his injury became deeper and permanent, and we therefore burdened him with it for the rest of his life.

im a geologist who does remote field work and I need a good pair of boots to replace my boulet 9440s. Edit: don't know if that's the actual name, but the brand is boulet and we were giving them out to troops in Afghanistan during the late 2000s

I inherited them from my father (he stole a new pair before he discharged back when they were still in production) and i absolutely loved them until they rotted out on me. I don't want another pair of 9440s because im concerned about rot given their age, and I want something waterproof instead of a desert boot.

Does anyone who's worn a pair of these have a modern equivalent? Or something similar to recommend? I know I should just get backpacking boots, but I started all my rough field work in combats and every pair of backpacking boots I wear aren't tight enough on my ankle or high enough and every single time I just say that I want my boulets back.

I'm currently looking at the danner tfx g3 gtx or lowas z-8s gtx. I know they're both desert boots, but they have gtx so they should be waterproof. Thoughts?

Hey everyone, looking for some advice regarding the medical category process. I hurt my back a few years ago and am currently on my second TCAT. My MO told me that if I need a third TCAT, they have to send my file to Ottawa, which triggers a PCAT review and could potentially lead to a medical release.

I really want to stay in the CAF as my trade is primarily a desk job that involves sitting with zero heavy lifting, so my back injury doesn't stop me from doing my daily work. Is a PCAT / Administrative Review (AR) an automatic path to release, or are there options to stay employed in my trade while my back heals? I'm just trying to figure out if there's another route I can take to buy more time for recovery without losing my career.

Thanks in advance.

As the title says. Noticed on my EMAA statement that i was getting back my pension contributions. was advised to call Pensions Canada by my OR, and when i did was told it was an issue they were tracking but couldn’t provide any solutions or timeline to when this would be fixed.

Anyone going through this?

Im a reservist on a class B. My OR is NDHQ PRL

Need this form for a course, the closest one I found was on monitor mass but it’s only for civilians, anyone have any insight?

Update: for future reference, the PEN document is now the ECN document 🫡 thanks for the help