Paratroopers defend airborne

Yes some members of the Regiment did terrible acts. So did Russel Williams and we didn't disband 8 wing.

True.

However, an argument could be made that the actions of those 'few' were widespread and insitutional. Many of the army folk I've talked to about this tell lots of horror stories about the antics of the Airborne Regiment and the absolute leadership failure there.

Bit different than Williams and 8 Wing - one of those apples and oranges thing.

Look on the bright side, at least Chretien did'nt abolish the whole armed forces.

I think the article is talking about the "Devil's Brigade", not the "Black Devils".

Absolute failure of senior leadership in this case. Unfortunately the actions of a few idiots, that should've been dealt with in the proper manner, resulted in mass punishment a regiment with a proud history of service to our country.
All they did when they disbanded the regiment was send the same troubled individuals back to their previous units. Rather than handling the problem correctly, they just shoved the problem over to someone else.

It's done, CAR will never be resurrected. The CAR at the end of it's life at least provides a lesson on what not to let CSOR become.

You couldn't be more wrong. Pete Kenward was the last Commanding Officer of the CAR and he had cleaned house and those who needed to were released from the CF. In fact an argument could be made that the battalions who supplied the Airborne with troops, were guilty of sending their fuck-ups on jump courses and upon passing were posted to the regiment!

Every army is dong shit: raping, killing (for what it was made), robbing and destroying. It doesn't matter what part of whole army it is and to what country it belongs. Maybe military medics and priests are not doing this, but I'm not sure. In every case this soldiers are fighting for their coutry or friendship country. Nature made that strong puts down weak and weak can always become stronger for putting everything back to another one. Only person who did crime answers for it, person, not the army. There are good and bad soldiers too. So all the shit on their heads is just political game, not more.

Very true, PF, but we like to lie to ourselves and believe that we are better
than basic Nature, that somehow we as people can rise above it.

You couldn't be more wrong. Pete Kenward was the last Commanding Officer of the CAR and he had cleaned house and those who needed to were released from the CF. In fact an argument could be made that the battalions who supplied the Airborne with troops, were guilty of sending their fuck-ups on jump courses and upon passing were posted to the regiment!

Based on your ID, I'll assume you have some first hand knowledge so I'll defer to you about my comment. I definitely agree with your second statement though. That problem was rampant when I was still serving, pass the problem child to the next guy so I don't have to deal with him. You would've thought there would have been a better way to weed out the fucktards before they were posted to the regiment.

You couldn't be more wrong. Pete Kenward was the last Commanding Officer of the CAR and he had cleaned house and those who needed to were released from the CF. In fact an argument could be made that the battalions who supplied the Airborne with troops, were guilty of sending their fuck-ups on jump courses and upon passing were posted to the regiment!

Based on your ID, I'll assume you have some first hand knowledge so I'll defer to you about my comment. I definitely agree with your second statement though. That problem was rampant when I was still serving, pass the problem child to the next guy so I don't have to deal with him. You would've thought there would have been a better way to weed out the fucktards before they were posted to the regiment.

Initially there was a process in place so that only experienced soldiers, in good standing, were sent to the Airborne. Around the mid to late '80's that was no longer the norm and troops were being sent that had very little experience (a year or two in the army)and weren't the best that the battalions had to offer. I left there in 1988 and I could plainly see that some problems were developing that would get out of control quickly if not dealt with. The rest is history.

Just a quick note. I don't mean to give the impression that every troop sent to the Airborne after the mid 80's was a problem child, some of the troops sent were outstanding soldiers who served and are still serving with distinction.