Troops ready, eager for new overseas missions: Natynczyk

Yes please send me to some other backwards asshole nation where we can spend cash, loose lives, and when we pull out can be confident it will go back to the same condition we found it in.

If these troops are so eager, the Canadians can lead the charge into Syria. We Americans will finally get to sit one out.

Why not try to resolve Somalia, a real issue where the country actually needs major help stabilizing due to an insane number of factions fighting over control of the area?

There's one born every minute. But I read soldier's comments that they were glad they were going to Astan because it would be good for their careers. I guess if you make it thru reasonably unscathed, that's true.

I don't understand this. I thought soldiers said they are reluctant to go to war, but take on the heavy burden for the good of the country. We should say a big thank you to them for that. But this sounds more like guys that want some action. Any action, the reason for it doesn't matter. Let's just go and kill some scumbags.

Where does it say these troops are looking to head for another war zone? For the most part these people are highly trained professions, not just "trained killers". They are only wishing to be sent somewhere they will be able to put their skills to good use. There is one Hell of a lot more to a Canadian soldier, sailor or airman (person) than being able to go out and fight a series of battles in some God forsaken shit hole. Canadian forces are known for their peace keeping duties throughout the world, never mind being sent to help with natural disasters anywhere in the world along with their humanitarian efforts any place you care to mention. Boredom is a bitch as is constant training sessions with absolutely no goal in sight. These people just want to get up off their collective asses and get out somewhere they can use their talents to the best of their abilities and somehow make a positive difference, no matter what he situation.

You are right Hyack, but I cant think of any other major over seas mission that would entail anything but peacemaking. It is just that last year we were all talking about how burnt out the CF was from Afghanistan, now they are ready to go? Personally I think this is just a political move, the Gen just wants to make sure that the cuts to the CF do go very deep. He wants to keep a deployable military on the table.

I dont know about what the other units are doing but out of the last 4 months, I have had about 3 weeks at home. We are either in the field, supporting the training school, or running off to help with some natural disaster. I cant wait for my summer leave to kick off next weekend. It's bitter sweet however; when I get back to work I have 1 week of running the SAT trainer then another two weeks in the field.

Where does it say these troops are looking to head for another war zone? For the most part these people are highly trained professions, not just "trained killers". They are only wishing to be sent somewhere they will be able to put their skills to good use. There is one Hell of a lot more to a Canadian soldier, sailor or airman (person) than being able to go out and fight a series of battles in some God forsaken shit hole. Canadian forces are known for their peace keeping duties throughout the world, never mind being sent to help with natural disasters anywhere in the world along with their humanitarian efforts any place you care to mention. Boredom is a bitch as is constant training sessions with absolutely no goal in sight. These people just want to get up off their collective asses and get out somewhere they can use their talents to the best of their abilities and somehow make a positive difference, no matter what he situation.

I think for the most part the Canadian Forces as a unit collectively need some well deserved stand down time to bring things back to standard, repairs, replacement, rebuilding equipment etc. Whereas the serving members themselves, as individuals are looking to ....get back in the saddle again.

If a mission to Syria isn't peacekeeping, I don't know what would be.

Didn't you mostly sit out Libya plus a goodly chunk of WWI and a couple of years of WWII?

Didn't you mostly sit out Libya plus a goodly chunk of WWI and a couple of years of WWII?
Yes, thankfully. Unfortunately those seem to be the exceptions to the rule. Whenever something goes wrong in the world, people want to know what the Americans will do. The same is asked much less frequently of Germany, the British, Russia, Australia, Brazil, and other first-world nations who are fully capable of solving the problems.

you included Brazil in the First World??

Why not? They have a very healthy and fully developed industrial and services economy, and the bad and rural parts of Brazil are very similar to places like Watts and Appalachia, and yes, I have been to both.

Germany - prohibitted by their own domestic law from sending combat troops overseas, generally don't want to anyway as these things really aren't their problem.
Japan - ditto.
Britain - too busy austerity-ing themselves to death.
Russia - tend not to leave when they show up, likely to side with the terrorists anyway, kind of a bad guest to invite to anything.
Australia - not enough of the mad hatters to make up the difference.
Brazil - not good at much of anything aside from soccer and hawt big-ass women showing off their naughty bits on the beach.
France - whatever.
India - manages to lose wars to Pakistan.
China - see Russia above.
Canada - see Australia above.

Sorry Yanks, You wanted the job of tough guy on the block, you got it.