General Wayne Eyre explains that overseas operations and operations in Canada are now more complex due to a lack of resources.

We must defend our way of life now and in the futurebacked the Chief of Defense Staff in an interview with The Canadian Press at a time when the Army is increasingly being called upon to conduct operations in Canada and abroad.

” We need a national effort to help us get our armed forces back where they need to be to face the dangerous world we face. »

The Army is currently struggling to fill its approximately 10,000 vacancies, which is about 10% of the total workforce. Earlier this month, the chief of staff ordered his troops to make recruitment a priority, to the detriment of other activities deemed non-essential.

Recent years have been difficult for recruitment, partly due to sexual misconduct allegations against several senior military officers and a labor shortage affecting society as a whole.

We must rebuild the Canadian Forces. Our numbers must increase, General Eyre decided. And we need to have that sense of urgency because [la pénurie de personnel] undermines our ability to intervene anywhere in the world.

Lots of obstacles

The military doesn’t seem to have a clear answer as to why Canadians aren’t flocking to its recruiting centers or why many of its members are choosing to leave the ranks.

His retention strategy instead underscores the need to collect more data on departures, while Mr Eyre insisted military officers are not the only ones struggling with their recruitment efforts.

However, the army faces specific problems, particularly in relation to its reputation, which has been tarnished by allegations of sexual misconduct against high-ranking members of the hierarchy and the presence in its ranks of members of far-right groups.

The remoteness of certain military bases should not be neglected either, according to General Eyre.

We won’t lie to ourselves: Petawawa isn’t like downtown Toronto, or even downtown Ottawa, the chief of staff said, by way of example. Except that to ensure optimal coverage we need personnel in Cold Lake, in Bagotville and near both oceans.

So finding ways to make these destinations attractive is a challenge for usadmitted Mr Eyre.

lack of enthusiasm

In addition to these various obstacles, the army must consider another factor. According to a poll conducted for the Department of Defense earlier this year, many Canadians are ruling out the option of enlisting.

When asked if they were considering joining the Canadian Armed Forces, young men were more likely than young women to say yes, but overall less than half of the groups said they wouldwe can read in the summary of the survey.

Both male and female respondents indicated that they resent the idea of ​​leaving their family or moving frequently, which would also force them to leave their family.

Most of these recruitment pitfalls are not new, so many commanders have had to find solutions to these problems.

For his part, to make up for the accumulated delay, General Eyre is banking on an overhaul of the army’s code of conduct, better representation of diversity and financial support programs.

” It didn’t all collapse and we didn’t lose our operational efficiencies overnight. »

Mr Eyre pointed out that the new dress code is more inclusive as it also allows for long hair, nail polish and facial tattoos for the first time.

I’m more worried about these issues [pour les recrues] : Can they fight? Are you in good shape? Do they follow orders?

General Eyre opened the door to other changes, such as allowing more remote work and relaxing the requirement that members be physically able to perform their duties and be employed at all times as a condition of employment.

She also works to ensure that military personnel have adequate financial resources to live comfortably, particularly by improving the subsistence allowance that has been frozen since 2009 to offset living expenses in more expensive communities.

At the end of the day, however, General Eyre reminds us that he needs the approval of the whole country and that people need to recognize the importance of the army’s role.

It’s not just the Canadian Armed Forces that have to worry about army recruitmentAccording to him.