Comments on: An Imperial Grunt on the Canadian Military

By: Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace

Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:40:10 +0000

One of the ironies of American History, at least to this aged ex-Brit, is that West Point is both America’s most important military college, and also the site of the most infamous act of treachery in the American Revolution. Benedict Arnold, a general in the Continental Army, sent the plans of the fort and how to capture it to British General Sir Henry Clinton in New York. The courier was captured and hung, and Arnold escaped to the British side. It’s a fascinating story, which can perhaps be blamed on Jefferson’s love of the French!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold

By: Younghusband

Younghusband — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 17:03:30 +0000

To learn more about the First Special Service Force and it’s latter day version JTF2 read the following article entitled Special Operations Forces – Who Has Seen the Wind? an Historical Overview of Canadian Special Operations.

By: lirelou

lirelou — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 06:59:44 +0000

Other than West Point being the Land Warfare college, and Annapolis being one of three maritime colleges (Naval, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine in Maryland, Rhose Island, and New York respectively), I don’t know. I assume that the Naval Academy teaches land, air, and naval warfare, with the land emphasis being upon the seizure and defence of advanced naval bases, whereas West Point would impart a broader land warfare view. Since Canada now has a unified Armed Forces, I assume that the RMC covers a broad air-land-maritime spectrum much as I presume Annappolis does. Had I had a choice in Royal Military Colleges, I believe I would have preferred Duntroon in Aussie, but the Canadian battalions are every bit as competent as the battalions of the RAR. Both nations have fielded major military forces in time of war. At Kapyong, here in Korea, the combined efforts of the PPCLI and 3RAR convinced the Chinese to drop human wave attacks against western troops in April 1951. I suppose I would have found the Canadian Special Service Force (now extinct?) more akin to U.S. Special Forces, but then the Aussies have that SAS mystique. And in what other Army would you find a regiment whose unofficial song is “I didn’t raise my son to be a soldier”? (le 22me RCF) Really beautiful country around Ontario. I begrudge all those lucky enough to be there their beautiful fall and indian-summer weather.

By: Younghusband

Younghusband — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 03:53:35 +0000

I’ve been told that RMC is the equivalent of Annapolis, rather than West Point, but I am not sure why. What is the difference Lirelou? Just Army vs. Navy or is it deeper than that?

By: lirelou

lirelou — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 02:12:08 +0000

The U.S. equivalent would be the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. There are also a Air Command and Staff College which was at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, a USMC Command and General Staff College at Quantico, VA, and a Naval equivalent somewhere (not sure if its the Naval Postgraduate Institute at Monterrey, CA). The Naval War College, for all yachtees, is at Newport, Rhode Island.