Military Training Under fire

Moira Macdonald
Toronto Sun
Monday Oct 23, 2006
As Mrs Macdonald said the army only becomes a hot topic when it trains people for war.
For those of you who haven't read the article that was posted in the Toronto sun on Oct. 23, 2006 it dealt with the Army Reserve Co-op program and the training of high school students for war. the article spoke mostly of how school trusties and some peace activists have tried to axe the co-op programs in some school boards in Ontario.
Marilyn Eves, a retired school teacher and peaces activist made a statement in the article "we recognize that all nations need to protect their borders, but we don't feel that this has to be taught in the schools".
It is quite clear that Mrs. Eves has no idea what the true cost of "protect their borders"
is.
The cost is Canadian blood. The same blood as in past, present and future wars.
The Co-Op program is an integral part of the reserve and regular force recruitment process. In order for someone to become good at a job, any job they must first be trained in there chosen profession. Trade schools exist for every other conceivable job from brick laying to electronics.So when a young person boy or girl chooses "The Profession Of Arms" to learn how to become an effective soldier and potentially a leader of men and women, they should be encouraged to do so.
The co-op program helps to create better citizens. it gives these young people a sense of pride and dignity and a feeling that they are doing something useful in society. The Canadian Forces also gives students an understanding of local and national historical events as well as some understanding of political events on a global scale. It helps to connect young people to the past and the sacrifices that were made by young people of the same age in generations past.
Canadian Society should make no mistake we are a nation at war. It is a sad fact that deaths will occur and many of them will be the young people of this country. Let this nation and the people in it take a lesson from the past two world wars, that the bickering and political agendas of different interest groups has the ability to cause deaths on the battle field.
As a product of both education systems public school and military, I can honestly say that the military has taught me much more.they have taught my honest, loyalty, integrity and comradeship, given me a sense of duty to myself, family, country and unit. The military has also given me a family that i can count on in times of need an d until my death be it on the battlefield or in a retirement home.

The Dutchknight