Troops told to return gear amid shortage despite record defence spending
A National Defence Headquarters email ordered CAF members in non-deployable units to return gear, including backpacks and fragmentation vests.
Despite record defence spending pledges, the Canadian Armed Forces have asked personnel in the National Capital Region to return field equipment, including body armour vests, to address “critical equipment shortages” for deployed operations.
The Globe and Mail obtained a May 13 email from National Defence Headquarters directing CAF members in the region who are not in deployable units to return gear, including backpacks and fragmentation vests.
“Your co-operation is essential to the success of this effort,” says the email sent on behalf of Colonel Jeff Toope, commander of Canadian Forces Support Group Ottawa-Gatineau and a local base.
A Department of National Defence (DND) spokesperson confirmed the email’s authenticity. It was reportedly sent to 10,000 people. Gear collection is scheduled for later this month and early June at Ottawa’s Carling Campus.
