In the year 2012, 734 Comm Sqn, 735 Comm Regt, 736 Comm Sqn, and 737 Comm Sqn amalgamated to become 38 Signal Regiment. At the time of amalgamation, the parade strength (total number of established positions filled) of 38 Signal Regiment stood at roughly 47%. In the ten following years, like the Regular Force and many other Reserve Units, 38 Signal Regiment saw a gradual reduction in its total Parade strength. The pandemic was particularly devastating, as recruiting came to a near complete stop for just about two years.
I assumed command of the 38 Signal Regiment in September of 2022. The parade strength of the Regiment at that time was roughly 30%, however, we were also sitting on an accumulation of release files delayed during the pandemic. In truth, the effective strength (parade strength – releases in process) of the Regiment was closer to 25%. While the Regiment had always managed to provide command support to 38 Brigade for key training events, we were doing so on the back of the same soldiers time after time.
It was clear that we needed to grow and we needed to be innovative in how we tried to grow, every avenue needed to be considered. It is in this context that I found myself discussing the issue with one of the Regiment’s previous Commanding Officers, LCol Jackie Janzen, on the drive to Ottawa from the Reserve G6 conference in Kingston. While we discussed many things during that two hour drive, the most important and relevant to this forum was that an absence of a unit association for our current and former members was a massive missed opportunity in seeking to grow the Regiment.
A conversation with the Regiment’s Honorary Colonel, Kelvin Shepherd, really set things in motion in terms of moving the idea from an idea to a reality. While the path wasn’t always easy, in October 2023, 38 Signal Regiment Association officially held its first meeting, and began accepting membership.
So why do I think the association is important? To be frank, I need help to grow the Regiment. The Regiment is in a good place when it comes to workplace culture, work ethic, and most importantly good people. We just just don’t have enough people. I see the association as growing into a network of people who promote the Regiment and provide support in helping it grow in strength and visibility with our communities.
To help grow the Regiment, please consider joining the association and if you’re interested in joining the Reserves, the Regiment is always recruiting.
 |
Virus-free.www.avast.com |
