Vanguard Magazine

18DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026 www.vanguardcanada.com S Y N T H E T I C E N V I R O N M E N T of fidelity and realism. Moreover, due to Canada's limited force size and the number of deployed overseas operations, the ability to engage in real-life exercises are limited. Combine these factors with the pros- pect of far greater instability in the Indo- Pacific (as China ratchets up its coercion against Taiwan), Europe (as Russia's war in Ukraine bleeds into grey zone attacks against NATO), the Middle East (as Israel consolidates its newfound military domi- nance over Iran and its militant proxies), the Arctic (as climate change continues to facilitate greater access to the region), and North America (as the Trump Ad- ministration continues to bully and pres- sure its neighbours), and the importance of bolstering Canada's defence posture and capabilities to deter threats while signaling our ability to contribute to continental and international defence becomes evident. Perhaps even more importantly, adopt- ing a holistic SE ecosystem can help alle- viate the recruitment resource challenges that have long plagued the CAF. While efforts are underway to fill the roughly 14,000-person shortage, the CAF con- tinues to struggle not only with attracting new recruits but also with retaining them and moving them efficiently through the training pipeline. In some cases, new re- cruits are waiting over 200 days between completing Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) and beginning occupational train- ing, a delay caused by shortages of instruc- tors, equipment, and infrastructure. The SE could play an outsized role in addressing this bottleneck by allowing recruits to begin certain modules earlier, possibly even remotely, and enabling mul- tiple groups to train in parallel across dif- ferent parts of the country. This would ul- timately yield three major effects: 1. Shortening the timeline from BMQ to fully qualified operator; 2. Improving organizational efficiency and reducing long-term costs; and 3. Enhancing retention and morale, since long wait times are one of the leading reasons once-motivated recruits disen- gage and ultimately leave the Forces. Canada has the infrastructure and know- how to make this a real possibility. The Canadian Army Simulation Centre – the centre for excellence for all simulation- based training within the Canadian Army – is already delivering training to other branches across the CAF, as well as leading multinational exercises with NATO mem- ber countries. Canada is likewise already home to the domestic capabilities needed to build the SE. As the government invests more mon- ey into SE, lessons should also be pulled from our allies. In the United States, for The Canadian Army Simulation Centre – the centre for excellence for all simulation-based training within the Canadian Army – is already delivering training to other branches across the CAF, as well as leading multinational exercises with NATO member countries. Canada is likewise already home to the domestic capabilities needed to build the SE.

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