GHayes

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their legacy is etched in the 250 years of American freedom they defended.

For 25 years I served alongside men and women who were willing to give everything for the country we all love. Some did. As a Navy veteran, I think about them not just today but every time I visit a military base, every time I meet a Gold Star family, every time I come home to Gabby. Memorial Day is for them and for the families who carry that loss every day. Thank you for your service. It’s not forgotten.

Today we honor all of those who have come before us, for their ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country. All gave some, and some gave all.

@AlexRMcColl Same reason why RCAF cannot suppress fires from the air. As was told many times while serving, civilian contractors would lose jobs. Poss another reason GoC will not estb quick reaction force of water bombers. Political Votes over safety of resources and lives.

I have long said we should emulate some of our European NATO allies and make water bombing an RCAF mission. This would count towards NATO spending, take a financial burden off the Provinces, and provide the new Calgary DHC-515 production line with a major order.

@AlexRMcColl @MikeTheNavyGuy1 About 30 years ago, 80% RAF cadets joined Reserve or Regular Forces. 19-21 year old Cadets are categorised as Adult Cadets assisting with training. They also received more advance training on flying.

@MikeTheNavyGuy1 I remember being shocked at how zero CAF recruiting is directed towards the Cadet system. Going from nothing to a half-assed effort would get lots of cadets to sign up. That said, on-boarding bottlenecks; not a lack of recruits, is the current limiting factor.

This is a terrible read and ignores a shit tonne of outreach outside the Snowbirds. Defense at the dock, open base days. Freedom of the city parades. And so much more. This article might have been accurate in the late 90s. Not so much now.

@SteveDaly15 @CanadianPM @DavidGrebstad I was RCC Sigs CC Vancouver, late 60s.

@HayesRayo @CanadianPM @DavidGrebstad CProC was my Cadet corps.

For over 150 years, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has served and protected Canadians – and the Government of Canada is ensuring that the RCMP has the support and resources it needs to continue that work for generations to come.

@ReadyAyeReady What was done during refit?

After ten months away, HMCS Harry DeWolf is home. The first ship in the Royal Canadian Navy's Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV) arrived 14 May 2026, alongside HMC Dockyard Halifax, returning from its inaugural five-year refit at Chantier Davie in…

@stphnmaher A blind person would have a better visionary plan!

Whenever I drive on it, I think, whose idea was this?

THE MESSAGE TO NATO. The Oreshnik is a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). It was launched from Kapustin Yar, and Putin has publicly stated that it is extremely difficult to intercept. Its deployment seems intended more as a signal to NATO, showcasing a capability that Western air defenses would find hard to counter, than as a weapon meant primarily to cause direct military damage to Ukraine. This is the third combat use of the missile since the start of the war (after November 2024 and January 2026), and each time it has been a deliberate and calculated act.

@outbreakupdates Canada must ban anyone arriving from infected regions, full stop, no exceptions.

In Kyondo, 40 km from Butembo, residents are opposing the Ebola response teams during a burial. The population demanded the opening of the coffin to identify the body.

@Unbranded63 Why does Canadian media outlets entertain his divisive comments?

He has no idea how weak his country is right now.

@NoahGairn Add EV drones supported by mobile diesel generators.😁

Im gonna make a rumor that this was a snowbird option and see what happens.

@Pascal1Rodier Canada should consider a national civilian “Memorial Cross” equivalent specifically for EMS personnel who die in the line of duty.

Standing with the BVFD and with Alex’s family. Very tragic news.

@natnewswatch Just ignore USA chaff trying to throw Cda off trade negotiations. Confirms Cda is doing well diversifying our international trade and defence agreements. WH knows how to destroy relationships but cannot repair them, win wars or build a ballroom.

Trump’s man in Ottawa doesn't understand why Canadians are so frustrated right now. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra says tariffs are here to stay, and Canada needs to accept it cbc.ca/news/politics/… Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com

@CDNPolicyHawk @NoahGairn RCAF believe in total force concept filling RegF Sqns with PRes personnel. Many retd regular and still suitable serve in posns to train, desk, fly, technicians or logistics. Some Res fly helicopters or commercial pilots fly transport.

@NoahGairn This really depends on how we're going to staff them, and I've expressed in the past that I don't see a way we can staff a mixed fleet -- so I can't guess at what the solution might be. That aside, I think there's growing appetite to bring units back into major cities. 1/2

It's the time you've all been waiting for. After a *long* hiatus, it's the first "Hawky Night in Canada" AMA of 2026. Ask questions (related to Canadian defence is preferred, but whatever) in this thread or at ngl.link/cdnpolicyhawk. Answers will be below, and retweeted.

@CDNPolicyHawk @NoahGairn Approx runway length required 1,640 ft. Comox, Goose Bay, Trenton, Gander, Yellowknife, Inuvik , Iqaluit, Yellowknife Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay. Resolute Bay. Some technically workable, but logistics and weather will be a challenge.

“A lot of people don't know dumb has a B in it actually…” - President of the United States

@AlexRMcColl Now replace CC130s with Airbus A400M Atlas! m.youtube.com/watch?v=bvy-Q1…

USA: You need to buy tankers! CAN: Yes, look at our new Airbus A330s! USA: Not like that, we wanted you to buy Boeing KC46s... okay, let's try again: you need to buy AEW aircraft! CAN: Yup, the Saab/Bombardier Globaleye... USA: FFS, wake up, this is about giving money to Boeing.

@AlexRMcColl @ThomasWatsonCD No argument, seen many stds across Cda in all categories. When integration arrived, 3 separate uniforms shoved into tri-service green, CF did consider CIC staff wearing a grey colour uniform, red rank bars. Very odd combo, thank goodness design was rejected.

@HayesRayo @ThomasWatsonCD While I appreciate that, to be frank, it's the same dress and decorum standards. The vast majority of the CIC officers I met at Trenton held themselves to a higher standard than some of the Senior Reg Force Officers we met there (the creepy one is currently in prison for life).

I get that some folks like to poop all over CIC Officer training. It really doesn’t seem like a few weeks of training can provide much. On the other hand my university PLAR’d my CIC training and experience as B.Ed equivalent for admissions to a Masters over 10 years ago…