The Dynamics of Keeping Soldiers Engaged

Heroes Remember

The Dynamics of Keeping Soldiers Engaged

Transcript

You know it’s a funny thing and I think that any soldier would have a tough time articulating that, you know, what is the dynamic that keeps soldiers engaged? A very tight quarters, you know, very difficult environment, you’re eating rations, it’s not like you’re sitting down eating pizza, watching the Sunday Night Football. I’m not sure but, you know, the sense of camaraderie and closeness seems to get more pronounced and tighter the more difficult the situations become. And I think it’s because you share a common goal. You share a common military culture but you also share really crappy conditions and that kind of brings you together. And then you’ve got your guys that are just jokesters and keep you laughing and people bring instruments over. Myself, being the quartermaster, spirited instruments in. We had a banjo player and a couple of guitar players. They would play. We played cards and dice and told jokes and, you know, did physical fitness and ran, anything to keep yourself sort of occupied. And I have to say, by in large, my recollection is there was no internal conflict in that very small camp which was only 200 meters by 150 meters, our 3 Command camp and everybody got along seemingly well. That’s not to say everyone got along all the time because that simply wouldn’t be true but I would have to say that, by in large, the soldiers thrived and they find ways to cope and they find ways to get along. So it works out remarkably well.

Description

Mr. Bradley talks about keeping morale up amongst the soldiers and activities they did while off duty.

Daniel Bradley

Mr. Daniel Bradley was born June 24, 1958 in Ottawa, Ontario. At 18 years of age, walking by a recruiting centre, Mr. Bradley made an impulsive decision to join the military having a desire for the infantry. Mr. Bradley became a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment holding rank as an infanteer and obtained training at CFB Cornwallis in Trenton, Ontario. After training, Mr. Bradley spent a bit of time In Canada service but in 1978 experienced his first operational deployment to Cyrpus. In 1992 Mr. Bradley was given another opportunity to deploy to Somalia and joined a contingency from the RCR and became part of the Airborne Regiment where he held rank of Chief Warrant Officer. As his military career continued Mr. Bradley was part of an operational to Croatia in 1994, Bosnia in 1997 and more recently 2002/03 travelled to Afghanistan on two different operations, one being Roto O as Company Sergeant Major. Mr. Bradley retired in 2011 with 35 years of military sevice.

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