Soley, Mike: my Canadian Militia story (March 14, 2017)
Interviewee: Soley, Mike
ABSTRACT: After initial introductions and set-up, the interview begins with the narrator describing his military background, including involvement with the Canadian Scottish Regiment. The narrator then describes his Basic and Infantry training with the Reserve Force and how it differs from the Regular Force. The military promotion process is described and it is explained how that affected the narrator’s duties as a Major in a Reserve Regiment. Changes in the Reserve Force, such as leadership and the issue of equipment is then discussed. Changes in the Canadian defense policy, including the issue of the defense budget, is described next. The narrator then discussed his military service in Bosnia-Herzegovina and how his training had prepared him for deployment. The narrator then described his pre-deployment training and military service in Afghanistan on his two deployments to Kandahar Province in 2008 and to Kabul in 2010. Changes in Canadian foreign involvement, including the change to Canadian ‘peacekeeping’, was then discussed. The narrator concluded the interview with a summary of his military service. Time Log 0:00 – 2:30 Introductions and technology set-up 2:30 – 4:50 Background and enlistment with the Canadian Scottish Regiment 4:50 – 8:18 Pause as Major Soley consulted his notes 8:18 – 11:09 Basic and Infantry Training with Reserve Forces with the Canadian Scottish Regiment 11:09 – 12:00 Differences in Training between Regular and Reserve Forces 12:00 – 13:00 Military Promotion Process 13:00 – 15:30 Duties as a Major in Reserve Regiment 15:30 – 17:33 Changes in Reserve Force, Leadership in the Military, and the Issue of Equipment 17:33 – 20:11 Defense Policy and the Reserve Forces, Issue of Defense Budget 20:11 – 21:50 Service in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Reserve Training for Deployment 21:50 – 22:50 Military objectives in Bosnia-Herzegovina 22:50 – 24:42 Service in Afghanistan and Training for Deployment 24:42 – 25:25 Experiences working with Afghan leaders and civilians 25:25 – 26:10 Experiences working with Afghanistan National Police and Army 26:10 – 28:45 Experiences at Army Command and Staff College in Kabul 28:45 – 29:53 Experiences in the wake of the Sarapoza prison break in 2008 29:53 – 31:03 Experience with other foreign representatives 31:03 – 31:55 Rules of engagement in Afghanistan 31:55 – 33:58 Differences in deployments to Kandahar and Kabul, Afghanistan 33:58 – 35:09 Changing role of ‘Peacekeeping” in Canada 35:09 – 35:60 Summary of military service 35:60 – 36:23 Opportunities and advantages of military service 36:23 – 36:59 Ending acknowledgements
Interviewer: Milne, Laura
An interview/narrative of Mike Soley's experiences with the Canadian Militia. Interview took place on March 14, 2017 in Victoria, B.C.
Rank: Major.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 33, 66
- Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- SM_852
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 14, 2017
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 257 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2017. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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