Canada's auditor general has released a scathing report that shows the country's army reserve is in dire straits, with only a fraction of its troops properly trained, equipped and fit for international operations and domestic emergencies.
Michael Ferguson's latest audit includes a detailed examination of the problems faced by the military's part-time branch, finding that even though there are 21,000 positions on the books, only 13,944 reservists are considered active and ready for service.
It is a startling figure in light of the federal government's stated goal of a reserve force of 27,000.
Not only has National Defence failed to recruit for the part-time force, the audit found, but reservists are quitting at a rate faster than they can be replaced and are doing so after they are trained, taking valuable skills with them.
The sweeping review also looked at training and found that many reservists don't receive certain basic weapons training, such as the use of a pistol or grenade launcher.
They have been woefully unprepared for some standard duties in combat zones, such as convoy escort and force protection, and ill-equipped for missions at home like responding to forest fires and floods.
