WEBVTT 00:00:04.921 --> 00:00:07.006 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% I'm Lieutenant Colin de Grandpré from Ottawa. 00:00:07.006 --> 00:00:10.427 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% I'm a Logistics Officer at 2 Service Battalion, in Garrison Petawawa, Ontario. 00:00:16.015 --> 00:00:19.227 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% In order to be an effective presence at home and abroad, 00:00:19.227 --> 00:00:24.649 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% the Canadian Armed Forces requires the provision of efficient and coordinated logistics support. 00:00:24.649 --> 00:00:29.654 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% Whether it's with the Navy, the Army, the Air Force or Special Operations Forces, 00:00:29.654 --> 00:00:34.117 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% Logistics Officers are responsible for ensuring that all military operations 00:00:34.117 --> 00:00:36.619 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:93% and exercises are properly supported. 00:00:37.579 --> 00:00:42.876 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% The broad scope is supply, transportation, finance, and human resources. 00:00:42.876 --> 00:00:46.087 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% But every officer is going to want to specialize in one of those branches, 00:00:46.087 --> 00:00:48.840 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% and then they can diversify their skill set based on there. 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:52.010 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% So I decided to choose supply because I had an interest in warehousing, 00:00:52.010 --> 00:00:54.012 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:60% material movements and material management. 00:00:54.012 --> 00:00:56.389 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% But my job will also touch on finance, budget management, 00:00:56.389 --> 00:00:58.349 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:103% and then transportation planning as well. 00:00:59.017 --> 00:01:02.687 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% Providing support to air operations is a considerable challenge 00:01:02.687 --> 00:01:05.482 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% due to the stringent maintenance cycles of aircraft. 00:01:05.482 --> 00:01:10.737 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% Being able to replenish the fleet anywhere in the world is essential to keeping it operational. 00:01:10.737 --> 00:01:14.991 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% In the Navy, Logistics Officers will serve as Ship's Logistics Officers 00:01:14.991 --> 00:01:16.910 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:90% in the early stages of their career. 00:01:16.910 --> 00:01:21.664 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% Responsible for the oversight of all shipboard logistics, their main role is to take care 00:01:21.664 --> 00:01:25.168 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% of getting the ship what it needs to get its job done. 00:01:25.168 --> 00:01:31.758 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% Army Logistics Officers are primarily concerned with coordinating sustainment of the field force, 00:01:31.758 --> 00:01:36.471 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% whether it's warehousing or moving supplies, ammunition, fuel and food, 00:01:36.471 --> 00:01:40.975 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% or the actual vehicles and armaments being used on operations or training exercises. 00:01:42.268 --> 00:01:45.772 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% A Logistics Officer employed at a Special Operations unit 00:01:45.772 --> 00:01:50.109 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% needs a wide breadth of logistical knowledge, flexibility and resourcefulness 00:01:50.109 --> 00:01:54.030 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% to fully support their unit, at times in very austere environments 00:01:54.030 --> 00:01:57.283 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% and always with enhanced requirements for operational security. 00:01:58.201 --> 00:02:03.456 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% This is a multifaceted career, throughout the course of which Logistics Officers will work in: 00:02:03.456 --> 00:02:09.170 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% Transportation and Movements, Supply, Ammunition, Food Services, 00:02:09.170 --> 00:02:12.757 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:68% Human Resources Management, Finance or Postal Services. 00:02:13.508 --> 00:02:16.761 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% Understanding what our combat soldiers, what our pilots, what our sailors do 00:02:16.761 --> 00:02:20.265 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% is really important because it allows us to better understand how we can support them. 00:02:20.265 --> 00:02:22.767 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% It's a question of being able to do jobs that, you know that if they go well, 00:02:22.767 --> 00:02:24.143 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:60% no one will ever notice. 00:02:24.143 --> 00:02:27.647 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% There's a joke that if logistics goes right, you'll never hear about it. 00:02:27.647 --> 00:02:30.400 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% But that's part of the goal, is that there are no kinks in the system. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:33.111 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% The ultimate supply chain is the one that gives you everything you want, 00:02:33.111 --> 00:02:35.572 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% at the right time, in the right quantities, at the right place. 00:02:36.030 --> 00:02:39.534 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% As an officer, their primary responsibility is to lead a team 00:02:39.534 --> 00:02:42.036 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:115% of talented professionals under their command. 00:02:42.412 --> 00:02:44.873 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:73% A huge part of the job is accepting that you are not 00:02:44.873 --> 00:02:47.125 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:63% the most qualified person in a technical skill. 00:02:47.125 --> 00:02:50.753 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% But it's knowing who to talk to, and how to talk to them to get their ideas, 00:02:50.753 --> 00:02:54.841 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% get to know solutions that come from them, and finally apply them to the overall goal. 00:02:54.841 --> 00:02:57.969 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% I think one of the strongest skills that you need is good interpersonal skills 00:02:57.969 --> 00:03:00.388 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% and a strong will for communication, both verbal and written. 00:03:09.105 --> 00:03:12.442 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% One of the things I really appreciate about this job is that it throws you in positions 00:03:12.442 --> 00:03:14.277 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:125% that you would never see in a civilian equivalent. 00:03:14.277 --> 00:03:18.156 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% So for someone my age, with my qualifications, to be put in a managerial role, 00:03:18.156 --> 00:03:22.076 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% in charge of a warehouse, communicating with all sorts of units and entities around, 00:03:22.076 --> 00:03:24.245 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:98% you'd never see that for a 23-year-old. 00:03:29.626 --> 00:03:33.046 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% On completion of their military and occupation training, 00:03:33.046 --> 00:03:39.302 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% Logistics Officers will be typically posted to a tactical unit in the Army, Navy or Air Force 00:03:39.302 --> 00:03:43.222 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% to build on their training and to develop their leadership skills and experience. 00:03:43.514 --> 00:03:45.850 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% So when you first start out in the job as a platoon commander, 00:03:45.850 --> 00:03:49.354 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% it is pretty intimidating to be placed in charge of these experts, 00:03:49.354 --> 00:03:51.940 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% these technicians who have a huge vault of qualifications, 00:03:51.940 --> 00:03:55.068 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% training, experience, even operational deployments under their belt - 00:03:55.068 --> 00:03:57.236 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% and every single day, if you talk to any of my soldiers, 00:03:57.236 --> 00:03:59.030 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% they'll tell you that I bombard them with questions. 00:03:59.030 --> 00:04:01.616 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% I'm always going to ask them more about how the warehouse works, 00:04:01.616 --> 00:04:03.159 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:105% how our material management is being done, 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:06.913 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% so that I can better understand how their technical job fits in the bigger picture. 00:04:07.538 --> 00:04:12.085 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% As their career progresses, Logistics Officers will have opportunities to be employed 00:04:12.085 --> 00:04:16.089 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% at higher headquarters, dealing with the management of logistics functions 00:04:16.089 --> 00:04:18.675 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:83% in Joint and Combined Operations. 00:04:18.675 --> 00:04:22.470 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% There are also opportunities to work with Special Operations Forces, 00:04:22.470 --> 00:04:26.140 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% as well as out-of-country postings working with allies and partners. 00:04:36.067 --> 00:04:38.069 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% I'm really, really happy in the job that I'm doing right now. 00:04:38.069 --> 00:04:40.446 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% Being able to work with the soldiers that we have in the warehouse 00:04:40.446 --> 00:04:43.658 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:110% and in the platoon is a blessing, every day. 00:04:43.658 --> 00:04:48.037 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% It's a challenging job - I've always joked that if you're enjoying your time, 100% of the time, 00:04:48.037 --> 00:04:50.206 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% as a platoon commander, you're probably doing something wrong. 00:04:50.206 --> 00:04:52.166 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% That's all part of the job, and that's all part of the challenge, 00:04:52.166 --> 00:04:53.960 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:113% and that's why I really appreciate what I do.