Canadian Forces: Encyclopedia - Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes) are the combined armed forces of Canada. The operational elements of Canadian Forces are: Canadian Forces Land Force Command, (army); Canadian Forces Maritime Command, (navy); and Canadian Forces Air Command, (air force).

The Canadian Forces was formed on February 1, 1968, when the Canadian government merged the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force into a unified structure. Canada remains one of the few modern military forces in the world to be organized like this.

The Commander-in-Chief of Canadian Forces is Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. Also, the Governor-General of Canada, being the Queen's representative in Canada, has the powers of the Commander-in-Chief of Canadian Forces. The military head of the Canadian Forces is the Chief of Defence Staff (Canada). The cabinet post in charge of the Canadian Forces is the Minister of National Defence (MND).

The Canadian Forces are headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. Canadian Forces serve in NATO exercises, and in support of United Nations peacekeeping efforts.

Canadian Forces - History

Canadian Forces - Early days

Canadian troops in colonial times served as regular members of British forces and in local militia groups. After Confederation in 1867, Canada's forces remained under British command until the turn of the 20th century. Canadian militia defended their homeland in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and in the Fenian Raids. A Canadian expeditionary force assisted Britain in the Boer War.

The Canadian Forces date to the War of 1812 when Canadian militia units were formed to assist in defending British North America from the invasions by the United States. The Royal Canadian Navy was created in 1910 and the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924.

Canadian soldiers, sailors and aviators came into their own through conspicuous service in World War I, World War II and the Korean War.

Canadian Forces - Operations

The Canadian Forces or its component regiments have fought in the War of 1812, the Fenian Raids (1866-1871), North-West Rebellion (1885), the Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the First Gulf War, and have contributed to UN and other peacekeeping missions and undeclared wars, notably the Suez Crisis, Cyprus, Croatia, Bosnia, and the War on Terrorism (Afghanistan). Canada is a charter member of NATO and a member of the North American Air Defence treaty (NORAD).

Battles which are particularly notable to the Canadian military include the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I and, in World War II, the Dieppe Raid, the Battle of Ortona, the Normandy Landings, the Battle of the Scheldt, the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the strategic bombing of German cities. At the end of World War II Norway and the part of the Netherlands North of the rivers Rhine and Lek were liberated almost solely by the Canadian Forces from the Nazi-German occupying forces. After restoring law and order they left the countries within several months.

Since 1947, the CF has undertaken 73 operations worldwide. In 2002, nearly 3000 Canadian troops were on active duty in 11 additional operations including the international war on terrorism in Afghanistan and the NATO stabilization force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Canadian regular and reserve troops are a visible and respected force at home as well. In 2001 alone, the Canadian Forces responded to more than 8,000 search and rescue incidents and helped to save more than 4,500 lives.

Canadian Forces - Postwar developments

At the end of World War II, Canada possessed the third-largest navy and fourth-largest air force in the world, as well as the largest volunteer army ever fielded (conscription for overseas service was introduced only near the end of the war, and only 2400 conscripts actually made it into battle). Defence spending and personnel remained high during the early years of Cold War, but began to decline in the 1960s and 1970s as the perceived threat from the Warsaw Pact diminished. Throughout the 1990s, successive budget cuts forced further reductions in the personnel, number of bases, and fighting ability of the Canadian Forces. Sizable Canadian air and land forces were maintained in West Germany under NATO command from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

Canadian Forces - Modern reorganization

Unlike the armed forces of Canada's closest allies -- the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and New Zealand -- the Canadian Forces is a single organization with a unified command structure. "The March 1964 White Paper on Defence outlined a major restructuring of the separate services. The White Paper described a reorganization that would include the integration of operations, logistics support, personnel and administration of the separate services under a functional command system."[2]

On February 1, 1968, Bill C-243, The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act became law and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) were combined into one service - the Canadian Forces. While unification was ostensibly undertaken for cost savings, it has also been suggested that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Defence Minister Paul Hellyer did not care for the traditions behind each service and that the new Canadian Forces (in Canada's post-war modernist fashion) was easily translated to French and eliminated inconvenient monarchist references during a contentious period in Canadian history. The reorganization has been criticized, for example by J. L. Granatstein in Who Killed the Canadian Military?

The Canadian Forces remains a single service, but each member belongs to one of three "environments": navy, army, or air. The environment is usually determined by the individual member's trade: for example, a pilot is automatically in the air environment. However, for environmentally non-specific or "purple" trades, such as medical technician or military police, the environment is assigned more or less at random. The environment remains unchanged throughout the member's career, regardless of the member's unit or base.

Canadian Forces - Command structure

Canadian Forces - Land Force Command LFC

Canadian army brigades are administered through four geographically determined area commands:

• LF Atlantic Area based in Halifax
• LF Quebec Area based in Montreal
• LF Central Area based in Toronto
• LF Western Area based in Edmonton.

In each command (except Atlantic), regular force troops comprising a mechanized brigade group (CMBG) are supported by reserve forces in nine brigade groups. Regular forces in the Atlantic command are based in the Combat Training School at CFB Gagetown.

Today, Land Force Command (army) consists of three field-ready brigades:

• 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Edmonton, Alberta,
• 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in CFB Petawawa, Ontario, and
• 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in CFB Valcartier, Quebec (the francophone brigade).

Each brigade contains one regiment each of artillery, armour, and combat engineers and three battalions of infantry (all scaled in the British fashion), as well as a service battalion (logistics), a headquarters/signals squadron, and several minor organizations. A tactical helicopter squadron and a field ambulance are collocated with each brigade but not part of the brigade's command structure.

Major training establishments and non-brigaded troops exist at CFB Gagetown and ASU St-Jean (now attached to CFB Montreal.) Well-known regiments in the army include Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in 1 Brigade, The Royal Canadian Regiment in 2 Brigade, and the Royal 22^e Régiment or the "Van Doos" in 5 Brigade. Each area also has an Area Training Centre.

Canadian Forces - Maritime Command MARCOM

Canada's naval forces are deployed in two fleets, Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) at CFB Esquimalt on the west coast, and Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) at CFB Halifax on the east coast. There is no permanent naval presence on the Arctic coast at this time. The Canadian fleet comprises:

Canadian Forces - Air Force Command AIRCOM

Canada's air force is deployed at 13 bases across Canada under the overall direction of 1 Canadian Air Division and constitutes the Canadian NORAD Region. Major air bases are located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador while administrative and command-control facilities are located in Winnipeg and North Bay. A Canadian component of the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force is based in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Wings vary in size from several hundred personnel to several thousand.

Principal aircraft include:

• 115 McDonnell-Douglas CF-18A/B tactical fighter bombers
• 18 Lockheed CP-140 'Aurora' /3 CP-140A 'Arcturus' long-range patrol aircraft
• 28 Sikorsky CH-124 'Sea King' maritime helicopters
• 15 CH-149 AgustaWestland 'Cormorant' search and rescue helicopters
• 86 CH-146 Bell 'Griffon' tactical transport helicopters
• 32 CC-130 Lockheed 'Hercules' combat transports
• 5 CC-150 'Polaris' Airbus A310 long range transports
• 6 CC-115 Dehavilland 'Buffalo' short range transports
• 6 CC-144 Canadair 'Challenger' jet transports (4 VIP/2 utility)
• 4 CC-138 Dehavilland 'Twin Otter' short range transports
• 22 CT-114 Canadair 'Tutor' jet trainers
• 24 CT-156 Raytheon 'Harvard II' trainers
• 21 CT-155 BAE 'Hawk' jet trainer
• 4 CT-142 Dehavilland Dash8
• 4 CT-133 'Silver Star'

Canadian Forces - Canadian Forces reserve force

The CF reserve force is comprised of the Primary and Supplementary Reserves, the Canadian Rangers and the Cadet Instructor Cadre and is represented, though not commanded, at the national level by the Chief of Reserves and Cadets (a Major General or Rear Admiral).

Primary Reserve The primary reserve is comprised of citizen soldiers, sailors, and aircrew who train and are posted to CF operations or duties on a casual or on-going basis. Each reserve force is operationally and administratively responsible to its corresponding environmental command. Reservists number approximately 23,000 (all ranks, all services). The CF maintains a "total force" policy as outlined in the 1994 Defence White Paper, where reservists are (in theory) trained to the level of and interchangeable with their regular force counterparts. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the reserves to sustaining CF operations, particularly following the defence budget cuts and increased operational tempo of the 1990s.

Naval Reserve The Naval Reserve (NAVRES) has divisions (shore-based training locations known as NRDs) located in 24 cities across the country. Full-time training is conducted year-round with regular-force counterparts at the three Fleet Schools and personnel frequently deploy on regular-force missions to supplement ships' crews. The Naval Reserve supplies all personnel (except two regular force electricians) for the 12 Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs), which are used for patrol, minesweeping and bottom-inspection operations. The Naval Reserve has a funded manning level of 4,000, though it currently opts to retain only 3,400 and use the excess money to train individuals to a relatively high standard.

Air Reserve The Air Reserve is organized into flights or squadrons, integrated into "total force" Wings, at locations across the country where personnel conduct training and support Wing operations. Units are specialized in various areas of surveillance, engineering, and airfield construction. Personnel also conduct further training at AIRCOM bases and can deploy with regular force AIRCOM crews around the world in support of CF missions. Unlike the Naval and Land Force Reserves, the Air Reserve is composed principally of former members of the regular force, though this does not reflect any official policy.

Army Reserve The reserve element of Land Force Command is known as the Army Reserve, and is often referred to by its former name, the Militia. It is organized into under-strength brigades (for purposes of administration) along geographic lines. The Army Reserve is very active and has participated heavily in all Canadian army deployments in the last decade, in some cases contributing as much as 40 per cent of each deployment in either individual augmentation, as well as occasional formed sub-units (companies). Reserve regiments have the theoretical administrative capacity to support an entire battalion, but typically only having the deployable manpower of one or two platoons. They are perpetuated as such for the timely absorption of recruits during times of war. Current strength is approximately 15,000, and DND committed to an increase to 18,500 in 2000.

Communication Reserve The Communication Reserve is the primary reserve element responsible to the regular forces of the now defunct Canadian Forces Communication Command (now DND's Information Management Group). Communication reserve units are organized according to geographical region into Communication Groups (similar to the Army brigades). These Groups are divided into Communication Regiments (battalions), Squadrons (companies), and Troops (platoons), located in urban centres across the country. "Comms" reservists are involved in radio communications, data transmission, and installation and maintenance of tactical cable networks. The website for the Communication Reserve is here .

Health Services Reserve The 1500-strong Health Services Reserve provides essential health services in the Canadian Forces. Health services reservists serve the Canadian Forces in a wide range of health care professions, including medicine, nursing and social work. Reserve paramedical personnel who are not civilian trained and employed are trained, as a minimum, to the level of emergency medical responder (EMR).

Supplementary reserve The supplementary reserve is part of the CF reserve and comprises a voluntary call-up list for former CF regular- and reserve-force personnel who can be considered for reactivation in the event of a national emergency.

The Canadian Rangers The Canadian Rangers are part of the CF reserve, provide surveillance and patrol services in Canada's Arctic and other remote areas, and are an essential component to Canada's exercise of sovereignty over its territory.

Cadet Instructors Cadre Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) personnel are commissioned officers who are instructors in the various Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Royal Canadian Army Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets corps across the country.

Canadian Forces - Current deployments

As of July 2005, Canadian Forces are in operations throughout the world, as part of Canada's obligations to NATO and the United Nations, as well as in support of its international allies.

Current deployments are:

As well as these deployments, small detachments of Canadian military are based in different countries for assistance and logistical work.

Canadian Forces - Canadian Forces bases

The Canadian Forces have a number of active installations across the country with some being branch-specific. There are also a number of facilities which have closed in various defence cutbacks since the 1970s.

Canadian Forces - Army

• CFB Edmonton, Alberta
• CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick
• CFB Kingston, Ontario
• CFB Montreal, Quebec
• CFB Petawawa, Ontario
• CFB Suffield, Alberta
• CFB Shilo, Manitoba
• CFB Valcartier, Quebec

Canadian Forces - Navy

• CFB Esquimalt, British Columbia
• CFB Halifax, Nova Scotia
• CFS St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
• CFMETR, Nanoose Bay,British Columbia

Canadian Forces - Air Force

• CFB Bagotville (3 Wing), Quebec
• CFB Comox (19 Wing), British Columbia
• CFB Cold Lake (4 Wing), Alberta
• CFB Gander (9 Wing), Newfoundland
• CFB Goose Bay (5 Wing), Labrador
• CFB Greenwood (14 Wing), Nova Scotia
• CFB Moose Jaw (15 Wing), Saskatchewan
• CFB North Bay (22 Wing), Ontario
• CFB Shearwater (12 Wing), Nova Scotia
• CFB Trenton (8 Wing), Ontario
• CFB Winnipeg (17 Wing), Manitoba

Air Command and CF Northern Area also maintain a chain of Forward Operating Locations at various points across northern Canada, capable of supporting fighter operations. Elements of CF-18 squadrons periodically deploy to these FOLs for short training exercises or Arctic sovereignty patrols.

Canadian Forces - All services

• NDHQ Ottawa, Ontario
• Camp Mirage, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• CFS Alert, Nunavut
• CFS Leitrim, Ontario
• CFB Borden, Ontario
• CFNA HQ Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
• CFNA HQ Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Canadian Forces - Uniforms

Canadian Forces - Unification

Prior to unification in 1968, the uniforms of the Army, RCN and RCAF were similar to their counterparts in the forces of the UK and other Commonwealth countries, save for national identifiers and some regimental accoutrements. Shortly following unification, these service-specific uniforms (navy blue, khaki, and light blue) were abandoned in favour of a rifle green, single-breasted, four-button tunic and pants, with beret or service cap, known as the Canadian Forces uniform, commonly referred to as "CFs" or "CF greens". Though accommodation was made for army regiments' ceremonial uniforms (kilts for Highland Regiments, for example), no allowance was made for the Navy and Air Force, with the exception of a rifle-green wedge cap for optional wear by the latter. The traditional Navy and Air Force rank names were replaced by their army equivalents, with naval-style rank badges for officers and army-style for non-commissioned members. Navy rank names were restored a few years later. However, the Air Force retains what had formerly been considered "army" rank (but which is similar to that used by the air forces of many other nations).

For everyday work wear, in environments or occasions where the CF greens would not be appropriate, personnel were issued the Work Dress uniform. This consisted of rifle-green work trousers; a zippered rifle-green work jacket; a "lagoon green" work shirt; and beret. The jacket collar was worn open; the shirt was either worn with a tie, or with the collar open and over the jacket collar. For a brief period in the 1980s, ascots or "dickies" in regimental or branch colours were worn inside the open shirt collar. This uniform, derisively referred to as a "bus driver's uniform", was generally unpopular.

A notable exception was the Canadian Airborne Regiment, who wore a camouflage jump smock, regimental maroon T-shirt, maroon beret, and high-top paratrooper boots, with work dress or combat trousers as applicable.

Canadian Forces - Distinct Environmental Uniform

In an effort to restore morale, the CF introduced the Distinct Environmental Uniform (DEU), which restored some of the traditional uniforms of the pre-unification Forces. While the term "DEU" refers to all the different environmental uniforms, in general usage it refers solely to what is more properly known as "No 3 (Service) Dress".

The following Orders of Dress existed after DEU was implemented:

• No. 1 (Ceremonial) Dress: Full formal dress uniforms for ceremonial parades and other special occasions. Uniforms include regimental full dress (such as scarlet tunics and bearskin hats of Guards regiments), patrol dress (a slightly less elaborate regimental uniform), and Service Dress (see below) uniform with ceremonial accoutrements (swords, white web belts, gloves, etc).

• No. 2 (Mess) Dress: Formal evening attire for mess dinners. Uniforms range from full mess kit (with dinner jackets, cummerbunds or waistcoats, etc) to Service Dress with bow ties.

• No. 3 (Service) Dress: Also called a "walking-out" or "duty uniform", it is the military equivalent of the business suit; it was the standard uniform for appearing in public (hence the moniker "walking-out dress"). The uniforms range from the tunic-necktie-undress ribbons to the more informal short-sleeve shirt dress. The Navy also has an optional white summer uniform with white high-collared tunic (colloquially termed the "ice-cream suit").

• No. 4 (Base) Dress: Known as "Garrison Dress" in the Army. It was a more informal uniform, originally for day-to-day wear in garrison or on base, out of the public eye. It usually consisted of work trousers and either a dress shirt or work shirt, with an optional sweater; Army personnel wore a disruptive-pattern jacket. It has been phased out and replaced by No. 5 dress (below).

• No. 5 (Operational) Dress: Originally specialized uniforms for wear in an operational (i.e. combat) theatre, they have now superseded No 4 uniform for everyday wear in garrison. It consists of a CADPAT combat uniform for the Army and Air Force and Naval Combat Dress (NCD) for the Navy.

Navy. Sea element personnel were issued a navy blue (which is actually a tone of black according to CFP 265 - CF Dress Instructions), double breasted tunic, navy blue trousers, and white peaked cap; with the exception of colour, it is very similar to the service dress of officers in the American navy. For the summer periods, the optional white uniform may be worn by naval personnel. It is interesting to note that officers' and non-commissioned members' uniforms are identical, differing only in insignia and accoutrements; the old naval "square rig" or "Donald Duck" uniform for non-commissioned members was not resurrected. Naval personnel were also issued No 4 (Base) Dress, which consists of a jacket and trousers similar to old CF work dress, but in black; it wass worn with a white dress shirt — open necked or with necktie — or with the Naval blue work shirt. This uniform has since been replaced with the No 5 (Naval Combat) Dress. Baseball caps (with ship's designations and numbers) similar to those worn by United States Navy personnel are authorized for shipboard wear.

The following are the different categories of naval uniforms in Canada:

Ceremonial Dress - 1

No. 1 - Navy blue uniform with medals, swords, etc.

No. 1A - Navy blue uniform with medals only

No. 1C - White high-collar uniform, with medals

No. 1D - White high-collar uniform, with ribbons only

Mess Dress - 2

No. 2 - Navy blue mess uniform, with "tradition" RCN ranks for officers, bow tie, and gold lacing on the trousers.

No. 2A - White mess uniform, with "tradition" RCN shoulder boards for officers below Flag officer ranks.

No. 2B - Normal service dress, however with a bow tie instead of the neck tie, and ribbons only (without medals).

No. 2C - Shipboard mess order. Like 3Bs, however, with a tuxedo belt, and without ribbons, specialist skill insingias, and name tags. "Tradition" RCN shoulder boards must not be worn.

No. 2D - Canadian Forces Standard (the midnight blues). Resembles a lot like the Canadian Air Forces No. 2, which was worn by all members of the CF, during the unified uniform period (1970s to 1986).

Service dress - 3

No. 3 - Like No. 1A, however, without medals, ribbons only.

No. 3A - White long-sleeve shirt, with navy blue trousers.

No. 3B - White, short-sleeve shirt, with navy blue or white trousers and oxfords (black with navy blue pants, white with white pants).

No. 3C - Navy blue wool sweater, with either the long sleeve shirt or short sleeve shirt. (If worn with the LS shirt, must wear neck tie).

No. 3D - Tropical tan uniform. Only members requiring the uniform for service in tropical climates are issued the uniform.

Naval Combat Drees - 5

No. 5 - Navy combat jacket, with beret (or baseball cap), trousers, ankel boots, and naval combat shirt.

No. 5A - Same as above, without naval combat jacket.

No. 5B - Same as above, however, with naval combat shirt sleeves rolled.

Army. Land personnel were issued new tunics and trousers similar in style to the old CF greens, but with the addition of epaulets. They were issued in heavy-weight rifle green (worn with the old CF green dress shirt) for winter wear, and lighter weight tan for summer; unfortunately in the latter case, headgear, neckties, belts and badges were still rifle-green or on rifle-green backing. The unpopular work dress was replaced with "No. 4 (Garrison) Dress", which consisted of the old-style work dress pants, a disruptive-pattern jacket, a black web belt, a short-sleeve summer Service Dress shirt with the collar open and over the jacket collar, and high paratrooper-style garrison boots. Due to concerns over the number of uniforms Army personnel had to carry with them on postings and taskings, the tan summer DEU was eventually retired, and the winter uniform mandated for year-round wear. The garrison dress uniform was never popular with the combat arms, who generally eschewed it for the combat uniform, even in garrison; Land Force Command soon stopped altogether and authorized combat uniform for all occasions where garrison dress was deemed appropriate, and eventually this authorization was extended to Land environment personnel in other commands. Recently, the peaked service cap was retired for Land personnel, and the beret became the universal Army headdress.

Air Force. Personnel in the Air element were issued a uniform similar to the old CF greens, but in "postman blue", with a light-blue shirt, black necktie, and postman-blue wedge cap. No 4 (Base) Dress consists of postman-blue work pants, light blue dress shirt (open-necked or with necktie), and optional V-neck sweater. Air personnel were eventually authorized to wear the Navy's work shirt, which was similar in colour to postman blue, though this was recently replaced by a camoflage uniform similar to the Land combat uniform. Air personnel were issued a postman-blue beret for wear with combat uniform where appropriate; it was soon authorized for use with work dress, then with service dress; the wedge cap is still popular.

The "Purple" Trades. For military occupations that are not specifically designated to a particular element (e.g. clerks, military police, medical personnel, etc), an element is usually assigned or may be requested on enrolment. Due to the way that members of these "purple" trades frequently have environments different from their current assignments, many units of the Canadian Forces, when on parade in dress uniform, will display a somewhat odd mix of navy, army, and air force uniforms. As various specialty courses become more widely available, no longer restricted only to "soldiers" or "sailors", for example, it is not unheard-of to see a Navy clerk in a tactical air squadron with parachutist's wings, or an Air Force medic in a tank regiment with a submariner's "dolphins" badge.

Canadian Forces - Combat uniform

Until well into the post-World War II era, the Army battle dress uniform was worn both on parades and in combat. It was common to maintain traditional regimental distinctions, such as kilts for Highland regiments, even in the thick of battle.

In the early 1960s, this was replaced by the combat uniform, often referred to merely as "combats". It was issued as a standard order of dress for Regular Force "army" personnel in field units of Forces Mobile Command and for personnel in field units or detachments in Canadian Forces Communication Command, as well as for personnel in other organizations as required for employment in a land combat environment. It was not issued to Reservists until 1972, although they were permitted to wear it if they purchased it themselves (usually at war surplus stores).

The combat uniform consisted of a long-sleeve olive-drab (OD) shirt, with two voluminous cargo pockets at the hip and two slanted pockets (designed for the 20-round FNC1 rifle magazine) at the breast, and drawstrings at the waist and hem; OD trousers, with regular pockets at the front and back and a large cargo patch pocket on each thigh, and drawstrings at the cuff; an OD V-neck undershirt; and black combat boots, with trouser cuffs bloused over. The beret was often worn, but could be replaced by a soft OD field cap or the American M1 steel helmet as the tactical situation dictated (oddly, while the Canadian combat uniform was universally olive green, the cloth helmet cover was a camouflaged woodland pattern).

Officers displayed their rank on slip-ons on the epaulets of the shirt or jacket; NCMs wore small OD versions of their rank insignia stitched in the centre of the upper sleeve, although for a period in the 1980s these were stitched onto slip-ons, ostensibly to save wear-and-tear on the uniforms. The national identifier consisted of a "CANADA" flash stitched on the upper shoulder just below the sleeve seam, and unit or trade identifiers were worn on slip-ons on the shirt's epaulettes; however, personnel belonging to Canadian Forces Europe and other overseas missions wore full-colour Canadian flag patches on the upper sleeve. In the 1990s, the "CANADA" flash was replaced with a subdued olive-drab canadian flag, worn on the upper left sleeve below the epaulette. Interestingly, these flag badges showed up in full-colour red-and-white when illuminated by a blue light.

Lightweight coats, rain suits, parkas, and other tactical clothing (in OD) were issued to deal with different weather conditions. For winter conditions, personnel were issued white mukluks and mitts, as well as white camouflage covers for their parkas, trousers, and helmets.

In the late 1980s, the CF experimented with an alternative combat shirt designed by an Air Command officer: it had flat breast pockets and lacked the hip cargo pockets and drawstrings. It was designed to be tucked in to the trousers like a regular shirt if desired, or worn untucked like the older style shirt; it proved rather unpopular from an operational standpoint due to its lack of storage capacity, and was considered to look sloppier than the older style; it disappeared within a few years as the stock was depleted. After the initial purchase, the original shirt was reinstated.

Canadian Forces - CADPAT and the Clothe the Soldier Program

In September 1996, the Treasury Board of the Canadian government approved the "Clothe the Soldier" project to address the deficiencies in the Army's operational clothing and personal protective equipment. By the 1990s, it was realized by the Forces that the combat uniform and personal protective equipment was becoming outmoded and obsolete. Over the years a number of specific deficiencies with various items had been identified; it was also noted that many items were not fully compatible with each other, reducing their overall effectiveness. In September 1996, the Treasury Board of the Canadian government approved the "Clothe the Soldier" project to address these deficiencies. Since that time, the Clothe the Soldier project has begun an ambitious task of issuing new items of compatible clothing, ballistic protection, and load-carriage systems. New combat clothing would be issued in an integrated system to deal with any weather or environmental conditions, from tropical to arctic and from arid to wet.

The project was initially mandated to support 40,000 members of the Land Force, Regular and Reserve. In July 2000 the project was expanded to cover 50,000 members, to include all CF personnel conducting land operations (the additional 10,000 members from "entitled units", for example the Communication Reserve).

In 1997, CADPAT (Canadian Disruptive Pattern) was officially adopted as the standard Canadian Army camouflage pattern. CADPAT is a computer-designed pixellated pattern, based loosely on traditional disruptive pattern camouflage. The very first CADPAT item issued was the camouflage cover for the new ballistic helmet. Other than the unique digital pattern, the new CADPAT uniform is very similar in design to the former combat uniform: trousers with cuff drawstrings and side-of-leg cargo pockets, and jacket with two breast patch pockets and two large hip cargo pockets. Rank insignia, however, is now worn on a single slip-on on a epaulette midway down the shirt, in line with the breastbone of the individual. The Canadian Flag is worn on the left shoulder as a national identifier; it is attached by a hook-and-loop system. A name tape is similarly attached over the right breast pocket; the tape bears the member's name, preceded by a symbol denoting the member's environment: crossed swords for Land, an eagle for Air, and an anchor for Sea. Members who wear an Air Force DEU have their rank insignia and nametag stitched in dark blue, and wear blue shirts with the CADPAT instead of the standard green ones. The old-style field cap was replaced by a broad-brimmed hat with a deployable neck covering.

Canadian Forces - Navy Combat Uniform

The only exception to this is the combat dress of the Navy. Referred to as "Naval Combat Dress" or "NCD's", both officers and non-commissioned members of the Navy wear a denim colored work/dress shirt (combat shirt) with rank epaulettes on both shoulders along with black work trousers. Combat jackets are worn over the combat shirts which also sports epaullettes for rank flashes on each shoulder, along with name tags and ship's crest over the right chest area. Depending on current situation or operation, headdress will either be a black beret or a ship's ballcap, and footwear will be either black ankle/parade boots, or black steel-toed sea boots.

Canadian Forces - Military Police

After unification, military police (MPs) wore the same uniforms as other personnel, distinguished only by a few unique accoutrements: a white vinyl cover over the service cap, a gold-coloured police-style badge on the breast pocket, and/or a brassard or armlet bearing the title "MP" or "MILITARY POLICE MILITAIRE".

With the introduction of DEU, these accoutrements (except the brassards) were replaced. Now the main identifying feature of the military police was the addition of the colour red: a red service cap band for Naval and Air Force personnel, a red beret for army MPs and red backing for the cap badges of air force and navy MPs. In 2005, the dress regulations were amended so that all MPs wore red berets regardless of their element, with any order of dress that permits the wearing of a beret.

In 2001, the CF formally introduced the Military Police Operational Patrol Dress (MP OPD), a marked departure from standard military uniforms: it is immediately recognisable as a police uniform as opposed to a military one. It consists of black trousers, short-sleeved shirts for summer wear, long-sleeved collared shirts for winter, the naval pattern sweater, patrol jacket, body armour, police equipment belt and MP Gore-Tex boots, with a red beret for all MPs. It is designed for wear on patrol duties only, by members up to and including the rank of Warrant Officer.

Canadian Forces - Berets

The beret is still the most widely worn headgear, and is worn with almost all orders of dress with the exception of the more formal orders of Naval and Air Force dress (i.e. Ceremonial, Mess, and Service Dress). A regimental or branch badge is worn centred over the wearer's left eye, and the beret is worn so that it drapes over the right ear. The colour of the beret is determined by the wearer's environment, branch, or mission, as follows:

• All army — rifle green (except as noted below)
• Armoured — black
• Airborne — maroon
• Military police — red
• Navy — black
• Air force — postman blue
• Search-and-rescue technicians — orange
• United Nations missions — U.N. blue

See also

• Canadian Forces Air Command
• Canadian Forces Land Force Command
• Canadian Forces Maritime Command
• Canada
• Canadian military history
• Colonial Militia in Canada
• CF ranks and insignia
• List of Canadian military operations
• List of conflicts in Canada
• Royal Canadian Army Cadets
• Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
• Royal Canadian Air Cadets
• Canadian Army Journal
• Joint Task Force Two
• Authorized marches of the Canadian Forces

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Canadian Forces", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki