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Thursday, July 9, 2015

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The Canadian Army (French: Armée canadienne), formerly Land Force Command (LFC), is the army of Canada. The Canadian Army is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. As of September 2013 the Army has 21,600 regular soldiers, about 24,000 reserve soldiers, and 5,000 rangers, for a total of 50,600 soldiers. The Army is supported by 5,600 civilian employees. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also responsible for the Army Reserve, the largest component of the Primary Reserve. The Commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff is Lieutenant-General Marquis Hainse.

The name "Canadian Army" only came into official use beginning in 1940; from before Confederation until the Second World War the official designation was "Canadian Militia". On 1 April 1966, as a precursor to the unification of Canada's armed services, all land forces were placed under a new entity called Mobile Command. In 1968 the "Canadian Army" ceased to exist as a legal entity as the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Army (CA), and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) were merged to form a single service called the Canadian Armed Forces. Mobile Command was renamed Land Force Command in the 1993 reorganization of the Canadian Armed Forces. In August 2011, Land Force Command reverted to the pre-1968 title of the Canadian Army.

History



Prior to Confederation in 1867, the British Army, which included Canadian militia units, defended Canada in wartime. After 1867, a Permanent Active Militia was formed, and in later decades several regular bodies of troops were created, their descendants becoming the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, and the Royal Canadian Regiment. Regular Canadian troops participated in the North West Rebellion in 1885, the South African War (Second Boer War) in 1899, and, in much larger numbers, constituted the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I.

In 1940, during World War II, the Permanent Active Militia was renamed the Canadian Army (Active), supplemented by the non-permanent militia, which was named the Canadian Army (Reserve). The Army participated in the Korean War and formed part of the NATO presence in West Germany during the Cold War. In the years following its unification with the navy and air force in 1968, the size of Canada's land forces was reduced, but Canadian troops participated in a number of military actions with Canada's allies, including the Gulf War in 1991 and the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, as well as peacekeeping operations under United Nations auspices in various parts of the world.

Despite Canada's usual support of British and American initiatives, Canada's land forces did not directly participate in the Vietnam War or the Iraq War.

Structure



Command of the Army is exercised by National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. The Army is divided into five divisions:

  • 1st Canadian Division
  • 2nd Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Quebec Area )
  • 3rd Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Western Area )
  • 4th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Central Area )
  • 5th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Atlantic Area )

1st Canadian Division serves as a deployable headquarters in the event of a major mobilization of Canadian forces on operations, and has taken the place of the previous Canadian Joint Forces HQ. The other four have replaced the previous geographical land force areas, and are responsible for administering all regular and reserve force units within them. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions each have a Regular army mechanized brigade group under their command, together with between two and three Reserve brigades.

Each mechanized brigade group contains three infantry battalions, an armoured regiment, an artillery regiment, and a combat engineer regiment. Each brigade group also contains a service support battalion and a signals squadron.

In addition to the four regional command areas, the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, previously called Land Force Doctrine and Training System, commanded by a major-general and headquartered at McNaughton Barracks, CFB Kingston, Ontario, is responsible for the supervision, integration and delivery of Army training and doctrine development, including simulation and digitization. It includes a number of schools and training organizations, such as the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, and the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre at CFB Wainwright, Alberta.

Leadership

The senior appointment within the Canadian Army was Chief of the General Staff until 1964 when the appointment became Commander, Mobile Command in advance of the unification of Canada's military forces. The position was renamed Chief of the Land Staff in 1993. Following the reversion of Land Forces to the Canadian Army in 2011, the position became Commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff.

Officers are selected in several ways:

  • The Regular Officer Training Plan, where candidates are educated at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) or at civilian Canadian universities.
  • Direct Entry officer Plan, for those who already hold a university degree or technology diploma.
  • Continuing Education Officer Training Plan, addresses shortages in certain officer occupations, and is intended to attract candidates who are otherwise qualified for service as officers, but who lack a degree. Candidates complete their degrees while serving in the Army.
  • University Training Plan (Non-Commissioned Members), designed to develop selected serving non-commissioned members for service as career officers in the Regular Force. Normally, candidates selected for this plan will attend RMC or a civilian university in Canada.
  • Commissioning From the Ranks Plan, provides officers to augment the number of officers commissioned through other plans and applies exclusively to those who have acquired some military experience and possess the necessary qualities that make them suitable for employment as officers.
  • Special Requirements Commissioning Plan, is designed to meet the needs of the officer occupations. It allows the Canadian Forces to profit from the skills and experience of senior non-commissioned members and may provide an opportunity for career advancement for selected deserving Chief Warrant Officers.
  • Subsidized special education, which includes the Medical Officer Training Plan or Dental Officer Training Plan.

In addition there were other commissioning plans such as the Officer Candidate Training Plan and Officer Candidate Training Plan (Men) for commissioning serving members which are no longer in effect.

Occupational training for Canadian Army officers takes place at one of the schools of the Combat Training Centre for Army-controlled occupations (armour, artillery, infantry, electrical and mechanical engineers, etc.) or at a Canadian Armed Forces school, such as the Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics or the Defence Public Affairs Learning Centre for officers from career fields controlled outside the Army.

Regular force

Canadian infantry and armoured regimental traditions are strongly rooted in the traditions and history of the British Army. Many regiments were patterned after regiments of the British Army, and a system of official "alliances", or affiliations, was created to perpetuate a sense of shared history. Other regiments developed independently, resulting in a mixture of both colourful and historically familiar names. Other traditions such as battle honours and colours have been maintained by Canadian regiments as well. Approximately two-thirds of the Regular Force is composed of anglophone units, while one third is francophone.

Between 1953 and 1971, the Regular Canadian Infantry consisted of seven regiments, each of two battalions (except the Royal 22e Régiment, which had three, the Canadian Guards which had four battalions between 1953 and 1957 and the Canadian Airborne Regiment, which was divided into three commandos). The three present Regular infantry regiments were augmented by three further regiments each of two battalions:

  • The Canadian Guards
  • The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
  • The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada

Following the unification of the three services to form the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, the Regular Force battalions of the QOR and the Black Watch were dissolved (their Militia battalions remained in Toronto and Montreal, respectively), the Regular regiment of The Fort Garry Horse was disbanded and the Canadian Guards were reduced to nil strength.

The 1st Battalion of the Canadian Guards was disbanded on 1 October 1968. On 6 July 1970, the 2nd Battalion, The Canadian Guards was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle, with the unit's soldiers and officers becoming the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment.

On 1 July 1970, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada were reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle, and the Reserve Force battalion automatically relinquished its numerical designation.

On 15 September 1968, the 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle, while when the 1st Battalion was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle on 27 April 1970, with the unit's officers and soldiers forming the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. The Reserve Force battalion automatically relinquished its numerical designation at that time.

The Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded in 1995.

The Regular Force regiment of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's), formed in 1957, was converted to a mixed Regular and Reserve “Total Force” unit with the close-out of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at Lahr, Germany in 1994, before reverting to a Reserve regiment in 1997.

Army Reserve

The Army Reserve is the reserve element of the Canadian Army and the largest component of the Primary Reserve. The Army Reserve 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 Regular 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). LFR regiments have the theoretical administrative capacity to support an entire battalion, but typically have the deployable manpower of only one or two platoons. They are perpetuated as such for the timely absorption of recruits during times of war. Current strength of the Army Reserve is approximately 18,000. On April 1, 2008, the Army Reserve absorbed all units of the former Communications Reserve.[NOTE: "light infantry" and "heavy infantry" are obsolete historic British Army categories for lightly equipped troops who could march fast and rove ahead of the main army force (rifle regiments were an example of this) and the normal ("heavy") infantry who marched slower but could handle the normal fighting and were not so lightly equipped. All Canadian infantry units in the war in Afghanistan were loaded even more than historic heavy infantry ever were with body armour and large rucksacks, even those with "light infantry" in their title e.g. PPCLI.]

Organization of the Army

  1. Canadian Army Headquarters (Ottawa, ON)
  2. Canadian Army Doctrine and Training System (Kingston, ON)
  3. 1st Canadian Division
    • 1st Canadian Division HQ (Kingston, ON)
  4. 2nd Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Quebec Area )
    • 2nd Canadian Division HQ (Montreal, QC)
    • 2nd Canadian Division Support Group (Montreal, QC)
    • 2nd Canadian Division Training Centre (Valcartier, QC)
    • 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
      • 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group HQ and Signals Squadron (Valcartier, QC)
      • 5e Régiment d'artillerie-légère du Canada (Valcartier, QC)
      • 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (Valcartier, QC)
      • 1er Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment (Valcartier, QC)
      • 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment (Valcartier, QC)
      • 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment (Valcartier, QC)
      • 5 Combat Engineer Regiment (Valcartier, QC)
      • 5 Service Battalion (Varcartier, QC)
    • 34 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 34 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (Montreal)
      • The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) (armoured) (Montreal)
      • Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC) (armoured) (Hull)
      • 4e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment (Châteauguay) (light infantry) (Laval)
      • 6e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment (infantry) (Saint-Hyacinthe)
      • Le Régiment de Maisonneuve (infantry) (Montreal)
      • Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal (infantry) (Montreal)
      • The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada (infantry) (Montreal)
      • The Canadian Grenadier Guards (infantry) (Montreal)
      • The Royal Montreal Regiment (infantry) (Westmount)
      • 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Montreal)
      • 34th Signals Regiment (Montreal) Signals (Support) (Montreal)
      • 34 Combat Engineer Regiment (combat engineer) (Westmount)
      • 34 Service Battalion (service and support) (Saint-Hubert)
    • 35 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 35 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters
      • Sherbrooke Hussars (armoured) (Sherbrooke)
      • 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (Militia) (armoured) (Trois-Rivières)
      • Le Régiment de la Chaudière (light infantry) (Lévis)
      • Le Régiment du Saguenay (infantry) (Chicoutimi)
      • Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke (infantry) (Sherbrooke)
      • Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent (light infantry) (Rimouski)
      • Les Voltigeurs de Québec (light infantry) (Quebec City)
      • 6th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Lévis)
      • 62nd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Shawinigan)
      • 35 Combat Engineer Regiment (combat engineer) (Quebec City)
      • 35 (Quebec) Service Battalion (service and support) (Quebec City)
    • 71 Communications Group (Montreal)
      • 712 Communication Squadron â€" Montreal
      • 713 Communication Regiment â€" Beaport
      • 714 Communication Squadron â€" Sherbrooke
    • 2 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group â€" Richelain
  5. 3rd Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Western Area )
    • 3rd Canadian Division HQ (Edmonton, AB)
    • 3rd Canadian Division Support Group (Edmonton, AB)
    • 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre (Wainwright, AB)
    • 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (Edmonton, AB)
      • 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and Signal Squadron (Edmonton, AB)
      • 1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (Shilo, MB)
      • Lord Strathcona's Horse (Edmonton, AB)
      • 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, AB)
      • 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, MB)
      • 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, AB)
      • 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (Edmonton, AB)
      • 1 Service Battalion (Edmonton, AB)
    • 38 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 38 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
      • The Saskatchewan Dragoons (armoured) (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan)
      • The Fort Garry Horse (armoured) (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
      • The Royal Regina Rifles (light infantry) (Regina, Saskatchewan)
      • The North Saskatchewan Regiment (light infantry) (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
      • The Royal Winnipeg Rifles (light infantry) (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
      • The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment (infantry) (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
      • The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (infantry) (Winnipeg)
      • 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Regina, Saskatchewan)
      • 26th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Brandon, Manitoba)
      • 116th Independent Field Battery (artillery) (Kenora, Ontario)
      • 38 Signal Regiment (Communications) (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thunder Bay, Ontario and Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan)
      • 38 Service Battalion (service and support) (Regina, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Manitoba and Thunder Bay, Ontario)
    • 39 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 39 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (Vancouver, British Columbia)
      • The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (armoured) (Vancouver, British Columbia)
      • The British Columbia Dragoons (armoured) (Kelowna, British Columbia)
      • The Rocky Mountain Rangers (infantry) (Kamloops, British Columbia)
      • The Royal Westminster Regiment (infantry) (New Westminster, British Columbia)
      • The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (infantry) (Vancouver, British Columbia)
      • The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) (infantry) (Victoria, British Columbia)
      • 5th (British Columbia) Field Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Victoria, British Columbia)
      • 15th Field Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Vancouver, British Columbia)
      • 39 Combat Engineer Regiment (combat engineer) (Vancouver, Chilliwack and Trail, British Columbia)
      • 39 Signal Regiment (Communications) (Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo, British Columbia)
      • 39 Service Battalion (service and support) (Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia)
    • 41 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 41 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (Calgary, Alberta)
      • The South Alberta Light Horse (armoured) (Edmonton and Medicine Hat, Alberta)
      • The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) (armoured) (Calgary, Alberta)
      • The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) (light infantry) (Edmonton, Alberta, and Yellowknife, N.W.T.)
      • The Calgary Highlanders (infantry) (Calgary, Alberta)
      • 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (artillery) (Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta)
      • 20th Independent Field Battery, RCA (artillery) (Lethbridge, Alberta)
      • 41 Combat Engineer Regiment (combat engineer) (Edmonton, Alberta)
      • 41 Signal Regiment (Communications) (Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta)
      • 41 Service Battalion (service and support) (Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta)
    • 4 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (Victoria, British Columbia)
  6. 4th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Central Area )
    • 4th Canadian Division HQ (Toronto, ON)
    • 4th Canadian Division Support Group (Petawawa, ON)
    • 4th Canadian Division Training Centre (Meaford, ON)
    • 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (Petawawa, ON)
      • 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group HQ and Signal Squadron (Petawawa, ON)
      • 2nd Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (Petawawa, ON)
      • Royal Canadian Dragoons (Petawawa, ON)
      • 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, ON)
      • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Gagetown, NB)
      • 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, ON)
      • 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (Petawawa, ON)
      • 2 Service Battalion (Petawawa, ON)
    • 31 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 31 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (London, Ontario)
      • 1st Hussars (armoured) (London and Sarnia, Ontario)
      • The Windsor Regiment (armoured) (Windsor, Ontario)
      • The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) (infantry) (Hamilton, Ontario)
      • The Lincoln and Welland Regiment (infantry) (St. Catharines and Welland, Ontario)
      • 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (light infantry) (London and Stratford, Ontario)
      • The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada (light infantry) (Cambridge and Kitchener, Ontario)
      • The Essex and Kent Scottish (light infantry) (Windsor and Chatham, Ontario)
      • The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) (light infantry) (Hamilton, Ontario)
      • 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Guelph and Hamilton, Ontario)
      • 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Brantford,St. Catharines and Simcoe Ontario)
      • 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) (combat engineer) (St. Thomas and Waterloo, Ontario)
      • 31 Service Battalion (service and support) (Windsor, London and Hamilton, Ontario)
    • 32 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 32 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (Toronto)
      • The Governor General's Horse Guards (armoured) (Toronto)
      • The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) (armoured) (Toronto and Aurora, Ontario)
      • The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (light infantry/airborne) (Toronto (Downtown and Scarborough), Ontario)
      • The Royal Regiment of Canada (light infantry) (Toronto, Ontario)
      • The Grey and Simcoe Foresters (light infantry) (Owen Sound and Barrie, Ontario)
      • The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) (infantry) (Brampton, Oakville and Georgetown, Ontario)
      • 48th Highlanders of Canada (infantry) (Toronto, Ontario)
      • The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's Own) (infantry) (Toronto, Ontario)
      • 7th Toronto Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Toronto, Ontario)
      • 32 Combat Engineer Regiment (combat engineer) (Toronto, Ontario)
      • 32 (Toronto) Service Battalion (service and support) (Toronto, Ontario)
    • 33 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 33 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters (Ottawa, Ontario)
      • The Ontario Regiment (RCAC) (armoured) (Oshawa, Ontario)
      • Governor General's Foot Guards (light infantry) (Ottawa, Ontario)
      • The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (infantry) (Kingston, Ontario)
      • The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (infantry) (Belleville, Peterborough and Cobourg, Ontario)
      • The Brockville Rifles (light infantry) (Brockville, Ontario)
      • Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (infantry) (Cornwall, Ontario)
      • The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) (infantry) (Ottawa, Ontario)
      • The Algonquin Regiment (light infantry) (North Bay and Timmins, Ontario)
      • 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada (light infantry) (Sudbury, Ontario)
      • 30th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Ottawa, Ontario)
      • 49th (Sault Ste. Marie) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Sault Ste Marie, Ontario)
      • 42nd Field Artillery Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA (Pembroke, Ontario)
      • 33 Combat Engineer Regiment (combat engineer) (Ottawa, Ontario)
      • 33 Service Battalion (service and support) (North Bay, Ottawa and Sault Ste. Marie Ontario)
    • 2 Operational Support Group (Toronto, Ontario)
      • 700 Communication Squadron (Borden, Ontario)
      • 705 Communication Squadron (Hamilton, Ontario)
      • 709 Communication Regiment (Toronto, Ontario)
      • 763 communication Regiment (Ottawa, Ontario)
      • 772 Electronic Warfare Squadron (Kingston, Ontario)
    • 3 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (Borden, Ontario)
  7. 5th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Atlantic Area )
    • 5th Canadian Division HQ (Halifax, NS)
    • 5th Canadian Division Support Group (Gagetown, NB)
    • 5th Canadian Division Training Centre (Gagetown, NB)
    • 36 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 36 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters
      • 36 Canadian Brigade Group (NS) Band (music)
      • The Halifax Rifles (RCAC) (armoured) (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC) (armoured) (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
      • 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • 84th Independent Field Battery, RCA (artillery) (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia)
      • 45 Engineer Squadron (combat engineer) (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
      • The Princess Louise Fusiliers (infantry) (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • The West Nova Scotia Regiment (infantry) (Aldershot, Nova Scotia)
      • The Nova Scotia Highlanders (infantry) (Truro, Nova Scotia)
      • The Cape Breton Highlanders (infantry) (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
      • 36 Service Battalion (service and support) (Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia)
      • 36 Signals Regiment (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
    • 37 Canadian Brigade Group
      • 37 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters
      • 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) (armoured) (Moncton, New Brunswick)
      • 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA (artillery) (Saint John, New Brunswick)
      • 56 Engineer Squadron (combat engineer) (St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)
      • 1st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton and York) (infantry) (Fredericton, New Brunswick)
      • The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment (infantry) (Bathurst, New Brunswick)
      • 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment (infantry) (St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)
      • 2nd Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment (infantry) (Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador)
      • 37 Service Battalion (service and support) (Saint John, New Brunswick and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)
      • 37 Signal Regiment 2 Squadron (Saint John, New Brunswick)
      • 724 Communication Squadron (Oromocto, New Brunswick) [Update Needed]
      • 37 Signal Regiment 8 Squadron (St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)
    • 5 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador)
    • 3 Military Police Regiment (Canada) Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia

Bases and training centres



  1. 2nd Canadian Division
    • 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Montreal
    • Garrison Valcartier
    • Garrison St Jean
    • 2nd Canadian Division Training Centre Valcartier
  2. 3rd Canadian Division
    • 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton
    • Garrison Wainwright
    • Garrison Shilo
    • 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre Wainwright
    • 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre Detachment Shilo
  3. 4th Canadian Division
    • 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa
    • Canadian Forces Base Kingston
    • 4th Canadian Division Training Centre Meaford
  4. 5th Canadian Division
    • 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown
    • 5th Canadian Division Training Centre Gagetown

Equipment



Canada is an industrial nation with a highly developed science and technology sector. Since the First World War, Canada has produced its own infantry fighting vehicle, anti-tank guided missile and small arms for the Army. Regular and reserve units operate state-of-the-art equipment able to handle modern threats through 2030â€"2035. Despite extensive financial cuts to the defence budget between the 1960sâ€"2000s, the Army is relatively well equipped. The Army currently operates approximately 10,500 utility vehicles including G-wagon and 7000-MV and also operates approximately 2,700 armoured fighting vehicles including the LAV-III and the Leopard 2. The Army also operates approximately 150 field artillery pieces including the M777 howitzer and the LG1 Mark II.

In the near future, between 2011 to 2017, (see also the list of Future Canadian Forces projects), the Army will receive a new family of tactical armoured patrol vehicles which will eventually replace the RG-31 Nyala and Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle, known as the Textron Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle. The dismounted soldiers will be equipped with the long-awaited Integrated Soldier System designed to improve command execution, target acquisition and situational awareness. The Army will receive a new family of engineering vehicles especially designed to clear pathways for troops and other vehicles through minefields and along roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices. This new family of vehicles will eventually replace the aging fleet of AEV Badger, ARV Taurus and AVLB Beaver.

The Army infantry uses the C7 Rifle or C8 Carbine as the basic assault rifle, with grenadiers using the C7 with an attached M203 grenade launcher, and the C9 squad automatic weapon. The Canadian Army also uses the Browning Hi-Power and the SIG Sauer P226

Newer variants of the C7/C8 family have since been integrated into common use throughout the Canadian Armed Forces. The C7 has most recently been updated in the form the C7A2. The major internal components remain the same, however, several changes have been made to increase versatility of the rifle. Changes include adding a TRI-Ad rail mount system to the front iron sight which allows accessories such as laser designators and tac lights to be added. Also, the fire control selector lever has been made ambidextrous in addition to the cocking lever. A much needed 4-position telescopic butt-stock has been added to better accommodate different sized shooters. But, perhaps most obviously the rifle has undergone some aesthetic changes, moving away from the traditional all black rifle to one with olive green in the hand guards, pistol grip and sight cover.

Uniforms, load bearing and protective equipment



Canada's battledress developed parallel to that of the British from 1900 to 1968, though always with significant differences, and then increasingly followed the American pattern of separate uniforms for separate functions, becoming distinctively "Canadian" in the process. Prior to unification in 1968, the uniforms of the RCN, CA, and RCAF were similar to their counterparts in the forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, save for national identifiers and some regimental accoutrements. With unification in 1968 all branches started wearing a new rifle green coloured service uniform. The present distinctive environmental uniforms in different colours for the navy, army and air force were introduced in the late 1980s and have a different cut and colour than their pre-1968 counterparts. The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced on 8 July 2013 the Government of Canada's intent to restore Canadian Army rank insignia, names and badges to their traditional forms.

Meals



Field kitchens and catering are used to feed members of the Canadian Army personnel at bases and overseas operation centres. For personnel on patrol away from bases, they are supplied Individual Meal Packs (IMPs). The IMP is used by the Canadian Forces. Other types of rations are used by the Canadian Forces, notably fresh rations, or cooked meals provided directly from the kitchen or by haybox. There are also patrol packs, which are small high-protein snack-type foods (such as beef jerky or shredded cheese) and boxed lunches (consisting of assorted sandwiches, juice, fruit, pasta and a dessert) provided for soldiers to consume in situations in which meal preparation is not possible.

Badge of the Canadian Army



The badge of the Canadian Army consists of:

  • St. Edward's Crown
  • Three maple leaves on one stem
  • Crossed swords
  • Motto: Vigilamus pro te ("We stand on guard for thee")

Rank structure



Military rank in the Canadian Army is granted based on a variety of factors including merit, qualification, training, and time in-rank. However, promotion up to the rank of corporal for non-commissioned members, and to captain for officers, is automatic based on time in previous rank. Some ranks are associated with specific appointments. For example, a regimental sergeant major is held by a chief warrant officer, or adjutant held by a Captain. In some branches or specific units, rank titles may differ due to tradition. A trained private within the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps is a trooper, whereas the same rank within the artillery is gunner. Other titles for the rank of private include trooper, fusilier, rifleman, craftsman, and guardsman.

For a comparison of ranking structure, see Ranks and insignia of NATO. Not shown are the various appointment badges for specialist positions such as Base Chief Warrant Officer, Drum Major, etc.

Insignia

Commander-in-Chief

Officers

Canadian Army traditional insignia for commissioned officers has been restored, effective August 2014, following the restoration of the Canadian Army in 2011. The Canadian Army rank structure is shown below.

Non-Commissioned

Battles involving the Canadian Army



The Canadian Army has participated in the following campaigns as a combatant:

  • Second Boer War
    • Battle of Paardeberg
    • Battle of Leliefontein
  • First World War
    • Western Front
      • Second Battle of Ypres
      • Battle of Somme
      • Vimy Ridge
      • Passchendaele
      • Hundred Days Offensive
    • Siberian Expedition
  • Second World War
    • Pacific Campaign
      • Battle of Hong Kong
      • Aleutian Islands Campaign
    • Italian Campaign
      • Sicily
      • Italy
      • Battle of Ortona
      • Hitler Line
    • Northwest Europe
      • Dieppe Raid
      • Juno Beach
      • Operation Market Garden
      • Battle of Normandy
      • Battle of the Scheldt
      • Battle of the Rhineland
      • Battle of Groningen
  • Korean War
    • Battle of Kapyong
  • Afghanistan
    • Operation Anaconda
    • Operation Apollo
    • Operation Mountain Thrust
    • Operation Medusa
    • Battle of Panjwaii
    • Operation Falcon's Summit
    • Siege of Sangin
    • Operation Achilles
    • Operation Hoover
    • Operation Moshtarak

Note: The Canadian army was involved in the battle of the Medak Pocket, but the actual type of involvement is under dispute.

Publications



  • Canadian Military Journal
  • Canadian Army Journal

See also



  • History of the Canadian Army
  • Canadian Forces
  • Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
  • Regimental nicknames of the Canadian Forces
  • Intelligence Branch (Canadian Forces)
  • Permanent Active Militia
  • Non-Permanent Active Militia
  • Primary Reserve
  • Canadian Rangers

References



External links



  • Canadian Army Website - Official website of the Canadian Army
  • Faces of War: The Canadian Army at Library and Archives Canada
  • army.ca - Army.ca, a web forum and interactive wiki dealing with both current and historical issues related to the Canadian Army.
  • Battle Honours in the Canadian Army by J.R. Grodzinski
  • Canadiansoldiers.com


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