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Canadian Army
File:Canadian Army Badge (Lesser).png
Badge of the Canadian Army
Active1867–present
Country Canada
AllegianceElizabeth II
TypeArmy
Size45 000 total personnel 1st Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division
4th Canadian Division
5th Canadian Division
Part ofDepartment of National Defence
Canadian Forces
HeadquartersNational Defence Headquarters
Motto(s)[Vigilamus pro Te] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (We Stand on Guard for Thee)
March"The Great Little Army"
Mascot(s)Juno the Bear
Engagements
Commanders
Chief of the Defence StaffGeneral Thomas J. Lawson CMM, CD
Commander of the Canadian ArmyLieutenant-General Marquis Hainse, CMM, MSC, CD
Deputy Commander of the Canadian ArmyMajor-General P.F. Wynnyk, OMM, MSM, CD
Insignia
Flag of the Canadian Army
File:Canadian Army.png
The Canadian Army's full badge prior to July 2013.

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 Forces. As of 2013 the Army had 20,000 regular soldiers, about 20,000 reserve soldiers, and 5000 rangers, for a total of 45,000 soldiers. The Army is supported by 5,600 civilian employees.[1] 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". In 1965, 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 navy, army, and air force 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 Forces. In August 2011, Land Force Command reverted to the pre-1968 title, the Canadian Army.[2]

History

Main article: History of the Canadian Army

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.[3]

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.[4]

Notably, despite Canada's usual strong support of British and American initiatives, Canada's land forces did not directly participate in the Vietnam War or the Iraq War.[5]

Structure

Main article: Structure of the Canadian Army

Command of the Army is exercised by National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. The Army is divided into 5 Divisions:[6]

Each Division is responsible for the regular army and reserve forces located within its geographical purview. All except 5th Canadian Division has a regular army mechanized brigade group under its 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, signals squadron and military police platoon.

In addition to the four regional command areas, the 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.[7]

Leadership

The senior appointment within Canadian Land Forces was entitled Chief of the General Staff until 1964 when the appointment became Commander, Mobile Command in advance of the unification of Canada's military forces.[8] The position was renamed Chief of the Land Staff in 1993.[9] Following the renaming of 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.[10]
  • 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.[11]
  • 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.[12]
  • 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.[13]
  • Subsidized special education, which includes the Medical Officer Training Plan or Dental Officer Training Plan.[14]

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 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

Main article: List of units of the Canadian Army

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 battalions). The three present regular infantry regiments were augmented by three further regiments each of two battalions:

Following the unification of the Canadian 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.[15]

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.[16]

The regular forces currently consist of the following regiments:

Infantry

A Canadian soldier fires the current issue C7A2 rifle at the range with a C79A2 sight. This particular example is missing the standard TRIAD mount.

Regular Force infantry regiments and battalions of the Canadian Army are:

  1. The Royal Canadian Regiment
  2. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
    • 1st Battalion (CFB Edmonton) – mechanized infantry
    • 2nd Battalion (CFB Shilo) – mechanized infantry
    • 3rd Battalion (CFB Edmonton) – light infantry (includes parachute company)
  3. Royal 22e Régiment

Artillery

Canada's regular field artillery has traditionally been called the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. Canada currently has four Regular Force regiments:

  • 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (CFB Shilo)
  • 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (CFB Petawawa)
  • 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada (CFB Valcartier)
  • 4th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (CFB Gagetown)

Armour

Regular Force units of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps include:

Combat engineers

Signals

Canadian officers inspect a Browning Hi-Power

Regular Force units of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals include:

Combat service support

Army Reserve

Main article: Primary Reserve
Army Reservists conduct weapons training in drill hall

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 15,000. On April 1, 2008 the Army Reserve absorbed all units of the former Communications Reserve.

The Army Reserve consists of the following regiments: [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.]

  1. 5th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Atlantic Area )
    • 36 Canadian Brigade Group
    • 37 Canadian Brigade Group
    • 72 Communications Group - Halifax, Nova Scotia
      • 721 Communication Regiment (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
      • 722 Communication Squadron (Saint John, New Brunswick)
      • 723 Communication Squadron (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
      • 724 Communication Squadron - active unit (Oromocto, New Brunswick)
      • 725 Communication Squadron (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia)
      • 728 Communication Squadron (St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)
    • 5 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador)
    • 3 Intelligence Company (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
    • 3 Military Police Regiment (Canada) Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
  2. 2nd Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Quebec Area )
  3. 4th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Central Area )
  4. 3rd Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Western Area )

Army bases and training centres

Land Force Western AreaLand Force Central AreaLand Force Quebec AreaLand Force Atlantic AreaAlbertaManitobaOntarioQuebecNew BrunswickNova Scotia

Equipment

Main articles: List of modern Canadian Army equipment, Future Canadian Forces projects, and List of infantry weapons and equipment of the Canadian military
Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle from the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada
A LAV III during Operation Lotus.

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 2030–2035. Despite extensive financial cuts to the defence budget between 1960s–2000s, the Army is relatively well equipped.[18] 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.[19] The Army also operates approximately 150 field artillery pieces including the M777 howitzer and the LG1 Mark II.[20]

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 combat vehicles including 138 close combat vehicles meant to accompany the Leopard 2, their main battle tank into combat and to increase combat capabilities of Army. Army will also receive a new family of tactical armoured patrol vehicles which will eventually replace the RG-31 Nyala and Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle. The dismounted soldiers will be equipped with the long-awaited Integrated Soldier System designed to improve command execution, target acquisition and situational awareness. 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.

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.[21]

Newer variants of the C7/C8 family have since been integrated into common use throughout the Canadian 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.[22]

Uniforms, load bearing and protective equipment

Main articles: Uniforms of the Canadian Forces and Battledress

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 Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force (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.[23]

Soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment

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 Pack.The IMP (Individual Meal Pack) is used by the Canadian Forces and Canadian cadets. 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.

Rank structure

Main article: Canadian Forces ranks and insignia

Military rank in the Canadian Army is granted based on time served in the military (experience), as well as qualification and training for the assigned position a soldier occupies in a unit. Some ranks are associated with specific appointments; for example a regimental sergeant major appointment is usually held by a soldier of chief warrant officer rank. In some branches or specific units, rank titles may differ due to tradition, for example a trained private of engineers is a Sapper, while a master corporal in the artillery is a master bombardier. Other titles for trained private soldiers include Gunner, Trooper, Fusilier, Rifleman, and Guardsman.[24]

For a comparison of ranking structure, see Ranks and insignia of NATO. Not shown are the various appointment badges for specialist positions such as master gunner, drum major, etc.

Insignia

Commander-in-Chief

Commander-in-Chief
Officers
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Canada Canada No Equivalent General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant No Equivalent Officer Cadet
Général Lieutenant-général Major-général Brigadier-général Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant Élève-Officier
Non-Commissioned
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Canada Canada File:Army sleeve CWO.png
Chief
Warrant
Officer 		Master
Warrant
Officer 		Warrant
Officer 		Sergeant Master
Corporal 		Corporal Private Private
Recruit
Adjudant-
chef 		Adjudant-
maître 		Adjudant Sergent Caporal-
chef 		Caporal Soldat Soldat
Recrue

Battles involving the Canadian Army

See also: Category:Battles involving Canada

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

Second Boer WarFirst World WarSecond World WarKorean WarAfghanistan 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[25]
  • Canadian Army Journal[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "About the Army". Department of National Defence. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  2. ^ "Navy and air force to be royal once again". CBC News. 16 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Soldiers of the First World War - CEF". Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Canada in Afghanistan: Overview of Military and Development Activities". Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Canada's 'No' To Iraq War A Defining Moment For Prime Minister, Even 10 Years Later". Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Canadian Army reverts to British-style ranks and designations". Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  7. ^ Department of National Defence, 2011. Leader in Land Operations: LFDTS Land Force Doctrine and Training System
  8. ^ Dr. Wilf Lund (n.d.) Integration and Unification of the Canadian Forces, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum, www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org
  9. ^ Major Andrew B. Godefroy CD PhD (2007) Chasing the Silver Bullet: the Evolution of Capability Development in the Canadian Army, Canadian Military Journal, vol 8, no 1, pg 59.]
  10. ^ CF Military Personnel Instructions 09/05
  11. ^ CFAO 9-13—University Training Plan—Non-Commissioned Members
  12. ^ CFAO 11-9—Commissioning From The Ranks Plan
  13. ^ CFAO 11-14—Special Requirements Commissioning Plan
  14. ^ The Canadian Officer Selection System Retrieved 17 August 2011
  15. ^ Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003/AF-002—Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  16. ^ Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003/AF-001—Part One: Armour, Artillery and Field Engineer Regiments
  17. ^ 39 Canadian Brigade Group - The Army Reserve in British Columbia, published by the authority of the Brigade Commander, 39 Canadian Brigade Group, Vancouver, September 2011
  18. ^ Lance W. Roberts (2005) 9.3 Military Forces, Recent social trends in Canada, 1960-2000, McGill-Queen's University Press, pp.372-376.
  19. ^ Equipment: Vehicles, www.army.forces.gc.ca
  20. ^ Equipment: Weapons, www.army.forces.gc.ca
  21. ^ Equipment: Weapons, www.forces.gc.ca
  22. ^ "Canadian Forces Assault Rifle". 2008.
  23. ^ Canadian Forces to go back to the future with British-style ranks
  24. ^ canadiansoldiers.com article on Rank and Responsibility
  25. ^ Canadian Military Journal
  26. ^ Canadian Army Journal
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