| Canadian Army | |
|---|---|
| Armée canadienne | |
 | |
| Founded | 19 May 1855; 170 years ago (1855-05-19)[1] [note 1][5] |
| Country | Canada[note 2] |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Land warfare |
| Size |
|
| Part of | Canadian Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | NDHQ Carling,Ottawa, Ontario |
| Motto | Vigilamus pro te (Latin for 'We stand on guard for thee')[7] |
| Colour | Red[8] |
| March | "The Great Little Army" |
| Mascot | Juno the Bear[9] |
| Engagements |
|
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Charles III,King of Canada |
| Commander of the Canadian Army | Lieutenant-GeneralMichael Wright |
| Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army | Major-General Peter Scott |
| Canadian Army Sergeant Major | Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Robin |
| Insignia | |
| Flag |  |
TheCanadian Army (French:Armée canadienne) is the branch of theCanadian Armed Forces (CAF) responsible for conventional land operations. As of 2024, it includes about 22,500Regular Force personnel, 21,500reservists, and 5,300Canadian Rangers. Headquartered atNDHQ Carling inOttawa, it maintains bases and facilities across Canada. The Army is led by theCommander of the Canadian Army, under the authority of theChief of the Defence Staff.
The Army traces its roots to the colonial-eraCanadian militia, though nearly all of its existing units were established after theMilitia Act of 1855, which created theActive Militia in theProvince of Canada. Shortly afterConfederation, the Active Militia became Canada's sole functional military force, participating in several conflicts before being renamed the Canadian Army during theSecond World War. It was reorganized asForce Mobile Command in 1965, ahead of the 1968unification of Canada's military. RenamedLand Force Command in 1992, it reverted to the Canadian Army name in 2011.
The Army is organized into five formations, which includes four geographically based divisions comprising Regular and Reserve Force elements, and theCanadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre for training and doctrine development. The four divisions includes severalbrigade groups made up of units from theRoyal Regiment of Canadian Artillery,Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, andRoyal Canadian Infantry Corps. The Army operates a variety of equipment sourced domestically and from other countries.
The Canadian Army traces its origins to colonial militias established inNew France andBritish North America. These community-based militias supported French and British military actions on the continent.[10] Prior toCanadian Confederation in 1867, the Militia Acts of theProvince of Canada,Nova Scotia, andNew Brunswick required males aged 16 to between 50 and 60 to serve in local Sedentary Militias, unorganized, mostly untrained forces mustered only infrequently each year.[11]
Some of the Canadian Army's oldest units trace their lineage to these sedentary militia units, like the predecessor of theGovernor General's Horse Guards, theGovernor General's Body Guard.[12] Several modern Army units also perpetuate the lineage ofCanadian units raised during theWar of 1812.[13] However, the nearly all modern Army units were formed after the transformation of Canada's military system through the Militia Acts of 1846 and 1855.[12]
Plans for a trained volunteer "active militia" in theProvince of Canada began with the Militia Act of 1846, although actual active militia units were not formed until after a more practical framework was established through theMilitia Act of 1855.[14] The Militia Act of 1868 formally integrated the colonialCanadian Militia, both the Sedentary and Active components, into the new federal framework. However, the Sedentary Militia fell into disuse by 1873, leaving the Active Militia as Canada's only functional military force.[15]
In 1871, the Active Militia formed its first full-time volunteer units, which later became the nucleus ofPermanent Force. By the 1880s, Permanent Force had expanded beyond artillery to include infantry and cavalry corps.[16] During the late 19th century, the Active Militia repelled theFenian raids from 1866 to 1871 and defeated theNorth-West Resistance in 1885.[17] Active Militia officers first participated in overseas service during theNile Expedition of 1884 to 1885, while Active Militia units undertook their first official overseas deployment during theSecond Boer War from 1900 to 1902.[17][18]
However, by the end of the 19th century, the militia remained limited in capability. Major-GeneralEdward Hutton, former General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada, described the Militia as "a collection of military units without cohesion, without staff, and without those military departments by which an army is moved, fed, or ministered to in sickness."[19]
Reforms underFrederick Borden,minister of militia and defence from 1896 to 1911, revitalized the force through the creation of engineering, medical, signalling, and support corps in the early 1900s.[19] In 1904, the position of General Officer Commanding, traditionally held by a British Army officer, was replaced by the Canadian-appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Militia.[20] Policies adopted by Canada at the1907 Imperial Conference and the 1909 Defence Conference led the Canadian Militia to maintain broad uniformity with the British Army in organization, equipment, and training doctrine.[21]
.jpg)
The Canadian Militia provided only a small number of trained soldiers at the outbreak of theFirst World War, but it offered the foundation on which a national army could be built.[21] Although there were existing plans to mobilize the militia, they were considered too slow to meet the urgent demands of the war, and were set aside in favour of creating a new force, theCanadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).[17] Most CEF units were created specifically for the war and only later recognized as part of the militia, though some pre-war regiments, such as theRoyal Canadian Regiment, were part of CEF.[22]
The militia's pre-war limited development was evident in the appointment of a British lieutenant-general to command the 1st Canadian Division until 1917, when command of theCanadian Corps passed to Lieutenant-GeneralArthur Currie, a former officer of Canada'sNon-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM).[22] Canadian units first entered the front lines in February 1915,[23] and by 1918, the Canadian Corps was regarded as "the most powerful self-contained striking force on any battlefront," in part because it retained four-battalion infantry brigades while British Army brigades were reduced to three battalions.[24] More than 620,000 people served in the CEF, with 60,000 Canadians died during the war.[10]
Following the war, steps were taken within the Canadian Militia to preserve the legacy and battle honours of Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) units. Two CEF units were incorporated into the Permanent Force, while others had their honours perpetuated through NPAM regiments.[25] In 1923, the civilian portfolio responsible for militia affairs was consolidated with the other service portfolios under a single Minister of National Defence.[26] During the 1930s, the militia began a program of rearmament and reorganization, although its budget reflected its position as the lowest priority compared with the navy and the air force.[27]
The Government of Canada ordered a partial mobilization of the militia on 25 August, followed by full mobilization after theCanadian declaration of war on Germany on 10 September. Unlike the First World War, the mobilized units were drawn largely from existing militia battalions rather than newly created formations.[28] In November 1940, the Canadian Militia was formally retitled as the Canadian Army, with the Permanent Active Militia becoming Canadian Army (Active) and NPAM becoming Canadian Army (Reserve).[4]
Canadian Army units saw little action in the early stages of the war. One brigade briefly took the field during thefall of France in 1940, after which Canadian Army units were largely occupied with the defence of the UK against apossible German invasion.[29] The Canadian Army later played major roles in theAllied invasion of Sicily andItaly, theBattle of Normandy, and theNorth West Europe campaign, remaining in combat until 5 May 1945 with theGerman surrender at Lüneburg Heath.[30] During the conflict, the Canadian Army established theFirst Canadian Army, which grew to become the largest Canadianfield army ever assembled, comprising more than 450,000 personnel under the command of GeneralHenry Crerar.[17] Like in the First World War, the Canadian Army served under British higher command in operations.[31] During the war, 730,000 people served in the Canadian Army,[17] 24,500 of whom died.[10]
Although the Canadian Army demobilized after the Second World War, it did not reduce its numbers to pre-war levels like it did following the First World War. Its participation inNATO in 1949 also led the Canadian Army to its largest peacetime size.[32] As part of its commitments to NATO, the Canadian Army haddetachments in Europe.[10]
During this period, Canada also contributed to earlyUNpeacekeeping operations, like theUnited Nations Truce Supervision Organization in 1948, theUnited Nations Emergency Force during the 1956Suez Crisis and theUnited Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus in 1964.[10][17] The Canadian Army also provided several units, later consolidated into the25th Canadian Infantry Brigade, to serve under the1st Commonwealth Division of theUnited Nations Command during theKorean War.[17]
The Canadian Army was reduced in size the 1960s due to budgetary and manpower constraints.[12] By the mid-1960s, the Canadian government began a process of unifying the country's separate armed service branches into a single force. As a part of the anticipated unification, the Army was reorganized into Force Mobile Command in 1965, before it wasunified with the other two service branches, theRoyal Canadian Navy and theRoyal Canadian Air Force, to form the single-serviceCanadian Armed Forces.[17][12] This resulted in some units being reduced to nil strength and transferred to theSupplementary Order of Battle. However, other new units were also created to increase French Canadian representation.[12]
The rationale for unification was to improve efficiency and reduce cost. However, unification efforts faced resistance from army regiments, who viewed them as an attempt to erase their history, traditions, and identities. Regimental identities and ethos were gradually restored within Mobile Command during the 1970s and 1980s.[12] During the later Cold War years, the CAF was reduced in size and scaled back troop deployments in Europe, although it continued to uphold peacekeeping commitments, participating in every UN peacekeeping mission until 1989.[17]
The end of the Cold War prompted the CAF to end its European military deployments, although it did play a limited role in the 1991Gulf War and took part in several peacekeeping missions.[17] In 1992, Force Mobile Command was redesignated as Land Force Command as part of broader post-Cold War restructuring.[33] Many of the army's post-Cold War peacekeeping missions, particularly in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, became volatile, with peacekeepers facing aggression and lacking adequate support. The misconduct of theCanadian Airborne Regiment during operations in Somalia also led tointense public scrutiny and the regiment’s eventual disbandment.[17]
The army hit its lowest enlistment numbers in decades in 2001, before it rebounded as a result of theWar in Afghanistan.[17] The 12-year Afghan mission was the longest military campaign undertaken by the CAF.[34] In 2011, Land Forces Command was renamed to the Canadian Army, restoring the pre-unification name for Canada's military land forces.[35]
The Canadian Army is the land component of the Canadian Armed Forces, and the CAF's largest element. Command is held by thecommander of the Canadian Army, alieutenant-general, with a major-general serving as their deputy.[36][37] The commander of the Canadian Army reports to thechief of the Defence Staff, who, in turn, reports to theminister of National Defence, the head of theDepartment of National Defence.[36]
The Army is made up of four geographically based divisions and a training formation, theCanadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre (CADTC). These four divisions and CADTC report to Canadian Army Headquarters, which is organized into three main sections: Operations, Strategy, and Reserve, each led by a brigadier-general. CADTC is responsible for the development of doctrine, manages the Army's intellectual growth, and oversees all individual and collective training across its establishments and divisions.[37] Advanced and future war doctrine is also developed at the Canadian Army Land Warfare Centre (CALWC), which also publishes thepeer-reviewedCanadian Army Journal.[38][39]
Army personnel and units are organized into Regular Force and the Canadian Army Reserve.[40] The Regular Force is made up of officers and non-commissioned members enrolled for continuing, full-time military service.[41]
The Army Reserve, also known as the militia, is made up of officers and non-commissioned members enrolled for service other than continuing, full-time military service,[41] including subcomponents like theCanadian Rangers,[40] and provides a basis for national mobilization.[42] Army Reserve personnel are spread throughout ten Canadian Brigade Groups that are primarily made up of reservists, although each unit includes small cadre of Regular Force personnel for administrative and training support.[37]
Reservists usually serve part-time but may volunteer for full-time duty, helping augment Regular Forces' domestic and overseas deployments.[42][43] In addition to supporting the Regular Force, Reserve Force brigade groups maintain readiness to respond to natural disasters and other domestic emergencies within their regions.[42]
The Army's four divisions are the2nd Canadian Division, the3rd Canadian Division, the4th Canadian Division, and the5th Canadian Division. The1st Canadian Division was formerly a joint operations command within the Army, although it was transferred to theCanadian Joint Operations Command in 2015.[37][40]
Three of the four divisions have a combat mechanized brigade group, which is commanded by a colonel and manned by Regular Force personnel. Each mechanized brigade group includes two mechanized and one light infantry battalion, a support battalion, and regiments and units from theRoyal Canadian Armoured Corps,Canadian Military Engineers,Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery,Communications and Electronics Branch. Most divisions also have a company fromIntelligence Branch and Canadian Ranger patrols.[37]
In addition to combat mechanized brigade groups, each division includes a combat service support brigade, companies from theCanadian Intelligence Corps, Canadian Ranger patrol groups, and several Reserve Force brigade groups, known as Canadian Army Reserve brigade groups. The composition of Army Reserve brigade groups is not standardized due to the reserve's historical roots in locally raised militia, although they typically field regiments of theRoyal Canadian Infantry Corps, as well as armoured reconnaissance and artillery regiments. Collectively, these brigade groups include 17 armoured regiments and one independent armoured squadron, 16 artillery regiments and three independent artillery batteries, and 51 infantry battalions.[37]
Canadian Forces Military Police regiments are generally situated with a division and placed under its operational control, although they are not an formally a component of the division.[37]
The 2nd Canadian Division is a formation that includes all Regular and Reserve units within Quebec. There are four main formations that make up the division:[44]
5 CMBG has close to 4,800 Regular and Reserve forces and is equipped with approximately 1,200 vehicles.[45] The two other brigade groups are Army Reserve formations.34 Canadian Brigade Group comprises 2,500 reservists across 15 regiments, nine of which are based on theisland of Montreal.35 Canadian Brigade Group includes 2,200 reservists distributed among 12 units throughout eastern Quebec.[46][47]
Additionally, the following units report directly to the division's headquarters at2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier, Detachment Montreal:
Training for the division takes place atCanadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School and the 2nd Canadian Division Training Centre.[44]
The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation that includes all Regular and Reserve units withinwestern Canada andnorthwestern Ontario, except forCFB Wainwright, which is administered by the Canadian Army Training and Doctrine Centre. As of 2025, there are approximately 5,800 Regular Force soldiers and 5,300 Reserve Force soldiers, and 3,000 Canadian Rangers under the division. Additionally, the division employs approximately 1,000 civilians. The five major formations that make up the division are:[48]
38 CBG is made up of units based throughoutSaskatchewan,Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario, 39 CBG is made up of units based inBritish Columbia, and 41 CBG is made up of units based inAlberta and theNorthwest Territories.[49][50][51]
Additionally, the following units reports directly to the division's headquarters atCFB Edmonton:[48]
The 4th Canadian Division is a formation that includes all Regular and Reserve units withinOntario, excluding parts of northwestern Ontario, whose units form a part of 3rd Canadian Division. The division's units are spread across 46 Ontario communities, and comprises 5,880 Regular Force members, 5,980 Reserve Force members, and 620 Canadian Rangers as of 2025. Additionally the division employs 1,140 civilians. The largest concentrations of the division includesGarrison Petawawa andCFB Kingston.[52] The division has five major formations:[53]
31 CBG Army Reserve Formation is headquartered in London and includes nearly 2,500 members across 12 units spread throughoutsouthwestern Ontario and parts ofcentral Ontario.[54] 32 CBG is made up of 3,000 soldiers in 14 units based in theGreater Golden Horseshoe.[55] 33 CBG is a military formation that includes 16 Army Reserve units spread acrosseastern andnortheastern Ontario.[56]
In addition to its brigade and support groups, several other formations and units report directly to the division headquarters atDenison Armoury in Toronto:[53]
The Ceremonial Guard is administratively a subunit of theGovernor General's Foot Guards (GGFG), but is made up of volunteers from the Regular and Reserve Force across all elements of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Ceremonial Guard are uniformed after the GGFG and theCanadian Grenadier Guards, the two regiments traditionally responsible for such duties in Ottawa.[57]
The 5th Canadian Division is responsible for Canadian Army units and activities inAtlantic Canada. It comprises 2 Regular Force units, 20 Reserve Force units, 4 mixed-force units, and a Canadian Ranger patrol group. The division operates five bases and garrisons in the region. As of 2025, it includes 2,151 Regular Force members, 2,791 Reserve Force members, 1,032 Canadian Rangers, and 673 civilian personnel. Although based in Atlantic Canada, its personnel also operate from Kingston, Ontario.[58]
The division includes two brigade groups:36 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered inHalifax, Nova Scotia, and37 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered inMoncton, New Brunswick. In addition to the two brigade groups, there are eight units that report directly to division headquarters in Halifax:[59]
As of 2024, the Canadian Army included 22,500 full-time soldiers in the Regular Force. In the same year the Reserve Force had 21,500 part-time soldiers, including 5,300 Canadian Rangers. In addition to commissioned and non-commissioned members, the Army employs 3,500 civilian personnel to support its operations.[6]
Military ranks in the Canadian Army denote an individual's position within the Army's hierarchy. Advancement through the ranks corresponds to increased responsibility and authority. The rank structure is used to facilitate the transmission of orders during operations, ensure clarity of command, and maintain discipline and order.[60]
.svg)
.svg)
In their capacity as theCommander-in-Chief of Canada, thegovernor general of Canada is entitled to wear a distinctivegeneral officer uniform from any of three environments: navy, army, or air force. The army uniform features a unique general sleeve braid embellished with the governor general's badge. The badge is also embroidered on the uniform’s shoulder straps.[61]
Armyofficers hold positions of command and responsibility. Their roles typically include overseeing personnel, planning, and directing operations, making decisions within their scope of authority, and providing advice to achieve operational objectives.[62]
The rank insignia for Army general officers, like those of other Canadian Armed Forces general and flag officers, features maple leaves, the number of which corresponds to the officer's rank.[63][64] The rank insignia forsenior officers generally consists of a combination of pips andSt. Edward's Crown, although the insignia for majors only includes the crown. The insignia forjunior andsubordinate officers/officer cadets consists solely of pips, with the number corresponding to the officer's rank.[64][65]
Foot Guards use alternate titles for some ranks for traditional reasons, with second lieutenants styled asensigns.[66][67]
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canadian Army[68][69] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||
| Général(e) | Lieutenant(e)-général(e) | Major(e)-général(e) | Brigadier(ère)-général(e) | Colonel(le) | Lieutenant(e)-colonel(le) | Major(e) | Capitaine | Lieutenant(e) | Sous-lieutenant(e) | |||||||||||||||
Non-commissioned members in the Army perform operational and support duties and contribute to maintaining safety, discipline, and the welfare of their units.[62]
Although private is the lowest rank specified in theNational Defence Act, some Army units use alternative titles for the rank of private for regimental or historical reasons.[70] This includes certain infantry units, withguardsman used by foot guards,fusilier byfusilier regiments, andrifleman orvoltigeur byrifle regiments. Armoured units use the titletrooper, artillery units usegunner, the Canadian Rangers usesranger, Canadian Military Engineers usesapper, theCorps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers usescraftsman, and theRoyal Canadian Corps of Signals usessignaller. The lowest rank inCanadian military bands is referred to asmusician,piper, ordrummer, depending on the type of band and instrument played.[70][71] Warrant officers in regiments of foot guards are also titled differently, ascolour sergeants.[66]
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Army[68][69] | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Warrant officer | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Private (trained) | Private (basic) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant(e)-chef | Adjudant(e)-maître | Adjudant(e) | Sergent(e) | Caporal(e)-chef | Caporal(e) | Soldat(e) (formé(e)) | Soldat(e) (confirmé(e)) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In addition to rank insignias, non-commissioned members appointed as theCanadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer, Command Chief Warrant Officer, or Senior Appointment Chief Warrant Officer wear distinct insignias to denote the senior appointment. Leaders of military bands, such as drum, pipe, and trumpet/bugle majors, also wear distinctive insignia denoting their appointments.[64]
Newly enrolled non-commissioned members of the Army undergo foundational training throughBasic Military Qualification (BMQ), while newly enrolled officers go throughBasic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ). Both BMQ and BMOQ take place atCanadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School.[72][73]
The Canadian Army commissions officers through multiple entry plans, each designed for candidates with different educational backgrounds and levels of military experience, to develop them to the required standard of proficiency expected of an officer. This typically includes providing pathways to complete an academic degree. However, individuals who already possess anacademic degree or technology diploma may qualify for the Direct Entry Officer Plan, which serves as a direct pathway to commissioning.[74]
Several entry plans offer paid or subsidized education in exchange for military service. The Regular Officer Training Plan involves earning an academic degree at theRoyal Military College of Canada (RMC), theRoyal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean), or a civilian Canadian university.[75] Due to shortages in specific officer occupations, the Continuing Education Officer Training Plan (CEOTP) was created for select candidates who are otherwise qualified for service as officers but lack an academic degree, allowing them to enter the Army and complete their degree while serving.[76]
Several entry plans facilitate the transition of serving non-commissioned members to officers. The University Training Plan for Non-Commissioned Members allows serving members to earn a degree at RMC, RMC Saint-Jean, or a civilian Canadian university in preparation to become officers.[77] The Commissioning from the Ranks Plan commissions experienced candidates who demonstrate officer potential, supplementing other commissioning routes.[78] The Special Requirements Commissioning Plan leverages the skills of senior non-commissioned members, such as Chief Warrant Officers, and provides them a route to commissioning.[79]
The Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre is the Army's formation tasked with training and developingmilitary doctrine and oversees several training organizations and establishments, like thePeace Support Training Centre and theCanadian Army Command and Staff College.[80] The Army also operates several schools through theCombat Training Centre (CTC), includingCanadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre and theTactics School.[81]
Several unified Canadian Armed Forces schools are also accessible to Army personnel, including theCanadian Forces College and the CTC'sCanadian Forces School of Military Engineering.[82][83][84] The latter institution was formerly an army run institution until 1968, when its mandate was expanded to meet the needs of the Navy and Air Force.[84]
Uniforms worn by the Canadian Army are regulated by theDress Instructions for the Canadian Forces. Misuse of the likeness of Canadian Army uniforms is an offence under Article 419 of theCriminal Code of Canada and is punishable bysummary conviction.[85]
Uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces, including the Army, are categorized into five types, including No. 1 Dress (ceremonial dress), No. 2 Dress (mess dress), No. 3 Dress (service dress), No. 4 Dress (occupational dress), and No. 5 Dress (operational dress).[85] Each category contains several orders that specify variations for particular occasions.[86]
No. 3 Dress is the Canadian Army'sservice dress uniform worn for daily duties and travel.[86] It includes a beret, necktie, service jacket, and trousers in Army environmental colours, paired with black leather shoes. Variations include No. 3A, a long-sleeved version, and No. 3B, a short-sleeved version.[87]
No. 4 Operational Dress consists of uniforms worn during operations, operational training, or as directed.[86] These include field combat clothing featuringCADPATdigital camouflage, as well as aviation and naval combat dress. Operational uniforms are used across the entire Canadian Armed Forces and are not specific to any single environmental command.[88]
.jpg)
No. 1 Dress includes uniforms for formal occasions, and whose appearance reflect the heritage of the unit.[86][89] The Army's service dress uniforms may also be used for formal occasions, with No. 1 Dress outlining its use when worn with medals and accoutrements, and No. 1A Dress outlining its use when worn with medals only.[89]
The Army's universal full dress uniform, No. 1B Dress, is the Army's most formal attire and includes a whiteWolseley helmet, ared coat, androyal blue trousers. Most units are authorized some minor regimental differences to reflect the unit's history, although some units are authorized significant differences from the universal full dress. This includes changes to the headdress for artillery,hussar, horse guards, rifle, and kilted Irish andCanadian-Scottish regiments, as well as changes to the colour of the tunic ordoublet. Unlike other uniforms in the CAF, which are issued, full dress uniforms are generally purchased by the service member, except for officer cadets at Canadian military colleges and volunteers to the Ceremonial Guard, for whom they are provided.[89]
No. 2 Dress is a uniform worn for military dinners and other formal evening events. The standard pattern includes a redmess jacket, blue waistcoat, and either trousers or a kilt. Similar to full dress uniforms, several Army units have authorized regimental variations to their mess dress.[90]
The Canadian Army operates a variety of vehicles including theLeopard 2 seriesmain battle tank, which includes variants such as the Leopard 2A4, 2A4M, 2A6M. These tanks are primarily deployed to provide direct fire support.[91] They are supported byLAV 6infantry fighting vehicles, which offer enhanced fire support, protection, and mobility for infantry.[92]Armoured reconnaissance andcommand and control vehicles in use include theCoyote armoured vehicle and theTextron tactical armoured patrol vehicle.[93][94]
Other vehicles the Canadian Army uses for personnel transport and logistics includes the amphibiousBandvagn 206 and theG Wagon - Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled. Armoured support vehicles in use include theArmoured Combat Support Vehicle and the Leopard 2ARV and 2AEV variants, the latter two used for armoured recovery and engineering purposes.[91][95] Other support vehicles include theLight Support Vehicle Wheeled,Medium Support Vehicle System, and theHeavy Logistics Vehicle Wheeled.[95]
The army also operates several specialized armored vehicles fordemining and route clearance, including theBuffalo, andHusky VMMD. For transport, route opening personnel utilize theCougarmine-resistant ambush protected vehicle.[95]
The Canadian Army's standard issue weapon is the 5.56 mmColt Canada C7 and C8 rifles, while theC22 pistol is the standardsidearm. The C7A2 serves as the standard personalassault rifle, while the C8A3carbine is used when space constraints limit the use of the C7A2.[96][97]
The .50 calibreC15A2 is the designated long-range sniper weapon of the Canadian Army, while theColt Canada C20 DMR is thedesignated marksman rifle.[96] Weapons used to provide support and sustained fire include theC9A2light machine gun,C6A1general-purpose machine gun, and theM2HBheavy machine gun.[96][98][99] Other weapons used by Canadian soldiers include the81mm mortar for indirect fire and theM72 LAWanti-tank weapon.[96]
The Canadian Army has two artillery systems, theC3 105mm howitzer and theM777 155mm howitzer.[96] The former provides close fire support while the latter system can provide fire support as far as 40 kilometres (25 mi).[100][101] The M777 howitzer is also able to be combined with theM982 Excaliburguided artillery shell, providing accurate fire up to 30 kilometres (19 mi) away.[101]
There are 10Canadian Forces Bases that the Canadian Army uses to house brigade groups and regiments, as well as to provide training and support facilities for its personnel.[102] This includesCFB Gagetown in New Brunswick,CFB Valcartier in Quebec, Garrison Petawawa, CFB Kingston andCFB Toronto in Ontario,CFB Shilo in Manitoba, and CFB Edmonton andCFB Suffield in Alberta.[102][103] CFB Suffield is the largest Canadian Army base, hosting the Army's largest military training area, as well as theBritish Army Training Unit Suffield.[104]
.jpg)
Alongside these 10 Canadian Forces Bases, the Canadian Army also operates several detachments and support bases, like3rd Canadian Division Support Base Detachment Wainwright.[102] Canadian Army Headquarters, the central administrative and command location for the Canadian Army, is located atNDHQ Carling in Ottawa.[105]
The Canadian Army Reserve maintainsarmouries across Canada. Approximately 97 per cent of Canadians live within 45 minutes of a Canadian Army Reserve armoury.[106]
The Canadian Army and its brigades, support groups, and regiments, all have distinct badges that serve as visual identifiersfor these commands and units.[107] Badges of the Canadian Army are approved by the minister of National Defence, with any badges containing a Royal device, like a Crown, also requiring the authorization of themonarch orGovernor-in-Council.[108]
The Canadian Army badge is made up of three conjoinedmaple leaves superimposed on crossed swords, surmounted by the Crown.[108] The design, created byArcher Fortescue Duguid,[108] was issued with approval on 7 April 1947.[109] The crossed swords symbolize the Army's military history and its teamwork in defence of Canada. The three maple leaves are taken from thecoat of arms of Canada, representing the heritage of the army and its service to the Canadian sovereign and country.[110]
Prior to the adoption of a unique badge, the Army used the Canadian coat of arms as its badge.[109] Discussions about a unique badge for the Army began as early as 1945, before Duguid's design was selected.[108] Several Canadian Army Orders were issued in subsequent years that altered the design, like in 1953, when Crown was changed from theTudor Crown toSt Edward's Crown.[109]
Following the 1968 unification of Canada's military branches into the CAF, the Army's badge was replaced by CAF emblems.[111] A new insignia was approved for Force Mobile Command in 1967 anticipation of unification, featuring a red 11-point maple leaf on a white field over four blue arrowheads pointing to the cardinal directions, symbolizing national identity and mobility by land, sea, and air.[112] The insignia was incorporated into the standardized heraldic frames for CAF commands following royal approval in September 1968, with its heraldic blazon published in 1976.[113]
After Force Mobile Command was reorganized as Land Force Command, a new badge for the army was created, based on the original Canadian Army badge but with a single maple leaf instead of three conjoined leaves. During this reorganization, there was a proposal for Land Force Command Headquarters to readopt the original Canadian Army badge, however, it was not implemented.[114]
Shortly after and Force Command was redesignated as the Canadian Army, it adopted a new badge that incorporated the original pre-unification Canadian Army badge into the CAF's heraldic frame.[115] In 2016, the Army approved a new badge that revived the original 1947 design and removed the heraldic frame.[110]
The Canadian Army, and its regiments and service battalions have flags that serve as symbols and visuals identifiers for these units.[116]
The Army's armoured and infantry regiments also possess consecrated flags known ascolours, symbolizing the unit's honour, pride, and dedication to Canada and typically displaybattle honours to the unit.[117][118]
The flag of the Canadian Army is red, adopted in 2018, is charged with a white maple leaf bearing the Canadian Army badge, and features theflag of Canada in thecanton. Red is used as it is the Army’s official colour, the white maple leaf is based on the emblem worn by Canadian soldiers during the First World War, while the national flag in the canton signifies its use as a CAF command flag.[119]
The Canadian Army, along with its formations and units, have authorizedmarches distinct to their own organizations.[120]The Great Little Army was adopted as the Army's official march in 2013, replacingCeler Paratus Callidus, which had been used since 1968. An army spokesperson noted that the previous march was neither "particularly tuneful nor easily recognizable," while the new march was "appropriate in both name and tune."[121]
The Army adopted an anthropomorphic bear as itsmilitary mascot to represent its personnel, with the name "Juno" selected through a public contest in 2003, honouring theJuno Beach landings of the Battle of Normandy. OnRemembrance Day in 2015, the Army adopted apolar bear at theToronto Zoo as its "live mascot", also naming her Juno and appointing her an honorary private. She was later promoted to honorary corporal on her first birthday and to honorary master corporal on her fifth.[122]
The Canadian Army was established in 1855 when the government passed the Militia Act, which provided for a paid, regular army consisting of active volunteer militia. Its forerunner was the militia dating back to 1651.
| History | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure |
| ||
| Brigade groups |
| ||
| Support brigades | |||
| Small arms |
| ||
| Crewed weapons | |||
| Armoured fighting vehicles | |||
| Schools | |||
| Military history | |
|---|---|
| Leadership | |
| Commands | |
| Academies | |
| Lists | |
| Others | |
| NATO land forces |  | |
|---|---|---|
.svg)
