Canadian Army

The Canadian Army () is the ground force of Canada, and one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Armed Forces, responsible for conventional land operations. As of 2024, it includes about 22,500 Regular Force personnel and 21,500 reservists, including 5,300 Canadian Rangers. Headquartered at NDHQ Carling in Ottawa, it maintains bases and facilities across Canada. The commander of the Canadian Army reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

The army traces its roots to the colonial-era Canadian militia, though nearly all of its existing units were established after the Militia Act of 1855, which created the Active Militia in the Province of Canada. Shortly after Confederation, the Active Militia became Canada's sole functional military force, participating in several conflicts before being renamed the Canadian Army during the Second World War. It was reorganized as Force Mobile Command in 1965, ahead of the 1968 unification of Canada's military. Renamed Land Force Command in 1992, it reverted to the Canadian Army name in 2011.

The army is organized into five principal formations, which includes four geographically based divisions comprising Regular and Reserve Force elements, and the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre for training and doctrine development. The four divisions include several brigade groups made up of units from the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, and Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. The army operates a variety of equipment sourced domestically and from other countries.

History

Origins and the Sedentary Militia

The Canadian Army traces its origins to colonial militias established in New France and British North America. These community-based militias supported French and British military actions on the continent. Prior to Canadian Confederation in 1867, militia acts passed in the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New 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.

Some of the Canadian Army's oldest units trace their lineage to these sedentary militia units, like the predecessor of the Governor General's Horse Guards, the Governor General's Body Guard. Several modern Army units also perpetuate the lineage of Canadian units raised during the War of 1812. However, nearly all modern Army units were formed following the transformation of the Province of Canada's military system under the Militia Acts of 1846 and 1855. Active Militia officers first participated in overseas service during the Nile Expedition of 1884 to 1885, while Active Militia units undertook their first official overseas deployment during the Second Boer War from 1900 to 1902.

thumb|Canadian soldiers at the [[Battle of Paardeberg during the Second Boer War, 1900]]

However, by the end of the 19th century, the militia remained limited in capability. Major-General Edward 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."

Reforms under Frederick 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. 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. Policies adopted by Canada at the 1907 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.

World War I and Interwar Period

thumb|Members of the [[48th Highlanders of Canada, 12th York Rangers, and the 10th Royal Grenadiers leave for training camp, 1914]]

At the outbreak of World War I, the Canadian militia was not mobilized, with existing mobilization plans for the force considered too slow to meet the urgent demands of the war. Instead, a new force was formed, the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

thumb|Canadian soldiers advance during the [[Battle of Vimy Ridge, 1917]]

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 the Canadian Corps passed to Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie, a former NPAM officer. Canadian units first entered the front lines in February 1915, 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. More than 620,000 people served in the CEF, with 60,000 Canadians died during the war. Like in the First World War, the Canadian Army served under British higher command in operations. During the war, 730,000 people served in the Canadian Army, In 2011, Land Forces Command was renamed to the Canadian Army, restoring the pre-unification name for Canada's military land forces.

Following the document Inflection Point 2025, the commander of the army Lieutenant-General Michael Wright ordered staff to prepare a significant reorganization from its conventionally configured divisions to four task specific formations. The Defence of Canada Division will be primary reserve, heavy with the Canadian Rangers, with integrated air and missile defences. The Manoeuvre Division will group the regular force brigades for conventional warfare, creation of a sustainment brigade and a light infantry regiment from the three existing light battalions. In support will be a training formation and a support division.

Structure

The Canadian Army is the land component of the Canadian Armed Forces, and the CAF's largest element. Command is held by the commander of the Canadian Army, a lieutenant-general, with a major-general serving as their deputy. The commander of the Canadian Army reports to the chief of the Defence Staff, who, in turn, reports to the minister of National Defence, the head of the Department of National Defence.

Regular Force and Army Reserve

Army personnel and units are organized into Regular Force and the Canadian Army Reserve. The Regular Force is made up of officers and non-commissioned members enrolled for continuing, full-time military service.

thumb|Reservists of the [[Calgary Highlanders assist with flood mitigation work during the 2013 Alberta floods]]

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, 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. 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.

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG)
34 Canadian Brigade Group (34 CBG)
35 Canadian Brigade Group (35 CBG)
2nd Canadian Division Support Group

5 CMBG has close to 4,800 Regular and Reserve forces and is equipped with approximately 1,200 vehicles. 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 the island of Montreal. 35 Canadian Brigade Group includes 2,200 reservists distributed among 12 units throughout eastern Quebec.

Additionally, the following units report directly to the division's headquarters at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier, Detachment Montreal:

2nd Canadian Division Training Center
4 Intelligence Company
5 Military Police Regiment
2 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group

Training for the division takes place at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School and the 2nd Canadian Division Training Centre.

1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
38 Canadian Brigade Group (38 CBG)
39 Canadian Brigade Group (39 CBG)
41 Canadian Brigade Group (41 CBG)
3rd Canadian Division Support Group

38 CBG is made up of units based throughout Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario, 39 CBG is made up of units based in British Columbia, and 41 CBG is made up of units based in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Additionally, the following units reports directly to the division's headquarters at CFB Edmonton: The division has five major formations:

2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
31 Canadian Brigade Group (31 CBG)
32 Canadian Brigade Group (32 CBG)
33 Canadian Brigade Group (33 CBG)
4th Canadian Division Support Group

31 CBG Army Reserve Formation is headquartered in London and includes nearly 2,500 members across 12 units spread throughout southwestern Ontario and parts of central Ontario. 32 CBG is made up of 3,000 soldiers in 14 units based in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. 33 CBG is a military formation that includes 16 Army Reserve units spread across eastern and northeastern Ontario.

In addition to its brigade and support groups, several other formations and units report directly to the division headquarters at Denison Armoury in Toronto:

5th Canadian Division

thumb|upright=1.2|Organizational chart for the [[5th Canadian Division]]

The 5th Canadian Division is responsible for Canadian Army units and activities in Atlantic 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.

The division includes two brigade groups: 36 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 37 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick. In addition to the two brigade groups, there are eight units that report directly to division headquarters in Halifax:

21 Electronic Warfare Regiment
5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown
4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), RCA
4 Engineer Support Regiment
5th Canadian Division Training Centre
3 Intelligence Company
5 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
Influence Activities

Personnel

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.

Commander-in-Chief

In their capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of Canada, the governor general of Canada is entitled to wear a distinctive general 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.

Officers

Army officers 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.

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. The rank insignia for senior officers generally consists of a combination of pips and St. Edward's Crown, although the insignia for majors only includes the crown. The insignia for junior and subordinate officers/officer cadets consists solely of pips, with the number corresponding to the officer's rank.

Foot guards use alternate titles for some ranks for traditional reasons, with second lieutenants styled as ensigns.

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Non-commissioned members

Non-commissioned members in the Army perform operational and support duties and contribute to maintaining safety, discipline, and the welfare of their units. This includes certain infantry units, with guardsman used by foot guards, fusilier by fusilier regiments, and rifleman or voltigeur by rifle regiments. Armoured units use the title trooper, artillery units use gunner, the Canadian Rangers uses ranger, Canadian Military Engineers use sapper, the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers uses craftsman, and the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals uses signaller. The lowest rank in Canadian military bands is referred to as musician, piper, or drummer, depending on the type of band and instrument played.

Other alternative rank used by Army units includes bombardier for corporal in Royal Canadian Artillery units, and colour sergeant for warrant officers in regiments of foot guards.

Officer entry plans

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 an academic degree or technology diploma may qualify for the Direct Entry Officer Plan, which serves as a direct pathway to commissioning.

thumb|[[Officer cadets of the Royal Military College of Canada during the 2009 Sandhurst Competition]]

Several entry plans offer paid or subsidized education in exchange for military service. The Regular Officer Training Plan involves earning an academic degree at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), the Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean), or a civilian Canadian university. 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.

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. The Commissioning from the Ranks Plan commissions experienced candidates who demonstrate officer potential, supplementing other commissioning routes. 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.

Occupational training

thumb|Exterior of [[Fort Frontenac, home of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College]]

The Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre is the Army's formation tasked with training and developing military doctrine and oversees several training organizations and establishments, like the Peace Support Training Centre and the Canadian Army Command and Staff College. The Army also operates several schools through the Combat Training Centre (CTC), including Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre and the Tactics School.

Several unified Canadian Armed Forces schools are also accessible to Army personnel, including the Canadian Forces College and the CTC's Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering. 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.

thumb|left|A [[Royal 22nd Regiment soldier in No. 1B ceremonial full dress alongside another in No. 3B service dress, 2018]]

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).

Daily duty and operational attire

No. 3 Dress is the Canadian Army's service dress uniform worn for daily duties and travel.

No. 5 Operational Dress consists of uniforms worn during operations, operational training, or as directed.

Formal attire

thumb|Officers in No. 1 Dress, the Army's ceremonial service dress

No. 1 Dress includes uniforms for formal occasions, and whose appearance reflect the heritage of the unit. 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.

Equipment

Vehicles

thumb|A [[Leopard 2A4 during a military exercise at CFB Wainwright, 2017]]

The Canadian Army operates a variety of vehicles including the Leopard 2 series main battle tank, which includes variants such as the Leopard 2A4, 2A4M, 2A6M. These tanks are primarily deployed to provide direct fire support. They are supported by LAV 6 infantry fighting vehicles, which offer enhanced fire support, protection, and mobility for infantry. Armoured reconnaissance and command and control vehicles in use include the Coyote armoured vehicle and the Textron tactical armoured patrol vehicle.

thumb|A [[LAV 6 infantry fighting vehicle in Saint-André-Avellin, Quebec, 2019]]

Other vehicles the Canadian Army uses for personnel transport and logistics includes the amphibious Bandvagn 206 and the G Wagon - Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled. Armoured support vehicles in use include the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle and the Leopard 2ARV and 2AEV variants, the latter two used for armoured recovery and engineering purposes. Other support vehicles include the Light Support Vehicle Wheeled, Medium Support Vehicle System, and the Heavy Logistics Vehicle Wheeled.

thumb|left|Canadian Army soldiers equipped with [[Colt Canada C7 and C8|C7A2 rifles set up a defensive perimeter, 2022]]

The .50 calibre C15A2 is the designated long-range sniper weapon of the Canadian Army, while the Colt Canada C20 DMR is the designated marksman rifle. Other weapons used by Canadian soldiers include the 81mm mortar for indirect fire and the M72 LAW anti-tank weapon. The M777 howitzer is also able to be combined with the M982 Excalibur guided artillery shell, providing accurate fire up to away. This includes CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick, CFB Valcartier in Quebec, Garrison Petawawa, CFB Kingston and CFB Toronto in Ontario, CFB Shilo in Manitoba, and CFB Edmonton and CFB Suffield in Alberta. CFB Suffield is the largest Canadian Army base, hosting the Army's largest military training area, as well as the British Army Training Unit Suffield.

thumb|[[NDHQ Carling in Ottawa houses Canadian Army Headquarters]]

Alongside these 10 Canadian Forces Bases, the Canadian Army also operates several detachments and support bases, like 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Detachment Wainwright.

The Canadian Army Reserve maintains armouries across Canada. Approximately 97 per cent of Canadians live within 45 minutes of a Canadian Army Reserve armoury.

Symbols

Badges

The Canadian Army and its brigades, support groups, and regiments, all have distinct badges that serve as visual identifiersfor these commands and units. 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 the monarch or Governor-in-Council.

Canadian Army badge

The Canadian Army badge is made up of three conjoined maple leaves superimposed on crossed swords, surmounted by the Crown. The design, created by Archer Fortescue Duguid, was issued with approval on 7 April 1947. The crossed swords symbolize the Army's military history and its teamwork in defence of Canada. The three maple leaves are taken from the coat of arms of Canada, representing the heritage of the army and its service to the Canadian sovereign and country.

Prior to the adoption of a unique badge, the Army used the Canadian coat of arms as its badge. Discussions about a unique badge for the Army began as early as 1945, before Duguid's design was selected. Several Canadian Army Orders issued in subsequent years modified the design, like in 1953 when the crown was changed from the Tudor Crown to St Edward's Crown.

Following the 1968 unification of Canada's military branches into the CAF, the Army's badge was replaced by CAF emblems. 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. 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.

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.

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. In 2016, the Army approved a new badge that revived the original 1947 design and removed the heraldic frame.

Flags

thumb|[[Canadian Grenadier Guards carry their regimental flag at Camp Nathan Smith in Afghanistan, 2008]]

The Canadian Army, and its regiments and service battalions have flags that serve as symbols and visuals identifiers for these units.

thumb|March-off of the [[Royal Regiment of Canada's old colours during the presentation of new colours, 2009]]

The Army's armoured and infantry regiments also possess consecrated flags known as colours, symbolizing the unit's honour, pride, and dedication to Canada and typically display battle honours to the unit.

Canadian Army flag

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 the flag of Canada in the canton. 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.

Marches

The Canadian Army, along with its formations and units, have authorized marches distinct to their own organizations. The Great Little Army was adopted as the Army's official march in 2013, replacing Celer 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."

Mascot

The Army adopted an anthropomorphic bear as its military mascot to represent its personnel, with the name "Juno" selected through a public contest in 2003, honouring the Juno Beach landings of the Battle of Normandy. On Remembrance Day in 2015, the Army adopted a polar bear at the Toronto 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.

Notes

References

External links

forces.ca - The Canadian Army