The
Primary Reserve is a reserve force of the
Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. It is the largest of the four sub-components of the CF reserves; those being the Primary Reserve, the
Supplementary ReserveCanadian Forces Supplementary Reserve are inactive or retired members of the Canadian Forces who are willing and available for active service when requested....
, the
Canadian RangersThe Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Forces reserve that provide a military presence in Canada's sparsely settled northern, coastal, and isolated areas. Formally established on May 23, 1947, a primary role of this part-time force is to conduct surveillance or sovereignty...
, and the
Cadet Organizations Administration and Training ServiceThe Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service is a sub-component of the Canadian Forces Reserve Force whose members have undertaken as their primary duty the supervision, administration and training of cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers....
(formerly the
Cadet Instructors CadreThe Cadet Instructors Cadre Branch consists of approximately 7,500 Canadian Forces officers whose primary duty is the safety, supervision, administration and training of Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air cadets...
).
The reserve force is represented, though not commanded, at the national level by the Chief of Reserves and Cadets. This is usually a
Major GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
or
Rear AdmiralRear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
.
The Primary Reserve comprises soldiers, sailors, and airmen who train to the level of and interchangeable with their
Regular ForceIn the Canadian Forces, a Regular Force unit or person is part of the full-time military, as opposed to being part of the Primary Reserve.Regular Force personnel are employed full-time, and have usually signed long-term contracts committing them to regular service...
counterparts and are posted to CF operations or duties on an on-going basis. Each reserve force is operationally and administratively responsible to its corresponding environmental command; those being, the
Royal Canadian NavyThe history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
, the Canadian Army and the
Royal Canadian Air ForceThe history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
Primary reservists number approximately 25,000 (all ranks, all services). The CF maintains a "total force" policy as outlined in both the 1987 and 1994 Defence
White PaperA white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
s, where reservists are trained to the level of and interchangeable with their regular force counterparts. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the reserves to sustaining CF operations, particularly following the defence budget cuts and increased operational tempo of the 1990s.
Naval Reserve
The Naval Reserve (NAVRES) is the reserve formation of the
Royal Canadian NavyThe history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
(RCN). It is organized into 24
Naval Reserve Divisions (NRDs), shore-based training facilities located in communities across the country. Each NRD has a small cadre of full-time reservists and regular force members to coordinate training and administration, but is for the most part directed by the division's part-time leadership. Training is conducted year round with regular force counterparts at the three Canadian Forces Fleet Schools and reservists frequently deploy on regular force ships to augment ships' companies. The Naval Reserve supplies all personnel (except two Electricians and one Naval Electronics Technician) for the 12 Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs), which are used for
patrolA patrol is commonly a group of personnel, such as police officers or soldiers, that are assigned to monitor a specific geographic area.- Military :...
, minesweeping and bottom-inspection operations. The Naval Reserve has a funded manning level of 4,000.
Land Forces Reserve
The Land Forces Reserve (LFR), unofficially termed the Army Reserve, is the reserve element of the Canadian Army (CA) and the largest component of the Primary Reserve. It is often referred to by the original constitutionally established name of the Canadian Army until 1940, the
MilitiaThe term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. The LFR is organized into under-strength
brigadeA brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s (for purposes of administration) along geographic lines. The LFR is very active and has participated heavily in all LF 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 (
companiesA company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
).
LFR regiments have the theoretical administrative capacity to support an entire
battalionA battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, but typically only having the deployable manpower of one or two
platoonA platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
s. They are perpetuated as such for the timely absorption of
recruitRecruit or army recruit is a term often colloquially used to refer to the lowest military rank in various armed services. It usually implies that the soldier so labeled has not yet completed basic training....
s during times of
warWar is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
. Current strength of the LFR is approximately 15,000, and
DNDThe Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
committed to an increase to 18,500 in 2000. As of April 1, 2008 Land Forces Reserve now also encompasses the units of the Communication Reserve.
Brigades
- Land Force Atlantic Area (LFAA)
- 36 Canadian Brigade Group
36 Canadian Brigade Group is a reserve component brigade of the Canadian Army, which supervises Militia units in Land Forces Atlantic Area.-Brigade units:...
(36 CBG)
- 37 Canadian Brigade Group (37 CBG)
- Land Force Quebec Area (LFQA)
- 34 Canadian Brigade Group
34 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Quebec Area, under Land Force Command of the Canadian Forces. It is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.-Brigade Units:...
(34 CBG)
- 35 Canadian Brigade Group (35 CBG)
- Land Force Central Area (LFCA)
- 31 Canadian Brigade Group
31 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Central Area, under Land Force Command of the Canadian Forces. It encompasses the southwestern portion of Ontario, and is headquartered in London, Ontario. The 31 CBG area of responsibility stretches from St. Catharines to Windsor. The Brigade has...
(31 CBG)
- 32 Canadian Brigade Group
32 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Central Area, under the Canadian Army. It is centered around the Greater Toronto Area, as well as Grey and Simcoe Counties...
(32 CBG)
- 33 Canadian Brigade Group
33 Canadian Brigade Group commanded by Col Duane Waite, is part of Land Forces Central Area of the Canadian Forces. It encompasses the eastern and northern portions of Ontario.- Brigade Units :...
(33 CBG)
- Land Force Western Area (LFWA)
- 38 Canadian Brigade Group
38 Canadian Brigade Group is composed of all Canadian Forces' Primary Reserve Army units in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Western Ontario East to Thunder Bay. 38 CBG is part of Land Force Western Area. Geographically, 38 CBG is Canada's largest brigade group.-Brigade Units:-External links:* official...
(38 CBG)
- 39 Canadian Brigade Group
The 39 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is composed of Canadian Forces Primary Reserve units which are based in British Columbia. No. 39 CBG is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Jericho Garrison on West 4th Avenue...
(39 CBG)
- 41 Canadian Brigade Group
41 Canadian Brigade Group is a brigade group that is part of Land Forces Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is a reserve formation and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, at the former location of CFB Calgary....
(41 CBG)
Air Reserve
The Air Reserve is the reserve element of the
Royal Canadian Air ForceThe history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(RCAF). It is organized into
flightsA flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
or
squadronA squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
s that are attached to
wingsWing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
at various bases. Air Reserve personnel conduct training to support Wing operations; such units are specialized in various areas of surveillance, engineering, and airfield construction. Personnel also conduct further training at Canadian Forces bases and can deploy with
Regular ForceIn the Canadian Forces, a Regular Force unit or person is part of the full-time military, as opposed to being part of the Primary Reserve.Regular Force personnel are employed full-time, and have usually signed long-term contracts committing them to regular service...
RCAF crews around the world in support of CF missions. Unlike the NAVRES and LFR, the Air Reserve is composed principally of former members of the Regular Force, though this does not reflect any official policy.
Health Services Reserve
The 1,500-strong Health Services Reserve (HSR) provides essential health services in the Canadian Forces. Health services reservists serve the Canadian Forces in a wide range of health care professions, including
medicineMedicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
,
nursingNursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
and
social workSocial Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
. Reserve paramedical personnel who are not civilian trained and employed are trained, at a minimum, to the level of
emergency medical responderA paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
.
Training and employment
The level of activity associated with being a reservist varies from formation to formation. There are three classes of employment available to Reservists:
Class A
This is the most common form of employment for members of the Primary Reserve. Members are employed on a part-time basis within their unit. This form of employment is entirely voluntary, provides no job security and fewer benefits (medical and dental, e.g.) than the other classes of service. Class A reservists are generally limited to a certain number of paid days per year.
Most units provide employment for training in the form of one evening per week or two full days a month during the training year (September - April). Units also normally provide one additional evening a week for administration purposes. Aside from scheduled training and administration, reservists can be employed on a casual basis to assist in unit operational or administrative activities.
Reservists are obliged to accumulate a minimum of 14 full days of service per year in order to maintain status in the Primary Reserve. Those performing less, or those missing three obligatory training periods in a row, can be deemed to be Non-Effective Strength and can be subject to administrative action.
Class B
This form of employment is for Reservists employed full-time in a non-operational capacity. The length of the employment is dependant on the Reservist's availability and the needs of the Canadian Forces. Reservists on Class B employment receive many of the same benefits as members of the Regular Force, and, for members on contracts longer than six months duration, almost exactly the same benefits aside from pay. Members on Class B are paid 85% of their counterparts on Class C and in the regular force.
Class C
This is the operational level of employment. Reservists on Class C employment receive an increase in pay to the level that a Regular Force member in the same position would be expected to receive (Reservists employed in either of the other classes earn 85% of the amount their Regular Force counterparts receive). Additionally all benefits are awarded to the Reservist without any time constraint on the contract length. Examples of Class C positions include but are not limited to, deployments to operational areas and core crew positions on Canadian warships.
Deployment
Overseas deployment is voluntary. Members of the Primary Reserve have to be selected after volunteering and undergo workup training before being deployed overseas. In case of a severe national emergency, an Order in Council may be signed by the
Governor General of CanadaThe Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
acting under the advisement of the federal cabinet to call reserve members of the Canadian Forces into active service. Members of the reserve have not been called to involuntary active service in foreign operations since the Second World War.
Equipment
| Model | Type | Number | Dates | Builder | Details |
G-WagenThe original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
4 × 4 |
Light Utility Vehicle |
1,159 |
2004- |
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, Germany |
replaced the Iltis light trucks in AfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
|
MILCOTS (Milverado)The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
- 2003 Silverado Basic model 861 (GM K25943HD) |
light utility vehicle wheeled |
1,061 |
2003–2004 |
ChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, |
replacing the Bombardier IltisThe Volkswagen Type 183, more commonly known as the Iltis , is a military vehicle built by Volkswagen for use by the German military and under licence by Bombardier for the Canadian Forces and Belgian Army...
jeeps in North American operations only |
Cougar AVGPThe AVGP is a series of three armoured fighting vehicles ordered by the Canadian military in 1977.The three vehicles are the Cougar, Grizzly and Husky....
|
Fire Support Vehicle |
N/A |
N/A |
General DynamicsGeneral Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
, |
to be replaced by G-WagenThe original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
|
SetraSetra is a Neu-Ulm, Germany-based manufacturer of commercial buses and touring coaches, and recently a subsidiary of Daimler AG.The name "Setra" comes from "Selbsttragend"...
S417 |
bus |
? |
? |
SetraSetra is a Neu-Ulm, Germany-based manufacturer of commercial buses and touring coaches, and recently a subsidiary of Daimler AG.The name "Setra" comes from "Selbsttragend"...
, |
|
| MCI J4500 |
bus |
2+? |
? |
Motor Coach IndustriesMotor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:...
, |
|
Chevrolet UplanderThe Chevrolet Uplander is a minivan produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. It replaced the Venture and Astro. Although introduced for the 2005 model year, it overlapped with the final model years of the Venture and Astro. It was built on the same platform as the Saturn Relay, Buick...
|
van |
? |
? |
ChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, |
Recruiting vehicle |
| MTS CareerCruisers |
trailers |
6 |
2001 |
MTS, |
|
| MCI-9 |
bus |
6+ |
? |
Motor Coach IndustriesMotor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:...
, |
|
Kingston class patrol vesselThe Kingston-class consists of 12 coastal defence vessels operated by the Royal Canadian Navy.The class is the name for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project...
|
Coastal Defence/Mine Clearance Vessel |
12 |
1996- |
Halifax Shipyards |
An operational asset of Royal Canadian NavyThe history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
manned by reservists |
| 24' RHIB |
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat |
24 |
1993- |
Zodiac Hurricane Technologies |
Inshore patrol and operations vessel |
External links