Canadian Special Operations Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) is a battalion-sized, high-readiness special operations unit part of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
(CANSOFCOM). CSOR is capable of conducting and enabling a broad range of missions, including direct action (DA), defence diplomacy and military assistance (DDMA), special reconnaissance (SR) and domestic counter-terrorism (Dom CT).
In April 2005, the Canadian government's new defence policy statement was made public. It included a concept of first responders for international tasks consisting of "special forces" (such as an expanded Joint Task Force 2
) supported by one of the light battalions.
This concept of operations is similar to the Special Forces Support Group
of the UK Special Forces Group
who support high-level special forces units. This eventually led to the formation of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR), although CSOR was not to be limited to a supporting role.
Recruiting for the new unit took place in early 2006, and the first CSOR selection course took place with approximately 175 candidates.
On 13 August 2006, an official stand-up ceremony for the Canadian Special Operations Regiment took place at the unit's home station, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa
, with approximately 250 soldiers participating. The ceremony included a skills demonstration including rappelling from helicopters, and both static and freefall parachuting. It was also announced that the second training serial of CSOR recruits would take place in early 2007.
The regiment suffered its first casualty on 24 June 2011: Master-Corporal Francis Roy died in a non-combat incident while deployed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
The regiment also works with international partners, and helped in the training of the Jamaican Defence Force counter-terrorism assault team.
The regiment will be deployed with international partners to help fight al-Qaeda
in Senegal
. This is the first time in history that the Canadian Forces will participate in the Joint Combined Exchange Training
held in Africa.
, Joint Task Force 2
(JTF-2) near Ottawa
, and the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU) in Trenton
. Colonel
Jamie Hammond was the first commander of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, followed by Lieutenant-Colonel Greg Smith. The current commander is Lieutenant-Colonel John Vass.
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command , is a command of the Canadian Forces...
(CANSOFCOM). CSOR is capable of conducting and enabling a broad range of missions, including direct action (DA), defence diplomacy and military assistance (DDMA), special reconnaissance (SR) and domestic counter-terrorism (Dom CT).
Unit history
The unit traces its roots to the First Special Service Force (FSSF), the Canadian-American special forces unit that was stood up in 1942 and earned the “Devil's Brigade” moniker for daring night raids on German forces at the Anzio beachhead.In April 2005, the Canadian government's new defence policy statement was made public. It included a concept of first responders for international tasks consisting of "special forces" (such as an expanded Joint Task Force 2
Joint Task Force 2
Joint Task Force 2 is an elite Special Operations Force of the Canadian Armed Forces primarily tasked with counter-terrorism operations...
) supported by one of the light battalions.
This concept of operations is similar to the Special Forces Support Group
Special Forces Support Group
The Special Forces Support Group or SFSG is a special operations unit of the British Armed Forces. The SFSG is the newest addition to the United Kingdom Special Forces. It was formed officially on 3 April 2006 to support the Special Air Service and the Special Boat Service on operations. This could...
of the UK Special Forces Group
United Kingdom Special Forces
The United Kingdom Special Forces is a UK Ministry of Defence Directorate which also has the capability to provide a Joint Special Operations Task Force Headquarters...
who support high-level special forces units. This eventually led to the formation of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR), although CSOR was not to be limited to a supporting role.
"In the main, the Canadian Special Operations Regiment enables special operations and, specifically, JTF2; thus, JTF2 can focus on the precise tasks for which they are so well selected and trained. However, particularly in out-of-area operations, we see that the Canadian Special Operations Regiment would be the more appropriate organization to put to the task." (Colonel Barr, commander CANSOFCOM, in Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, 27 November 2006.)
Recruiting for the new unit took place in early 2006, and the first CSOR selection course took place with approximately 175 candidates.
On 13 August 2006, an official stand-up ceremony for the Canadian Special Operations Regiment took place at the unit's home station, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa
CFB Petawawa
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, commonly referred to as CFB Petawawa, or simply "Pet", is a Canadian Forces Base located in Petawawa, Ontario. It is operated as an army base by Canadian Forces Land Force Command.-Base facts:...
, with approximately 250 soldiers participating. The ceremony included a skills demonstration including rappelling from helicopters, and both static and freefall parachuting. It was also announced that the second training serial of CSOR recruits would take place in early 2007.
The regiment suffered its first casualty on 24 June 2011: Master-Corporal Francis Roy died in a non-combat incident while deployed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
Operations
The regiment has maintained a presence in Afghanistan since 2006, in support of the Canadian and coalition forces in the southern province of Kandahar.The regiment also works with international partners, and helped in the training of the Jamaican Defence Force counter-terrorism assault team.
The regiment will be deployed with international partners to help fight al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. This is the first time in history that the Canadian Forces will participate in the Joint Combined Exchange Training
Joint Combined Exchange Training
Joint Combined Exchange Training or JCET programs are exercises designed to provide training opportunities for American Special Forces who are stationed outside of the United States by holding the training exercises in countries that the forces may one day have to operate in, as well as providing...
held in Africa.
Organization
While the regiment is composed of personnel from the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, it is part of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, a joint command responsible for providing agile, high-readiness Special Operations Forces capable of operating across the spectrum of conflict at home and abroad. The command is composed of the CSOR and the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) in PetawawaCFB Petawawa
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, commonly referred to as CFB Petawawa, or simply "Pet", is a Canadian Forces Base located in Petawawa, Ontario. It is operated as an army base by Canadian Forces Land Force Command.-Base facts:...
, Joint Task Force 2
Joint Task Force 2
Joint Task Force 2 is an elite Special Operations Force of the Canadian Armed Forces primarily tasked with counter-terrorism operations...
(JTF-2) near Ottawa
National Capital Region (Canada)
The National Capital Region, also referred to as Canada's Capital Region, is an official federal designation for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the neighbouring city of Gatineau, Quebec, and surrounding urban and rural communities....
, and the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU) in Trenton
CFB Trenton
Canadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
. Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Jamie Hammond was the first commander of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, followed by Lieutenant-Colonel Greg Smith. The current commander is Lieutenant-Colonel John Vass.
See also
- Joint Task Force 2Joint Task Force 2Joint Task Force 2 is an elite Special Operations Force of the Canadian Armed Forces primarily tasked with counter-terrorism operations...
, the main special forces and counter-terrorism unit in Canada - Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit, the CBRNCBRNCBRN is an initialism for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. It is used to refer to situations in which any of these four hazards have presented themselves. The term CBRN is a replacement for the cold war term NBC , which had replaced the term ABC that was used in the fifties...
response unit - 427 SOAS, the aviation arm of the Canadian special forces
- Emergency Response Team, the RCMPRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
branch dedicated to paramilitary operations. - Devil's BrigadeDevil's BrigadeThe Devil's Brigade , was a joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana in the United States...
(officially First Special Service Force, now disbanded) - The Canadian Airborne RegimentThe Canadian Airborne RegimentThe Canadian Airborne Regiment was a Canadian Forces formation created on April 8, 1968. It was not an administrative regiment in the commonly accepted British Commonwealth sense, but rather a tactical formation manned from other regiments and branches...
(now disbanded) - 2nd Commando Regiment2nd Commando Regiment (Australia)The 2nd Commando Regiment is an Australian Army Special Forces unit, it is one of three combat-capable units within the Australian Special Operations Command. The regiment was established on 19 June 2009 when it was renamed from the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
, Australian counterpart to the CSOR - 75th Ranger Regiment, US Army closest equivalent to the CSOR
- 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment1st Battalion, The Parachute RegimentThe First Battalion, The Parachute Regiment is a battalion sized formation of the British Army's Parachute Regiment and subordinate unit within 16th Air Assault Brigade, but is permanently attached to the Special Forces Support Group....
, Special Forces Support Group (UK)
External links
- CASR page on CF SOV Requirements
- CSOR official website
- ShadowSpear.com Special Operations Community Website: CSOR
- Special Video of Creation of Canadian Special Operations Regiment
- http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/netpub/server.np?find&defaultjoin=and&field=Keywords&op=contains&value=%20&field=Keywords&op=contains&value=CSOR&field=Keywords&op=contains&value=Canada&site=combatcamera&catalog=photos&template=results_e.np&sorton=IPTC%20-%20DateCreated&ascending=0&offset=0Photos of Canadian Special Operations Regiment training exercise, Search: Country: Canada, Date: 2006-7-30]
- CBC Documentary