Communications and Electronics Branch
Encyclopedia
The Communications and Electronics (C&E) Branch is a personnel branch
of the Canadian Forces
(CF).
(13 February 1863 - 21 October 1910) was the founder of the Canadian Signalling Corps, forerunner of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
and the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces
.
was founded in 1937. Initially, CFSCEE provided training in Communications and Electronics in Canadian Army and now in the Canadian Forces
. The last "E" was dropped in recent times, and is now called CFSCE. CFSCE provides basic, intermediate and advanced training to military personnel in the field of Communications and Electronics.
Personnel branch
Personnel branch, in the Canadian Forces , refers to a grouping of related military occupations.Personnel branches were officially established at unification in 1968 to amalgamate the old Canadian Army Corps and similar occupational groupings in the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The 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."...
(CF).
History
Major Wallace Bruce Matthews CarruthersWallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers
Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers was a Canadian soldier and the founder of the Canadian Signalling Corps.-Education:...
(13 February 1863 - 21 October 1910) was the founder of the Canadian Signalling Corps, forerunner of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was a corps of the Canadian Army. Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established the corps in 1903, making it the first independent Signal Corps in the British Empire...
and the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The 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."...
.
Uniform
- Cap badge: A silver depiction of Mercury with golden lightning bolts on either side placed on a field of blue.
- Army shoulder title:
- EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "SIGNALS" (all uniforms) - FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: "TRANS" (Service Dress tunic), "TRANSMISSIONS" (all other uniforms)
- English
- Miscellaneous:
- The Signalman's trade qualification badge (worn on the lower sleeve of the Service Dress jacket) is the only such trade badge that features colours (blue and white) instead of just gold
Customs and traditions
- Colonel-in-Chief: Her Royal Highness, The Princess RoyalAnne, Princess RoyalPrincess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
- Branch flag: Horizontal bicolour, French grey (Munsell Notation 5PB5/2) over dark blue (Munsell Notation 7.5PB2/2). It is commonly believed that the colours of the flag represent "grey skies over blue waters"; however, the colours were inherited from the officer's Mess Dress uniforms of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS), which were in turn inherited from the 21st Lancers21st LancersThe 21st Lancers were a cavalry regiment of the British Army, created in 1858 and amalgamated to form the 17th/21st Lancers in 1922...
, the first unit of Major Carruthers, founder of the RCCS - Home Station: CFB KingstonCFB KingstonCanadian Forces Base Kingston is a Canadian Forces Base located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.CFB Kingston is home to the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces. The base also hosts the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... - Motto: Velox Versutus Vigilans (Latin, "Swift, Skilled, Alert"); motto inherited from the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
- Nickname:
- "Jimmies" – after "Jimmy", the nickname given to the Roman god MercuryMercury (mythology)Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
as patron (and insignia) of Signals in Commonwealth countries; the origin of this particular sobriquet for the god is unknown; there are a number of theories as to why 'Jimmy' was adopted as a term of endearment for the emblem. The most widely accepted is that it came from a very popular Royal Signals boxer, called Jimmy Emblem, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Signals Corps from 1921 to 1924. - "Sigs" – after the abbreviation of "Signals"
- "Sig Pigs" – rhyming slang name; sometimes used deprecatingly by non-Signalmen, generally with pride by Signalmen
- "Rubberheads" - Nickname applied only to Communicator Research personnel; considered pejorative or insulting when used by non-Communicator Research personnel; this references the large padded earphones that were often used by the trade.
- "Jimmies" – after "Jimmy", the nickname given to the Roman god Mercury
- Authorized march: "The Mercury MarchThe Mercury MarchThe Mercury March was composed in 1974 by Albert Furey. It is the march for the Signal Regiment of the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces....
" - Branch colours: French grey and dark blue
- Miscellaneous:
- Signals units follow the Cavalry practice of naming their units "Regiment" for "Battalion", "Squadron" for "Company", and "Troop" for "Platoon".
- Trained PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
s in Signals or Communications units are styled "Signalman" or "Sig".
Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics
The Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics(CFSCEE) in Kingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
was founded in 1937. Initially, CFSCEE provided training in Communications and Electronics in Canadian Army and now in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The 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."...
. The last "E" was dropped in recent times, and is now called CFSCE. CFSCE provides basic, intermediate and advanced training to military personnel in the field of Communications and Electronics.
Occupations
Military occupations and military occupation codes (MOCs) within the Branch are listed below. Also listed are the uniform environment restrictions.| MOSID | MOC | Occupation | Abbrev | Uniform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||||
| 00340 | 083 | Communications and Electronics Engineering (Air) | CELE (AIR) | RCAF |
| 00341 | 084 | Signals | SIGS | CA |
| Non-commissioned members | ||||
| 00362-1 | Army Communication & Information Systems Specialist | ACISS | CA | |
| 00362-2 | Line System Technologist | LST | CA | |
| 00362-3 | Communication System Technologist | CST | CA | |
| 00362-4 | Information System Technologist | IST | CA | |
| 00362-5 | Communication Information System Technology Manager | CISTM | CA | |
| 00109 | 226 | Aerospace Telecommunication & Information Systems Technician | ATIS TECH | RCAF |
| 00120 | 291 | Communicator Research Operator | COMM RSCH | RCN, CA, RCAF |
| Non-commissioned members (Prior to 1 October 2011) | ||||
| 00015 | 052 | Lineman | LMN | CA |
| 00329 | 215 | Signal Operator | SIG OP | CA |
| 00109 | 226 | Aerospace Telecommunication & Information Systems Technician | ATIS TECH | RCAF |
| 00110 | 227 | Land Communication and Information Systems Technician | LCIS TECH | CA |
| 00120 | 291 | Communicator Research Operator | COMM RSCH | RCN, CA, RCAF |
Regular Force Units
- 1 CMBG Headquarters and Signal Squadron1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of Land Forces Western Area of the Canadian army...
- 2 Area Support Group Signal Squadron2 Area Support Group Signal Squadron2 Area Support Group Signal Squadron is a Regular Force Army unit within the Canadian Forces. The Squadron is responsible to deliver secure and non-secure communication and information systems across Land Force Central Area . The parent formation of the Squadron is 2 Area Support Group...
- 2 CMBG Headquarters and Signal Squadron
- 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment
- 3 Area Support Group Signal Squadron
- 5 CMBG Headquarters and Signal Squadron (FrFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
5e GBMC Quartier général et Escadron de transmissions) - 4 Telecommunications and Information Services Squadron
- 8 Telecommunications and Information Services Squadron
- 14 Telecommunications and Information Services Squadron
- 17 Telecommunications and Information Services Squadron
- 731 Signal Squadron731 Signal Squadron731 Signal Squadron is a Canadian Army communication unit headquartered at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, near Brandon, Manitoba. The unit is responsible to provide communication information systems, strategic infrastructure services and support to Army Regular Force and Reserve Force units in...
- 742 Signal Squadron
- Canadian Forces Information Operations Group
- 764 Communication Squadron
- Canadian Forces Electronic Warfare Centre (CFEWC)
- Canadian Forces Information Operations Group Headquarters (CFIOGHQ)
- Canadian Forces Network Operation Centre (CFNOC)
- Canadian Forces Signals Intelligence Operations Centre (CFSOC)
- Canadian Forces Station Leitrim
- Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment
- Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics
- Information Management Group
- 76 Communication Group
- Canadian Forces Crypto Maintenance Unit
- Canadian Forces Crypto Support Unit
- Canadian Forces Data Centre
Reserve Force Units
- 70 Communication Group Headquarters
- 700 (Borden) Communication Squadron
- 705 (Hamilton) Communication Squadron--Now 31 Signal Regiment
- 709 (Toronto) Communication Regiment
- 763 (Ottawa) Communication Regiment-----Recently renamed to 33 Signals Regiment33 Signals Regiment33 Signals Regiment, formerly known as 763 Communication Regiment, is a primary reserve unit of the Communications and Electronics Branch in Ottawa, Ontario..-Location:...
- 772 Electronic Warfare Squadron Kingston
- 71 Communication Group Headquarters
- 712 (Montreal) Communication Squadron
- 713 (Beauport) Communication Regiment (FrFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Le 713e Régiment des communications) http://www.armee.forces.gc.ca/713rcomm/ - 714 (Sherbrooke) Communication Squadron
- 72 Communication Group Headquarters
- 721 (Charlottetown) Communication Regiment
- 722 (Saint John) Communication Squadron
- 723 (Halifax) Communication Squadron
- 725 (Glace Bay) Communication Squadron
- 728 (St. John's) Communication Squadron
- 73 Communication Group Headquarters
- 734 (Regina) Communication Squadron734 Communication Squadron734 Communication Squadron is a reserve military unit in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The unit's motto is "Regina Camporum".- Role :The primary role of 734 Comm Sqn is to augment the Regular Force for both domestic and international operations, including those with the UN and NATO. International...
- 735 (Winnipeg) Communication Regiment
- 736 (Thunder Bay) Communication Squadron
- 737 (Saskatoon) Communication Squadron
- 734 (Regina) Communication Squadron
- 74 Communication Group Headquarters
- 741 (Victoria) Communication Squadron
- 744 (Vancouver) Communication Regiment
- 745 (Edmonton) Communication Squadron
- 746 (Calgary) Communication Squadron746 Communication Squadron746 Communication Squadron is a reserve military unit in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The unit's motto is "Determined" and its badge is a Pony Express Rider.-Role:...
- 748 (Nanaimo) Communication Squadron
- 749 (Red Deer) Communication Squadron