Personnel branch

"Personnel Branches were created to enable members of the Canadian Forces in related occupations to identify with each other in cohesive professional groups.

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Personnel branch, 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." This singular institution consists of thre...
 (CF), refers to a grouping of related military occupations.

Personnel branches were officially established at unification in 1968 to amalgamate the old Canadian Army Corps

Corps

A Corps is either a large formation , or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service....
 and similar occupational groupings in the Royal Canadian Navy

Royal Canadian Navy

The Royal Canadian Navy was the navy of Canada from 1911 until 1968 when the three Canadian services were unified to form the Canadian Forces. The modern Canadian navy is known as Canadian Forces Maritime Command ....
 and Royal Canadian Air Force

Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Air Force was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces....
.

According to Canadian Forces Administrative Orders

Canadian Forces Administrative Orders

'Canadian Forces Administrative Orders' are issued to "supplement and amplify the Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces ...[they] contain administrative policy, procedures and information of continuing effect." ...
 (CFAOs),

"Personnel Branches were created to enable members of the Canadian Forces in related occupations to identify with each other in cohesive professional groups. These groups are based on similarity of military roles, customs and traditions." –CFAO 2-10

Branches are applicable to all members of the rank of Colonel

Colonel

Colonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country in the world. It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures....
/Captain (N)

Captain (naval)

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navy to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The Naval officer ranks#NATO Rank Codes is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
 and below; general officers normally do not belong to branches. Exceptions to this rule are the Judge Advocate General (Legal Branch), the Chaplain General (Chaplain Branch), and the Surgeon General (Canadian Forces Medical Services).

Military occupations for officer

Officer (armed forces)

An officer is a member of an Armed forces who holds a position of authority.Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereignty power and, as such, hold a Letters patent charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position....
s and non-commissioned member

Non-commissioned member

A non-commissioned member , in the Canadian Forces, is defined in the Queen's Regulations and Orders as:"? any person, other than an officer , who is enrolled in, or who pursuant to law is attached or seconded otherwise than as an officer to, the Canadian Forces?"...
s are grouped within a particular branch under the coordination of the Director - Military Human Resource Requirements (DMHRR) and the approval of the Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources - Military) (ADM(HR-Mil)).

Uniforms

Assignment of Distinct Environmental Uniform

Uniforms of the Canadian Forces

Prior to unification in 1968, the uniforms of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force were similar to their counterparts in the forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth of Nations countries, save for national identifiers and some regimental accoutrements....
 (i.e. "Navy", "Army", or "Air Force") is a function of military occupation, not personnel branch. For example, within the Communications and Electronics Branch

Communications and Electronics Branch

The Communications and Electronics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
, all Signal Operators are uniformed Army and all Aerospace Telecommunication & Information Systems Technician are designated as Air Force. On the other hand, within the Logistics Branch

Logistics Branch (Canadian Forces)

The Logistics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
, Supply Technicians may be designated as any environment.

Branch Advisors

Each Branch has its own branch advisor — normally a Colonel or Naval Captain — to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

Branch traditions

Branches have carried forward many of the traditions inherited from their Corps or Service predecessors. They have authorized marches, differences in accessories and accoutrements for full dress

Full dress

Full dress is a category dress code s that refers to most formal clothing available in Western society....
 and mess dress

Mess dress

Mess dress is the military term for the formal evening dress worn in the mess or at other formal occasions. It is also known as mess uniform and mess kit....
 uniforms, branch-specific toasts, ceremonial commanders such as Colonels-in-Chief

Colonel-in-Chief

In the British Army and other Commonwealth of Nations armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its patron. This position is distinct from that of Colonel ....
, etc. For example:

• The Armoured Branch retained the black beret
  Beret
  
  A beret is a soft round cap, usually of wool felt, with a flat crown, which is worn by both men and women and traditionally associated with France....
   and resurrected the name of the former Royal Canadian Army Corps.
• Army Signals officers of the Communications and Electronics Branch are permitted to wear box spur
  Spur
  
  A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while equestrianism....
  s with Mess Dress, a tradition inherited from the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals.
• The Air Operations Branch uses the Royal Canadian Air Force March Past as its authorized march.
• The Naval Operations Branch inherited its cap badge system from the old Royal Canadian Navy: one badge for officers, one for Chiefs and Petty Officers, and another for Seamen.

Personnel branches in the CF

The following is a list of CF personnel branches:

• Air Operations Branch
  Air Operations Branch
  
  The Air Operations Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
  
• Band Branch
  Band Branch (Canadian Forces)
  
  The Band Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces . It is primarily composed of marching band musicians, and also deals with the selection and musical training of its recruits....
  
• Cadet Instructor Cadre
• Medical Branch
• Military Engineering Branch
• Security Branch
  Security Branch
  
  Security Branch may refer to:* Security Bureau * A former name of the Canadian Forces Military Police...
  
• Chaplain Branch
  Chaplain Branch (Canadian Forces)
  
  The Chaplain Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
  
• Communications and Electronics Branch
  Communications and Electronics Branch
  
  The Communications and Electronics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
  
• Dental Branch
  Dental Branch
  
  The Dental Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces . The Dental Branch and the Canadian Forces Medical Service are formations of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group within the Military Personnel Command reporting to the Chief of Military Personnel....
  
• Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch
  Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch
  
  The Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
  
• Intelligence Branch
  Intelligence Branch (Canadian Forces)
  
  The Intelligence Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces that is concerned with providing relevant and correct information to enable commanders to make decisions....
  
• Legal Branch
  Legal Branch (Canadian Forces)
  
  The Legal Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces . It primarily deals with the Canadian Forces' legal affairs....
  
• Logistics Branch
  Logistics Branch (Canadian Forces)
  
  The Logistics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
  
• Naval Operations Branch
  Naval Operations Branch
  
  The Naval Operations Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces. The branch consists of most of the sea-going trades of the Canadian Navy....
  
• Personnel Selection Branch
  Personnel Selection Branch
  
  The Personnel Selection Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces .The Personnel Selection branch was created in the Canadian Army on 18 September 1941....
  
• Public Affairs Branch
  Public Affairs Branch (Canadian Forces)
  
  The Public Affairs Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
  
• Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
  Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
  
  The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps is the armoured branch of service of the Canadian Forces Land Force Command , including regular force and reserve regiments....
  
• Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
  Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
  
  The Royal Canadian Infantry Corps is the Corps to which all Canadian infantry regiments belong. This is also known as the "Infantry Branch"....
  
• Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
  Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
  
  The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery is the artillery personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ....
   (formerly Artillery Branch)
• Training Development Branch
  Training Development Branch
  
  The Training Development Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces . It primarily deals in training and development of both new recruits and experienced soldiers for the CF....