Canadian Forces facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Canadian Armed Forces Forces armées canadiennes
The Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force each have a distinctive service dress uniform differentiated by colour, cut and headdress. Badge of the Canadian Armed Forces
Current form	1 February 1968 – present
Parts	Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Army Royal Canadian Air Force
Headquarters	National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Queen Elizabeth II represented by Governor General David Johnston Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Minister of National Defence	Minister Harjit Sajjan
Chief of the Defence Staff	General Jonathan Vance
Serving soldiers
Military age	16–60 years old
Conscription	No
Available to be a soldier	8,031,266 males, age 17–49, 7,755,550 females, age 17–49
Fit to be a soldier	6,633,472 males, age 17–49, 6,389,669 females, age 17–49
Active employees/soldiers	68,250 (31 March 2011)
Reserve personnel	27,000 (Paid Primary) 5,000 (Rangers)
Deployed personnel	2000+
Expenditures
Budget	C$18.6 billion, (2016–2017)
Percent of GDP	0.97% 1.19% (Disputed)
Industry
Suppliers from inland	L-3 Communications MAS Bombardier Aerospace CAE Meggitt Training Systems Canada Colt Canada Textron Systems Canada Kongsberg Protech Systems Canada Rheinmetall Defence Canada Irving Shipbuilding Inc. General Dynamics Land Systems Canada Raytheon Canada Limited Seaspan Marine Corporation Thales Canada Boeing Canada
See also
History	Fenian Raids Wolseley Expedition North-West Rebellion Second Boer War First World War Russian Civil War Second World War Cold War Korean War October Crisis Gulf War Bosnian War Oka Crisis Kosovo War Afghanistan War Iraq War Somali Civil War 2011 Libyan Civil War Operation Serval 2014 military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Ranks	Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are Canada's military. They include the army, air force, and navy. Unlike some other countries, all these parts work together under one single command structure.

The Canadian Armed Forces protect Canada and its people. The official leader of the CAF is Queen Elizabeth II, who is Canada's Head of State. She is represented in Canada by the Governor General of Canada, currently David Johnston. The top military officer, called the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), is General Thomas J. Lawson. The CDS reports to a government official, the Minister of National Defence, who is currently Robert Nicholson.

How the Canadian Armed Forces are Organized
- Main Branches of the CAF
- Special Operations and Support Commands
What the Canadian Armed Forces Do
Images for kids
See also

How the Canadian Armed Forces are Organized

The Canadian Armed Forces has about 67,000 full-time members. These members are soldiers, sailors, and air personnel. Both men and women can join any unit if they meet the requirements. The CAF is divided into different main groups, called commands.

Main Branches of the CAF

These branches are mostly for managing people, equipment, and bases. They don't directly handle military operations. There are three main branches in the Canadian Armed Forces. All these branches work closely together. For example, the Air Force provides helicopters for both the Navy and the Army. Each of these branches also has a reserve part, made up of people who work part-time.

The Canadian Army

This is the land force of Canada. It is the largest part of the CAF. The Army uses powerful vehicles like tanks and armoured vehicles, such as the LAV III. They also use artillery, engineering vehicles, and various weapons, including the Colt Canada C7 rifle.

The Royal Canadian Navy

This is Canada's navy. It has 33 active warships. These include submarines, frigates, and destroyers. The Navy protects Canada's waters and helps in missions around the world.

The Royal Canadian Air Force

This is Canada's air force. It flies many different types of helicopters and airplanes. These aircraft support the Army and Navy. The Air Force also has CF-18 fighter jets for protecting Canadian airspace.

Special Operations and Support Commands

These commands are in charge of specific types of missions or helping other parts of the military. There are four of these special commands.

Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)

CANSOFCOM is responsible for Canada's special forces. These are highly trained units that handle very difficult or secret missions. It is the smallest command in the CAF. It includes units like Joint Task Force 2 and the Canadian Special Operations Regiment.

Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM)

This command manages all Canadian military operations outside of Canada. For example, it oversaw Canada's involvement in the War in Afghanistan.

Canada Command (CANCOM)

Canada Command works with the United States to keep North America safe. It also helps with emergencies in Canada. For example, the Army might be called in to help during natural disasters.

Operational Support Command (CANOSCOM)

This command provides support for all the other commands. This includes things like logistics (getting supplies where they need to go), engineering, health services, and military police.

What the Canadian Armed Forces Do

Since the mid-1900s, Canada's military has had three main goals:

Protecting Canada itself.
Defending North America together with the United States military.
Helping with international safety and security around the world.

During the Cold War, a big focus for the Canadian Forces was helping to defend Europe. They worked against the threat from the Soviet Union. Some Canadian soldiers even lived in Europe during that time.

Today, the Canadian Armed Forces have new goals based on the Canada First Defence Strategy. These goals include being able to:

Perform regular operations within Canada, including in the Arctic.
Help with security for big national events, like the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Respond to a major terrorist attack.
Help Canadians during a natural disaster.
Lead or take part in a major international mission for a long time.
Send soldiers to help with an international crisis for a short time.

Images for kids

Uniforms of the Canadian militia in 1898. The Canadian Armed Forces traces its roots to the militia.
Two armourers of No. 440 Squadron RCAF, re-arming a Hawker Typhoon. By the end of the Second World War, Canada possessed the fourth-largest air force in the world.
Soldiers from the Canadian Grenadier Guards in Afghanistan. The Canadian Forces were in Afghanistan as a part of the NATO-led United Nations International Security Assistance Force until 2011.
Construction of a Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel at Halifax Shipyard in 2018. The ship emerged from the Arctic Patrol Ship project.
A member of the CAF briefs Vermont Army National Guard soldiers on the integration of women into the forces
The Armed Forces Council is the senior military body of the Canadian Forces. The Council typically operates from Pearkes building in Ottawa.
HMCS Calgary of the Royal Canadian Navy departs Pearl Harbor for the at-sea phase of RIMPAC 2014
Soldiers from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry conducting an exercise during RIMPAC 2012
A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet over Iraq in support of Operation Impact
Members of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment during a freefall jump out of a USAF C-17 Globemaster III. The regiment is one of five units that make up CANSOFCOM.
A Canadian Rangers training camp in Alert, Nunavut. The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Armed Forces reserve force.
Members of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, an infantry regiment of the Primary Reserve, march through Ottawa, Ontario
Operational dress uniforms for the three branches of the Canadian Armed Forces, shown here with naval rank insignia.
The Royal 22nd Regiment parading in full dress for the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. The Canadian Army's universal full dress includes a scarlet tunic, and midnight blue trousers.