Canadian Forces Medical Service
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Forces Medical Service (CFMS) provides medical support for the Canadian Forces
(CF) both at home and abroad. It is also a personnel branch
of the CF. The CFMS along with the Canadian Forces Dental Service
(CFDS) form the Canadian Forces Health Services Group
(CF H Svcs Gp).
s and non-commissioned member
s (NCMs) wear the same cap badge. The only difference between the cap badges is that the staff of Æsculapius on NCM badge comprises a gold serpent on a gold staff whereas on the officer badge comprises a silver serpent on a gold staff.
Naval medical officers wear scarlet distinction cloth between the braids of their rank, while other health care officer classifications (non-physicians) wear a dull cherry distinction cloth. NCMs wear a trade badge on their jackets.
All army health care officer classifications and non-commissioned members wear a "Medical" shoulder bar on the service dress jacket, and a tab bearing either the title "MEDICAL" or a unit identifier (e.g. "15 FD AMB") on slip-on
s for other uniforms. NCMs below the rank of warrant officer wear a trade badge on the sleeve of the service dress jacket.
All air force medical branch officers and non-commissioned members wear a distinctive metal badge over their name tag on both their dress uniform jacket and short-sleeve order of dress.
, with the appointment of Canada's first Surgeon General, Doctor Darby Bergin
of Cornwall, Ontario
, and the mobilization of two field hospital
s.
It suffered significant budgetary cutbacks after the 1994 Broadbent Report following the end of the Cold War
, with three of its six military hospitals being closed.
The former colonel-in-chief was Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (mother of Queen Elizabeth II). The current colonel-in-chief is Princess Anne, Princess Royal
(daughter of the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
)
s.
, is the home station and primary training centre for the Canadian Forces Health Services. The school focuses on all levels of training.
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) both at home and abroad. It is also a personnel branch
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 CF. The CFMS along with the Canadian Forces Dental Service
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.-Unification:When the Army,...
(CFDS) form the Canadian Forces Health Services Group
Canadian Forces Health Services Group
The Canadian Forces Health Services Group is a formation of the Canadian Forces within the Military Personnel Command reporting to the Chief of Military Personnel...
(CF H Svcs Gp).
Motto and march
Militi Succurrimus (We hasten to aid the soldiers) is the official branch motto. "The Farmer's Boy" is the branch march. This march was selected by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (mother of Queen Elizabeth II).Roles and identification
Medical personnel of the CF H Svcs Gp provide operational (deployed) and operational readiness (in-garrison) medical care to entitled personnel.Uniforms
CFMS personnel wear the same uniforms as other members of the CF with unique identifiers depending on which distinctive environmental uniform (DEU) they are assigned (Navy, Army, Air). Regardless of environment, all officerOfficer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission 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…" Thus, an NCM is any member who is...
s (NCMs) wear the same cap badge. The only difference between the cap badges is that the staff of Æsculapius on NCM badge comprises a gold serpent on a gold staff whereas on the officer badge comprises a silver serpent on a gold staff.
Naval medical officers wear scarlet distinction cloth between the braids of their rank, while other health care officer classifications (non-physicians) wear a dull cherry distinction cloth. NCMs wear a trade badge on their jackets.
All army health care officer classifications and non-commissioned members wear a "Medical" shoulder bar on the service dress jacket, and a tab bearing either the title "MEDICAL" or a unit identifier (e.g. "15 FD AMB") on slip-on
Slip-on
A shoulder mark, also called a shoulder board, shoulder loop, shoulder slide, rank slide, slip on, epaulette sleeve, or an epaulette, is a flat cloth sleeve worn on the shoulder strap of a uniform. It may bear rank or other insignia...
s for other uniforms. NCMs below the rank of warrant officer wear a trade badge on the sleeve of the service dress jacket.
All air force medical branch officers and non-commissioned members wear a distinctive metal badge over their name tag on both their dress uniform jacket and short-sleeve order of dress.
History
It has its origins in the Dominion government's 1885 response to the North-West RebellionNorth-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
, with the appointment of Canada's first Surgeon General, Doctor Darby Bergin
Darby Bergin
Darby Bergin was an Ontario physician and political figure. He represented Cornwall from 1872 to 1874 and from 1878 to 1882 and then Cornwall and Stormont from 1882 to 1896 in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal-Conservative member.He was born in York , Upper Canada in 1826, the son of...
of Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
, and the mobilization of two field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
s.
It suffered significant budgetary cutbacks after the 1994 Broadbent Report following the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, with three of its six military hospitals being closed.
The former colonel-in-chief was Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (mother of Queen Elizabeth II). The current colonel-in-chief is Princess Anne, Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
(daughter of the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
)
School of Operational Medicine
The School of Operational Medicine (SOM) in Toronto, Ontario, forms a part of the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment. In turn the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment is the military component of the Defence Research and Development Canada. The School of Operational Medicine (SOM) conducts all flight surgeon training. In addition, it offers courses at various levels in Diving Medicine, to physicians, medical technicians and physician assistantPhysician assistant
A physician assistant/associate ' is a healthcare professional trained and licensed to practice medicine with limited supervision by a physician.-General description:...
s.
Canadian Forces Health Service Training Centre
The Canadian Forces Health Service Training Centre (CF H Svc TC), located in CFB BordenCFB Borden
Canadian Forces Base Borden is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario.The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces...
, is the home station and primary training centre for the Canadian Forces Health Services. The school focuses on all levels of training.