Unification of the Canadian Forces
Encyclopedia
Unification of the Canadian Forces took place in 1968 when the Royal Canadian Navy
, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force
were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces.
The March 1964 White Paper on Defence
outlined a major restructuring of the three separate armed services, describing a reorganization that would include the integration of operations, logistics support, personnel, and administration of the separate branches under a functional command system. The proposal met with strong opposition from personnel in all three services, and resulted in the dismissal of the navy's senior operational commander, Rear Admiral
William Landymore
, as well as the forced retirements of other senior officers in the nation's military forces. The protests of service personnel and their superiors had no effect, however, and on 1 February 1968, Bill C-243, The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act, was granted Royal Assent
, and the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force were combined into one service: the Canadian Armed Forces.
The public explanation for the reorganization was that unification would achieve cost savings and provide improved command, control, and integration of the military forces. The then Minister of National Defence
, Paul Hellyer
, stated on 4 November 1966 that "the amalgamation... will provide the flexibility to enable Canada to meet in the most effective manner the military requirements of the future. It will also establish Canada as an unquestionable leader in the field of military organization." However, the then-serving Liberal
ministers of the Crown
were accused of not caring for the traditions behind each individual service, especially as the long-standing navy, army, and air force identities were replaced with common army-style ranks
and rifle green uniforms. Rather than loyalty to each service, which, as military historian Jack Granatstein
put it, was "vital for sailors, soldiers, and airmen and women" who "risk their lives to serve," Hellyer wanted loyalty to the new, all-encompassing Canadian Forces (CF); this, it was said, caused damage to the esprit de corps for sailors, soldiers, air crew and other personnel.
Over the ensuing decades, restructuring continued, with the Communication Command established on 1 September 1970, and the Air Defence Command and Air Transport Command
united into the Air Command
on 2 September 1975. For more than 30 years during the Cold War
, the CF also maintained two bases in West Germany
, under the command of Canadian Forces Europe
. These were themselves closed in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union
and the unification of Germany
.
Materiel Command was disbanded during the 1980s, and Communications Command was disbanded during a mid-1990s reorganization, with its units merged into the Defence Information Services Organization (DISO), later renamed Information Management Group (IM Gp). Force Mobile Command was also re-branded at this time, becoming Land Force Command (LFC). On 1 February 2006, the CF added four operational commands to the existing structure: the Canada Command
, the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command
, the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
, and the Canadian Operational Support Command
.
The army became known as Force Mobile Command (FMC). Helicopter operations, briefly instituted under army purview in the early 1960s, transferred to Air Command
.
Most of the pre-unification corps that had been created in the early 20th century were disbanded; they were merged with counterparts in the navy and air force to form the personnel branch
es of the CF.
The move toward unification, as well as other budget and cost cutting moves during the 1980s and 1990s were opposed by many and is sometimes seen as a fault in the Canadian Forces. Many veterans objected to this move and refused to acknowledge the unification, still referring to branches of the military by their pre-unification titles (Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, etc.).
countries whose militaries use the royal designation, and to indicate that it respected Canada's military heritage. The unified command structure of the Canadian Forces was not altered by this change.
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces.
The March 1964 White Paper on Defence
White Paper on Defence
The White Paper on Defence is a white paper of the Canadian government which was tabled on March 26, 1964. The white paper was responsible under Paul Theodore Hellyer and Louis-Joseph-Lucien Cardin. It led to the unification of the Canadian military on February 1, 1968.- External links :* *...
outlined a major restructuring of the three separate armed services, describing a reorganization that would include the integration of operations, logistics support, personnel, and administration of the separate branches under a functional command system. The proposal met with strong opposition from personnel in all three services, and resulted in the dismissal of the navy's senior operational commander, Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
William Landymore
William Landymore
Rear-Admiral William Moss Landymore, OBE, CD was a Canadian naval officer.-Career:Landymore commenced studies at the Royal Military College of Canada as cadet # 2399 in 1934...
, as well as the forced retirements of other senior officers in the nation's military forces. The protests of service personnel and their superiors had no effect, however, and on 1 February 1968, Bill C-243, The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act, was granted Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
, and the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force were combined into one service: the Canadian Armed Forces.
The public explanation for the reorganization was that unification would achieve cost savings and provide improved command, control, and integration of the military forces. The then Minister of National Defence
Minister of National Defence (Canada)
The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....
, Paul Hellyer
Paul Hellyer
Paul Theodore Hellyer, PC is a Canadian engineer, politician, writer and commentator who has had a long and varied career. He is the longest serving current member of the Privy Council, just ahead of Prince Philip.-Early life:...
, stated on 4 November 1966 that "the amalgamation... will provide the flexibility to enable Canada to meet in the most effective manner the military requirements of the future. It will also establish Canada as an unquestionable leader in the field of military organization." However, the then-serving Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
ministers of the Crown
Minister of the Crown
Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...
were accused of not caring for the traditions behind each individual service, especially as the long-standing navy, army, and air force identities were replaced with common army-style ranks
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
and rifle green uniforms. Rather than loyalty to each service, which, as military historian Jack Granatstein
Jack Granatstein
Jack Lawrence Granatstein, OC, FRSC is a Canadian historian who specializes in political and military history.-Education:Born in Toronto, Ontario, Granatstein received a graduation diploma from Le College militaire royal de Saint-Jean in 1959, his BA from the Royal Military College of Canada in...
put it, was "vital for sailors, soldiers, and airmen and women" who "risk their lives to serve," Hellyer wanted loyalty to the new, all-encompassing Canadian Forces (CF); this, it was said, caused damage to the esprit de corps for sailors, soldiers, air crew and other personnel.
Over the ensuing decades, restructuring continued, with the Communication Command established on 1 September 1970, and the Air Defence Command and Air Transport Command
Canadian Forces Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command was a command of the Canadian Armed Forces created in 1968 and eliminated in 1975.ATC was responsible to provide air transport forces and to command primary air search and rescue forces for Canada and to support bases and units of other commands as directed. The headquarters...
united into the Air Command
Canadian Forces Air Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
on 2 September 1975. For more than 30 years during 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...
, the CF also maintained two bases in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, under the command of Canadian Forces Europe
Canadian Forces Europe
Canadian Forces Europe was Canadian Forces operations in Europe during the Cold War. The CF assisted other NATO allies in watching the military activities of Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union.To meet NATO's air defence commitments during the Cold War, No...
. These were themselves closed in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the unification of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Materiel Command was disbanded during the 1980s, and Communications Command was disbanded during a mid-1990s reorganization, with its units merged into the Defence Information Services Organization (DISO), later renamed Information Management Group (IM Gp). Force Mobile Command was also re-branded at this time, becoming Land Force Command (LFC). On 1 February 2006, the CF added four operational commands to the existing structure: the Canada Command
Canada Command
Canada Command is one of the seven commands of the Canadian Forces. Stood up on February 1, 2006, it is responsible for all domestic operations and national security missions; as an operational command, it works closely with the environment commands Canada Command (CANADACOM) (in French :...
, the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command
Canadian Expeditionary Force Command
Canadian Expeditionary Force Command is an operational element of the Canadian Forces for operations outside of Canada....
, the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command , is a command of the Canadian Forces...
, and the Canadian Operational Support Command
Canadian Operational Support Command
The Canadian Operational Support Command is one of seven commands of the Canadian Forces...
.
The army became known as Force Mobile Command (FMC). Helicopter operations, briefly instituted under army purview in the early 1960s, transferred to Air Command
Canadian Forces Air Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
.
Most of the pre-unification corps that had been created in the early 20th century were disbanded; they were merged with counterparts in the navy and air force to form the 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...
es of the CF.
- Royal Canadian Army Medical CorpsRoyal Canadian Army Medical CorpsThe Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Militia Medical Service was established in 1899. The Militia Medical Service was redesignated the Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1904. The Canadian Army Medical Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian...
and Royal Canadian Dental CorpsRoyal Canadian Dental CorpsThe Royal Canadian Dental Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Dental Corps was authorized on 31 Aug 1939. The Regular and Reserve components of the Canadian Dental Corps were collectively redesignated The Royal Canadian Dental Corps on 15 Jan 1947...
—became the Canadian Forces Medical ServiceCanadian Forces Medical ServiceThe Canadian Forces Medical Service provides medical support for the Canadian Forces both at home and abroad. It is also a personnel branch of the CF...
and Canadian Forces Dental ServiceDental BranchThe 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,...
respectively; in the 1990s, both the CFMS and CFDS would combine together administratively as the Canadian Forces Health Services (though both still wear their individual branch insignia) - Royal Canadian Corps of SignalsRoyal Canadian Corps of SignalsThe 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...
—became the Communications and Electronics BranchCommunications and Electronics BranchThe Communications and Electronics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces .-History:Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers was the founder of the Canadian Signalling Corps, forerunner of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and the Communications and Electronics Branch of the... - Royal Canadian Ordnance CorpsRoyal Canadian Ordnance CorpsThe Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps RCOC can trace its roots back to the Canadian Stores Department. Formed in 1871, the Canadian Stores Department was a civil department of the Canadian Government...
amalgamated with supply and transport services of Royal Canadian Army Service CorpsRoyal Canadian Army Service CorpsFor successor see Logistics BranchThe Royal Canadian Army Service Corps was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army....
—became the Logistics BranchLogistics Branch (Canadian Forces)The Logistics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces . In April 2007, the CF Armed Forces Council decided to incorporate the Personnel Selection Branch into the Logistics branch.-Unification:... - Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers—became Land Ordnance Engineering, then Electrical and Mechanical Engineering BranchElectrical and Mechanical Engineering BranchThe Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces that provides army engineering maintenance support.-History:...
- Clerical trades of Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, Royal Canadian Army Pay CorpsRoyal Canadian Army Pay CorpsThe Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army with its own cap badge, and other insignia and traditions. It was established in 1906 as the Canadian Army Pay Corps. It was responsible for administering all financial matters.The Canadian Army Pay Corps began...
, and Royal Canadian Postal CorpsRoyal Canadian Postal CorpsFor successor see Logistics BranchThe Royal Canadian Postal Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Postal Corps was redesignated the Royal Canadian Postal Corps on 20 Jun 1961. The crest of the Royal Canadian Postal Corps consists of a horn, with a Queen's Crown on...
—became the Administration Branch (later merged with the Logistics Branch) - Canadian Provost CorpsCanadian Provost CorpsThe Canadian Provost Corps was the military police corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Provost Corps was authorized on 15 Jun 1940. The Canadian Provost Corps was amalgamated into the Canadian Forces in 1968.-Canadian Military Police Corps:...
and Canadian Intelligence CorpsCanadian Intelligence CorpsThe Canadian Intelligence Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army.-History:Many Canadians were active in the Intelligence field as early as 1939. Major John P...
—became the Security BranchCanadian Forces Military PoliceThe Canadian Forces Military Police provide military police services to the Canadian Forces.Canadian Military Police are unusual in that they are classified as Peace Officers in the Criminal Code of Canada, which gives them the same powers as civilian law enforcement personnel to enforce Acts of...
The move toward unification, as well as other budget and cost cutting moves during the 1980s and 1990s were opposed by many and is sometimes seen as a fault in the Canadian Forces. Many veterans objected to this move and refused to acknowledge the unification, still referring to branches of the military by their pre-unification titles (Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, etc.).
Name restorations
On 16 August 2011 the three environmental commands of the Canadian forces were renamed to reflect the names of the original historical armed services. Air Command was changed to the Royal Canadian Air Force; Maritime Command was changed to the Royal Canadian Navy; and Land Force Command was changed to the Canadian Army. The government made the changes to align Canada with other key CommonwealthCommonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries whose militaries use the royal designation, and to indicate that it respected Canada's military heritage. The unified command structure of the Canadian Forces was not altered by this change.