Canadian Special Operations Forces Command

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Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) is responsible for all special forces operations that will be capable of responding to terrorism and threats to Canadians and Canadian interests around the world.

1 Composition
2 Official Website
3 Command
4 Distinctive Uniform
5 Other Elite
- 5.1 The Canadian Airborne Regiment
- 5.2 Marine Commando Regiment
6 See also
7 External Links
8 References

[edit] Composition

CANSOFCOM is composed of:

Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), the Canadian Forces’ special operations and counterterrorism unit
427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Company
Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)
Marine Commando Regiment

CANSOFCOM is capable of operating as an independent formation but its primary focus is to generate Special Operations Forces (SOF) elements to support Canada Command (CANCOM) and the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM). Integrating special operations forces in this manner will increase their impact in operations, as well as the range of options available to the government in the deployment of the Canadian Forces.

[edit] Official Website

The official website of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) is located at http://www.cansofcom.forces.gc.ca/en/index_e.asp

[edit] Command

Colonel David Barr, CD, has been the Commander of CANSOFCOM since its formation.

[edit] Distinctive Uniform

Members of CANSOFCOM wear the Tan beret.

[edit] Other Elite

Canadian Forces members have the opportunity to undergo rigorous training of a variety of types; these soldiers are not necessarily employed in "special forces" roles. Some of this specialized training includes Army snipers, parachutists, pathfinders, and combat divers, as well as foreign training such as Ranger training with the US Army Rangers. Many soldiers so qualified utilize these skill sets in the environment of a regular combat arms unit and are not considered "special forces".

[edit] The Canadian Airborne Regiment

The Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR) was trained as a conventional infantry parachute unit until it was disbanded in 1995. Its predecessors included the Canadian Special Air Service, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and the Canadian component of the 1st Special Service Force. Only the latter was trained as a "special forces" unit in the modern sense, and was employed in conventional warfare situations quite different than the anti-terrorism role of JTF2.

[edit] Marine Commando Regiment

On January 30, 2007, the Ottawa Citizen reported on the forthcoming creation of a Marine Commando Regiment, to be based in Comox, B.C. and initially consisting of 250 members. The unit will be responsible for responding to seaborne terrorist incidents, as well as Non-combatant Evacuation Operations in countries accessible by water.^[1] It has been confirmed by the Minister of National Defence that this unit will be created.