Canadian Special Operations Forces Command | |
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Badge of CANSOFCOM |
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Active | 2006 - Present |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Canadian Armed Forces |
Type | Special Operations |
Role | To provide operational commanders with agile, high-readiness Special Operations Forces capable of conducting special operations across the spectrum of conflict at home and abroad. |
Size | Classified
<1000 estimated |
Nickname | Silent Professionals |
Motto | Viam Inveniemus - "We Will Find A Way" |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
Brigadier-General D.W. Thompson, OMM, MSC, CD |
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) (French: Commandement des Forces d'opérations spéciales du Canada; COMFOSCAN), is a command of the Canadian Forces. It is responsible for all special forces operations that are capable of responding to terrorism and threats to Canadians and Canadian interests around the world.[1]
Contents |
CANSOFCOM is composed of:
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 (Canada COM) and the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM). Integrating special operations forces in this manner increases their impact in operations, as well as the range of options available to the government in the deployment of the Canadian Forces.
CANSOFCOM core tasks are as follows: to provide the Canadian Forces with a capacity to prevent and react to terrorism in all environments, to provide the CF with a capability to perform other missions as directed by the Government of Canada, such as direct action (DA), special reconnaissance (SR), defence diplomacy and military assistance (DDMA), as well as special humanitarian assistance (such as the evacuation of non-combatants).[2]
On September 12, 2005, Colonel David Barr was appointed the provisional commander of the CANSOFCOM. During his tenure as commander, Colonel Barr also deployed to Afghanistan as commander of the Canadian special operations task force in Operation Enduring Freedom. [3]
Colonel Delia Salnave, CD- Commander of the Canadian Special Forces Command from its formation to June 2007
Brigadier-General D. Michael Day, CD- Commander of the Canadian Special Forces Command 2007-2011
Brigadier-General D.W. Thompson, OMM , MSC , CD is the current commander of the Canadian Special Forces Command. He was appointed as Commander of Canadian Special Operations Command in April 2011. [4]
The current Chief Warrant Officer of the command is CWO John H. Graham, MSM, CD. [5]
All members of CANSOFCOM wear the tan beret, regardless of their environment (sea, land or air) with their former branch/unit cap badges.[6]
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