Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Forces (CF) (Fr: Forces canadiennes (FC)) are the combined branches of the military of Canada. The Canadian Forces are comprised of: the Canadian Forces Land Force Command, (which is the army branch); the Canadian Forces Maritime Command, (the naval branch); and the Canadian Forces Air Command, (the air force branch).

Uniforms

Shortly following the 1968 unification, the service-specific uniforms (navy blue, khaki, and light blue) of the three services were abandoned in favour of rifle green, single-breasted, four-button tunics and pants, known as the Canadian Forces uniform, commonly referred to as "CFs" or "CF greens". Though accommodation was made for army regiments' ceremonial uniforms (kilts for Highland Regiments, for example) no allowance was made for the Navy and Air Force, with the exception of a rifle-green wedge cap for the latter. The traditional Navy and Air Force rank names were replaced by their army equivalents, with naval-style rank badges for officers and army-style for non-commissioned members.

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For everyday work wear, in environments or occasions where the CF greens would not be appropriate, personnel were issued the Work Dress uniform. This consisted of rifle-green work trousers; a zippered rifle-green work jacket; a "lagoon green" work shirt; and beret. The jacket collar was worn open; the shirt was either worn with a tie, or with the collar open and over the jacket collar. For a brief period in the 1980s, ascots or "dickies" in regimental or branch colours were worn inside the open shirt collar. This uniform, derisively referred to as a "bus driver's uniform", was generally unpopular.

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Currently, all three environmental elements have returned to more traditional distinctive uniforms. The highly sophisticated, computer designed, Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT) uniforms were introduced to LF and AIRCOM personnel during the late 1990s. These uniforms have 2 breast pockets and two waist pockets on the shirt, and two side of leg pockets above the knee. The rank insignia is worn midway down the shirt, in line with the breatbone of the individual. The Canadian Flag is worn on the left shoulder. The only exception to CADPAT is the Navy Combat uniform used by MARCOM, which consists of a denim-like coloured shirt and black dress trousers, along with ankle boots. The rank insignias are worn on both shoulders. A standard beret is still worn by all elements and colours vary according to element and trade. LF elements wear a green beret except for armoured corps, who wear a black beret. Air force wears a light blue beret. Navy also wears a black beret. Military Police wear a red beret and the former members of the Canadian Airborne Regiment (paratroopers) wore a maroon beret. A cap badge specific to the CF personnel's trade adorns the beret. Shoulder epaulets typically depict the personnel's unit, as well as rank.

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MARCOM has long since returned to the official use of naval rank names, though in reality they were never actually abandoned within the service due in part to confusion between rank and position titles (i.e. a Captain - naval Lieutenant - would not be the captain of a ship; a Colonel would be) and in part to naval resentment towards unification and the perceived subjugation of the Navy to the Army. AIRCOM did not, however, retain its rank names (major vs. squadron leader). It has been widely accepted that unification had a negative impact on the morale of the Air and Maritime Commands and accomplished nothing in cost savings.

Related Topics:
Captain - Lieutenant - Colonel - Major - Squadron leader

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In an effort to restore morale, the CF introduced the Distinct Environmental Uniform (DEU), which restored some of the traditional uniforms of the pre-unification Forces. While the term "DEU" refers to all the different environmental uniforms, in general usage it refers solely to what is more properly known as "No 3 (Service) Dress".

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Army

Land personnel were issued new tunics and trousers similar in style to the old CF greens, but with the addition of epaulets. They were issued in rifle green (worn with the old CF green dress shirt) for winter wear, and tan for summer; unfortunately in the latter case, headgear, neckties, belts and badges were still rifle-green or on rifle-green backing. The unpopular work dress was replaced with "No. 4 (Garrison) Dress", which consisted of the old-style work dress pants, a disruptive-pattern jacket, a black web belt, a short-sleeve summer Service Dress shirt with the collar open and over the jacket collar, and high paratrooper-style garrison boots. Due to concerns over the number of uniforms Army personnel had to carry with them on postings and taskings, the tan summer DEU was eventually retired, and the winter uniform mandated for year-round wear. The garrison dress uniform was never popular with the combat arms, who generally eschewed it for the combat uniform, even in garrison; Land Force Command soon stopped altogether and authorized combat uniform for all occasions where garrison dress was deemed appropriate, and eventually this authorization was extended to Land environment personnel in other commands. Recently, the peaked cap was retired for Land personnel, and the beret became the universal Army headdress.

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Air Force

Personnel in the Air element were issued a uniform similar to the old CF greens, but in "postman blue", with a light-blue shirt, black necktie, and postman-blue wedge cap. No 4 (Base) Dress consists of postman-blue work pants, light blue dress shirt (open-necked or with necktie), and optional V-neck sweater. Air personnel were eventually authorized to wear the Navy's work shirt, which was similar in colour to postman blue. Air personnel were issued a postman-blue beret for wear with combat uniform where appropriate; it was soon authorized for use with work dress, then with service dress; the wedge cap is still popular.

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Navy

Sea element personnel were issued a black, double breasted tunic, black trousers, and white peaked cap; with the exception of colour, it is very similar to the service dress of officers in the British or American navies. It is interesting to note that officers' and non-commissioned members' uniforms are identical, differing only in insignia and accoutrements; the old naval "square rig" or "Donald Duck" uniform for non-commissioned members was not resurrected. Naval personnel are also issued No 4 (Base) Dress, which consists of a jacket and trousers similar to old CF work dress, but in black. It is worn with a white dress shirt ? open necked or with necktie ? or with the Naval blue work shirt. Baseball caps (with ship's designations and numbers) similar to those worn by United States Navy personnel are authorized for shipboard wear.

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The "Purple" Trades

Due to the way that members of the "purple" trades frequently have environments different from their current assignments, many units of the Canadian Forces, when on parade in dress uniform, will display a somewhat odd mix of navy, army, and air force uniforms. As various specialty courses become more widely available, no longer restricted only to "soldiers" or "sailors", for example, it is not unheard-of to see a Navy clerk in a tactical air squadron with parachutist's wings, or an Air Force medic in a tank regiment with a submariner's "dolphins" badge.

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