Military Structure

Canadian Armed Forces Components

The Canadian Armed Forces is made up of three main components:

• The Regular Force
• The Reserves
• The Cadet Corps

While the Cadet Corps is not a fighting force it is a program that provides opportunities and skills that build confidence and help pave the way in a transition to adulthood for children.

The regular force is comprised of three elements:

• The Army
• The Air Force
• The Navy

Each component has its own mandate from the Government of Canada; however, they support each other during exercises and operations with the end goal of protecting Canadian interests both at home and abroad.

Canadian Armed Forces Ranks

There are two classes of rank structure in the military that make up the Chain of Command. With 68,000 regular force members and 27,000 reserve members currently serving, non-commissioned members make up the bulk of the military at roughly 80 percent, while officers make up the remainder.

Below you can see a chart of the ranks in the Canadian Armed Forces and more information can be found on the Military Ranks: Ranks and Insignia page.

As with the Canadian Armed Forces, the Cadets Corps has a similar rank progression. While there are no officer ranks listed, the officers are reserve forces members known as the cadet instructor cadres.

Education by the ranks

As a military member progresses through the ranks, it becomes especially important to continue professional development. At the rank of private, members are tasked with learning their job and getting acclimatized to the military way of life. As they are promoted through the rank’s professional development, career courses, and post-secondary education become habitual.

Education levels in the CAF may vary widely, but generally, non-commissioned members join the CAF without post-secondary education or attend college under a program called ‘Non-Commissioned Member Subsidized Education and Training Plan’. Career paths and training plans will be covered a little later in this module.

Officers generally go to the Royal Military College in Kingston, but can attend any university that they are accepted to in Canada, while carrying out military service during the summer months.

Regardless of position as an NCM, NCO or officer, professional development is a part of progressing through the ranks. This results in having varying levels of education from members and a vast range of experiences. With career courses beginning as a Private or Officer Cadet, members are exposed to education from the moment they join the CAF.

Military Trades

The Canadian Forces offer a wide range of trades (also known as military occupations) across three main branches: the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. These trades cover various fields, including:

1. Combat Roles: Infantry, Artillery, Armoured, Combat Engineers.
2. Technical and Engineering: Aerospace Control, Marine Engineering, Weapons Engineering, Communications and Electronics.
3. Medical and Health Services: Medical Technicians, Nursing Officers, Dental Officers.
4. Logistics and Administration: Logistics Officers, Financial Services Administrators, Human Resources Administrators.
5. Specialist Roles: Intelligence Operators, Military Police, Musicians.

The number of positions available in each trade can vary based on the current needs of the Canadian Forces. The demand for certain trades might be higher at times due to operational requirements, retirements, and other factors. Prospective candidates can check the official Canadian Forces recruitment website for up-to-date information on which trades are currently open for enrollment. Below is a video giving a look at the Firefighter trade in the Forces.

Watch on CAF stories: Maj. Muscat-Drago (2 mins) on YouTube

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this page was created by Jason Kerr and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0