MILNET: Canadian Special Forces

Shoulder flash was a winged sword, hilt downward, motto OSONS beneath, on a black shield shaped background. Uniform. Garrison dress. Paint by numbers jacket, or DPU jump smock (non functional). OD bloused pants tucked inside highly polished, heavily cleated black garrison boots. Dark green beret with unit cap badge. (Mostly The Royal Canadian regiment). This unit has been disbanded for several years.

In fact it was created from 2nd Mech Brigade (troops mostly stationed in Ontario) and has now gone back to the same format. From the standpoint of Canadian Special Forces. The Canadian government, as witnessed by the disbanding of the CAR or Canadian Airborne regiment, has been reticent to have that particular designation attached to any unit of the Canadian Armed forces. In fact up until quite recently, all anti-terrorist response teams (home) came under the direct control of the RCMP (there was no oversea's capability). Even though many members of the Canadian Military Police were regularly trained in the specialized "VIP close protection" courses run by the British in Chichester. The RCMP held tenaciously onto the reins.

Fortunately someone had the foresight to realize that perhaps America, Britain, Australia, Germany etcetera knew something about the task at hand and the type of man (generic term) required for the job. While Canadian intelligence gathering still falls to CSIS and the RCMP, along with units of the SIU (DND), the main force currently in place for anti-terrorist activities (both at home and abroad) is the JTF2. Or Joint Task Force Two. These men continually train with teams from SAS, Delta force and the like. Plus they are/have been deployed to area's of the world on recce details such as Yugo:

This is my personal opinion and in know way reflects on the opinion of the Canadian Government, the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, CSIS, the SIU or any other Canadian Government organization. ¹

milnet@milnet.com