Canadian Forces Primary Reserve

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Reserve infantrymen train in urban operations circa 2004.

The Primary Reserve is Canada's military reserve force and is the largest of four components to the Canadian Forces reserves; those being the Primary Reserve, the Supplementary Reserve, the Canadian Rangers, and the Cadet Instructors Cadre. The reserve force is represented, though not commanded, at the national level by the Chief of Reserves and Cadets. This is usually a Major General or Rear Admiral.

The Primary Reserve comprises citizen soldiers, sailors, and aircrew who train and are posted to CF operations or duties on a casual or on-going basis. Each reserve force is operationally and administratively responsible to its corresponding environmental command. Reservists number approximately 23,000 (all ranks, all services). The CF maintains a "total force" policy as outlined in both the 1987 and 1994 Defence White Papers, where reservists are trained to the level of and interchangeable with their regular force counterparts. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the reserves to sustaining CF operations, particularly following the defence budget cuts and increased operational tempo of the 1990s.^{[Neutrality disputed — See talk page]}

1 Components
2 Training and employment
3 Deployment
4 Equipment
5 References
6 External link

[edit] Components

[edit] Naval Reserve

The Naval Reserve (NAVRES) is the reserve formation of Maritime Command. It is organized into 24 Naval Reserve Divisions (NRDs), shore-based training facilities located in communities across the country. Each NRD has a small cadre of full-time reservists and regular force members to coordinate training and administration, but is for the most part directed by the division's part-time leadership. Training is conducted year round with regular force counterparts at the three Canadian Forces Fleet Schools and reservists frequently deploy on regular force ships to augment ships' companies. The Naval Reserve supplies all personnel (except two Electricians and one Naval Electronics Technician) for the 12 Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs), which are used for patrol, minesweeping and bottom-inspection operations. The Naval Reserve has a funded manning level of 4,000 with a current strength of approximately 3,200.

[edit] Land Force Reserve

The Land Force Reserve (LFR), unofficially termed the Army Reserve, is the reserve element of Land Force Command (LF). It is is often referred to by the original constitutionally established name of the Canadian Army until 1940, the Militia. The LFR is organized into under-strength brigades (for purposes of administration) along geographic lines. The LFR is very active and has participated heavily in all LF deployments in the last decade, in some cases contributing as much as 40 per cent of each deployment in either individual augmentation, as well as occasional formed sub-units (companies). LFR regiments have the theoretical administrative capacity to support an entire battalion, but typically only having the deployable manpower of one or two platoons. They are perpetuated as such for the timely absorption of recruits during times of war. Current strength of the LFR is approximately 15,000, and DND committed to an increase to 18,500 in 2000.

[edit] Air Reserve

The Air Reserve is the reserve element of Air Command. It is organized into flights or squadrons that are attached to wings at various bases. Air Reserve personnel conduct training to support Wing operations; such units are specialized in various areas of surveillance, engineering, and airfield construction. Personnel also conduct further training at AIRCOM bases and can deploy with Regular Force AIRCOM crews around the world in support of CF missions. Unlike the NAVRES and LFR, the Air Reserve is composed principally of former members of the Regular Force, though this does not reflect any official policy.

[edit] Communication Reserve

The Communication Reserve (COMMRES) is the primary reserve element responsible to the regular forces of the now defunct Communication Command (now DND's Information Management Group). COMMRES units are organized according to geographical region into Communication Groups (similar to the Army brigades). Communication Groups are further subdivided into Communication Regiments (battalions), Squadrons (companies), and Troops (platoons), located in urban centres across the country. COMMRES personnel are involved in radio communications, data transmission, and installation and maintenance of tactical cable networks. As of April 1, 2008, the COMMRES has been merged with the Land Force Reserve. Communication Groups and their subsidiary units will remain intact, but become integrated with the Land Force Reserve's structure.

[edit] Health Services Reserve

The 1,500-strong Health Services Reserve provides essential health services in the Canadian Forces. Health services reservists serve the Canadian Forces in a wide range of health care professions, including medicine, nursing and social work. Reserve paramedical personnel who are not civilian trained and employed are trained, as a minimum, to the level of emergency medical responder (EMR).

[edit] Training and employment

The level of activity associated with being a reservist varies from formation to formation. The customary arrangement is to have a unit open for two nights each week - one for training of the whole unit and one for administration for the leadership cadre - during the training year (September to April). During summers, when many reservists are on full-time employment or training elsewhere, the unit typically only opens for administration nights. Some units opt for two full days per month of training (Saturdays, i.e.) in lieu of four evenings. Aside from scheduled training and administration, reservists can be employed on a casual basis to assist in unit operational or administrative activities.

In any event, reservists are obliged to accumulate a minimum of 24 full days of service per year in order to maintain status in the Primary Reserve. Those performing less, or those missing three obligatory training periods in a row, are deemed to be Non-Effective Strength and are subject to administrative action.

Many reservists are also employed on full time service at various operational and administrative facilities across the country. Reservists employed on full time service are paid 85% of the salary of their regular force counterparts (unless on a deployed operation) and are employed for a specific contracted period of time ranging from two weeks to three years.

[edit] Deployment

Overseas deployment is voluntary. Members of the Primary Reserve have to be selected after volunteering and undergo workup training before being deployed overseas. However in the case of a national emergency (such as the World Wars) parliament may call the Primary Reserve force for deployment.

[edit] Equipment

Model	Type	Number	Dates	Builder	Details
Volkswagen/Bombardier Iltis	light utility vehicle	1,900	1985-2004	Volkswagen, Germany	optional M101 trailer unit; replaced by G-Wagen
G-Wagen 4 × 4	light utility vehicle	1,159	2004-	Mercedes-Benz, Germany	replaced the Iltis light trucks in Afghanistan
MILCOTS (Milverado) - 2003 Silverado Basic model 861 (GM K25943HD)	light utility vehicle wheeled	1,061	2003-2004	Chevrolet, United States	replacing the Bombardier Iltis jeeps in North American operations only
Cougar AVGP	Fire Support Vehicle	N/A	N/A	General Dynamics, Canada	to be replaced by G-Wagen
MCI J4500	bus	2+?	?	Motor Coach Industries, Canada
MCI-9	bus	6+	?	Motor Coach Industries, Canada
Kingston class patrol vessel	patrol boat	12	1996-	Halifax Shipyards	An operational asset of Canadian Forces Maritime Command manned by reservists