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Canadian Special Operations Regiment

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Canadian Special Operations Regiment
Régiment d'opérations spéciales du Canada
Regimental badge
Active2006–present[1]
CountryCanada
TypeSpecial operations forces
RoleSpecial operations
SizeBattalion[1]
Part ofCanadian Special Operations Forces Command
Garrison/HQCFB Petawawa[2]
Motto(s)Audeamus (Latin for 'Let us dare')
March"Over the Hills and Far Away"
Engagements
Websitecanada.ca/en/special-operations-forces-command/corporate/organizational-structure/so-regiment.html Edit this at Wikidata
Commanders
Notable
commanders		LCol Jamie Hammond
Insignia
Standard
HeaddressTan beret

The Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) is a special operations forces unit of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).[3] The CSOR is a high-readiness expeditionary unit tasked with performing special warfare, special reconnaissance, and direct action missions.[3]

The CSOR is mandated with defending Canada and Canadian national interests both abroad and domestically.[3] The CSOR operates under the CANSOFCOM, directed by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).[3]

History

[edit]
Members of the regiment during a freefall jump out of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during Emerald Warrior 2013, Hurlburt Field, Florida

The unit traces its roots to the First Special Service Force (FSSF), the joint Canadian–American special forces unit that was stood up in 1942 and earned the "Devil's Brigade" moniker for daring night raids on German forces at the Anzio beachhead.[2]

CSOR perpetuates the battle honours of the FSSF.

Recruiting for the new unit took place in early 2006, and the first CSOR selection course took place with approximately 175 candidates.[4] However, the individuals need prior military experience, in order to apply. High levels of motivation and physical fitness are required to complete the CSOR Assessment Centre, which is a crucial phase of the selection. Personnel can join as either Special Forces Operator or Special Operations Supporter. In the first case, the individuals are specialists directly employed in the tactical aspects of the missions. In the latter, the role consists of support personnel to the staff officer and other positions within the unit.

On 13 August 2006, an official stand-up ceremony for CSOR took place at the unit's home station, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa, with approximately 250 soldiers participating. The ceremony included a skills demonstration including rappelling from helicopters, and both static and freefall parachuting. It was also announced that the second training serial of CSOR recruits would take place in early 2007. The first commanding officer and regimental sergeant-major of CSOR were Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) Jamie Hammond and Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Gerald Scheidl.

The regiment suffered its first casualty on 24 June 2011: Master-Corporal Francis Roy died in a non-combat incident while deployed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.[5][6]

In 2013, the unit competed in an international special forces competition held in Jordan, coming in third place after Chinese Special Police teams took first and second place.[7]

In March 2015, Sgt Andrew Joseph Doiron was killed by friendly fire while serving on Operation Impact in Iraq.[8]

On December 5, 2024, the unit received the first regimental standard flag during a ceremony led by Governor General Mary Simon.[9]

Operations and exercises

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The main goal of the CSOR is to execute missions abroad or in Canada on behalf of the Canadian government.[10]

The regiment maintained a presence in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2014 in support of Canada's mission in Afghanistan.[11][12]

Under the auspices of the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program of Global Affairs Canada, CSOR conducted training with both the Jamaica Defence Force and the Belize Defence Force from 2008, with CSOR participating in Exercise Tropical Dagger in 2016.[13][14]

In 2012, CSOR operators trained the Malian Army's Autonomous Special Forces Battalion, which participated in failed anti-coup operations in the 2012 Malian coup d'état.[15][16]

CSOR participates in Exercise Flintlock,[17] a special operations forces–focused exercise planned, coordinated and executed by African partner nations and sponsored by United States Africa Command.

CSOR participates in the CANSOFCOM commitment to Operation Impact, the Canadian Armed Forces' support to the international military intervention against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.[18]

Due to the Taliban offensive in 2021, CSOR operators were deployed to Afghanistan to assist Canadian embassy staff to leave and destroy anything sensitive.[19][20]

Selection process

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The trades to apply for are special forces operator and special operations supporter.

CSOR takes candidates from all branches.[10] The process to become a member is persistent and challenging. The training that the recruits go through is highly selective and rigorous. In 2006, for the first selection course, 300 soldiers applied, 175 were selected and only 125 completed the training. The general requirements for the candidates are:[citation needed]

  • Minimum two years of military service for Regular forces, and three years for Reserves.
  • Complete the Pre-Screening Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
  • Complete a parachute training
  • Obtain security clearance

The CSOR PFT for special forces operator candidates consists of:

  • 20-metre shuttle run
  • Minimum 40 press-ups and 40 sit-ups in one minute
  • Minimum five pull-ups
  • Combat Swim Test that consists of a 25-metre swim in combat uniform, boots, rifle and no flotation
  • Loaded march of 13 kilometres with 35 kg in less than 2 hours and 26 minutes
  • Casualty evacuation of a similar-size soldier (minimum 70 kg) to a distance of 25 metres carrying their own and the casualty’s weapon.

The PFT for special operations supporter is different, since the number of skills and the amount of knowledge required is less than the one for a special forces operator. It consists of:

  • Basic military swim test that includes rudimentary swimming skills and water safety knowledge
  • Loaded march of 13 kilometres with 24.5 kg in less than 2 hours and 26 minutes
  • Casualty evacuation of a similar-size soldier (minimum 70 kg) to a distance of 25 metres carrying their own and the casualty’s weapon.

Those who complete the whole selection process and training receive the regiment’s tan beret and join either the Special Forces Company, one of the three direct action companies, the Support Company, or Regimental Headquarters.[10]

Organization

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Canadian special operations soldier descends in front of Mount Rainier onto Fort Lewis, Washington, with U.S. 1st Special Forces

CSOR consists of 5 companies,[10]

  • 3 Direct Action Companies
  • 1 Special Forces Company
  • 1 Support Company

While the regiment is composed of personnel from the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, it is part of CANSOFCOM, a joint command reporting directly to the Chief of the Defence Staff, responsible for providing agile, high-readiness special operations forces capable of operating across the spectrum of conflict at home and abroad.[10]

CSOR operates similarly to the 75th Ranger Regiment.[21]

Battle honours

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  • Monte Camino[22]
  • Monte la Difensa – Monte la Remetanea[22]
  • Monte Majo[22]
  • Anzio[22]
  • Rome[22]
  • Advance to the Tiber[22]
  • Italy, 1943–1944[22]
  • Southern France[22]
  • North-West Europe, 1944[22]
  • Afghanistan[23]

The Second World War honours are borne because of CSOR's perpetuation of FSSF.

Regimental association

[edit]

The Canadian Special Operations Regiment Association was incorporated May 2016 and founded to provide an avenue to resources and support services, including training, social services, family education grants, emergency support services and the like.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Background Information – CSOR". National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Canadian Special Operations Regiment". National Defence and Canadian Forces. 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)". Government of Canada. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Creating Canada's new Commandos". The Ottawa Citizen. 5 August 2006. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  5. ^ Fisher, Matthew (26 June 2011). "Latest Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan identified". News.nationalpost.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  6. ^ Sachs, Susan (26 June 2011). "Casualty is Canada's 157th Afghan death". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011.
  7. ^ Murphy, Jack (4 June 2013). "Canadian Special Operations Regiment Places 3rd in CT Competition". Sofrep.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  8. ^ Chase, Steven (7 March 2015). "Canadian soldier killed in friendly-fire incident in Iraq". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Canadian Special Operations Regiment Standard Ceremony". 5 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e "CSOR: The Canadian Special Operations Regiment". March 2022.
  11. ^ "Behind the secret world of Canada's covert commandos". Ctvnews.ca. 5 April 2014.
  12. ^ "CSOR: Canada's SOF part 1". Sofrep.com. 18 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Canadian special forces personnel from Petawawa wrap up exercise in Belize". Ottawa Citizen.
  14. ^ "Beyond Top Secret: Undercover with Canadian Special Operations Forces in Jamaica". Legionmagazine.com. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Canadian special forces to continue with U.S.-led training of African troops despite links to coups". Ottawacitizen.
  16. ^ Horn & Ilis-Alm (2024), p. 204.
  17. ^ "United States Africa Command". Africom.mil. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  18. ^ "A Case for Investing in Canada's Special Forces". Natoassociation.ca. 20 April 2016.
  19. ^ "Canada to send special forces to Afghanistan to close embassy in Kabul, official says". Cnbc.ca. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  20. ^ Graham, Karen (13 August 2021). "Canada sending special forces to close Afghan embassy". Digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  21. ^ https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA583821.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Canadian Special Operations Regiment: Approval of a Standard". Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges. Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  23. ^ "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Prime Minister of Canada. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014.
  24. ^ "Canadian Special Operations Regiment Association". Canadian Special Operations Regiment Association. Retrieved 27 March 2018.

Bibliography

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  • Rhoads, Franklyn. (2012). Elite Warriors: Special Operations Forces of the World (ebook) (1st ed.). New Delhi, India: World Technologies. ISBN 9788132328537.
  • Horn, Col. Bernd (2016). No Ordinary Men: Special Operations Forces missions in Afghanistan (ebook). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Dundurn. ISBN 9781459724105.
  • Horn, Col. (retired) Bernd; Ilis-Alm, Col. (retired) Hans, eds. (2024). Force Multiplier: Utilization of SOF from a Small State Perspective (ebook). 17 Wing Winnipeg Publishing Office. ISBN 9780660693637.
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