New Canadian Special Operations Regiment

[Airbornelawyer]

News story:

http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=ead3d771-3242-440f-a74d-397e73297668&k=80797

Military creates new special forces unit
Forces already recruiting for 750-strong unit to be based in Petawawa; not linked to JTF2
The Canadian military will create a new 750-strong special forces unit to be located in the Ottawa Valley at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.

Recruitment for the regiment, whose soldiers would perform a role similar to that of the U.S. army's Green Berets, has now started. The new formation, to be called the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, will be in addition to the Joint Task Force 2 commando unit based in Ottawa.

Military officials say new training facilities will be built at CFB Petawawa, but there are no details yet on how much the force will cost taxpayers. A group of about 60 specially selected personnel will be sent to Petawawa between now and March to form the unit's headquarters and support personnel. At the same time, other volunteers will be selected from bases across the country.

Recruitment for the new unit comes on the heels of Conservative leader Stephen Harper's election promise that his government would create a 650-strong airborne battalion. That unit would be along the lines of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, disbanded in 1995 after some of its members tortured and killed a Somali teenager.

Canadian Forces General Order:
CANFORGEN 195/05 DCDS 185 201320Z DEC 05

CANADIAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS REGIMENT (CDN SPEC OPS REGT) IMPLEMENTATION AND RECRUITING CAMPAIGN 2006 - CDN SPEC OPS REGT OPERATORS AND SUPPORTERS

UNCLASSIFIED

1. THE RECENT CREATION OF THE CANADIAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES COMMAND (CANSOFCOM) PROVIDES THE CANADIAN GOVT AND CDS WITH AN AGILE, HIGH READINESS SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCE (SOF) CAPABLE OF CONDUCTING SPECIAL OPERATIONS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CONFLICT AT HOME AND ABROAD.

2. THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT WILL BE AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF CANSOFCOM, AND WILL PROVIDE A RAPID RESPONSE CAPABILITY FOR SPECIAL OPERATION MISSIONS THROUGHOUT CANADA AND THE WORLD. THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT WILL COMPLEMENT JTF 2 AND WILL BE CAPABLE OF INDEPENDENT HIGH-READINESS COMBAT OPS. CDN SPEC OPS REGT ROLES INCLUDE SUPPORT TO COUNTER-TERRORISM, DIRECT ACTION, SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE, NON-COMBATANT EVACUATION OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS DEFENCE DIPLOMACY AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE. POTENTIAL CANDIDATES CAN EXPECT CHALLENGING AND DYNAMIC EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL TEAMS AS A PART OF AN OPERATIONALLY FOCUSED UNIT. TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION, THE UNIT WILL FILL POSITIONS AND CONDUCT TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT USING A PHASED APPROACH:

A. PHASE I (JAN TO MAR 06). AN INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION CADRE CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 60 SELECTED UNIT HQ AND COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT PERS WILL BE POSTED TO THE CFB PETAWAWA BASED UNIT IN EARLY 06. SCREENING OF ALL CDN SPEC OPS REGT VOLUNTEERS FROM ACROSS THE CF COMMENCES AT HOME BASES AND UNITS.

B. PHASE II (FEB TO APR 06). CLS WILL SCREEN A FORMED COMPANY GROUP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURE BELOW AND AS ORDERED IN SEPARATE CLS INSTRUCTIONS. SOME FURTHER AUGMENTEES TO THIS COMPANY WILL BE SELECTED FROM ACROSS THE CF.

C. PHASE III (APR - AUG 06). INITIAL CDN SPEC OPS REGT TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT WILL BE CONDUCTED. UNIT REACHES INITIAL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY.

D. PHASE IV (POST APS 06). FURTHER GROWTH OF CDN SPEC OPS REGT TO FULL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY AT A PACE DIRECTED BY CDS.

3. PERS FOR THIS JOINT UNIT WILL BE RECRUITED FROM ACROSS THE CF, INCL PRIMARY RESERVE PERS. THE UNIT WILL BE COMPRISED OF TWO CATEGORIES OF PERS:

A. CATEGORY (CAT) 1: CDN SPEC OPS REGT OPERATORS - CONSIST OF CDN SPEC OPS REGT OPS AND SPECIALISTS (SPEC) WHO ARE DIRECTLY EMPLOYED IN THE TACTICAL ASPECTS OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND HIGH VALUE TASKS. CDN SPEC OPS REGT OPERATORS (CAT 1) IS OPEN TO BOTH GENDERS OF ANY MOC AND RANK FROM PTE/OS TO MWO/CPO2 AND LT/SLT TO MAJ/LCDR.

B. CAT 2: SUPPORT (SP) - CONSISTS OF SP PERS SELECTED FROM REGULAR FORCE AND RESERVE FORCE MOCS TO FULFIL CDN SPEC OPS REGT REQUIREMENTS IN STAFF AND SUPPORT POSNS.

4. BASED ON THE COMPRESSED TIMELINES, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT RECRUITING PROCESS DOES NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE OP CAPABILITES OF OTHER CF UNITS, UNIT CO S WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO DEFER ANY APPLICATIONS FOR UP TO ONE YEAR. THIS DEFERRAL CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE PER INDIV. ALL CF PERSONNEL CAN APPLY FOR CDN SPEC OPS REGT, BUT THE ABOVE RESTRICTIONS MUST BE NOTED ON THEIR APPLICATION FORMS.

5. IN ADDITION, THE CLS WILL IMPOSE SPECIFIC OTHER RESTRICTIONS THAT WILL APPLY ONLY TO THE ARMY FIELD FORCE BASED ON THE OPERATIONAL DEMANDS OF THE ARMY MANAGED READINESS PLAN. DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE ARMY CHAIN OF COMMAND.

6. WING/BASE PERSONNEL SELECTION OFFICER WILL COMMENCE SCREENING OF VOLUNTEERS FOR POSNS ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. HOWEVER, APPLICATIONS FOR THE FIRST CDN SPEC OPS REGT TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CRSE (CAT 1) MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT RECRUITING AND SELECTION CELL NLT 1 MAR 06. THE DEADLINE FOR CAT 2 APPLICATIONS IS 1 APR 06. WHILE MOST CDN SPEC OPS REGT POSITIONS ARE DESIGNATED 971- ANY MOC, A LIST OF SPECIFIC MOCS AND RANKS BEING SOUGHT ARE LISTED AT THE END OF TEXT.

[Airbornelawyer]

Rest of the general order:

7. PRE-REQUISITES FOR CAT 1 AND 2 PERS ARE AS FOLS:

A. MIN SECUR LEVEL 1. NOTE: ALL CDN SPEC OPS REGT MBRS MUST HOLD MIN LEVEL 2. APPLICANTS WITHOUT LEVEL 2 MUST NOT HAVE ANY ADMIN ISSUES OR DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS THAT WOULD PREVENT THE MBR FROM ATTAINING A LEVEL 2 CLEARANCE.

B. MIN MED CAT IS 332225. NOTE: VISION MUST BE CORRECTABLE TO V1 (INTERIM POLICY).

C. REG F MBRS MUST HAVE MIN OF 2 YRS SERVICE. NCMS MUST BE MIN QL3 AND OFFRS MUST BE FULLY MOC QUALIFIED. CAT 1 PERS MUST BE PREP FOR A RESTRICTED RELEASE AGREEMENT OF 3 YRS SERVICE IMPOSED UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF BASIC CDN SPEC OPS REGT TRAINING.

D. RESERVISTS MUST HAVE A MIN OF 3 YRS SERVICE. NCMS MUST BE MIN QL 3 AND OFFICERS MUST BE QUALIFIED TO REG F STDS. RES F CAT 1 APPLICANTS MUST BE PREPARED FOR A RESTRICTED RELEASE AGREEMENT OF A MIN OF 3 YRS SERVICE AND BE PREPARED FOR COMPONENT TRANSFER TO THE REGULAR FORCE ON COMPLETION OF THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CRSE. RESERVE FORCES MEMBRS APPLYING FOR CAT 1 POSNS ARE REQUIRED TO FWD A COPY OF THEIR MPRR (PPE 806 OR CF1007) TO THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT RECRUITING AND SELECTION CELL IN ORDER TO SCREEN FOR ELIGIBILITY PRIOR TO APPLYING.

E. POSSESS A VALID CIVILIAN DRIVERS LICENCE

F. FOR CAT 1 PERS - APPLICANTS MUST NOT HAVE PHOBIAS TO HEIGHTS, WATER OR CONFINED SPACES. APPLICANTS MUST BE BASIC PARA QUALIFIED OR VOL FOR BASIC PARA TRAINING IF NOT QUALIFIED. PERS MUST BE PREP TO CONDUCT INSERT/EXTRACT TRAINING WHICH WILL REQUIRE AN ABSENCE OF PHOBIAS TO HEIGHTS AND A HIGH LEVEL OF PHYSICAL FITNESS.

8. SCREENING PROCESS

A. STEP 1 - UNIT APPLICATION: MBR VOL THROUGH CHAIN OF COMMAND USING THE APPLICATION FORM FOR SERVICE WITH CDN SPEC OPS REGT. FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE WING/BASE PERSONNEL SELECTION OFFICER OFFICES IN JAN 06 AND AVAILABLE AT THE CANSOFCOM WEBSITE ONCE ESTABLISHED. CDN SPEC OPS REGT SELECTION WILL BE A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PROCESS: UNITS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SCREEN OUT BELOW-AVG PERFORMERS.

B. STEP 2 - PHYSICAL FITNESS SCREENING: MBR UNDERGOES CDN SPEC OPS REGT PHYSICAL FITNESS EVALUATION AND SWIM TEST ADMINISTERED BY PSP STAFF AT RESPECTIVE CF BASES. A PRE-SELECTION PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING PROGRAM WILL BE PUBLISHED BY PSP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

(1) FOR PERS APPLYING FOR CAT 1 POSNS, THE 2 STEP / 2 DAY EVALUATION PROCESS IS AS FOLS: PART 1 (DAY 1): 20 METER SHUTTLE RUN LEVEL 9 (MIN 5 MIN REST) MIN 40 PUSHUPS (CONTINUOUS) (MIN 2 MIN REST) MIN 40 SITUPS (IN ONE MINUTE) (MIN 2 MIN REST) MIN 5 PULLUPS (MIN 15 MIN REST) COMBAT SWIM TEST (25 M SWIM IN COMBATS, BOOTS, RIFLE, NO FLOATATION) PART 2 (DAY 2): 13 KM WEIGHT LOADED MARCH WITH 35 KG IN 2 HRS, 26 MINS (MIN 10 MIN BREAK) CASUALTY EVACUATION OF A SOLDIER OF SIMILAR BUILD/WEIGHT FOR A DISTANCE OF 100M IN LESS THAN 60 SECS. PERS APPLYING FOR CAT 1 POSNS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PERFORM TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY ON THE PERSONNEL FITNESS TEST. PERSONNEL FITNESS TEST SCORES WILL BE USED AS PART OF THE SELECTION PROCESS, WITH PREFERENCE GIVEN TO THOSE WITH HIGHER SCORES.

(2) CAT 2 - SP (2 DAY PROCESS) PART 1 (DAY 1): CF EXPRES (MPFS); BASIC MILITARY SWIM TEST (WATER SAFETY KNOWLEDGE, ABANDON SHIP EMERGENCIES, RUDIMENTARY SWIMMING SKILLS) PART 2 (DAY 2): 13 KM WEIGHT LOADED MARCH WITH 24.5 KG IN 2 HRS, 26 MINS (ARMY FITNESS STD) (MIN 10 MIN BREAK) CASUALTY EVACUATION OF A SOLDIER OF SIMILAR BUILD/WEIGHT FOR A DISTANCE OF 100M IN LESS THAN 60 SECS.

C. FOR ALL PERS, UNIT TO FWD COMPLETED APPLICATION PACKAGE TO WING/BASE PERSONNEL SELECTION OFFICER INCLUDING:

(1) APPLICATION FOR SERVICE WITH CDN SPEC OPS REGT

(2) CDN SPEC OPS REGT PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SWIM TEST RESULTS

(3) UER

(4) PERS FILE, AND

(5) CONDUCT SHEET (IF APPLICABLE)

D. STEP 3 - BPSO SCREENING: TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE WING/BASE PERSONNEL SELECTION OFFICER AND WILL INCLUDE COGNITIVE ABILITY AND PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT, AS WELL AS A WING/BASE PERSONNEL SELECTION OFFICER INTERVIEW. APPLICANT FILES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY WING/BASE PERSONNEL SELECTION OFFICER UNLESS THERE IS PROOF OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST.

E. IT IS THE UNIT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FORWARD THE FOLLOWING DOCS FOR EACH APPLICANT TO THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT RECRUITING AND SELECTION CELL PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION DEADLINE:

(1) CF 285 (PSO REPORT)

(2) APPLICATION FORM

(3) PHYSICAL FITNESS/SWIM TEST RESULTS

F. UNITS WILL BE INFORMED BY MSG AS TO WHICH APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO PROGRESS TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS.

9. CDN SPEC OPS REGT TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT

A. TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT - FOR CAT 1 PERS, SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL ATTEND THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT COURSE. THE INITIAL COURSE, TO BE HELD IN APR-JUL 06 (TBC), WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON THE INITIAL LEADERSHIP AND COMPANY GROUP (FROM CLS) FOR THE UNIT. THE SECOND TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT COURSE IS SCHEDULED FOR FALL 06. SUCCESSFUL CAT 1 APPLICANTS WILL BE ON TEMPORARY DUTY FOR THE TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT PERIOD. THIS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DEMANDING TRAINING WILL EVALUATE THE REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES SUCH AS STRESS TOLERANCE, PERSEVERANCE, ABSENCE OF PHOBIAS, PHYSICAL FITNESS, ADAPTABILITY, AND WPNS HANDLING. SUCCESSFUL OPERATORS MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPERATE INDPENDENTLY OR IN SMALL TEAMS, UNDER ADVERSE, AMBIGUOUS CONDITIONS.

B. FOR CAT 2 PERS, SELECTED INDIVIDUALS WILL BE INTERVIEWED BY CDN SPEC OPS REGT PERS AND IF FOUND SUITABLE, WILL ATTEND ORIENTATION TRAINING AFTER ARRIVAL AT THE UNIT.

10. QUESTIONS REGARDING CDN SPEC OPS REGT SCREENING AND TRAINING/ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CANSOFCOM RECRUITING AND SELECTION CELL USING THE TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-800- 959-9188. INFO ON CDN SPEC OPS REGT WILL BE AVALABLE INITIALLY THROUGH THE CANSOFCOM REQUREMENT AND SELECTION TEAM VISITS. IN EARLY 2006, INFO ON THE UNIT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE CANSOFCOM WEBSITE.

11. CONCLUSION. THE CREATION OF CDN SPEC OPS REGT WILL PROVIDE THE CF WITH A RELEVANT, RESPONSIVE AND EFFECTIVE SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT TO COMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE EXISTING CAPABILITIES. MISSIONS WILL INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF HIGH VALUE TASKS SUCH AS SUPPORT TO COUNTER-TERRORISM OPS, LONG RANGE RECONAISSANCE, INSERTION AND EXTRACTION OPERATIONS, THROUGH TO THE EVACUATION OF NON-COMBATANTS. THE NATURE OF THIS JOB WILL REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTELLIGENT, PHYSICALLY FIT, AND PREPARED TO TRAIN AND MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY ON A WIDE VARIETY OF CRITICAL SKILLS. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CHAIN OF COMD SUPPORT PERSONNEL VOLUNTEERING FOR CDN SPEC OPS REGT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

12. A LIST OF SPECIFIC MOCS AND RANKS REQUIRED IN THE CDN SPEC OPS REGT APPEARS BELOW:

LIST 1 - CAT 1 (OP) MOC RK POSNS (EXAMPLES) ANY MAJ OFFICER COMMANDING ANY CAPT COMPANY SECOND IN COMMAND/PLATOON COMMANDER ARTY (FOO) CAPT FORWARD OBSERVATION OFFICER / FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER 84 SIGS CAPT SIGNALS OFFICER ANY MWO COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR / OPERATIONS COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR ANY WO COMPANY QUARTERMASTER/TEAM LEADER / PLATOON WARRANT 021 ARTY FD WO MORTAR LEADER 732 MED TECH WO/MWO (PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT QUALIFIED) 215 SIG OP WO ANY SGT TEAM SECOND IN COMMAND / TRANSPORT NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER/OPERATIONS SGT 021 ARTY FD SGT/MBDR MORDER LEADER SECOND IN COMMAND/FORWARD OBSERVATION OFFICER TECH 043 CBT ENGR SGT/MCPL ENGINER LEADER SECOND IN COMMAND 215 SIG OP /CIS OP CPL-SGT 737 MED TECH CPL-SGT 031 INF MCPL (BASIC SNIPER QUALIFIED) ANY MCPL COMPANY QUARTERMASTER SECOND IN COMMAND 043 CBT ENGR CPL/PTE 021 FD ARTY CPL/PTE ANY CPL/PTE

LIST 2 - CAT 2 (SP) MOC RK POSNS (EXAMPLES) 43 EME/78 LOG MAJ OFFICER COMMANDEING 55 MED/78 LOG MAJ/CAPT 43 EME/78 LOG CAPT COMPANY SECOND IN COMMAND/ S4 LOGISTIC OPERATIONS 78 LOG (TPT, FIN, SUP) CAPT 66 PAO CAPT 82 INT CAPT 32 PLT (TAC HEL) CAPT 71 MARS LT(N) 836 RMS CLK CPL-SGT 411 VEH TECH PTE-WO 111 INT OP WO/MCPL 142 GEO TECH SGT 215 SIG OP/ CIS OP CPL-SGT 227 LCIS TECH SGT 052 LINEMAN CPL 911 SUP TECH CPL-MWO 911 (AIR DROP SPEC/ RIGGER) PTE-SGT 811 MP CPL-SGT 935 MSE OP PTE-WO 933 TFC TECH SGT/WO 921 AMMO TECH CPL-SGT 647 WFE TECH PTE/CPL 421 WPNS TECH LAND CPL-SGT 434 FCS TECH CPL-SGT 441 MAT TECH CPL 642 ED TECH CPL/MCPL ANY PTE/CPL

[Pete]

The potential is there to field a good unit.

The problem is that our SF is a "jack of many trades". The depth of US SOF/SF institutional knowledge runs very deep in our community.

Its hard to run a school, teach a class or two and pop out a SOF capable unit. It will take them a while to get up to speed, and thats only if they want to invest the time and money. They don't take hard knocks very well either. IE what they did to the Airborne Regiment.

With a force that small it will be interesting to see where they put the most effort, time and money. Door kickers/SWAT type stuff anyone?

[The Reaper]

Agreed.

They may be Sierra Hotel at DA, SR, and maybe in a few years, CT, but they will likely not have UW or FID capabilities with Canada's political climate.

TR

[Big_King]

'DEFENCE DIPLOMACY AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE' - sounds to me like strictly FID. Something we've been doing with both the Afghan and Sudanese armies. The collective impression I've gotten so far is the unit will eventually be capable of in extremis CT, but dedicated CT will remain the primary task of the dwyer hill ski team.

The Bn will be made-up of 3 DA coy's and an SF coy within which are "a number of 12 man teams" so the obvious comparisons can be made between the Rgr Rgt and Army SF. They've adopted a high-speed tan beret as well.

I'm just a line dude at the moment, but IMO for this unit to get off the ground they need a) Selection of the right people b) Solid relationships with similar units and c) The slow accumulation and coalescing of that 'institutional knowledge' within the SOF community.

So, what i'm trying to say is WHEN we do train together please, DON'T go easy on 'em! There's no better way to learn!


-Back to lurking

[2VP]

They will be the hammer for the JTF2. Right now members of the 3rd Royal Canadian Reg. have supplied 2 coy's I believe with support trades coming from across Canada.
As for the political climate many are right to worry. That said this was the idea of the Liberals who are quite the peace nicks. The Liberals have now been ousted by the Conservatives who have a more pro military feel. So in summary I think even if the Liberals get back in 2 years from now they will keep this capability.
It seems like being in the military may be a good place to be again.

[2VP]

P.S. the Col of the Regiment is at the least been on and passed the Ranger course.

[Chris]

P.S. the Col of the Regiment is at the least been on and passed the Ranger course.

U.S. or Canadian Ranger course?

[2VP]

He had an American Ranger Tab on his DEU's.

[2VP]

Colonel Barr's early Regimental Duty consisted of seven consecutive years of platoon commanding (three years with Rifle Platoons and four years with Reconnaissance and Regimental Pathfinder Platoons), initially with the Third Battalion PPCLI in Victoria, British Columbia (1980-84), and subsequently with the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Petawawa, Ontario (1984-87). During these years he completed, amongst other Light Infantry courses, the United States Army Ranger Course, and the Military Freefall Parachutist Course.

[.]

Heres a CBC Video on CSOR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4p-kaEMWAU

[x-factor]

It will be interesting to see not only how they compare to US elements, but also how they compare to the Special Forces Support Group that the UK recently stood up.