Regular Force

In the Canadian Forces, a Regular Force unit or person is part of the full-time military, as opposed to being part of the Primary Reserve. The term is often abbreviated to the Reg Force.

Regular Force personnel are employed full-time, and have usually signed long-term contracts committing them to regular service. They receive more pay and benefits than members of the Primary Reserve and can be ordered into overseas deployments.

There are approximately 64,000 Regular Force personnel in the Canadian Forces.

Organization

Maritime Command

The Regular Force component of Maritime Command consists of the two fleets, MARLANT and MARPAC and all ships crews except for the majority of those serving onboard the "Kingston"-class patrol vessels which are manned largely by the Primary Reserve.

Land Force Command

The Regular Force component of Land Force Command consists of three field-ready brigades, with elements of a fourth located at CFB Gagetown:

*1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at CFB Edmonton and CFB Shilo
*2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at CFB Petawawa
*5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at CFB Valcartier

Each brigade contains one regiment each of artillery, armour, and combat engineers and three battalions of infantry (all scaled in the British fashion), as well as a headquarters/signals squadron, and several minor organizations. A tactical helicopter squadron, a field ambulance, and a service battalion (logistics) are co-located with each brigade but not part of the brigade's command structure.

Air Command

The Regular Force component of Air Command consists of all wings with their sub-unit squadrons at bases across the country.