Uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces
The Uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces are the official dress worn by members of Canada's military while on duty.
Prior to the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces, the uniforms of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy were similar to their counterparts in the forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, save for national identifiers and some regimental accoutrements. With the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, all service branches began to wear Canadian Forces rifle green uniforms. Distinctive Environmental Uniforms for the various branches of the Canadian Forces was introduced in the late 1980s, and are generally similar to their pre-unification uniforms.
Numbered Orders of Dress
No. 1 (Ceremonial) Dress
Full formal dress uniforms for ceremonial parades and other special occasions.- No.1 : Service Dress uniform with medals and ceremonial accoutrements.
- No.1A : Service Dress uniform with medals, but no ceremonial accoutrements.
- No.1B : Regimental full dress. Regimental uniforms are normally not provided at public expense; purchase of these uniforms is done either by individuals or by various regiments out of non-public funds.
- No.1C : Patrol dress or the Navy high-collared white jacket.
- No.1D : No.1C worn with ribbons instead of medals.
No. 2 (Mess) Dress
- No.2 : Full mess kit with dinner jackets, cummerbunds or waistcoats, etc.
- No.2A : No.2 with summer white jacket.
- No.2B : No.3 with white dress shirt and bow tie; worn by CF members who do not own mess kit.
- No.2C : No.3B with a cummerbund and without ribbons or name tag; worn as evening wear on board ship. Sometimes called Red Sea rig.
- No.2D : Air Force members are permitted to continue wearing the unified CAF pattern of mess dress.
No. 3 (Service) Dress
- No.3 : Tunic and necktie, with medal ribbons.
- No.3A : No.3 with jacket removed; worn only indoors, within DND buildings.
- No.3B : Short-sleeved shirt, without tunic or tie; worn during the summer on less formal occasions.
- No.3C : Shirt and sweater, with or without a tie; worn in place of No.3B in cooler weather.
- No.3D : Alternative tan uniform with optional shorts; worn in tropical climates.
No. 4 (Base) Dress
The Canadian Army later replaced work dress with "No. 4 Dress", which consisted of the old-style work dress pants, a disruptive-pattern jacket, a black web belt, a short-sleeve summer Service Dress shirt with the collar open and over the jacket collar, and high paratrooper-style garrison boots. The rifle-green crew-neck combat sweater doubled as a sweater for wear with Service Dress and Garrison Dress. Due to concerns over the number of uniforms Army personnel had to carry with them on postings and taskings, the tan summer DEU was eventually retired, and the winter uniform mandated for year-round wear. The garrison dress uniform was not popular with the combat arms, as the boots were easily scuffed, especially when doing manual labour; the jacket was heavily lined and restrictive; the belt was designed to ride very high on the body and served no practical purpose. Army troops generally eschewed garrison dress for the combat uniform when possible, even in garrison. Land Force Western Area actually instructed its units to wear the combat uniform instead, and Land Force Command later adopted the practice across the rest of the country, authorizing combat uniform for all occasions where garrison dress was deemed appropriate.
Work dress and the Army garrison dress have been phased out; No. 5 dress and No. 3 were adapted to replace it.
No. 5 (Operational) Dress
Operational dress uniforms are designed for wear in combat conditions. They are intended to be adjusted for comfort and practicality; therefore only naval combat dress has lettered variants. With the elimination of work/garrison dress, operational dress uniforms are now commonly worn whenever service dress is impractical.- Naval Combat Dress : Worn by all RCN personnel. Consists of black trousers and jacket with a blue shirt, made of Nomex for fire protection and designed for wear by ships' crews.
- * No.5: Full NCD, including jacket
- * No.5A: No.5 without jacket
- * No.5B: No.5A with sleeves rolled
- * No.5D : No.5B with shorts and knee socks in place of regular trousers. Worn only aboard ship in hot climates.
- Field Combat Clothing: Worn by all Army and Air Force personnel, as well as Navy personnel assigned to Army or Air Force units. The current CAF combat uniform consists of loose fitting Canadian Disruptive Pattern shirt and trousers and is designed to be worn in the field or for working around aircraft. This uniform is usually referred to simply as CADPAT.
- Flying Clothing: Green flying suits are worn by CAF aircrew.
Distinctive Environmental Uniforms
History
Shortly after the armed services of Canada were unified into the Canadian Armed Forces, the service-specific uniforms were abandoned in favour of the Canadian Forces rifle green, single-breasted, four-button tunic and pants, with beret or service cap uniform, commonly referred to as "CFs" or "CF greens". Though accommodation was made for army regiments' ceremonial dress uniforms, no allowance was made for the Navy or Air Force, with the exception of a rifle-green wedge cap for optional wear by the latter. The traditional Navy and Air Force rank names were replaced by the army equivalents, with naval-style rank badges for officers and army-style for non-commissioned members. Navy rank names were restored a few years later. However, the Air Force retains what had formerly been considered "army" rank.For everyday work wear, in environments or occasions where the CF greens would not be appropriate, personnel were issued the Work Dress uniform. This consisted of rifle-green work trousers; a zippered rifle-green work jacket; a "lagoon green" work shirt; and beret. The jacket collar was worn open; the shirt was either worn with a tie, or with the collar open and over the jacket collar. For a brief period in the 1980s, ascots or dickeys in regimental or branch colours were worn inside the open shirt collar. Army field units normally wore combat boots with work dress, "blousing" the trousers with elastic boot bands. Many Army regiments wore regimental shoulder flashes on the work dress jacket.
A notable exception was the Special Service Force, who wore a camouflage jump smock, regimental T-shirt, beret, and high-top paratrooper boots, with work dress or combat trousers as applicable.
DEU were issued to the CF beginning in 1986. Members of the sea, land and air forces were issued uniforms distinctive to their service or "environment". Officers' and non-commissioned members' uniforms are identical, differing only in insignia and accoutrements. In 2017 a fourth pattern of DEU was created for the Special Operations Forces Branch.
Ceremonial dress
Ceremonial dress uniforms include elaborate traditional full dress or undress uniforms, that may be purchased by individuals or their units. Full dress uniforms are worn by the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and cadets of the Royal Military College of Canada. Full dress for members of the Royal Canadian Navy includes a navy blue tunic and trousers with white facings, although the Canadian Forces dress instructions state that naval full dress is no longer issued.Undress uniforms are worn by the Royal Military College of Canada, reserve force combat arms regiments, Navy personnel and Air Force pipe bands. The Navy undress uniform is the only undress uniform usually purchased by individuals, and consists of a high-collared white jacket, worn with issued white DEU trousers. Nos 1, 1A, and 2B in the forces' order of dress are based on the command's service dress uniform.
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army's universal full dress uniforms includes a scarlet tunic, midnight blue trousers with a scarlet trouser stripe. The scarlet tunic includes white pipings, and the unit's facing colours on the tunic's collar, and shoulder strap. The tunic's sleeve also has a trefoil-shaped Austrian knot embroidered on the exterior cuff. The authorized headgear with universal full dress uniform is a white wolseley helmet. A white ceremonial belt is also authorized for ceremonial wear.Although the Canadian Army maintains a universal design for its ceremonial dress, many regiments in the Canadian Army are authorized regimental differences from the universal full dress pattern, including some armoured units, Scottish regiments, and all artillery, and Voltigeur/rifle regiments. Authorized regimental differences for headgear include a bearskin cap for foot guards and fusiliers, a busby for rifles/Voltigeurs, a feather bonnet for Scottish regiments, and several different authorized headgears for armoured regiments. A number of regiments are also authorized to wear different brass buckles on their belts, bearing the badge of their respective regiments.
Most of the Canadian Army's ceremonial embellishments emerged from a simplified system ordered by the Monarch of Canada in 1902, and later promulgated in the Canadian Militia Dress Regulations 1907, and Militia Order No. 58/1908 for non-commissioned officer.
Regular Force regiments
The following regular force regiments have authorized full dress.| Regiment | Headgear | Jacket | Trousers or kilt |
| Royal Canadian Horse Artillery | Busby, scarlet bag, white over scarlet plume | Blue light-cavalry jacket, scarlet facings, yellow frogging, blue cuffs, yellow Austrian knot | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Canadian Dragoons | Brass helmet, black plume | Scarlet tunic, blue facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| Lord Strathcona's Horse | Brass helmet, red and white plume | Scarlet tunic, myrtle green facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| 12e Régiment blindé du Canada | Black beret | Scarlet tunic, yellow facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery | Busby, scarlet bag, white plume | Blue tunic, scarlet facings, blue cuffs, yellow Austrian knot | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Canadian Regiment | White Wolseley helmet, scarlet puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings, white piping | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | White Wolseley helmet, French grey puggaree | Scarlet tunic, French grey facings, white piping | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Royal 22e Régiment | Bearskin cap, scarlet plume | Scarlet tunic, blue facings, white piping | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
Reserve Force regiments
The following reserve force regiments have authorized full dress and undress uniforms.| Regiment | Full dress headgear Undress headgear | Full dress jacket Undress jacket | Trousers or kilt |
| The Governor General's Horse Guards | White metal helmet, scarlet plume | Blue tunic, scarlet facings, white heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Governor General's Horse Guards | Forage cap with scarlet band | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| 8th Canadian Hussars | Blue busby, white bag and plume | Blue hussar tunic, white facings, yellow light-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, two yellow stripes |
| 8th Canadian Hussars | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, two yellow stripes |
| The Ontario Regiment | Black beret | Scarlet tunic, blue facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers Black trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Ontario Regiment | Black beret | Blue jacket Black jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers Black trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Queen's York Rangers | Black beret | Green tunic, blue amethyst facings, white heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Queen's York Rangers | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| Sherbrooke Hussars | Wolseley helmet, blue pugaree | Blue hussar tunic, blue facings, yellow light-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, two yellow stripes |
| Sherbrooke Hussars | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, two yellow stripes |
| 12e Régiment blindé du Canada | Black beret | Scarlet tunic, yellow facings, heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| 12e Régiment blindé du Canada | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| 1st Hussars | Busby, buff bag, white plume | Blue hussar tunic, buff facings, yellow light-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, two white stripes |
| 1st Hussars | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, two white stripes |
| The Prince Edward Island Regiment | Wolseley helmet, yellow over red plume | Scarlet tunic, yellow facings | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Prince Edward Island Regiment | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Royal Canadian Hussars | Busby, white bag and plume | Blue hussar tunic, white facings, yellow light-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, two white stripes |
| The Royal Canadian Hussars | Scarlet forage cap | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, two white stripes |
| The British Columbia Regiment | Black beret | Green tunic, black facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The British Columbia Regiment | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The South Alberta Light Horse | Wolseley helmet | Scarlet tunic, yellow facings, light-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, two yellow stripes |
| The South Alberta Light Horse | Brown Stetson or black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, two yellow stripes |
| The Saskatchewan Dragoons | Wolseley helmet | Scarlet tunic, blue facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Saskatchewan Dragoons | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The King's Own Calgary Regiment | Black beret | Scarlet tunic, Oxford blue facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The King's Own Calgary Regiment | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The British Columbia Dragoons | Wolseley helmet | Scarlet tunic, blue facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The British Columbia Dragoons | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Fort Garry Horse | Wolseley helmet | Scarlet tunic, yellow facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Fort Garry Horse | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| Le Régiment de Hull | Black beret | Scarlet tunic, blue facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| Le Régiment de Hull | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, yellow stripe |
| The Windsor Regiment | Black beret | Scarlet tunic, black facings, yellow heavy-cavalry knot | Blue trousers, two white stripes |
| The Windsor Regiment | Black beret | Blue jacket, shoulder chain mail | Blue trousers, two white stripes |
| The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery | Busby, scarlet bag, white plume | Blue tunic, scarlet facings, blue cuffs | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery | Pillbox cap | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Governor General's Foot Guards | Bearskin cap, scarlet plume | Scarlet guardsman tunic, blue facings, buttons in twos. Pipers: blue doublet. | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe. Pipers: Black Watch tartan. |
| Governor General's Foot Guards | Forage cap with white band | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe. Pipers: Black Watch tartan. |
| The Canadian Grenadier Guards | Bearskin cap, white horsehair plume | Scarlet guardsman tunic, blue facings, buttons worn singly. Pipers: blue doublet | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe. Pipers: Black Watch tartan |
| The Canadian Grenadier Guards | Forage cap with scarlet band | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe. Pipers: Black Watch tartan |
| The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada | Busby, black over scarlet plume | Green rifleman tunic, scarlet facings | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada | Field service cap | Green jacket | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Black Watch of Canada | Feather bonnet, red plume | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: Green doublet | Black Watch tartan kilt. Pipers: Royal Stewart tartan kilt |
| The Black Watch of Canada | Balmoral bonnet, Tam o' Shanter, or battle bonnet depending rank and title, red hackle, or glengarry, plain border | Green coatee | Black Watch tartan kilt. Pipers: Royal Stewart tartan kilt |
| Les Voltigeurs de Québec | Green shako, falling green cock's feather plume | Green rifleman tunic, scarlet facings | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Les Voltigeurs de Québec | Field service cap | Green jacket | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Regiment of Canada | Bearskin cap, scarlet over white plume | Scarlet guardsman tunic, buttons worn singly | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Regiment of Canada | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry | Wolseley helmet, scarlet puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry | Forest green forage cap, scarlet band | Forest green jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Lincoln and Welland Regiment | Wolseley helmet, white puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Lincoln and Welland Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Royal Canadian Regiment | Wolseley helmet, scarlet puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Canadian Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada | Balmoral, red, white, and green diced border, white fusilier hackle. Drum major: bearskin cap, white hackle. | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: blue doublet | Mackenzie tartan kilt. Pipe band: Erskine tartan kilt and hose |
| The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada | Balmoral, red, white, and green diced border, white fusilier hackle | Blue cut-away jacket with Inverness flaps | Mackenzie tartan kilt. Pipe band: Erskine tartan kilt and hose |
| The Grey and Simcoe Foresters | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Lincoln green facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Grey and Simcoe Foresters | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Lorne Scots | Feather bonnet, primrose plume | Scarlet doublet, white facings | Campbell Ancient kilt |
| The Lorne Scots | Balmoral, red, white, and green diced border, green toorie. Drummers: Glengarry, red, white and green diced border, scarlet toorie. | Green coatee | Campbell Ancient kilt |
| The Brockville Rifles | Busby, black over scarlet plume | Green tunic, scarlet facings | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Brockville Rifles | Field service cap | Green jacket | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | MacDonnell of Glengarry tartan kilt |
| Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders | Glengarry, red and white diced border | Green coatee | MacDonnell of Glengarry tartan kilt |
| Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent | Bearskin cap, white plume | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| Le Régiment de la Chaudière | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Le Régiment de la Chaudière | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| Royal 22e Régiment | Bearskin cap, scarlet plume | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Royal 22e Régiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal | Bearskin cap, white plume | Scarlet tunic, white facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Princess Louise Fusiliers | Bearskin cap, grey plume or Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Princess Louise Fusiliers | Forage cap, grey plume | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal New Brunswick Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal New Brunswick Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The West Nova Scotia Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The West Nova Scotia Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Nova Scotia Highlanders | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | MacDonald tartan kilt |
| The Nova Scotia Highlanders | Green balmoral, red toorie. | Green coatee | MacDonald tartan kilt |
| Le Régiment de Maisonneuve | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Le Régiment de Maisonneuve | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | Cameron of Erracht tartan kilt |
| The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa | Glengarry, plain border, or Balmoral, blue hackle | Green coatee | Cameron of Erracht tartan kilt |
| The Royal Winnipeg Rifles | Busby, black plume | Green tunic, black facings | Green trousers, black stripe |
| The Royal Winnipeg Rifles | Field service cap | Green jacket | Green trousers, black stripe |
| The Essex and Kent Scottish | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | MacGregor tartan kilt |
| The Essex and Kent Scottish | Glengarry, red, white, and blue diced border | Blue cut-away jacket | MacGregor tartan kilt |
| 48th Highlanders of Canada | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | Davidson tartan kilt. Pipers: Stewart of Fingask tartan |
| 48th Highlanders of Canada | Glengarry, red, white, and blue diced border | Green coatee | Davidson tartan kilt. Pipers: Stewart of Fingask tartan |
| Le Régiment du Saguenay | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Le Régiment du Saguenay | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Algonquin Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Algonquin Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet doublet, yellow facings | Argyll and Sutherland tartan kilt |
| The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada | Glengarry, red and white diced border | Green coatee | Argyll and Sutherland tartan kilt |
| The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | MacGillivray tartan kilt |
| The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment | Glengarry, red, white, and blue diced border, light blue toorie | Green coatee | MacGillivray tartan kilt |
| The North Saskatchewan Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings. Pipers: blue doublet | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe. Pipers: Mackenzie tartan kilt |
| The North Saskatchewan Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe. Pipers: Mackenzie tartan kilt | |
| The Royal Regina Rifles | Busby, black over scarlet plume | Green tunic, scarlet facings | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Regina Rifles | Field service cap | Green jacket | Green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Rocky Mountain Rangers | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, rifle green facings | Rifle green trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Rocky Mountain Rangers | Green jacket | Rifle green trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Loyal Edmonton Regiment | Wolseley helmet, black puggaree | French grey facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Loyal Edmonton Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada | Feather bonnet, white plume. Pipers: Glengarry, eagle feather | Scarlet doublet, midnight blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | Cameron of Erracht tartan kilt |
| The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada | Glengarry, blue hackle | Green coatee | Cameron of Erracht tartan kilt |
| The Royal Westminster Regiment | Wolseley helmet, scarlet puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Westminster Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Calgary Highlanders | Glengarry, red and white diced border | Scarlet doublet, yellow facings. Pipers: green doublet | Argyll and Sutherland tartan kilt |
| The Calgary Highlanders | Tam o' Shanter or balmoral | Green coatee | Argyll and Sutherland tartan kilt |
| Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke | Bearskin cap, white plume | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada | Feather bonnet, white plume. Pipers: glengarry, cockfeathers. | Scarlet doublet, buff facings. Pipers: green doublet. | Mackenzie tartan kilt |
| The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada | Glengarry or balmoral, red, white, and blue diced border. | Green coatee, buff turn-back tails | Mackenzie tartan kilt |
| The Canadian Scottish Regiment | Feather bonnet, white plume. Pipers add eagle feather. | Scarlet doublet, blue facings. Pipers: green doublet | Hunting Stewart tartan kilt |
| The Canadian Scottish Regiment | Glengarry, red, white, and blue diced border | Blue cut-away jacket | Hunting Stewart tartan kilt |
| The Royal Montreal Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| The Royal Montreal Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe | |
| The Irish Regiment of Canada | Feather bonnet, white plume | Scarlet cut-away tunic, dark green facings | O'Saffron tartan |
| The Irish Regiment of Canada | Caubeen, green hackle | Green cut-away jacket | O'Saffron tartan |
| The Toronto Scottish Regiment | Feather bonnet, blue hackle | Hodden grey doublet, blue facings | Hodden grey kilt |
| The Toronto Scottish Regiment | Glengarry, white, Skye blue, and Hodden grey diced border, Skye blue toorie | Hodden grey cut-away jacket | Hodden grey kilt |
| Royal Newfoundland Regiment | Wolseley helmet, blue puggaree | Scarlet tunic, blue facings | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
| Royal Newfoundland Regiment | Blue jacket | Blue trousers, scarlet stripe |
Royal Canadian Air Force
Full dress uniforms for units of the Royal Canadian Air Force include a blue tunic, and blue trousers and facings. Air Force pipe bands also have an authorized full-dress uniform.| Type of unit | Headgear | Jacket | Trousers or kilt |
| Pipe bands | Feather bonnet, blue plume | Air force blue doublet, air force blue facings | RCAF tartan |
| Pipe bands | Glengarry, light blue toorie | Air force blue doublet, air force blue facings | RCAF tartan |
Royal Military College of Canada
At the Royal Military College of Canada, cadets wear a variety of badges, depending on their proficiency and rank. The gold thread crossed pistols are awarded as a military badge for marksmanship when marksman levels are achieved for the pistol; a crown is awarded in May to the top score in the college. The gold thread cross swords in a laurel wreath military proficiency badge is awarded if the following conditions have been met by the student: a mark of at least B in military assessment; positive leadership qualities in the summer training report; an academic average of at least 70%; a mark of at least B in physical training; a satisfactory mark in the bilingualism profile; A crown is awarded to the top cadet having received this award, by year. Students are awarded a blue maple leaf for the minimum bilingual profile standard of BBB. If they achieve higher bilingual proficiency, they receive a silver or gold maple leaf. An academic distinction badge is awarded to a student with an academic average of at least 80% at the end of the year. Physical fitness badges are awarded upon reaching a certain number of points.As cadets learn and demonstrate leadership skills, they are appointed to different positions. The number of bars increases from zero to five as students are promoted.
There are 5 no-bar positions and 15 two-bar positions. The brass or gold thread lyre is awarded as a proficiency badge for brass and reed by the band officer when a student is considered capable of participating in parades. A brass or gold treble clef is awarded by the band officer as a proficiency badge for choir when a student is considered to be ready for concerts. A brass or gold thread pipe is awarded by the band officer as a proficiency badge for pipes when a student is considered capable of participating in parades. A brass or gold thread drum is awarded as a proficiency badge for drums by the band officer when a student is considered capable of participating in parades. The brass or gold thread thistle is awarded by the band officer as a proficiency badge for Scottish highland dance when a student is considered capable of participating in parades.
Mess dress
uniforms are traditional military evening wear purchased by individual members. Regular force officers are required to purchase mess dress within 6 months of being commissioned. Non-commissioned members and reserve force officers may purchase mess dress or wear the issued DEU uniform with a white shirt and bow tie. The Navy, Army, and Air Force each have unique patterns of mess dress. Within the Army, each personnel branch has its own pattern with authorized differences from the standard Army pattern; most armoured and infantry regiments have further differences from their standard branch patterns. Women may wear trousers or a long skirt.| Environment | Jacket | Shirt | Waistcoat or cummerbund | Trousers or skirt |
| Navy | Navy blue mess jacket | White dress shirt with black bow tie | White waistcoat or branch pattern cummerbund | Navy blue, gold stripe for officers and CPO1 |
| Army | Scarlet mess jacket with lapels and cuffs in midnight blue or other authorized branch or regimental colour, additional gold cuff embellishments for officers, "infantry" cuffs unless otherwise authorized | White dress shirt with black bow tie | Midnight blue waistcoat or branch cummerbund according to branch or regimental tradition | Midnight blue, branch or regimental stripe. Regimental tartan for Scottish or kilted Irish regiments, who may wear a kilt instead of trousers or skirt |
| Air Force | Air force blue mess jacket | White dress shirt with black bow tie | White waistcoat for officers and CWOs, RCAF tartan cummerbund for MWOs and below | Air force blue, gold stripe for officers and CWOs, blue stripe for MWOs and below |
Service dress
Each environment is assigned a distinctive "duty uniform," known as service dress, or No. 3 Dress.The service dress uniform consists of an environmental pattern jacket, long- or short-sleeved dress shirt, necktie, trousers, and black oxfords or ankle boots. Jackets, trousers, skirts, sweaters, scarves, raincoats, overcoat, and parkas are in the environmental colours of navy blue, rifle green, and air force blue; shirts are white, linden green, or light blue.
Navy
Sea element personnel were issued a "navy blue" six-on-three double-breasted jacket and trousers, white shirt, and white peaked cap. For the summer periods Navy personnel may wear white trousers, white web belt for the trousers, and white socks and shoes with No. 3B. These white items may also be worn with a privately purchased high-collared white tunic.Army
Land personnel were issued new tunics and trousers similar in style to the old CF greens, but with the addition of shoulder straps. They were issued in heavy-weight rifle green for winter wear, and lighter weight tan for summer; in the latter case, headgear, neckties, belts and badges were still rifle-green or on rifle-green backing. Only the Army retained the branch or regimental collar badges on the dress jacket, such non-traditional devices having been abandoned on Navy and Air Force jackets. Army personnel were also issued epaulettes that could be sewn to the old CF green service dress tunic to convert it to a "new" DEU tunic.Recently, the peaked service cap was retired for Army personnel, with the beret issued as the universal Army headgear for service dress. Most recently, the heavy combat sweater was retired, replaced with a lighter-weight V-neck sweater for service dress wear, and with a fleece sweatshirt for operational wear.
Air Force
Personnel in the Air element were issued a uniform of similar cut to the old CF greens, but in blue, with a light-blue shirt, black necktie, and air force blue wedge cap, forage cap and beret. No. 4 dress consisted of blue work pants, light-blue dress shirt, and optional V-neck sweater. Air personnel were eventually authorized to wear the Navy's work shirt, which was similar in dark blue, though this was recently replaced by a camouflage uniform similar to the Land combat uniform. Air personnel were issued a blue beret for wear when appropriate; it was soon authorized as was the blue flyer's jacket and Gore-Tex "line" jackets for use with work dress, then with service dress. Non-aircrew personnel wear a "half-wing" trade badge on the right side of the service-dress jacket above the right breast pocket.Special Operations Forces
In 2017 the Special Operations Forces Branch began to wear DEUs that are distinct from the Navy, Army and Air force. The uniform consists of a dark olive five-button jacket, light olive trousers bloused over black jump boots, light khaki shirt and olive tie, and a tan beret.Purple trades
For military occupations that are not specifically designated to a particular environment, an environment is usually assigned or may be requested on enrolment. Due to the way that members of these "purple trades" frequently have environments different from their current assignments, many units, when in ceremonial, service or mess dress, will display a mix of Navy, Army, and Air Force uniforms. As various specialty courses become more widely available, no longer restricted only to "soldiers" or "sailors", for example, it is not unheard-of to see a Navy HRA/FSA in a tactical air squadron with parachutist's wings, or an Air Force medic in a tank regiment with a submariner's "dolphins" badge.Operational dress
Originally specialized uniforms for wear in an operational theatre, operational dress uniforms have now superseded No 4 uniform for everyday wear in garrison. The operational dress uniforms are naval combat dress for the Navy, CADPAT "field combat clothing" for the Army and Air Force, and olive green "flying clothing" for aircrew.Combat clothing
Canadian Forces presently use Canadian Disruptive Pattern camouflage on their combat uniforms, replacing the olive-green-coloured combat uniform between 1997 and the mid-2000s. CADPAT camouflaged clothing items include shirts, pants, raingear, parkas, and fleece sweaters. CADPAT uniforms are worn by army and air force personnel as operational dress.CADPAT Temperate Woodland is a primarily green pattern worn in Canada and in similar environments overseas, while CADPAT Arid Regions is worn only on deployments to desert regions.
History
Until the early 1960s, the Army battle dress uniform was worn both on parades and in combat. It was common to maintain traditional regimental distinctions, even in the thick of battle. A notable exception to this was the Highland regiments, who were ordered to cease wearing their kilts in 1939 in favour of more generic service dress, the kilt being deemed "unsuitable for modern war".By the time of the Korean War, more comfortable combat clothing was being designed, notably "bush dress", in dark-green cotton and bearing a resemblance to the khaki drill uniform of the Second World War. Lightweight service dress known as "T-dubs" were issued for parades in the summer months.
In the early 1960s, battle dress was replaced for field wear by the combat uniform, often referred to merely as "combats". It was issued as a standard order of dress for the pre-Unification Army, and later Regular Force "army" personnel in field units of Force Mobile Command and for personnel in field units or detachments in Canadian Forces Communication Command, as well as for personnel in other organizations as required for employment in a land combat environment. Combat uniforms were not issued to reservists until 1972, although they were permitted to wear it if they purchased it themselves.
The combat uniform consisted of a long-sleeve olive-drab shirt, with two voluminous cargo pockets at the hip and two slanted pockets at the breast, and drawstrings at the waist and hem; OD trousers, with regular pockets at the front and back and a large cargo patch pocket on each thigh, drawstrings at the cuff, and buttons on the belt loops for the attachment of optional suspenders; an OD V-neck undershirt; and black combat boots, with trouser cuffs bloused over. The beret was often worn, but could be replaced by a soft OD field hat or the American M1 helmet as the tactical situation dictated. At the time of adoption, the OD colour was a standard among NATO forces; however, as other NATO forces adopted camouflage uniforms uniforms, or the Americans their woodland camouflage BDUs ), the Canadian Forces quickly became one of the few first-world militaries not to adopt camouflage garments.
Officers displayed their rank on slip-ons on the epaulettes of the shirt or jacket; non-commissioned members wore small OD versions of their rank insignia stitched in the centre of the upper sleeve, although for a period in the 1980s these were stitched onto slip-ons, ostensibly to save wear-and-tear on the uniforms, but also providing the ability to remove rank for security purposes. The national identifier consisted of a "CANADA" flash stitched on the upper shoulder just below the sleeve seam, and unit or trade identifiers were worn on slip-ons on the shirt's epaulettes; however, personnel belonging to Canadian Forces Europe and other overseas missions wore full-colour Canadian flag patches on the upper sleeve. In the 1990s, the "CANADA" flash was replaced with a subdued olive-drab Canadian flag, worn on the upper left sleeve below the epaulette. These flag badges showed up in full-colour red and white when illuminated by a blue light.
Lightweight coats, rain suits, parkas, and other tactical clothing were issued to deal with different weather conditions. For winter conditions, personnel were issued white mukluks, mitts, and balaclavas, as well as white camouflage covers for their parkas, trousers, helmets, and rucksacks.
In the late 1980s, the CF experimented with an alternative combat shirt designed by an Air Command officer. The Mark III Combat Shirt had flat breast pockets and lacked the hip cargo pockets and drawstrings. It was designed to be tucked into the trousers like a regular shirt if desired, or worn untucked like the older-style shirt. It proved rather unpopular from an operational standpoint due to its lack of storage capacity, and was considered to look sloppier than the older style; few were issued after initial stocks were depleted, but the Mark III was worn alongside the earlier marks by some individuals until the adoption of CADPAT throughout the Army in the late 1990s. Earlier uniforms remain in use in small numbers by the Canadian Cadets youth programs, and are issued at summer training facilities to junior cadets for survival exercises.
Flying suit
Canadian Armed Forces aircrew wear green flying suits as operational dress. The two-piece flying suit and the one-piece coverall flying suit are worn interchangeably by most CF aircrew. Prior to the mid-2000s, the one-piece flying suit was blue and worn by all fixed-wing aircrew.Naval combat dress
RCN personnel wear naval combat dress as operational dress. NCD consists of a blue shirt, black pants, and black jacket or parka for colder weather. Originally designed for wear on board ship, naval combat dress is made of Nomex.Occupational Dress
Various types of special working uniforms are worn by military police, medical personnel, dental personnel, cooks, chaplains, firefighters, stewards, and brass-reed musicians. Unlike operational dress, occupational dress uniforms are worn only by personnel actively engaged in designated tasks. Within the CAF Dress Instructions, maternity dress is also grouped in this category of "occupational, health, and safety dress".Maternity dress
When conventional pattern uniforms are no longer comfortable or aesthetically appropriate, a pregnant woman can wear maternity dress. The non-operational maternity dress is a common-pattern ensemble in light-weight, washable material in three environmental colours. There is alsoa white occupational variant for medical, dental, and food services personnel, worn as well by navy personnel during the summer dress period. The ensemble consists of general-purpose items suitable for wear as alternatives to those of service dress and its ceremonial and mess derivatives. Medals and accoutrements may be worn on ceremonial dress occasions. The ensemble includes a long tunic, a short tunic, slacks, maternity shirts in both long and short sleeve, a light jacket and a maternity top-coat with a removable liner.
Military police
After unification, Canadian Forces Military Police wore the same uniforms as other personnel, distinguished only by a few unique accoutrements: a white vinyl cover over the service cap, a gold-coloured police-style badge on the breast pocket, and/or a brassard or armlet bearing the title "MP" or "MILITARY POLICE MILITAIRE".With the introduction of DEU, these accoutrements were replaced. Now the main identifying feature of the military police was the addition of the colour red: a red service cap band for Naval and Air Force personnel, a red beret for army MPs and red backing for the cap badges of air force and navy MPs. In 2005, the dress regulations were amended to permit all MPs to wear the red beret regardless of their element, with any order of dress that may include a beret, except the number three order of dress for the Navy, in which the peaked cap is still worn, and the Air Force, in which case the Wedge is worn - both of which have a red identifier around the Military Police cap badge.
In 2001, the CF formally introduced the Military Police Operational Patrol Dress, a marked departure from standard military uniforms: it is immediately recognisable as a police uniform as opposed to a military one. It consists of black trousers, short-sleeved shirts for summer wear, long-sleeved collared shirts for winter, the naval pattern sweater, patrol jacket, body armour, police equipment belt and MP Gore-Tex boots, with a red beret for all MPs. It is normally authorised for wear on patrol duties only, by members up to and including the rank of Warrant Officer / Petty Officer 1st Class. Some units, however, have begun to dress all uniformed and badged MPs of all ranks and those outside of patrol duties, in MP OPD and accoutrements. This is to ensure that all MP are available at any time in the case of an Immediate Rapid Deployment scenario.
Headdress
Headdress is worn with all orders of dress except mess dress. Cap badges are worn on most types of headdress, with the exception of winter tuques and operational headdress.Ball caps
embroidered with the name of the wearer's ship or unit are worn with naval combat dress when aboard ship. Air Force personnel may be authorized to wear squadron ball caps with CADPAT or flying suits when on the flight line or aboard ship as part of a ship's helicopter detachment.Berets
The beret is still the most widely worn headgear, and is worn with almost all orders of dress with the exception of the more formal orders of Naval and Air Force dress. A regimental or branch badge is worn centred over the wearer's left eye, and excess material pulled to the wearer's right.The colour of the beret is determined by the wearer's environment, branch, or mission. The beret colours listed below are the current standard:
. The crew member in the centre dons a black beret, headgear that was adopted by Canadian armoured regiments in 1937.
History
Berets were first worn in the Canadian Army in 1937 when tank regiments adopted the black beret of the Royal Armoured Corps. The black beret, which is now the headdress of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, was first worn by the Essex Regiment, now renamed The Windsor Regiment. This was because the other new tank units were ordered to wear the headdress that they had while serving as infantry. The Essex Regiment was a new unit, formed as a tank regiment, with no connection to the Infantry. As such, it picked the headdress that was worn by the Royal Tank Corps of the British Army.During the Second World War, a khaki beret was adopted throughout the Canadian Army, with the Canadian Armoured Corps wearing the black beret and parachute troops wearing the maroon beret adopted by British airborne forces. The 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion wore a red beret with the dress uniform. Wartime berets were much fuller in cut than postwar berets.
After the Second World War, a series of coloured berets were adopted, with infantry regiments wearing scarlet, rifle regiments wearing dark green, the armoured corps wearing black, and other arms and services wearing midnight blue berets, with a large coloured "flash" in corps colours - dull cherry for the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Emerald Green for the Royal Canadian Dental Corps, etc. The coloured flashes were not popular and replaced in 1956 with forage caps bearing coloured bands in corps colours. The midnight blue beret itself was retained, however.
When the Canadian Forces unified on 1 February 1968, the rifle green beret was adopted as the CF standard. The RCAC successfully fought to retain its distinctive black beret, and the Canadian Airborne Regiment wore the maroon beret until the unit was disbanded. Scottish and Irish infantry regiments wear Tam o' Shanters, glengarries, balmorals or caubeens instead of berets.
The beret is used in the Army with service dress as formal headdress as well as with CADPAT clothing as garrison dress and as a form of combat dress. Navy personnel wear the service cap and Air Force personnel the wedge cap with their service dress. In certain cases the beret is also used as Ceremonial Dress, most commonly in units of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
Kilted regiments and pipe bands
The balmoral, caubeen, feather bonnet, glengarry, and tam o'shanters are worn by kilted regiments and pipe bands as part of their full dress or undress uniforms. Members of such units may also wear traditional headdress with service and operational dress.Service cap and hat
The peaked cap is the only headdress authorized for wear with Navy ceremonial dress. It may also be worn with Navy service dress, though the beret is also allowed with Nos. 3A, 3B, and 3C. An army version of the peaked cap is worn by foot guard regiments of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. The peaked cap was formerly worn by Air Force officers and Chief Warrant Officers, but has been discontinued in favour of the wedge cap.Tuques
or muskrat fur Yukon caps are worn with overcoats or parkas in winter. No cap badges are worn.Turbans
s are worn with all orders of dress by Sikh members of the Canadian Armed Forces, although the unit commander retains the right to order for necessary adjustments should a conflict arise with operational safety. Cap badges are worn on the turban. Air Force and Army members are required to use the same colour turban as the colours used by their unit's berets; whereas members of the Navy wear white turbans when peaked caps are worn, and black turbans when berets are worn. Some units also add have ribbons based on their regimental colours, worn crossed behind the cap badge and tucked in at the back.Wedge cap
The wedge cap is the only headdress authorized for wear with Air Force ceremonial dress. It is also worn with Air Force service dress and flying clothing, but not with CADPAT.A rifle green version, referred to as the field service cap, is worn by rifle regiments of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.
Regulations
Regulations for the wear of uniforms are contained in the CF publication Canadian Forces Dress Instructions. Amendments to dress regulations are issued through the office of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, initially in the form of a CANFORGEN message, which is placed in the dress manual until an official publication amendment can be promulgated.Dress regulations may also be amplified, interpreted, or amended by the commanders of formations and units through the issuing of Standing Orders, Ship's Standing Orders, Routine Orders, and Standard Operating Procedures. This may include amplification where the regulations are unclear or are not mandatory; amendments or reversal of some existing regulations for special occasions or events; or the promulgation of regulations regarding the wear of traditional regimental articles.