Canadian Forces abroad


In the years since the Second World War, there has been a major evolution in the Canadian Forces. Gone is the massive standing army, the formidable naval fleet and air force.

Today, the Forces is lean, even by today's standards, with 60,000 regular troops and 20,000 reserves.

Today there are almost 3,500 Canadian Forces personnel stationed abroad on 13 missions. They range in size from one-person commitments to Cyprus and Senegal, to the 2,031-strong peacekeeping force on the ground in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Click below to learn more about Canada's operations abroad (as of July 26, 2005):





Afghanistan

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A Canadian peacekeeper on patrol in Afghanistan. Image courtesy ISAF

<! -----------END IMAGE TABLE--------------->Operation Archer
Personnel: 220

A team deployed in July 2005 to prepare for the arrival of Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar, expected to arrive in August 2005.

The team is part of a joint operation of the Canadian Forces, Foreign Affairs, the Canadian International Development Agency and the RCMP.

Visit the DND website for more information.

Operation Athena
Personnel: 950

Canada's contribution to the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. Arrived Aug. 2003, and scheduled to be relieved by another group of Canadians for a combined one-year tour.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Persian Gulf

Operation Altair
Personnel: 247

The Canadian Forces' contribution of a single ship, now HMCS Winnipeg, to a U.S. carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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United States

Operation Foundation
Personnel: 7

Canadian Forces personnel work at the United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) in Tampa, Fla., to keep abreast of intelligence related to anti-terror efforts.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Haiti

Operation Hamlet
Personnel: 3

Three officers deployed to the UN headquarters in Port-au-Prince, in senior positions at the headquarters of the UN mission in Haiti.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Bosnia-Herzegovina

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Canadian Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina prepare to destroy some 36,000 kilograms of munitions in July 2003. Image courtesy SFOR

<! -----------END IMAGE TABLE--------------->Operation Boreas
Personnel: 73

A support group for the European Union Force during the transition of the mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina from NATO to the European Union.

Visit the DND website for more information.

Operation Bronze
Personnel: 10


A support group for the NATO Stabilization Force during the transition of the mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina from NATO to the European Union.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Golan Heights

Operation Danaca
Personnel: 191

Acting as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force primarily, this is an observational group to ensure the ceasefire agreement is maintained between Israel and Syria.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Cyprus

Operation Snowgoose
Personnel: 1

The remnant of what was once a battalion-sized Canadian force to monitor the ceasefire between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Jerusalem

Operation Jade
Personnel: 8

Canada's longest-running overseas commitment, Operation Jade is Canada's contingent of military observers assigned to observe and maintain the ceasefire between Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

Visit the DND website for more information.

Operation Proteus
Personnel: 1

A senior military staff officer deployed to assist Palestinian Authority officials with security planning.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Sinai

Operation Calumet
Personnel: 29

Canada's contribution to the non-UN force of observers in the Sinai.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

Operation Crocodile
Personnel: 8

Officers working with the UN in Kinshasa and Kisangani to enforce the 1999 ceasefire agreement between DRC and five adjoining states.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Sierra Leone

Operation Reptile
Personnel: 1

Canada's contribution to the UN mission in Sierra Leone. Visit the DND website for more information.

Operation Sculpture
Personnel: 11

Since 2000, this has been Canada's contribution to the British-led military advisory unit in Sierra Leone.

Visit the DND website for more information.

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Sudan

Operation Safari
Personnel: 14

Two Canadian officers sent to support the United Nations mission in Sudan as members of the international advance party.

Visit the DND website for more information.

Operation Augural
Personnel: 4

Canadian advisory staff for the African Union mission to provide security and stabilization in the Darfur region.