Canadian Operational Support Command
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Operational Support Command (CANOSCOM) (in french : Commandement du soutien opérationnel du Canada or COMSOCAN) is one of seven commands of the Canadian Forces
(CF). It provides the CF with combat support (including logistics
, military engineering, land equipment maintenance services, communications and information systems
, health services and military police
) and service for both domestic and international missions.
CANOSCOM is responsible for planning and executing the delivery of national-level operational support for theatre activation, sustainment and termination of a CF operation. Within CANOSCOM is a full range of combat support and combat service support functions, including aspects of military engineering, health services, military police, logistics, land equipment maintenance, personnel support, resource management, and communications and information systems (CIS).
On February 1, 2006, CANOSCOM assumed command of the Canadian Forces Joint Support Group (CFJSG), the CF Joint Signal Regiment (CFJSR) and J4 Materiel.
The CFJSG is a rapidly deployable formation that arranges and provides operational-level support to CF international and domestic operations. The CFJSG will also be able to co-operate with coalition partners and host nations, thereby relieving our tactical units of support-related tasks.
The CFJSR provides close signal support and general CIS capabilities for international and domestic contingency operations through a rapidly deployable National Command, Control and Information System (NCCIS) that is equipped with the infrastructure (i.e., line and cable capabilities) to sustain operations in an active theatre.
J4 Materiel, renamed as the Canadian Materiel Support Group (CMSG), co-ordinates national-level logistics support to CF operations and provides the focal point for materiel and operational logistics support of Canada's current and projected defence commitments.
The Operational Support Engineer Group (OS Engr Gp) was created March 2, 2007 and is charged with optimizing Canadian Forces engineer effects by centrally coordinating high demand, low density engineer capabilities and by coordinating collective operational support technical training.
The Operational Support Military Police Group (OS MP Gp) was established March 2, 2007 to provide military police advice and planning expertise to Commander CANOSCOM, and to synchronize planning and coordination of MP force generation.
A truly joint and interoperable organization, CANOSCOM is designed to work closely in support of the operational commands. By uniting all its operational support organizations under one command, the CF quickly and effectively achieves relevant, responsive support to operations both at home and abroad.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
(CF). It provides the CF with combat support (including logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
, military engineering, land equipment maintenance services, communications and information systems
Information systems
Information Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...
, health services and military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
) and service for both domestic and international missions.
Composition
CANOSCOM consists of approximately 1,100 soldiers from all branches of the Canadian Forces who provide operations support to thousands of Canadian Forces involved in many missions. The CANOSCOM commands the Canadian Forces Joint Support Group, the Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment and Canadian Materiel Support Group. CANOSCOM oversees 16 units and formations. These include the:- Canadian Materiel Support Group (CMSG)
- 7 Canadian Forces Supply Depot
- 25 Canadian Forces Supply Depot
- CF Ammunition Depot Bedford
- CF Ammunition Depot Dundurn
- CF Ammunition Depot Rocky Point
- CF Ammunition Depot Detachment Angus
- Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment
- OS Engr Gp
- 1 Engineer Support Unit
- Canadian Forces Joint Support Group
- CFJSG HQ
- 3 Canadian Support Unit
- 4 Canadian Forces Movement Control Unit
- CF Postal Unit
- OS MP Gp
- CFPSU
Background Information
Canadian Operational Support Command (CANOSCOM) supports all Canadian Forces domestic, continental and international operations. Its first duty is to generate task-tailored operational support organizations for the new operational commands – Canada Command (Canada COM), Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM) and Canadian Special Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).CANOSCOM is responsible for planning and executing the delivery of national-level operational support for theatre activation, sustainment and termination of a CF operation. Within CANOSCOM is a full range of combat support and combat service support functions, including aspects of military engineering, health services, military police, logistics, land equipment maintenance, personnel support, resource management, and communications and information systems (CIS).
On February 1, 2006, CANOSCOM assumed command of the Canadian Forces Joint Support Group (CFJSG), the CF Joint Signal Regiment (CFJSR) and J4 Materiel.
The CFJSG is a rapidly deployable formation that arranges and provides operational-level support to CF international and domestic operations. The CFJSG will also be able to co-operate with coalition partners and host nations, thereby relieving our tactical units of support-related tasks.
The CFJSR provides close signal support and general CIS capabilities for international and domestic contingency operations through a rapidly deployable National Command, Control and Information System (NCCIS) that is equipped with the infrastructure (i.e., line and cable capabilities) to sustain operations in an active theatre.
J4 Materiel, renamed as the Canadian Materiel Support Group (CMSG), co-ordinates national-level logistics support to CF operations and provides the focal point for materiel and operational logistics support of Canada's current and projected defence commitments.
The Operational Support Engineer Group (OS Engr Gp) was created March 2, 2007 and is charged with optimizing Canadian Forces engineer effects by centrally coordinating high demand, low density engineer capabilities and by coordinating collective operational support technical training.
The Operational Support Military Police Group (OS MP Gp) was established March 2, 2007 to provide military police advice and planning expertise to Commander CANOSCOM, and to synchronize planning and coordination of MP force generation.
A truly joint and interoperable organization, CANOSCOM is designed to work closely in support of the operational commands. By uniting all its operational support organizations under one command, the CF quickly and effectively achieves relevant, responsive support to operations both at home and abroad.
External links
- Canadian Operational Support Command website
- Library and Archives Canada - 7 Canadian Forces Supply Depot http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=133126&rec_nbr_list=133126,835693,3935383,3935368,43004