Infantry

The Infantry is one of the combat arms of the Canadian Forces. The Royal Canadian Infantry Corps is an administrative entity which oversees the needs of all component regiments.

General

The role of Canadian infantry units has been unchanged for hundreds of years, despite technological and organizational changes: to close with and destroy the enemy as footsoldiers.

Role of the Infantry

To close with and destroy the enemy.

Well armed individuals with fighting spirit and dogged determination constitute the backbone of the infantry battalion. All the rest - vehicles, stores and equipment - merely exist to assist the infantry soldier to carry out the mission. It is by determination and the skilful use of weapons and ground that the battalion succeeds in battle

Tasks of the Infantry

To destroy the enemy in close combat

To defend a position by the holding of ground

To fight as covering force troops

To act as all or part of a reserve to counter-attack or block

To participate in airmobile, airborne and amphibioius operations

To establish surveillance and conduct patrols

To conduct security tasks, including rear area security; and

To exploit the effects of NBC weapons

Motto of the Infantry

DUCIMUS (We Lead)

The "Pillars" of the Infantry

Speed, violence and aggression.

Regiments

Regiments are listed in Order of Precedence.

Regular Force

1. The Royal Canadian Regiment
2. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
3. Royal 22e Regiment

Reserve Force

1. Governor General's Foot Guards
2. The Canadian Grenadier Guards
3. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
4. The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
5. Les Voltigeurs de Quebec
6. The Royal Regiment of Canada
7. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
8. The Princess of Wales Own Regiment
9. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
10. The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
11. 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
12. The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
13. The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
14. The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)
15. The Brockville Rifles
16. The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
17. Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent
18. Le Regiment de la Chaudiere
19. 4e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment (Chateauguay)
20. 6e Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment
21. Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
22. The Princess Louise Fusiliers
23. The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
24. The West Nova Scotia Regiment
25. The Nova Scotia Highlanders
26. Le Regiment de Maisonneuve
27. The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
28. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
29. The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment
30. 48th Highlanders of Canada
31. Le Regiment du Saguenay
32. The Algonquin Regiment
33. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
34. The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
35. The North Saskatchewan Regiment
36. The Royal Regina Rifles
37. The Rocky Mountain Rangers
38. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
39. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
40. The Royal Westminster Regiment
41. The Calgary Highlanders
42. Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
43. The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
44. The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
45. The Royal Montreal Regiment
46. 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada
47. The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
48. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment

Historical Progression

Many Infanty Regiments have come and gone since Confederation. Canada did not have designated infantry regiments until May 1900, when all existing Militia battalions were redesignated. In 1920, a massive reorganization of Canada's land forces saw all infantry regiments redesignated and the archaic system of numbering the regiments was abandoned. Many reorganizations were also made, reflecting the need to perpetuate the histories, traditions and battle honours won by the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War.

A second set of sweeping reorganizations occurred in 1936 as the Canadian military modernized; again, many older designations were lost and many small regiments were amalgamated (combined) into larger regiments.

During the Second World War, many former infantry regiments converted to armour, and some regiments changed roles in the post-war period also, as the process of evolution continued through the Cold War and Canada's defence needs changed.

By the 1970s, the designations and roles of Canadian infantry regiments stabilized, and other than minor changes in designation, only two major changes have occurred since 1968.

• In 1995, the The Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded.
• In 2006 the Canadian Special Operations Regiment was formed.

Although traditionally called Infantrymen or Infantrywoman, Infanteer has gained in popular usage. This term specifies any soldier employed in any infantry role.

Equipment of the Infantry

Land Force

Arms of Land Force Command The Combat Arms Artillery | Armour | Engineers | Infantry The Combat Support Arms Intelligence | Security & Military Police | Communications The Service Support Arms CFHS | Logistics | EME | Chaplains