Infantry Battalion

A unit of infantry is a Battalion, and is composed of subunits called Companies. Each infantry battalion identifies first with its regiment, and secondly with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.

Infantry regiments are a unique case in that each battalion of the regiment is a seperate unit. They are distinguished by a number prefix, and then by their historic title, for example - 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for example, or 1 PPCLI in short form.

Independent subunits do not exist in the current Army structure.

General

The Infantry Battalion is the standard unit within Canadian infantry. The doctrinal Canadian infantry battalion is divided into three rifle companies, a combat support company, and an administation company. However, most reserve infantry regiments consist of only one battalion with only one rifle company and no combat support nor administration company.

Through the last dedcade, regular force infantry battalions have been either mechanized infantry battalions or light infantry battalions. This has changed to a common infantry battalion with two mechanized rifle companies and one light company. In the third battalions of the regular army, the third company is parachute.