Unit Descriptions
Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2)
JTF2 executes a wide range of special operations activities with an agile, multi-purpose, high-readiness force responsible for defending Canada’s national interests. JTF2’s primary role is counter-terrorism.
JTF2 is capable of inserting forces onto any objective using a variety of techniques and is capable of operating in complex and ambiguous situations in a multitude of environments including urban, Arctic, jungle, desert, mountain and maritime domains.
Due to reasons of operation security, JTF 2 training, operations, tactics, techniques and procedures are not discussed in detail.
Members of JTF 2 have served with distinction since 1993, when JTF 2 was officially activated after the Canadian Forces accepted responsibility for federal counter-terrorism operations from the RCMP. In 2004, JTF 2 was presented with a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for its outstanding contribution to the multi-national Special Operations Forces Task Force in Afghanistan in 2002.
427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS)
427 SOAS provides dedicated aviation support to CANSOFCOM for domestic and international operations. The Squadron is ready to rapidly deploy anywhere in Canada or around the world and fly under any conditions to deliver SOF operators onto or near a target.
The Squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter and can fly in diverse environments, such as maritime, urban, desert and mountainous environments.
427 SOAS is simultaneously a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron and a unit of CANSOFCOM, which is a unique relationship in the Canadian Forces. The RCAF provides the squadron with the requisite personnel, maintenance, flight safety and technical expertise. Commander CANSOFCOM has operational command of the squadron, meaning that the Commander has direct command over the deployment of the squadron’s personnel and assets.
427 SOAS has provided aviation support to JTF 2 since it was stood up in 1993; the squadron was renamed 427 SOAS and assigned to CANSOFCOM when the command stood up in February 2006.
Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CJIRU-CBRN)
The Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CJIRU-CBRN) is the CF’s immediate response capability to CBRN threats at home and abroad.
CJIRU works closely with the RCMP, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and other government departments as part of the RCMP-led CBRNE National Response team, which is responsible to evaluate, neutralize and investigate actual or possible CBRN events with links to terrorism inside Canada.
The unit’s specialized functions include CBRN detection, surveillance, sampling, identification and neutralization of devices with these materials. CJIRU also conducts limited decontamination for members of the unit or the National Response Team.
The events of September 11, 2001, led to the immediate CBRN response capability of the Canadian Forces to be assigned to a new dedicated high readiness unit, which has been a part of CANSOFCOM since February 2006.
Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)
The Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) is a high-readiness, agile and capable special operations force that was stood up as a new unit of the Canadian Forces in August 2006.
Drawn from all parts of the Canadian Forces, the primary role of CSOR is to provide the Government of Canada with a highly trained special operations force that can be deployed on short notice to any location in Canada or the world.
CSOR is capable of conducting and supporting a broad range of missions at home and abroad, including direct action, special reconnaissance, and defence, diplomacy and military assistance missions.
CSOR has tremendous firepower and mobility and is able to operate in any environment using all-terrain vehicles, assault boats, helicopters, and various types of aircraft.
