Mandate of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces
Who we are
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) make up the largest federal government department. Under Canada’s defence policy, the Defence Team will grow to over 125,000 personnel, including:
- 71,500 Regular Force members (from 68,000)
- 30,000 Reserve Force members (from 27,000)
- 25,000 civilian employees (from 24,000)
What we do
DND and the CAF have complementary roles to play in:
- Providing advice and support to the Minister of National Defence
- Implementing Government decisions regarding the defence of Canadian interests at home and abroad.
The CAF serve on the sea, on land, and in the air, with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, supported by the civilian employees of DND.
At any given time, the Government of Canada can call upon the CAF to undertake missions for the protection of Canada and Canadians and to maintain international peace and stability.
Canada’s Defence Policy presents a new strategic vision for defence: Strong, Secure, Engaged. This is a vision in which Canada is:
- Strong at home, with a military ready and able to defend its sovereignty, and to assist in times of natural disaster, support search and rescue, or respond to other emergencies;
- Secure in North America, active in a renewed defence partnership in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and with the United States to monitor and defend continental airspace and ocean areas;
- Engaged in the world, with the Canadian Armed Forces doing its part in Canada’s contributions to a more stable, peaceful world, including through peace support operations and peacekeeping.
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