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Canadian Joint Operations Command
View on Wikipedia| Canadian Joint Operations Command | |
|---|---|
| Commandement des opérations interarmées du Canada (French) | |
Badge of CJOC | |
| Active | 2012–present |
| Country | Canada |
| Type | Command headquarters |
| Size | 6 regional joint task forces |
| Part of | Canadian Armed Forces |
| Motto | Unanimi cum ratione (Latin for 'united in purpose') |
| Engagements | Military intervention against ISIL |
| Website | canada |
| Commanders | |
| Commander CJOC | LGen Steve Boivin |
The Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC; French: Commandement des opérations interarmées du Canada) is one of the two unified commands of the Canadian Armed Forces, the other one being the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. CJOC was announced in May 2012 as the result of the cost-cutting measures in the 2012 federal budget through the merger of Canada Command, the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command and the Canadian Operational Support Command under an integrated command-and-control structure. The command was stood up on 5 October 2012 to officially replace the three former organizations.[1]
CJOC's role is to "anticipate and conduct Canadian Forces operations, and develop, generate and integrate joint force capabilities for operations."[2]
Organization
[edit]The command team is led by a lieutenant-general or vice-admiral and assisted by three deputy commanders, one for each of the three main components (Continental, Expeditionary, and Support). The team is further supported by a chief of staff and four senior non-commissioned members, an overall command chief warrant/petty officer, and a command chief warrant/petty officer for each component.[3]
The continental component consists of six regional joint task forces (JTF). In five of these JTFs, the commander also commands an army division or a maritime force. The five southern JTFs have no permanent operational units: units and detachments are temporarily assigned to them from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force according to operational requirements.
| Task force | Headquarters | Region | Commander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Task Force North | CFNA HQ Yellowknife | Northern Canada | Comd JTFN |
| Joint Task Force Pacific | CFB Esquimalt | British Columbia | Comd Maritime Forces Pacific |
| Joint Task Force West | CFB Edmonton | Prairie provinces | Comd 3rd Canadian Division |
| Joint Task Force Central | Denison Armoury, Toronto | Ontario | Comd 4th Canadian Division |
| Joint Task Force East | CFB Montreal | Quebec | Comd 2nd Canadian Division |
| Joint Task Force Atlantic | CFB Halifax | Atlantic Canada | Comd Maritime Forces Atlantic |
| 1st Canadian Division | CFB Kingston | Expeditionary | Comd 1st Canadian Division |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "DND to cut costs by merging command of domestic, overseas Canadian Forces". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Mission and Mandate". Canadian Forces. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Command Team". Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ "Regional Joint Task Forces". Department of National Defence. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
External links
[edit]Canadian Joint Operations Command
View on GrokipediaHistory
Establishment and Predecessors
The Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) was formed through the amalgamation of several predecessor organizations within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), primarily to streamline operational command structures, enhance efficiency, and address fiscal constraints outlined in the 2012 federal budget.[8] Prior to this reorganization, domestic operations were managed by Canada Command (CANCOM), established on February 1, 2006, to oversee routine and contingency activities within Canada, including support to civil authorities and sovereignty enforcement.[9] CANCOM succeeded ad hoc arrangements under the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and focused on integrating joint forces for homeland defense, drawing from lessons in post-9/11 security needs and bilateral cooperation with U.S. Northern Command. Overseas deployments were handled by the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM), also stood up on February 1, 2006, as a dedicated headquarters for generating, sustaining, and terminating international missions.[10] CEFCOM absorbed functions previously dispersed across service-specific commands, enabling a unified approach to expeditionary operations such as those in Afghanistan, and emphasized deployable joint task forces.[9] Logistical and operational support elements, including those from Canada Operational Support Command (CANOSCOM)—formed in 2006 to provide common-user support like transportation and maintenance—were integrated to avoid silos and reduce administrative duplication.[11] CJOC itself was officially established on October 5, 2012, consolidating CANCOM, CEFCOM, and relevant CANOSCOM functions under a single joint operational command responsible for full-spectrum CAF activities at home and abroad, excluding special operations and maritime coastal defense.[5] This merger, announced earlier in 2012, reflected broader CAF transformation efforts initiated in the mid-2000s to foster jointness amid evolving threats, fiscal pressures, and the need for agile command in an era of persistent operations.[8] The restructuring aimed to eliminate redundancies—such as multiple headquarters—and position CJOC as the primary interface for operational planning and execution, with an initial focus on integrating domestic, continental, and expeditionary mandates.[9]Post-2012 Reorganization
The Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) was established on October 5, 2012, through the merger of Canada Command (CANCOM), responsible for domestic operations, and the Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command (CEFCOM), which oversaw international missions.[12][13] This reorganization consolidated command and control functions under a unified headquarters to enhance agility, efficiency, and integration across the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for full-spectrum operations, both at home and abroad.[13][4] Announced in May 2012 by then-Defence Minister Peter MacKay as part of broader cost-saving measures outlined in the federal budget, the restructuring aimed to eliminate redundancies by dissolving the two predecessor commands and reducing senior leadership positions by approximately 25 percent, from around 700 to 525 personnel at the headquarters level.[14][15] The new structure positioned CJOC to directly support the Chief of the Defence Staff in generating and sustaining deployed forces while maintaining oversight of regional joint task forces for sovereignty and continental defence tasks.[13][16] Following its initial stand-up, CJOC underwent further internal realignments, including the transfer of the Canadian Forces Integrated Command Centre (CFICC) from the Strategic Joint Staff and matrixed staff consolidations under Chief of Staff groupings in response to Chief of the Defence Staff guidance issued in 2014.[17][18] These adjustments sought to optimize resource allocation and operational readiness amid ongoing CAF transformation efforts, though evaluations noted persistent challenges in joint force integration and readiness metrics.[19] No major structural overhauls have been documented since, with CJOC maintaining its core mandate through incremental process refinements.[18]Structure and Organization
Headquarters and Command Leadership
The headquarters of the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) is located in Ottawa, Ontario, within the National Capital Region, operating across two buildings and employing approximately 700 personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence.[20] This central location facilitates coordination of domestic, continental, and overseas operations, integrating strategic planning with tactical execution.[1] CJOC is led by a commander holding the rank of lieutenant-general or vice-admiral, supported by three deputy commanders at the major-general or rear-admiral level, each overseeing key operational domains such as continental, overseas, and domestic activities.[21] As of 2025, Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin serves as Commander CJOC, having assumed the role on July 8, 2024, succeeding Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie.[22] Boivin's leadership emphasizes integrated joint operations across the Canadian Armed Forces, drawing from his prior experience in air force command roles.[23] The command structure ensures unified direction of missions, from planning through sustainment, under the authority of the Chief of the Defence Staff.[1]Regional Joint Task Forces
The Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) maintains six standing Regional Joint Task Force (RJTF) headquarters to deliver operational command and control for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) activities across domestic regions. These headquarters integrate Army, Navy, and Air Force capabilities to execute tasks such as sovereignty enforcement, disaster response, search and rescue coordination, and support to civil authorities, reporting directly to the CJOC Commander. Established as part of CJOC's post-2011 reorganization to enhance jointness and regional responsiveness, the RJTFs enable rapid deployment of forces tailored to local threats and needs, drawing on permanent regional bases and reserve units.[24][1] Each RJTF oversees a defined geographic area, with headquarters co-located at key military installations to facilitate integration with service-specific commands. The following table outlines the RJTFs, their locations, and primary areas of responsibility:| Joint Task Force | Headquarters Location | Area of Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| North | Yellowknife, N.W.T. | Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut (Arctic and High Arctic focus)[25] |
| Pacific | Victoria, B.C. | British Columbia and adjacent territorial waters[26] |
| West | Edmonton, Alta. | Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, including mid-western waterways[27] |
| Central | Toronto, Ont. | Ontario[24] |
| East | Montréal, Que. | Quebec[28] |
| Atlantic | Halifax, N.S. | New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador[24] |
