Primary Reserve
The Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces (French: Première réserve des Forces canadiennes) is the first and largest of the four sub-components of the Canadian Armed Forces reserves, followed by the Supplementary Reserve, the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (formerly the Cadet Instructors Cadre) and the Canadian Rangers.
| Canadian Forces Primary Reserve | |
|---|---|
| Première réserve des Forces canadiennes (French) | |
Reserve infantrymen train in urban operations (c. 2004) | |
| Active | 19th century – present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | |
| Type | Reserve forces |
| Size | 30,000 authorized |
| Part of | Canadian Armed Forces |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of Reserves and Employer Support | Major-General R.R.E. (Rob Roy) Mackenzie |
The reserve force is represented, though not commanded, at the national level by the chief of reserves and employer support. This is usually a major-general or rear-admiral.
The Primary Reserve consists of sailors, soldiers, and aviators who may augment or operate alongside their Regular Force counterparts. Each reserve force is operationally and administratively responsible to its corresponding environmental command; those being the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Primary reservists number approximately 27,000 (all ranks, all services). The reserves are important to sustaining CF operations, particularly following the defence budget cuts of the 90s.