Role and Mission
To properly understand the Role and Mission of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve (PRes), you must first understand what the PRes is. The PRes is the part-time component of the Canadian Forces (CF). The PRes is made up of Canadian citizens who are motivated to serve their country, while they still continue to maintain a civilian job, or carry on as a student actively pursuing an education full time. They serve their local community as an active part of their local Regiment. It’s a part-time occupation, full time pre-occupation.
The Role of the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) is to provide combat ready infantry deployment troops in accordance with assigned tasks.
In laymen’s terms, we train soldiers. We train Infantry and Support soldiers to deploy often into harm’s way, and accomplish any task that may be given to them. From conducting recovery operations during the 1998 ice storms in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, to deploying internationally as a combat ready soldier on peace enforcement missions.
Our Mission is to provide individual, crew and section augmentation, and sustainment to Regular Forces committed to operations in Mobilization Phases 1 and 2 and provide sup-units and units to ensure sustainability in Mobilization Phases 3 and 4.
What this means is that during international operations (phase 1), the PRes deploys individual solders, and small groups of soldiers, some times up to 200 at a time, to each international deployment of a Regular Force (RegF) unit. They perform the same jobs as the RegF, often individually integrated into 8 soldier sections.
In the event of a war and the RegF is deployed (phase 2), the PRes carries out the same task as during phase 1. Again working side by side, doing the same jobs under the same conditions.
When all of the CF is mobilised due to war (phase 3), whole units of the PRes including the Lorne Scots, would be sent to where ever the RegF has been deployed. As formed battalions or supporting units, the PRes would be mobilised to work under there own leadership and perform the same tasks as long standing RegF units.
If a mobilization similar to WWII were to occur (phase 4), the PRes would be responsible for the same tasks as during phase 3, but also to build the CF by continued to recruit and train soldiers for their own sustainment and that of the RegF. So as you can see we are not the Cadets. We are one army with two components.
Chief of Defence Staff Transformation Situation Report
The following is a letter from General Rick Hillier regarding Canadian Forces Transformation, addressed to Flag and General Officers:
Chief of Defence Staff Transformation Situation Report 01/05