The
Directorate of History and Heritage develops and manages central
policies which mark and reinforce group identity. Importantly, we
preserve and interpret heritage to members of the Canadian Forces (CF) and the general public.
Tradition is a set of beliefs and
attitudes, handed down for posterity, which guide behaviour. Customs
are habitual actions or practices. Heritage encompasses both,
combined with historical knowledge.
Traditions, Heritage and Group Identity
Canadian military tradition -- beliefs
and behaviour patterns --seeks to improve professionalism and
effectiveness, guided by the actions of those who went before.
Tradition provides one means for past experience to set standards
against which to measure future conduct. It has a practical purpose
in an armed force: it sustains the will to win.
Traditions and behaviour patterns vary with
cultural background, for we are all products of our past. The more
we share, the better will be our appreciation of how we and our
comrades will react to the stress of war.
One strong influence on the Canadian Forces
is our evolution to independent statehood within the British
Commonwealth of Nations. The effects are still obvious in customs
and routine, uniforms and drill, organization and many other
matters. However, the modern Canadian Forces reflects the Canadian
society which it serves, including its linguistic duality (English
and French) and multi-cultural nature. |