The Reserves

The Naval Reserves

As well as going to sea, they form harbour defence teams... diving units... naval control of shipping organisations... and important public relations units such as the National Band of the Naval Reserve... and the Compagnie franche de la marine.

If you would like to go directly to the website of the Naval Reserve, click this link: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/navres

Naval Reservists are individuals engaged in their civilian lives while pursuing a military career. They work evenings and weekends, and during the summer period in a trade of their choice. They can be students, teachers, lawyers, delivery persons, secretaries, or other members of society.

They serve on a part time basis, and there is no obligation to participate in any mission overseas. Communities can count on the Naval Reserve to supply a dedicated group of highly trained individuals who can offer real assistance whenever their communities need help. Naval Reservists are active members of your community who have access to a large network of family, friends, and co-workers and the willingness to share their personal stories of how Canada and its government is committed to National Defence and to its people.

In addition to augmenting the Regular Force, Naval Reservists form port security teams, diving units, naval cooperation and guidance of shipping organizations and important public relations units such as the National Band of the Naval Reserve and the Compagnie franche de la Marine. Most particularly, the Naval Reserve has the task of providing the necessary crewmembers to operate ten Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels.

Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs)

Our Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels are crewed mainly by Reservists. These KINGSTON Class ships were designed and built to commercial standards, although some key areas such as stability, flood control, manoeuvrability and ammunition storage are built to military specifications. The ships are very flexible — inter-changeable modular payloads can be fitted for route survey and bottom object inspections.

• Patrols: The MCDVs’ primary mission is coastal surveillance and patrol. Coastal surveillance involves general naval operations and exercises, search and rescue, law enforcement, resource protection and fisheries patrols. MCDVs offer an economical alternative to major surface units for routine but nevertheless important patrolling duties, as these are vital in maintaining our sovereignty and protecting our shores. The 12 vessels are divided equally between both coasts.
  
  
• Mines: Payloads can be added to the MCDV to provide limited mine countermeasure capabilities. The vessels' design accommodates three modular payloads: a mechanical minesweeping system (MMS), a route survey system, and a bottom object inspection vehicle. These can be on- or off-loaded within 12 hours. During Route Survey tasks, the ships deploy a partially controllable "towfish" fitted with side scan sonar. This towed system creates imagery and a database of the condition and objects on the seabed for subsequent investigation. The database can later be used, during mine hunting tasks for example, to avoid investigating previously located and known objects. A remote operating vehicle (bottom object inspection) can also be deployed to closely investigate objects that have been observed.

Naval Intelligence

In the newly reconfigured trade of Naval Intelligence, Naval Reservists fulfill a number of roles and have a variety of different skills. They provide background and current information analysis on the maritime environment to command when it is required. They also are the Navy’s specialists in Merchant Shipping, acting as the Navy’s first contact with the merchant navy community. Canada has a NATO commitment to provide officers who can liaise with and provide guidance to merchant ships in times of crisis. If, in such a time, vital ships must be protected, there exists the capability to orchestrate convoy units in conjunction with the Regular Force Navy. These officers have made contact and worked on exercises with Allied Naval Officers and with merchant ships the world over, promoting the Canadian Navy within other nations and with the powerful shipping companies with whom we share the world’s oceans.

Port Security Units

Port Security is one aspect of Maritime Coastal Operations conducted to ensure the maritime security of the nation. Port Security Units work in conjunction with Port Inspection Diving Teams (PIDT) to ensure the sovereignty and safety of Canada’s numerous ports and harbours. The PIDTs can accomplish a number of tasks, including: underwater searches and surveys of the ocean bed, underwater inspections of jetties and ships' hulls, locating, surveying and salvage of military aircraft, mine recognition and countermeasures, underwater demolition, underwater photography, repairs to ships' hulls, exercising ships in defence against underwater attack, and body searches.

Public Affairs

The Naval Reserve provides a number of important public relations opportunities with specialised units such as the National Band of the Naval Reserve and the Compagnie franche de la Marine.

• The National Band of the Naval Reserve has helped the citizens of our country to become more aware of the Canadian Navy and its Naval Reserve, travelling in various parts of Canada each summer.
  
  
• The Compagnie franche de la Marine involves members of the Naval Reserve, dressed in period (17th Century) uniforms, performing musket-firing exercises and historical military drill movements. These types of demonstrations are an excellent opportunity for the whole family to witness an important time in our Canadian military history and to come and speak with the sailors of the Naval Reserve.

NAVAL RESERVE DIVISIONS: AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY

Located in Quebec City, Naval Reserve Headquarters co-ordinates the activities of 24 units called Naval Reserve Divisions (NRD) located in most major cities across the country. Naval training in the NRDs is usually one or two evenings per week and one weekend per month. There are a number of activities carried out by Naval Reservists here, as well as the training and other activities they conduct when they visit other cities. Furthermore, Naval Reserve Divisions are active in their community, providing vital emergency services, fundraising for local charities, and participating in numerous community events.

Economy

Contributing to the Canadian economy, Defence investments bring prosperity to businesses, industries and communities across Canada. With more than 100 000 people on the payroll, Defence is Canada's third-largest employer, making a significant contribution to local, provincial and territorial economies. Defence invests in industries such as aerospace, shipbuilding, weapons, armoured vehicles and electronics as well as spending in goods and services industries, such as construction, fuel-supply, transport and other essential services.

As a part of the Department of National Defence, a Naval Reserve Division brings these economic benefits to its hometown. Moreover, an NRD provides valuable employment opportunities to the community. Approximately 1200 reservists are employed throughout the year, and this number grows to 1900 during the summer training period. The summer training schedule complements student schedules and a number of Naval Reservists are able to fund their educations this way.

Emergency Services

In times of natural disaster, such as the Red River (Manitoba) and Saguenay River (Quebec) floods, forest fires in the BC interior, and the ice storms in southern Ontario and Quebec, the Naval Reserve has offered assistance whenever their communities need help. Naval Reservists give up their time to contribute to their home communities, to help save lives and restore order when disaster strikes.

Fundraising

Naval Reserve Divisions act as invaluable fundraisers, taking every opportunity to give back to the communities that support them. Naval Reservists have raised tens of thousands of dollars for different charities, such as the CIBC Run for the CURE, St. Mathew's House Charity in Hamilton, Harbour Lights in Saint John, Noël des Enfants in Quebec City, Christmas Daddies and Hope Cottage in Halifax, the YWCA, The United Way, International Earth Day, and dozens of other local charities and charitable campaigns.

Community Events

Each Naval Reserve Division strives to participate actively in its community, both as a demonstration of civic responsibility and in an effort to advertise their presence within their hometown. Personnel have participated in the Marathon des Deux-Rives in Quebec City, the Calgary Cup Sailing Regatta, and in the Saskatoon Dragon Boat Festival.

Most importantly, the Naval Reserve plays a key role in recognizing the sacrifices of sailors and soldiers who have served our country in the past. With unswerving dedication, they plan and participate in such events as Remembrance Day and celebrations of the Battle of the Atlantic and Trafalgar Day.

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