"Unification" and the creation of the Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces (also known as the Canadian Armed Forces) were created in 1968 by merging the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The reorganization, known officially as "Unification" was a concept long considered by defence planners, and minor moves to integrating the three services had taken place previously.
Unification was controversial, as many older traditions from saluting to distinctive uniforms were swept away. Many of the former organizational corps were restructured as Branches, an organizational scheme still in effect today. However, in the late 1980s, a move to separate uniforms for the three services came into effect, followed by a return to the traditional designations. The three components of the modern Canadian Forces ("CF" for short) are
- Canadian Navy
- Canadian Army
- Canadian Air Force
