Uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces

The uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces are the official dress worn by members of Canada's military while on duty.

"Work dress", as it was commonly known, was a more informal uniform, originally for day-to-day wear in garrison or on base, out of the public eye.

The garrison dress uniform was not popular with the combat arms, as the boots were easily scuffed, especially when doing manual labour; the jacket was heavily lined and restrictive; the belt was designed to ride very high on the body and served no practical purpose.

Shortly after the armed services of Canada were unified into the Canadian Armed Forces, the service-specific uniforms (navy blue, khaki, and light blue) were abandoned in favour of the Canadian Forces rifle green, single-breasted, four-button tunic and pants, with beret or service cap uniform, commonly referred to as "CFs" or "CF greens".

For a brief period in the 1980s, ascots or dickeys in regimental or branch colours were worn inside the open shirt collar.

A notable exception was the Special Service Force (SSF), who wore a camouflage jump smock, regimental T-shirt, beret, and high-top paratrooper boots, with work dress or combat trousers as applicable.

1B ceremonial dress) are worn by the Canadian Army, RCAF pipe bands, and cadets of the Royal Military College of Canada.

It was optional for all officers when first introduced, and from 1 August 1935 was mandatory only after five year's paid service in the Permanent Active Air Force or on substantive promotion to the rank of flight lieutenant.

At the Royal Military College of Canada, cadets wear a variety of badges, depending on their proficiency and rank.

A brass or gold treble clef is awarded by the band officer as a proficiency badge for choir when a student is considered to be ready for concerts.

The brass or gold thread thistle is awarded by the band officer as a proficiency badge for Scottish highland dance when a student is considered capable of participating in parades.

Army personnel are issued new tunics and trousers similar in style to the old CF greens, but with the addition of shoulder straps.

When the blue uniform was introduced, the rank insignia and buttons retained the gold colour used by the CF greens.

Due to the way that members of these "purple trades" frequently have environments different from their current assignments, many units, when in ceremonial, service or mess dress, will display a mix of Navy, Army, and Air Force uniforms.

[11] CADPAT camouflaged clothing items include shirts, pants, raingear, parkas, and fleece sweaters.

Lightweight coats, rain suits, parkas, and other tactical clothing (in CADPAT) is also issued to deal with different weather conditions.

[citation needed] In the late 1980s, the CF experimented with an alternative combat shirt designed by an Air Command officer.

The national identifier consisted of a "CANADA" flash stitched on the upper shoulder just below the sleeve seam, and unit or trade identifiers were worn on slip-ons on the shirt's epaulettes; however, personnel belonging to Canadian Forces Europe and other overseas missions wore full-colour Canadian flag patches on the upper sleeve.

In the 1990s, the "CANADA" flash was replaced with a subdued olive-drab Canadian flag, worn on the upper left sleeve below the epaulette.

[citation needed] Canadian Armed Forces aircrew wear green flying suits as operational dress.

[12] When conventional pattern uniforms are no longer comfortable or aesthetically appropriate, a pregnant woman can wear maternity dress.

The ensemble consists of general-purpose items suitable for wear as alternatives to those of service dress and its ceremonial and mess derivatives.

[12] After unification, Canadian Forces Military Police (MPs) wore the same uniforms as other personnel, distinguished only by a few unique accoutrements: a white vinyl cover over the service cap, a gold-coloured police-style badge on the breast pocket, and/or a brassard or armlet bearing the title "MP" or "MILITARY POLICE MILITAIRE".

[citation needed] Ball caps embroidered with the name of the wearer's ship or unit are worn with naval combat dress.

Air Force personnel are authorized to wear the RCAF ball cap (purchased from CANEX) or may be authorized to wear squadron ball caps with CADPAT or flying suits, but only when on the flight line or aboard ship as part of a ship's helicopter detachment.

Scottish and Irish infantry regiments wear Tam o' Shanters, glengarries, balmorals or caubeens instead of berets.

[citation needed] The balmoral, caubeen, feather bonnet, glengarry, and tam o'shanters are worn by kilted regiments and pipe bands as part of their full dress or undress uniforms.

The peaked cap (or female pattern service hat) is the only headdress authorized for wear with Navy ceremonial dress.

An army version of the peaked cap is worn by foot guard regiments of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.

Some units also add have ribbons based on their regimental colours, worn crossed behind the cap badge and tucked in at the back.