5 Service Battalion

Last updated

5 Service Battalion
Active1 September 1968 – present
Country Canada
Branch Canadian Army
Role Combat Service Support
SizeOne Battalion of Four Companies
Part of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
Garrison/HQ CFB Valcartier
Motto(s)Devoir avant tout (Duty Above All)
ColorsMarine Corps Scarlet, Oriental Blue, Gold
March"Marche de l'intendant"
Website http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/5-bataillon-service/index.page?
Insignia
Abbreviation5 Svc Bn, 5 Bon Svc

5 Service Battalion (5 Svc Bn), or 5e Bataillon des services (5 Bon Svc) in French, is a deployable field unit of the Canadian Forces. It provides second and limited third line Combat Service Support to units throughout 2nd Canadian Division (2 CA Div). [1] Located at CFB Valcartier, 5 Svc Bn is composed of a battalion headquarters and four functional companies: Transportation, Supply, Maintenance, and Administration. Administration Company is unique in that it provides first line support to the battalion itself, while the remaining companies provide second and limited third line support to units across 2 CA Div.

Contents

5 Svc Bn generates Forward Support Groups (FSGs) formed of personnel from each company in order to support domestic and international operations. 5 Svc Bn is a robust force generation unit that is capable of providing two company sized FSGs to support operations at any given time. 5 Svc Bn also has the temporary mandate to generate the Decontamination Company for the Canadian Forces.

The battalion is composed of an integrated and cohesive team of active military members and public servants. Soldiers must maintain their soldiering and war-fighting skills to a high degree of proficiency, while concurrently developing expertise in their respective trades.

The battalion's primary focus is on conducting and training for operations; however, the unit also provides combat service support on a daily basis to 5 CMBG and 2 CA Div. 5 Svc Bn has, over the past two decades, regularly generated, trained, and deployed the National Support Element (NSE) for several Canadian deployments.

The unit motto is Devoir avant tout which translates to Duty Above All.

History

5 Service Battalion (5 Svc Bn) was officially formed on 1 September 1968, however, the unit's roots can be traced back to around the start of World War I through the history of its functional companies: Transportation, Supply and Maintenance. These three companies are descendants of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC), and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) respectively.

The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

Until the formation of the Service Battalions in September 1968, all transportation service was provided by the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. The RCASC was established, by General Order No. 141, as the Canadian Army Service Corps (CASC), on November 1, 1901. The CASC was modelled directly off the British Army Service Corps to provide all transportation and supply services to the Army. Initially, the CASC consisted of four companies to support the Active Militia units. The Corps grew quickly, doubling the number of units by 1903, and growing by another three companies by 1905. By the summer of 1914 the CASC had a strength of 3000 personnel in eighteen companies. [2]

During World War I, the CASC provided a support element for each Canadian Division, and later on, for the Canadian Corps. With the introduction of motorized vehicles, the CASC carried commodities of a greater range and of greater weights. Motorized transportation also resulted in expanded responsibilities such as driving ambulances and engineer pontoon vehicles, carrying all natures of ammunition, and mobile repair and recovery. In recognition of the services rendered during World War I, His Majesty King George V authorized the designator "Royal" in 1919. [3]

The RCASC, along with the rest of the Army, underwent a rapid expansion as Canada mobilized for the Second World War. The RCASC provided support to Canadian soldiers wherever they went; training in Canada and Great Britain, the campaign in north-west Europe, and in the campaign in Italy. The RCASC moved supplies from the rear areas to the front-lines. They delivered all rations, ammunition, petroleum products, and all other essentials. They did so with a variety of vehicles ranging from three to ten ton trucks, and forty ton tank transporters. [3]

The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps

The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps RCOC can trace its roots back to the Canadian Stores Department. Formed in 1871, the Canadian Stores Department was a civil department of the Canadian Government. This civil service was charged with control of forts, ammunition, stores, buildings and an ordnance depot left by the departing British Military. On July 1, 1903, the responsibilities of the Canadian Stores Department were transferred to the Ordnance Stores Corps. In 1907 it was renamed the Canadian Ordnance Corps (COC). [4]

During the First World War, the COC, in conjunction with the CASC, was supporting 400,000 men, 150,000 French civilians, and 25,000 horses. In 1919, for recognition of outstanding service during the War, King George V authorized the "Royal" designation. [5]

In the Second World War, the RCOC had a strength of 35,000 military personnel, not including the thousands of civilian personnel employed at RCOC installations. They procured all the material goods required by the Army, from clothing to weapons. Up until 1944, the RCOC was responsible for maintenance and repair. Ordnance Field Parks, that carried everything from spare parts to spare artillery, supported the Divisions and Corps. [5]

The Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

The Corps of RCEME was formed on 15 May 1944 as an amalgamation of elements of the RCOC, the RCASC, and the Royal Canadian Engineers. It was modeled after the British Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). It was born out of lessons learned during the Second World War. It became apparent that due to the increasing complexity of military equipment, technical expertise needed to be pooled to be most effective. [6]

Current Order of Battle

The Unit Headquarters is responsible for command and control of the unit, planning and coordinating support operations and training, issuing direction to the companies, and maintaining liaison with supported and supporting organizations. The unit headquarters includes an Operations cell, Training cell, Battalion Orderly Room, and the command team of the Commanding Officer, the Regimental Sergeant Major, the Deputy Commanding Officer, the Adjutant and the Battalion Administration Coordinator.

Transportation Company is responsible to provide second and limited third line transport, and movements support. The second largest company, it is organized into four platoons: Headquarters Platoon, Field Platoon, Charlie Platoon, and Movements and Postal Platoon. Support tasks executed by the company include the provision of the general cargo and personal transport, refueling services, snow and ice control operations at CFB Valcartier, multi-modal movements planning and control, aerial re-supply and postal services.

Supply Company is the third largest company in the battalion. The company is organized with a headquarters and five platoons: The Systems Control Platoon, Stocks Platoon, Garrison Support Services Platoon, Laundry, Bath, and Decontamination Platoon, and Combat Supply Platoon. Supply Company provides a variety of essential stores and services to supported units both in garrison and while on deployed operations.

Maintenance Company is the largest of the companies in the battalion. The company provides second and limited third line repair and recovery services to assigned dependencies both in garrison and on deployments, as well as providing integral-level support to specified units that do not possess their own integral Land Equipment Management System resources. Maintenance Company consists of a Headquarters, Vehicle Platoon, Artisan Platoon, and Garrison Maintenance Platoon.

Administration Company is the smallest in the battalion and is composed of a Headquarters Platoon, Maintenance Platoon, Transport Platoon, Quarter Master Platoon, Signals Troop, and Finance Platoon. The role of Administration Company is to provide efficient and effective first line support to the other companies of 5 Svc Bn and any external elements that are attached to the unit. This includes the provision of transportation, maintenance, supply, signals, administrative, and food services support that the members of the other companies need in order to successfully carry out their assigned tasks.

Deployed operations

International

Domestic

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Canadian Armoured Brigade</span> Brigade of the Canadian Army

The 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade, later known as 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, was an armoured brigade of the Canadian Army, raised during the Second World War. The brigade was composed of the 11th, 12th and 14th Canadian Armoured regiments and saw service in the Italian campaign and later in north-west Europe. It was one of only two independent Canadian armoured brigades in combat, the other being 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 Service Battalion</span> Military unit

1 Service Battalion is a deployable field unit of the Canadian Forces. It provides second- and limited third-line combat service support to units throughout the 3rd Canadian Division. Located at Steele Barracks, Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, 1 Svc Bn is composed of the battalion headquarters and four functional companies: Transportation, Supply, Maintenance, and Administration. Administration Company is distinct in that it provides first-line support to the battalion itself, while the remaining companies provide second- and limited third-line support to units across the 3rd Canadian Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers</span> Unified engineering maintenance support branch of the Canadian Armed Forces

The Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) is a personnel branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CF) that provides army engineering maintenance support. All members of the corps wear army uniform. From the 1980s to 2013 it was called the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch.

A service battalion is a unit of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) that provides combat service support to a brigade group and its elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Army Service Corps</span> Administrative and transport unit of the Canadian Army from 1901 to 1968

The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Army Service Corps was established in the Non-Permanent Active Militia in 1901 and in the Permanent Active Militia in 1903. The Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps on 3 Nov 1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps</span> Former administrative corps of the Royal Canadian Army (1919–1968)

The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps RCOC can trace its roots back to the Canadian Stores Department. Formed in 1871, the Canadian Stores Department was a civil department of the Canadian Government. This civil service was charged with control of forts, ammunition, stores, buildings and an ordnance depot left by the departing British Military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps</span> Military unit

The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC) is the Corps within the Australian Army concerned with supply and administration, as well as the demolition and disposal of explosives and salvage of battle-damaged equipment. The Corps contains clerks, operator supplies, petroleum operators, parachute riggers and ammunition technicians. Members of the Corps are nicknamed Roaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">43rd Sustainment Brigade</span> Military unit

The 43rd Sustainment Brigade was re-designated the 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division effective 9 July 2015. a U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) combat service support unit stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. The Brigade motto is "Provide with Pride". The Brigade call sign is "Rough Riders". The 43rd Sustainment Brigade has deployed overseas to Somalia, Cuba, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. On 9 July 2015 the 43rd Sustainment Brigade was inactivated. Subordinate units were reassigned to the 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31 Service Battalion</span> Military unit

31 Service Battalion is a combat service support unit of The Canadian Army Reserve in 31 Canadian Brigade. The unit was formed in 2010 when 21 (Windsor) Service Battalion, 22 (London) Service Battalion, 23 (Hamilton) Service Battalion and elements of Area Support Unit London were merged into one formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">41 Canadian Brigade Group</span> Brigade of the Canadian Army

41 Canadian Brigade Group is a Canadian Army formation of the 3rd Canadian Division. The formation is composed of Army Reserve units within the province of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The headquarters of the brigade is in Calgary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32 Canadian Brigade Group</span> Brigade of the Canadian Army

32 Canadian Brigade Group (32CBG) of the Canadian Army is part of the 4th Canadian Division. It is centred on the Greater Toronto Area, as well as Niagara Region and Brantford. It is headquartered at LCol George Taylor Denison III Armoury in Toronto, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31 Canadian Brigade Group</span> Brigade of the Canadian Army

31 Canadian Brigade Group is part of the 4th Canadian Division, under the Canadian Army. It encompasses the southwestern portion of Ontario, and is headquartered in London, Ontario. The 31 CBG area of responsibility stretches from Hamilton to Windsor. The brigade has approximately 2,400 soldiers. Colonel Chris Brown, CD is Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group. The brigade sergeant-major is Chief Warrant Officer Mike Coit, CD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Canadian Corps</span> Canadian Army corps during the Second World War

I Canadian Corps was one of the two corps fielded by the Canadian Army during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12 (Vancouver) Service Company</span> Military unit

12 (Vancouver) Service Company is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve combat service support subunit of the Canadian Forces that can fight in a defensive role and provides logistical support to the units within 3rd Canadian Division's 39 Canadian Brigade Group, which consists of all Primary Reserve units in British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">267th Chemical Company</span> Military unit

The 267th Chemical Company was a military unit of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps responsible for the surety of chemical warfare agents dubbed "RED HAT" deployed to the Islands of Okinawa, Japan and subsequently Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. A recently discovered Army document reveals that the true mission of the 267th Chemical Company was the operation of the Okinawa deployment site as part Project 112. Project 112 was a 1960s biological warfare field test program that was conducted by the Deseret Test Center. Okinawa is not listed as a test site under Project 112 by the U.S. Department of Defense.

From four Stores Depots in the main centres of New Zealand at the beginning of the 20th century, the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC) expanded and shrank to meet the operational needs of the NZ Army, Ordnance units have been deployed worldwide and across the breath and width of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">33 Service Battalion</span> Canadian military unit

33 Service Battalion is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve unit with three companies located in northern and eastern Ontario - at the M.L. Troy Armoury in North Bay, Pine Street Armoury in Sault Ste Marie, and the Major Holland Armoury in Ottawa. The battalion is under command of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, itself commanded by the 4th Canadian Division. The battalion is made up of officers and soldiers primarily from the Royal Canadian Logistics Service and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers providing Combat Service Support to 33 Canadian Brigade Group and other military organizations in eastern and northern Ontario - by means of transportation, supply, administration, food services, and mechanical repair and recovery activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">41 Service Battalion</span> Military unit

41 Service Battalion is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve combat service support unit with three companies at Currie Armoury in Calgary and at Debney Armoury in Edmonton, Alberta. The battalion is under the command of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, itself part of the 3rd Canadian Division, one of four region-based Canadian Army divisions. The battalion is made up of officers and soldiers primarily from the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Canadian Logistics Service and provides transport, maintenance, supply, food services and administrative support to 41 Canadian Brigade Group and other military elements in Alberta.

This article represents the structure of the Irish Defence Forces as of May 2020:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32 Service Battalion</span> Battalion of the 32 Canadian Brigade Group

32 Service Battalion is a reserve combat service support (CSS) unit within the Canadian Army. The unit is formed under command of 32 Canadian Brigade Group in the 4th Canadian Division. The Service Battalion is composed of soldiers from the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Royal Canadian Logistics Service to include: vehicle technicians, weapons technicians, cooks, financial service administrators, human resource administrators, material management technicians and mobile support equipment operators. It is located at LCol George Taylor Denison III Armoury in Toronto, Ontario.

References

  1. ↑ "Service Battalion", http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/5-bataillon-service/index.page?
  2. ↑ Arnold Warren, Wait for the Waggon. The Story of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. McClelland and Steward Limited, 1961.
  3. 1 2 Warren, Wait for the Waggon.
  4. ↑ William F. Rannie, To the Thunderer, His Arms The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, W.F. Rannie Publisher, Lincoln, ON.
  5. 1 2 Rannie, To the Thunderer, His Arms.
  6. ↑ Colonel Murray Johnston, Canada's Craftsmen. The History of the RCEME Corps, 1983.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.