Active 1 April 1997 – present Type Brigade group | Country Canada Part of 3rd Canadian Division | |
Branch Canadian Army
Primary Reserve Garrison/HQ BGen Stan Waters Building
Calgary, Alberta | ||
41 Canadian Brigade Group (41CBG; French: 41e Groupe-brigade du Canada) is a Canadian Forces and Canadian Army formation of the 3rd Canadian Division. The formation is composed of Primary Reserve units within the province of Alberta. The brigade headquarters is in Calgary, Alberta.
Contents
The brigade group is made up of approximately 1,200 soldiers. Most of the soldiers within the brigade serve on a part-time basis, and service in units their local communities. The brigade's soldiers are trained and prepared to augment and support their counterparts in the Regular Force by supporting domestic operations (natural disasters, etc.) and expeditionary international deployments, as well as supporting 3rd Canadian Division battle groups. Many soldiers from 41 CBG have gone to service in NATO and UN operations as well as the mission in Afghanistan.
History
In December 1941, following the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of World War II in the Pacific, it was decided to organize a number of brigades for the defence of Canada. In February 1942, one brigade was organized for each of the eleven military districts. In Alberta, it was 41st (Reserve) Brigade Group in Calgary.
After World War II, the regional command system was reorganized several times. The Alberta Militia District was reformed into 41 Canadian Brigade Group on 1 April 1997. Its headquarters took over the Brigadier-General Stan Waters Building, formerly the 1 PPCLI headquarters building at CFB Calgary, after the departure of the Regular Force units to Edmonton.
Other Units
41 CBG is supported by several other units that provide specialist services such as medical services, military police and military intelligence. These units do not fall under the 41 CBG command structure; however, they do work closely with it in order to provide their services to the brigade's soldiers in the field.
Medical
The brigade group closely works with two field ambulance units from the Royal Canadian Medical Service. They are: