Canada. Canadian Armed Forces. Canadian Division Headquarters, 1st : In 1989, the 1st Canadian Division Headquarters (1 Cdn Div HQ) was reactivated together with 1st Canadian Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment (1 CDHSR). 1 Cdn Div HQ was a unique element of the Canadian Forces (CF) consisting of two units: 1 CDHSR and 1st Canadian Division Intelligence Company (1 Cdn Div Int Coy). It was capable of deploying a land-based, Joint Task Force Headquarters at Division level or a Joint Force Headquarters consisting of Navy, Army and Air Force personnel for territorial defence, contingencies and other missions including complex international scenarios.
The mission of 1 Cdn Div HQ was to provide the CF with a deployable Division, Task Force or Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) that can train formation HQs, plan for contingencies and command assigned forces in crisis situations. The HQ had, in priority, four roles: operations, training, support and planning.
1 Cdn Div HQ operations included Operation (Op) DELIVERANCE in Somalia; Op LANCE in Rwanda; Op ASSURANCE in Central Africa; Op ASSISTANCE in Winnipeg (1997 flood); Op RECUPERATION in Ontario and Quebec (1998 ice storm); Op PRUDENCE in Central African Republic; Op ABACUS (Year 2000 problem); and two Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) missions: Op CENTRAL in Honduras, and Op TORRENT in Turkey.
1 Cdn Div HQ was stood down and amalgamated with 1 CDHSR and 79 Communication Regiment on June 1, 2000 to form the Canadian Forces Joint Operations Group (CFJOG). The CFJOG provides the Canadian Forces with a significant deployable operational level command and control capability.
In the event of military operations, the Canadian Forces are deployed as a Task Force, which can constitute a force of any size or composition. The model for the command and control structure calls for a Task Force Commander, whose rank will be commensurate with the size and nature of the deployed force. The necessary headquarters elements are deployed from 1 Canadian Division based at CFB Kingston and units can be drawn from any of the four mechanized brigade groups, or air or maritime forces.
Within the military traditions of Canada, 1st Canadian Division Headquarters, inherited the honours and symbols of its predcessors, 1st Canadian Division, 1915-1919, and First Canadian Infantry Division, 1939-1958.