On the ground, in the air and on the water, the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces stand watch over the country and defend its interests at home and abroad. The Canadian Armed Forces Program aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the issues facing Canadian soldiers across all branches of the military in order to give Canadians varying perspectives on the men and women who defend their country.

Canadian Armed Forces Christopher Maternowski

Because of Climate Change, Contact Burns Could Pose a Greater Danger for the Canadian Armed Forces

Warmer days will leave surfaces hotter to the touch. The world’s heightened thermal conductivity could elevate the incidence of contact burns and impede the readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Canadian Armed Forces Christopher Maternowski Climate Change Health

On a Warming Planet, Mosquitoes Could Mean Trouble for the Canadian Armed Forces

A warmer and more humid world could help the cold-blooded and water-loving mosquitoes multiply in numbers and colonize new spaces. This potentiality could bring the Canadian Armed Forces into contact with more mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses, which could undermine the welfare and readiness of its members.

Canadian Armed Forces Christopher Maternowski Climate Change

Perilously Parched: Climate Change Threatens the Physiological Readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are contending with the mounting physiological effects of spiralling temperatures. Hotter weather will leave CAF members increasingly parched and depleted, which could progressively hamper operations in the years to come.

Canadian Armed Forces Christopher Maternowski

Tried But Not Always True? Vaccine Hesitancy within the Canadian Armed Forces

In the Canadian military, vaccines have played a crucial and at times controversial role for decades. This article explores some of the benefits and issues that have surrounded the military’s vaccination efforts in the past and present.

Canadian Armed Forces Christopher Maternowski NATO and Canada NATO Operations

Language Lessons: Fate of Afghan Interpreters Exposes Gaps in Canadian Armed Forces Training and Recruitment

During operations in Afghanistan, mustering enough qualified linguists proved a constant challenge for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). These difficulties point to larger problems with how the CAF—and Canada—approach strategic languages.

Canadian Armed Forces Society, Culture, and Security Steven Hu

Leaving Together: Interpreters Risked Their Lives for Canada. It Is Time Canada Helped Them.

Photo: A Canadian soldier and an Afghan interpreter converse with an Afghan woman in Kandahar as part of Allied reconstruction efforts in that district. 08/26/2007. Picture by Cpl Simon Duschesne, via flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0. On September 27th, 2015, Mohammad Omar Abdullah fled his home in Kabul, leaving behind his wife and daughters. Read More…

Canadian Armed Forces NATO and Canada Women in Security

Intersectionality and Lived Experience in the CAF: The Role of Identity in Institutional Legitimacy

Intersectionality and lived experience, though standard concepts within many policy areas, has been largely absent from military diversity and inclusivity initiatives. In this article, Caleigh Wong explores the Canadian Armed Forces’ current leadership crisis through this lens to understand how a broader understanding of identity may help inform long-overdue institutional reform.