Canadian Army Competitions
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Canadian Skill at Arms Competitions
THE CANADIAN FORCES SMALL ARMS CONCENTRATION
The aim of the Canadian Forces Small Arms Concentration (CFSAC) is to provide an advanced marksmanship platform from which to develop a credible, skill-based cadre of master instructors in the use of personal weapons which is readily available down to and including the unit level.
The CFSAC is conducted annually at CRPTC Ottawa during the month of September. The Concentration comprises three main skill-at-arms competitions, details of Service Rifle, and Combat Pistol follow:
Service Rifle (SR). The SR matches (7 individual) include firing from distances between 100 and 500 metres from various positions, five of which incorporate fire with movement. These comprise the Queen's Medal for Champion Shot in Canada (QM) competition, the crowning jewel of the CFSAC.
Combat Pistol (CP). The CP matches (6 in all) include a very operationally based type of close quarter battle type engagements incorporating transitions from rifle to pistol, engaging various types of fixed and reactive targets from distances between five and 50 metres. Range layout is non typical incorporating walls, barriers, windows, hallways, doors at the like and is configured differently from year to year. The course of fire necessitates decision making and a tactical approach to successfully complete. This type of combat pistol competition was introduced to replace legacy positional static pistol practices in 2007 with a view to making this competition more relevant to the operational training.
CFSAC (CASAM excepted) is open to individuals and teams from across the CF. In the Army, pre-formed teams of up to sixteen designated competitors and three team staff will be brought to CFSAC under DAT funding, each LFA will be allocated funding to support a minimum of one Regular Force, one Reserve and one Canadian Ranger team berth at CFSAC. Participants at CFSAC will be competing against other individuals and teams from across the CF, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and with selected foreign military teams from ABCA and NATO. Team competitions are conducted principally at Unit and Formation levels and are the basis for selection of CF and Army Combat Shooting Teams (CSTs) for international competitions such as AASAM (Australian Army Skill at Arms Meet) and AFSAM (Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meet US).
THE QUEEN'S/KING'S MEDAL
The Queen's Medal was instituted by Queen Victoria on 30 April 1869. The medal was to be awarded to the best shot of the British Army (although two were also awarded to the Royal Navy). The medals were designed (but never issued) in bronze, however due to problems in manufacture the medals were eventually produced in silver. The last of the 16 Victorian silver issues was made in 1883 when the award lapsed. In 1923 the medal was re-introduced by King George V. The award now being entitled "The King's Medal". The countries eligible to compete for the award were now, the United Kingdom (The Military Forces at Home) together with the Military Forces of India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (including Rhodesia). A.O. 174, 1923 states "The medals will be competed for at an Annual Central Meeting in the several countries named in paragraph 1, under Battle Firing Conditions." In 1926 a separate award was created for Southern Rhodesia and the provision for wearing a rosette on the award ribbon to indicate a subsequent award of the medal was included. In 1935 a separate award was created for the Champion Shot of the Territorial Army (UK). In 1936 the warrant was revised to include members of the Supplementary Reserve in the definition of the Territorial Army. A.O. 58/1962 contained the Revised Rules for "The Queen's Medal (for Champion Shots in the Military Forces)"
Over the years the award lapsed in most of the Commonwealth countries as they gained their independence or created their own shooting awards. The only countries which today can still be said to compete for the British Medal are the United Kingdom, Jamaica and New Zealand.
Her Majesty The Queen, in 1953, was graciously please to institute a Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces and to grant to Canada one medal for annual competition by members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Consequently from 1953 to 1967, the members of Royal Canadian Air Force (Regular), The Royal Canadian Air Force (Auxiliary) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (Primary Reserves) competed annually for this medal.
"The Queen's Medal for the Champion Shot of the Royal Canadian Air Force was no longer issued after unification in 1968 and was replaced by the Queen's Medal for the Champion Shot of the Canadian Forces ( Two medals - one for (the) regular force and one for (the) reserve force).
"The RCAF medal was competed for under small arms championship conditions during the Annual Prize Meeting of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association and awarded to the winner of a competition conducted at that meeting under conditions prescribed by the Chief of the Air Staff."
In 1967, the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air force were unified into the Canadian Forces. As a result, regular Canadian Air Force members competed with the Army and Navy for the Regular Force Medal. The reserve members competed against the Army, Navy and Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the Reserve medal. The 1955 RCAF Winner, F/L T.W. Gregory was a 1935 Army King's Medal winner and 1938 competition winner (although ineligible for the Army award as he was a member of the RCAF).
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Flight Sgt | J.V.P. Martin CD | RCAF |
| 1955 | Flight Lt | Thomas William Gregory CD | RCAF |
| 1956 | Cpl | S. Goddard | RCAF |
| 1957 | Leading Aircraftman | David Anthony Green | RCAF |
| 1958 | Leading Aircraftman | George Ezra Sannachan | RCAF |
| 1959 | Flight Sgt | Robert Herbert Cunnington CD | RCAF |
| 1960 | Flight Sgt | James William Brown CD | RCAF |
| 1961 | Cpl | A.F. O'Brien | RCAF |
| 1962 | Cpl | A.F. O'Brien (2) | RCAF |
| 1963 | Flying Officer | O.J. Ruckpaul | RCAF |
| 1964 | Leading Aircraftman | Charles Ronald Edgaley Wesley | RCAF |
| 1965 | Cpl | Harrison Ross Peters CD | RCAF |
| 1966 | Flight Lt | O.J. Ruckpaul (2), CD | RCAF |
| 1967 | Flight Lt | M.D. Pheonix CD | RCAF |
Canada has, without doubt, the most difficult history to compile in a reader friendly manner. It must be noted, however, that members of the RCMP were entitled to compete for the Regular medal from 1953-63, although no members of the RCMP actually won this award. From 1964 members of the RCMP competed against the Canadian Army (Militia) and from 1968 the Canadian Forces (Reserve). On 28 August 1991 a new Canadian Queen's Medal was introduced to replace the British award. This medal was first awarded in the summer of 1992.
QUEENS/KING'S MEDAL WINNERS
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | WO1 | Fred John Goodhouse | CASC |
| 1924 | Cpl | W.J. Livingstone | GGFG |
| 1925 | Lt | Desmond Thomas Burke | GGFG |
| 1926 | Cpl | W.J. Livingstone (2) | GGFG |
| 1927 | Lt | Desmond Thomas Burke (2) | GGFG |
| 1928 | Maj | John Jeffrey OBE, MC | RCR |
| 1929 | Lt | Desmond Thomas Burke (3) | GGFG |
| 1930 | Lt | Desmond Thomas Burke (4) | GGFG |
| 1931 | Lt | Desmond Thomas Burke (5) | GGFG |
| 1932 | Capt | James William Houlden | The Sherbrooke Regt |
| 1933 | Lt | Allan Benson Coulter OBE, ED | GGFG |
| 1934 | Capt | James William Houlden (2) | The Sherbrooke Regt |
| 1935 | Sgt | Thomas William Gregory | 7th Bn CMG Corps |
| 1936 | LCpl | C. Robins | PPCLI |
| 1937 | Lt | George Alastair Molecey | Canadian Irish Fusiliers |
| 1938 | Pte | F. Wallace | 48th Highlanders of Canada |
| 1939 | Capt | Desmond Thomas Burke (6) | GGFG |
| 1940 | Not Contested | ||
| 1941 | Not Contested | ||
| 1942 | Not Contested | ||
| 1943 | Not Contested | ||
| 1944 | Not Contested | ||
| 1945 | Not Contested | ||
| 1946 | Not Contested | ||
| 1947 | Maj | Desmond Thomas Burke (7) | GGFG |
| 1948 | Lt | R.F.P. Fendick | RCEME, RCOC |
| 1949 | OCdt | Gilmour S. Boa | 48th Highlanders of Canada |
| 1950 | Lt | Gilmour S. Boa (2) | 48th Highlanders of Canada |
| 1951 | Lt | Gilmour S. Boa (3) | 48th Highlanders of Canada |
| 1952 | LCol | Stephen F. Johnson | King's Own Calgary Regt |
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Lt | A.H. McKeage | Canadian Grenadier Guards |
| 1954 | Capt | D.C. Lawford | 1st Canadian Signals Regt |
| 1955 | 2Lt | Edson Lyman Warner | The Sherbrooke Regt |
| 1956 | Sgt | J.R. Hardy | RCEME |
| 1957 | Lt | A.S. Derrick | RCSME, RCE |
| 1958 | SSgt | Leslie Alfred White MMM, CD | RCS of I, RCG |
| 1959 | Capt | John J. Barrett CD | AHQ, RCR |
| 1960 | WO2 | C.F. Rowell CD | RCS of I, RCG |
| 1961 | Pte | J. William Mathews | PPCLI |
| 1962 | Lt | D.K. Lidgren | RCS of I, PPCLI |
| 1963 | Sgt | Joseph Eloi Daigle MMM | R22eR |
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Lt | William J. Molnar | The Black Watch |
| 1965 | Sgt | Ralph E. Bennett | RCE |
| 1966 | Sgt | Joseph Eloi Daigle (2), MMM | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1967 | Cpl | K.A. Fleming | RCOC |
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Cpl | Laval Mercier | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1969 | MWO | Leslie Alfred White (2), MMM, CD | Canadian Airborne Regt |
| 1970 | Sgt | Joseph Eloi Daigle (3), MMM | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1971 | MCpl | Joseph Rudolph Hennick | 1st Bn RCR |
| 1972 | WO | L.G. Glibbery | 3rd Bn RCR |
| 1973 | Sgt | Rosario L'Heureux | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1974 | Sgt | Laval Mercier (2) | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1975 | Sgt | Laval Mercier (3) | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1976 | No Competition due to Olympic Games | ||
| 1977 | Sgt | E.J. Luscombe | 3rd Bn PPCLI |
| 1978 | Cpl | Henry McKay | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1979 | MCpl | Antony M.Cromwell | Canadian Airborne Regt |
| 1980 | Sgt | Hector B. McLellan | Canadian Airborne Regt |
| 1981 | WO | Joseph Ronald Alfred Surette | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1982 | MCpl | Daniel L.V. Demeuse | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1983 | WO | Joseph Ronald Alfred Surette (2) | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1984 | WO | Joseph Ronald Alfred Surette (3) | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1985 | WO | Joseph Ronald Alfred Surette (4) | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1986 | WO | Joseph Rino Levesque MMM, CD | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1987 | WO | Joseph Rino Levesque (2) MMM, CD | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 1988 | Capt | Steve Tibbetts | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1989 | Sgt | Steven G.Hitchcock | 3rd Bn PPCLI |
| 1990 | MCpl | Wallace Todd Smith | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1991 | MCpl | Fabian James Snow | 2nd Bn RCR |
Queen's Medal for Champion Shot (Canadian Medal)
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | MCpl | Fabian James Snow (2) | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1993 | Pte | Bruce Edward Walker | 1st Bn PPCLI |
| 1994 | Cpl | Carlos Guillermo Arevalo | Canadian Airborne Regt |
| 1995 | Cpl | J. A. Richard Bergeron | 1st Bn R22eR |
| 1996 | Sgt | Michel Messier | 1st Bn R22eR |
| 1997 | Sgt | Michel Messier (2) | 1st Bn R22eR |
| 1998 | Sgt | Michel Messier (3) | 1st Bn R22eR |
| 1999 | Cpl | Joseph Raymond Marc Turcotte-Sorbonne | 3rd Bn R22eR |
| 2000 | Cpl | Stephane Deschenes C.D. | 1st Bn R22eR |
| 2001 | MCpl | Michael R. Wood | 1st Bn PPCLI |
| 2002 | Pte | Troy D. Vanderlin | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 2003 | Competition was not held during these years | ||
| 2004 | Competition was not held during these years | ||
| 2005 | Competition was not held during these years | ||
| 2006 | Competition was not held during these years | ||
| 2007 | Sgt | George McKillop | RCR |
| 2008 | Cpl | Jim Grondin | LFAA |
| 2009 | PO1 | Martin Cashin | MARLANT |
| 2010 | Pte | Tim Hiscock | 1st Bn RCR |
| 2011 | Capt | Ken Barling | ATESS |
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | LSgt | T.A.P. Richardson | Victoria Rifles of Canada |
| 1964 | SSgt | Clement Tremblay C.D. | Les Voltigeurs de Quebec |
| 1965 | Sgt | G.C. Campbell | Royal Westminster Regt |
| 1966 | Pte | Robert Douglas Clerk | Royal Montreal Regt |
| 1967 | SSgt | L. Fish | Canadian Lorne Scots Regt |
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Maj | Edson Lyman Warner (2) C.D. | The Sherbrooke Regt |
| 1969 | Maj | Edson Lyman Warner (3) C.D. | The Sherbrooke Regt |
| 1970 | Sgt | Gordon Wilfred Black | RCMP “A” Division |
| 1971 | Maj | Edson Lyman Warner (4) C.D. | The Sherbrooke Hussars |
| 1972 | Maj | Edson Lyman Warner (5) C.D. | The Sherbrooke Hussars |
| 1973 | Lt | William Kedziora C.D. | RHLI |
| 1974 | SSgt | Gordon Wilfred Black (2) | RCMP “A” Division |
| 1975 | WO | G.N. Senetchko | Queen's Own Rifles |
| 1976 | Lt | Richard Savinski | Le Regiment du Saguenay |
| 1977 | Capt | K.K. Nicholson | The Elgin Regt |
| 1978 | Cpl | David D. Oakie | Royal Montreal Regt |
| 1979 | Cpl | David D. Oakie (2) | Royal Montreal Regt |
| 1980 | Lt | Kenneth E. Ferguson | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 1981 | Lt | Kenneth E. Ferguson (2) | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 1982 | Lt | M. Ross Williams | Queen's Own Rifles |
| 1983 | Lt | M. Ross Williams (2) | Queen's Own Rifles |
| 1984 | Lt | Kenneth E. Ferguson (3) | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 1985 | Lt | Kenneth E. Ferguson (4) | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 1986 | Sgt | George Joseph West | RHLI |
| 1987 | Sgt | George Joseph West (2) | RHLI |
| 1988 | Pte | Shannon M. Wills | 12 Service Bn |
| 1989 | WO | Joseph Ronald Alfred Surette (5) | 2nd Bn RCR |
| 1990 | Lt | Kenneth E. Ferguson (5) | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 1991 | Cpl | Martin E. Paquette | Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal |
| Year | Rank | Name | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Cpl | Edward Chwastyk | RHLI |
| 1993 | Cpl | Thomas Herman Krahn | PWOR |
| 1994 | Sgt | Timothy George Irving | 4th Bn RCR |
| 1995 | MCpl | Stephen J. Baker | Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa |
| 1996 | Lt | Kenneth E. Ferguson (6) | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 1997 | WO | Michael L. Gray C.D. | Princess Louise Fusiliers |
| 1998 | WO | Joseph Ronald Alfred Surette (6) | 2nd Bn RNBR |
| 1999 | Lt | Kenneth E. Ferguson (7) | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 2000 | Sgt | John Charles Carew | 1st Bn Royal Newfoundland Regt |
| 2001 | Sgt | John Charles Carew (2) | 1st Bn Royal Newfoundland Regt |
| 2002 | MWO | Michael L.Gray (2) C.D. | Princess Louise Fusiliers |
| 2003 | Sgt | Sean Pierre Gagnon | GGFG |
| 2004 | MWO | Michael L. Gray (3) C.D. | Princess Louise Fusiliers |
| 2005 | MWO | Michael L. Gray (4) C.D. | Princess Louise Fusiliers |
| 2006 | MWO | Michael L. Gray (5) C.D. | Princess Louise Fusiliers |
| 2007 | WO | Gary Desroches | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders |
| 2008 | Capt | Sean Pierre Gagnon (2) | GGFG |
| 2009 | MBdr | William MacKeigan | 5th BC Field Regt |
| 2010 | Cpl | David Ferguson | 1st Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders |
| 2011 | MWO | Francios Duchesneau | 2 CRPG |
THE CANADIAN ARMY SKILL-AT-ARMS MEETING
The aim of the Canadian Army Skill-at-Arms Meeting (CASAM) is to foster interest in and improve the standard of the core soldier skills of fitness and operational shooting in the Army while providing the basis to select representative Canadian Army Combat Shooting Teams (CACST) for international army Skill-at-Arms Meetings (SAM) in Australia and the United States of America.
The CASAM is conducted annually during the Canadian Forces Small Arms Concentration (CFSAC) at the Connaught Ranges, Ottawa. It is instituted as a blend of selected advanced level operational shooting events from the Service Rifle (SR) and Combat Pistol (CP) events of CFSAC and stand alone Army operational shooting matches. The events comprising CASAM are of the highest level of difficulty in the CFSAC and test advanced operational shooting skill and combat fitness. The competition is open to all Regular and Primary Reserve Force Army units attending the CFSAC. Foreign teams from Regular and Reserve armies of ABCA and NATO countries are also welcome to participate on a space available basis in the CASAM 'Open Class' and for honours.
The CASAM is kept deliberately simple and the use of special equipment or weapons that are unique to only one corps or unit is not permitted. Observation of targets and application of fire on those targets are aided only by issued CF section level weapons, hand held binoculars and daytime sights. This approach keeps the event on a level playing field for all participants and keeps the event focused upon advanced level performance founded upon the core soldier skills of operational shooting and fitness.
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL SNIPER CONCENTRATION
The aim of the Canadian International Sniper Concentration (CISC) is to maintain the proficiency of Canadian Army snipers through the medium of an international concentration.
The CISC is conducted annually at CFB Gagetown. It is instituted as a blend of selected advanced level operational events covering stalking, field firing, observation, navigation, advanced shooting, and communications. The CISC conducts exciting and challenging events and scenarios that test all of the skills of the sniper detachment. The CISC also maintains cooperation and interaction within the international sniper community, keeping the CISC one of the premier sniper events in the world.
