Canadian Special Forces Leaders Warned About ‘Untouchable’ Soldiers Who Have Escaped Punishment For Wrongdoing

Canada Troops from the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) prepare to rappel from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter during a training exercise near Kamloops, BC.

Certain groups within Canadian special forces have emerged as ‘untouchable’ and protected from any punishment for their wrongdoing, members of the organization have warned their senior leaders.

A culture of silence and a double standard protects those individuals who engage in sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct, according to the reports prepared for the senior leadership of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command or CANSOFCOM.

The various reports providing feedback throughout 2021 and 2022 from special forces personnel about the culture of their units indicate soldiers enjoy their work and comradery and feel what they are doing is important to the country.

But one theme that emerged in the various reports was that there are groups within the special forces units that are protected and accountable to no one — and personnel who raise concerns about the misconduct of the protected elite often face reprisals.

“Several units raised concerns about a perception of ‘multiple standards’ for different sectors of the Command,” noted one of the reports produced in March 2022. “Specifically, certain groups within units are perceived as having higher status and beyond reproach, and seen as ‘untouchable’ and without accountability while those who are not part of these groups are held to a different standard.”

“This group of ‘elites’ or ‘clubs’ appear to be small, self-protected and reinforced by trade, rank or occupation lines,” added another update about the special forces culture.

In some cases involving sexual harassment complaints, if the accused is part of the so-called elite group, then nothing is done. The report determined that such a situation is “most concerning.”

CANSOFCOM is the headquarters organization for the Ottawa-based Joint Task Force 2, the country’s main counter-terrorism unit; the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron at Petawawa; the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU), which deals with weapons of mass destruction and is located at CFB Trenton; and the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, also at Petawawa. In addition, there is a training organization for the special forces units.

Issues raised about JTF2 are largely censored from the reports obtained through the Access to Information law or limited in details. But information about other special forces units was highlighted in the documents.

Complaints were raised about sexual misconduct and assault at the Canadian Special Operations Regiment and the desire to protect the front-line soldiers in that unit known in special forces jargon as “operators.”

“They know that operators have a free pass to do and say anything they want,” pointed out one of the reports about the views of CSOR personnel. “Other operators are afraid of coming forward to support the victim for fear of being targeted as well.”

Fear of reprisal for speaking out about wrongdoing or even mistakes in training was a consistent theme that emerged from the feedback received from military personnel in CANSOFCOM.

Another was that staff are burning out from overwork and their mental health and family life is suffering. CANSOFCOM’s mottos of “We will find a way” and the “Relentless Pursuit of Excellence” are the prevailing attitudes of the command’s leadership. But that comes with a price, according to the reports.

“Everything is being treated as a top priority with relentless pursuit of excellence to the point that members experience burnout,” noted one of the reports from CJIRU in Trenton.

“Members are experiencing a high level of work family conflict, job stress and work overload,” added another report from 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron in Petawawa. “As much as members admire the values of CANSOFCOM, “we will find a way” and “relentless pursuit of excellence” are followed at the detriment of their families and their own health.”

In one of the updates on culture, concerns were raised about what were termed as myths circulating in the Canadian Forces that “CANSOF isn’t a place for families” and “CANSOF isn’t a place for women.” Such myths were hurting recruiting, it added.

CANSOFCOM commander Maj. Gen. Steve Boivin noted in the update that those myths had to be dispelled and he pointed out “that the burden is on members to engage and take on more recruiting as it is meaningful coming from unit members.”

CANSOFCOM spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Holder said the internal measures to understand the command’s culture are focused on making the right changes to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. “This audit revealed aspects of our culture which are healthy and others where we can make improvements – many of which have been or are in the process of being addressed,” he noted.

Specific direction on culture was issued by the senior leadership, he added.

“Moving forwards, our Unit Cultural Advisory Teams will continue to focus on identifying and analyzing underlying issues and developing solutions with the Chain of Command,” Holder noted.