5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) is a Canadian Army combat formation with a complement of nearly 4250 military personnel (regular and reservist) and civilian employees.

As a leading element of National Defence, 5 CMBG plays an important role in the organization of the defence of North America.

As active members of the Canadian community, 5 CMBG members do not hesitate to assist their fellow Canadians when circumstances call for it. They were called upon to intervene during the floods of the Saguenay in 1996 (Operation SAGUENAY) and the Red River in Manitoba in 1997 (Operation ASSISTANCE), as well as during the 1998 ice storm in the greater Montreal area (Operation RECOVERY). They were also deployed to Montérégie in 2011 as part of Operation LOTUS to deal with spring flooding. These interventions took place prior to the establishment of Operation LENTUS, which today oversees the Canadian Armed Forces' response to natural disasters in Canada.

They were then called upon to intervene across Quebec in 2017 and 2019 as part of Operation LENTUS during major floods. In 2020, they took part in Operation LASER to support efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic‑, and then in Operation VECTOR in 2022 to assist in the distribution of vaccines. In addition, they took part in Operation ELEMENT in 2017, in support of asylum seekers, as well as Operation CADENCE in 2018 during the G7 summit in Charlevoix. Finally, in 2023, they were deployed again as part of Operation LENTUS, this time to support the fight against forest fires in Quebec and the Northwest Territories.

On the international stage, many members of 5 CMBG have been deployed since 1990 on peacekeeping and stabilization operations, making these men and women true ambassadors for Canada abroad.

The members of 5 CMBG have taken part in several major missions over the past few decades, including:

• in the Balkans, where they contributed to stabilization and peacekeeping operations in the aftermath of the conflicts in the former‑Yugoslavia;
• in Afghanistan, between 2004 and 2013, where they were heavily engaged in combat, training and mentoring operations with Afghan forces;
• in Haiti, following natural disasters, to support humanitarian and security operations;

According to the Canadian Army Readiness Management Plan, 5 CMBG also makes a sustained contribution to contemporary international operations, including:

• Operation REASSURANCE in Eastern Europe, which aims to strengthen NATO's Forward Presence and deter threats;
• Operation AMARNA (formerly IMPACT), in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait, in support of training, coaching and capacity building for partner forces;
• Operation UNIFIER, in support of the training and capacity development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Through these commitments, 5 CMBG demonstrates its ability to respond to a wide range of operations, from conventional combat to stabilization missions, humanitarian assistance and the strengthening of international partnerships.

Driven by their motto "Let's Go!", 5 CMBG members are always ready to accomplish their mission, wherever it may be.

• 5^e Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada (5 RALC)
• 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada (12 RBC)
• 5 Combat Engineer Regiment (5 CER)
• 5 Signal Regiment
• 1 Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment (1 R22^eR)
• 2 Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment (2 R22^eR)
• 3 Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment (3 R22^eR)
• 5 Service Battalion (5 Svc Bn)

• 5 Field Ambulance (5 Fd Amb)
• Dental Unit Detachment, Valcartier
• 5 Military Police Platoon (5 MPP)
• 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (430 Tac Hel Sqn)

• Commander: Colonel Victor Bertrand, MMM, CD
• Sergeant Major: Chief Warrant Officer Éric Breton, MMM, CD

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) is similar in name to the 5^th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, for which Camp Valcartier was built. Founded in 1914, the 5^th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force distinguished itself in many battles, particularly at Ypres, Vimy, The Somme, Passchendale and the Hindenburg Line. The 5^th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was reconstituted in September 1939 as an active service formation. With the end of the war, the brigade was disbanded and its units resumed their role within the Canadian Reserves.

The establishment of 5 Combat Group was tied to the creation of the new units under its control and between 1977 and 1992, name changes became a relatively frequent occurrence for 5 Combat Group in order to reflect different operational roles. Thus, 5 Combat Group became 5 Canadian Brigade Group (1977), 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade (1989) and, finally, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1992).

Today, 5 CMBG is made up of eight units: a light artillery regiment, an armoured regiment, a combat engineer regiment, a headquarters and signals squadron, three infantry battalions and a ser vi ce battalion. Four other units provide support to 5 CMBG troops: 5 Field Ambulance, Dental Unit Detachment - Valcartier, 5 Military Police Platoon and 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron.

For information about the vehicles and weapons used by the Canadian Army visit our Equipment page.

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters
2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier , building 513
P.O. Box 1000, Succ Forces
Courcelette, Québec G0A 4Z0

Téléphone : 418-844-5000, Ext. 4688

affairespubliques.valcartier@forces.gc.ca