Canadian Forces Base, Suffield

CFB Suffield Badge

Located in Southeast Alberta, approximately 50 kilometres west of Medicine Hat, CFB Suffield has been the site of military training in the region since 1972. CFB Suffield is host to the largest military training area in Canada, conducting the largest live-fire training exercises in the country. The Manoeuvre Training Area covers 1,588 square kilometres of a 2,700 square kilometre base. The mission of CFB Suffield is to provide a world class, sustainable Range and Training Area that enables the Canadian Armed Forces, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) – Suffield Research Centre, the British Army Training Unit Suffield and other potential users to achieve their mandates through effective stewardship of all the Range Training Area, infrastructure and equipment.

CFB Suffield operates its own sewage system, water treatment system, landfill and landfarm and provides fire services to base residents and neighbouring communities. CFB Suffield is home to the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), the British Army’s premier live fire training establishment. BATUS delivers world class live fire and manoeuvre training as well as force on force exercises using state of the art simulation technology. The base is also the home of Defence Research and Development Canada – Suffield Research Centre. DRDC-SRC provides the Department of Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments, as well as public safety and national security communities the knowledge and technological advantage to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad. CFB Suffield falls under the Canadian Army command of 3rd Canadian Division (3 Cdn Div).

As the needs of DND have changed over the years, DRDC Suffield has remained a strategic defence resource. Many of the research and development activities at DRDC Suffield are unique.

DRDC Suffield offers expertise in military engineering, autonomous intelligent systems, and defence against chemical and biological (CB) agents. Key research areas include:

  • Explosives threat assessment and blast effects
  • Detection of land mines
  • Neutralization of landmines and unexploded ordnance
  • Bulk explosives detection
  • Novel energetic materials
  • CB detection and identification
  • Medical countermeasures and toxicology
  • CB hazard assessment
  • Physical protection against CB agents

DRDC Suffield also offers live agent training to the Canadian Armed Forces, international military, and first responder communities.

The prairie of Alberta has provided an excellent opportunity for the British Army to train on a large scale since 1972. The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) is an organisation situated on one of the most sparsely populated areas of the Alberta plain.

The duration of the exercises, and size of the training area, allow all elements of a combined arms battle group (Infantry, Armour, Artillery, Engineers, Air Defence, Logistics and Equipment Support) to conduct realistic live firing training at all levels.

More about BATUS.

  • Commander : Lieutenant-Colonel S.C. (Steve) Burke
  • Regimental Sergeant Major: Chief Warrant Officer Phil Paquette

Canadian Forces Base Suffield
P.O. Box 6000, Station Main
Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 8K8
Phone: 403-544-4405
Public Affairs Officer : CFBSuffieldPublicAffairs@forces.gc.ca

For questions regarding the 2020-2021 Elk Herd Management Program at CFB Suffield, please visit the My Wild Alberta website for further information.

CAF Connection is a series of linked websites (one for every base and wing) that provides a common national view of all local base/wing Non-Public Property (NPP) programs and activities including publicly-funded programs delivered through NPP. These are just some of the services available on the Community Gateway site:

  • Fitness and Sports
  • Messes
  • Recreation and Leisure
  • Health Programs
  • Family Services
  • CANEX
  • SISIP Financial Services

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