Context

The world is changing at an unprecedented rate, and we can expect that the decades to come will be marked by further upheaval. New threats continue to emerge; transformative technology is shaping society in new ways; conventional war has returned to Europe and conflict rages in the Middle East, merging high technology with brute human force; the United States is entering a period of domestic transition as it continues to face ongoing competition; China is asserting itself globally; authoritarianism is on the rise; and climate change has taken on heightened urgency. As the international landscape experiences its most significant shift since the end of the Cold War and the “Peace Dividend” that followed, Canada’s role in the world, its ability to influence geopolitics in a multipolar paradigm and the capacity of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to fulfill its missions are under scrutiny at home and abroad.

No longer protected by geography – with threats coming from outer space and cyber space, from growing national emergencies including floods and forest fires, and from foreign influence/interference in our systems and institutions – Canada is facing increasing challenges to its economic security, to its social stability and to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Canada also continues to evolve as a society, with changes to its demographics and sense of identity. The domestic landscape is shifting, with the emergence of a more divisive political culture, ongoing regional tensions, a growing urban/suburban/rural divide, diminished civility in civic discourse, a general sense of voter apathy and only minimal public appreciation of the nexus between international security and national defence. The instability that arises out of this amalgam of factors has placed more complex demands on the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces and is imposing rising pressure on an increasingly strained military force.

Within this intricate web of interconnected elements and environments, Canada’s Military Colleges exist as unique national institutions that fulfill a function no other organizations are designed to fill. With a history that stretches back to the founding of our nation, the CMCs have played a critical role in the defence of the country for well over a century. They remain the only places in Canada dedicated to educating and training citizens and permanent residents to become members of the Profession of Arms, with a specialized focus on leadership development. However, as federally funded, administered and governed military units that are also provincially regulated academic institutions, the Military Colleges have struggled to maintain a clear sense of purpose and a strong sense of identity.

The CMCs are not alone in this regard. Military academies across the world have grappled with similar dilemmas, and many are undergoing significant transformations to reflect shifts in geopolitical dynamics, military strategy and societal imperatives. This has manifested in changes to organizational structure, curriculum development and learning objectives. It has also impacted pedagogical approaches: military academies have gone from primarily preparing officers for major wars to now also training leaders capable of handling complex, multinational, and non-traditional missions, including by seeking to develop officers who are not only technically and tactically proficient, but who also possess the integrity, character and intellectual flexibility to navigate delicate political and cultural environments.

The drivers, factors and catalysts emerging out of this international, national and institutional context will influence and shape the topography within which the CAF will be required to operate now, and far into the future. By remaining mindful of these layers of context in its examination and assessment of the CMCs, the Board believes its recommendations will be more pertinent and enduring in impact – thus helping to ensure that Canada’s Military Colleges continue to produce outstanding officers of good character who are ready to defend our nation domestically and advance our national interests abroad, in the face of whatever circumstances that future may hold.

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