Who we are
Mission
Provide senior non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with the competencies and knowledge necessary to embody leadership that is centered on fostering the highest standards of the profession of arms.
About the College
Founded in 2003, the Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Profession of Arms Institute—now the Non-Commissioned Member Leadership College (NCMLC)—was established as part of the CAF’s 2002 professional development reform. Its mission is to educate senior non-commissioned members and instill the competencies required for excellence in the profession of arms. Influenced by leaders such as Chief Warrant Officers (CWO) Daniel Gilbert and Kevin West, the Institute developed innovative leadership programmes (Intermediate, Advanced, and Senior) and partnered with several North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries to support the professionalization of their armed forces. Its legacy lies in fostering leadership, ethics, and knowledge within the CAF and the broader military community.
Programmes
The training offered is divided into four programmes designed to prepare them to assume the responsibilities associated with specific ranks. These programmes are as follows:
Partnership programmes
The need for Non-Commissioned Member Professional Development
The critical importance of education, both academic and professional, is well documented in a number of studies undertaken over the last thirty years, such as Defence Strategy 2020, Officership 2020, and Non-commissioned members (NCMs) Corps 2020. In order to operate effectively in a complex military environment, all members of the CAF require crucial intellectual skills and specific competencies.
The CAF requires officers and NCMs with outstanding intellectual ability, capable of effective command, and who have the leadership and management skills required in an increasingly uncertain world. This development can only occur in an intellectually stimulating environment, one that recognizes that the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to sustain military performance are achieved through a continuous learning experience that combines training, education, work experience and self-development.
The NCMLC proudly unveils its new logo – a symbol of renewal, continuity, and purpose, rooted in the proud heritage of the former Osside Institute. This visual identity reflects the College’s evolution and its commitment to shaping the next generation of military leaders.
Designed to embody the values of leadership, professionalism, and excellence, the new logo bridges tradition and progress. It represents a modern institution, grounded in the legacy of those who came before, yet resolutely oriented toward the future of the CAF.
At its centre, the flaming torch symbolizes the art of learning. It evokes the transmission of knowledge, leadership and the responsibility to guide others through understanding and example.
The sword represents military skills while the quill portrays the management and academic aspect. Those two elements illustrate the balance between operational proficiency and intellectual discipline – a reminder that leadership is both an art of action and a practice of reflection.
Encircling these symbols, the gold round frame stands for unity and cohesion, representing the enduring mission of the NCMLC within the military profession.
Around the outer ring, four colours honour the components of the CAF:
- Black representing the Royal Canadian Navy;
- Red representing the Canadian Army;
- Blue representing the Royal Canadian Air Force; and
- Beige representing Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.
Finally, the motto “Discite ducere” – Learn to lead, encapsulates the College’s purpose: to cultivate confident, capable, and inspired leaders dedicated to serving Canada.
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Floor: A tribute to legacy and continuity
In recognition of the legacy of the CAF's first CWO, the third floor of the NCMLC will now be named the Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Floor.
This gesture pays tribute to a visionary leader whose career made history and enhanced the role of non-commissioned members in profession. While adopting a new identity, the College is committed to preserving its connection to its origins.
The Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Floor thus symbolizes the continuity between heritage and renewal, reminding us that leadership is built on the foundations laid by those who paved the way.
CWO Osside enrolled in the CAF in 1949. He was posted to the three battalions of the Royal 22e Regiment. Throughout his career, he served with distinction at Canadian Forces bases in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Valcartier, Wainwright, Borden, Gagetown, and Ottawa, to which must be added a total of nine years in Germany. He was deployed to Korea (1952-1953) and Cyprus (1968-1969). Promoted to CWO in 1974, he served as the Infantry Corps Career Manager and then as the 1st Battalion R22eR Regimental Sergeant-Major. CWO Osside was appointed as the first CAF CWO in July of 1978, holding the position until July 1982.
His place in the CAF history is undeniably significant to today’s non-commissioned members Corps. His appointment represented an elevation in the status held by non-commissioned members in the CAF up to that point. This milestone was arguably one major step towards recognition of the non-commissioned members as members of the profession of arms. CWO Osside passed away on November 4, 2010.