The CF Combat uniform (known as Combats) is common to all three Elements, there are, however, specialised environmental or protective articles such as flight suits or AFV crew suits. Combats were introduced into Regular Force service in 1963. Reserves were not issued the uniform until 1972, although they were permitted to wear it. Until then, individual Reservists purchased used Combat from army surplus stores.

The Combat uniform consisted of a Hat, Parka, Coat, Shirt, Trousers and Boots. Several variant patterns of each exist. With the exception of the parka, the uniform was intended to be cleaned by washing, and was not to be ironed. Dry cleaning or ironing resulted in melted fabric or some spectacular shades of pink uniforms. The coat and shirt breast pockets are distinctive, as they are slanted. These were intended to fit a 20 round FN C1 rifle magazine, however soldiers quickly discovered that a can of beer or a package of king size cigarettes fit perfectly. Additional magazines were carried in loops inside the waist pockets.   Initially, Combat was intended to be worn exclusively in the field or on operations. Soldiers were prohibited from wearing it in many public places or on public transportation.

The initial pattern of Combat introduced in 1963 was replaced by a Mark II Pattern in the early 1970s. Both patterns were in wear concurrently until supplies of the early pattern were exhausted. The Mark II Combat shirt was similar in design to the first pattern, but the shirt had a drawstring at the waist.

A Mark III pattern shirt was adopted in the mid 1980s. Issued in relatively limited numbers, it was worn concurrently with the Mark II shirts. The Mark III was not successful and by the early 1990s had virtually dissappeared.

From the late 1990s Combat was worn by Military Police, subject to local dress orders, as a standard patrol uniform in Canada. Between 2003 and 2004, the combat patrol uniform was replaced by the new black patrol uniform. The field version of combat for all soldiers has now been replaced by the Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT) uniform.

Front view of a Sealed Pattern Mark II Combat shirt

Back view of the Mark II shirt.

Detail view of the waist drawstring. The bow was tucked out of sight.

Mark II Combat shirt label detail.

The Mark III Combat shirt was distinctive in that it had only two external pockets. This pattern of shirt could be worn outside the trousers or tucked inside.

Pocket details of the Mark III Combat shirt.

The Military Police Master Corporal above was serving on UN duty at CANBAT 1 in Gragac Croatia in March 1994. He is wearing the standard combat shirt and trousers with jungle boots. As he is in a relatively secure area, he is wearing a blue cap with a UN shoulder insignia as a cap badge, instead of a helmet. The fragmentation vest or "flak jacket" is one of several patterns worn by Canadian soldiers on UN duty.

   He is armed with a Browning Hi Power 9mm pistol, worn in a black nylon holster on the right hip. The black and red MP brassard is worn only outside of Canada. Rank insignia is worn in the form of a "slip on" on the fragmentation vest, and sewn onto a drab green brassard on the right arm.
Photo credit: Ed Storey

Photo Credit: 28 MP Platoon

A good view of the combat uniform as worn by Sergeant Simpson, 28 MP Platoon. He is wearing the Mark II combat shirt with standard trousers and combat boots. The pistol holster appears to be the left hand version of the Military Police Pattern '95 Case-Tech 9mm Browning holster and it is worn on the standard patrol dress black leather belt.

The primary headwear with the Combat uniform is the beret. Initially, the CF Green beret was worn with the standard metal Security Branch cap badge. The cap badge was considered to be too visible for field wear by some units, so the cap badge was replaced by a a collar badge. The illustrated beret was worn by the author at CFB Petawawa in 1975.

In the late 1980's the Security Branch adopted scarlet distinguishing features on it's headwear. A red beret was adopted for wear by the Army, virtually identical to that worn by the British Royal Military Police. The illustrated beret bears the metal cap badge, the cloth badge is now standard.

The combat hat introduced in the early 1960s was withdrawn in the late 1970s only to be reintroduced a few years later. The subdued branch cap badge is worn.