The Canadian military is reorganizing its structure to enhance adaptability and responsiveness to emerging technologies, according to the Department of National Defence. This initiative, announced Thursday, includes the establishment of a new joint forces command, modeled after similar efforts by allies like Australia.

The new command will integrate key support elements, including military health services, logistics, operational support branches, and military police. Additionally, it will oversee counter-drone warfare and, in the future, integrated air and missile defense, as stated by Lt.-Gen. Darcy Molstad, the newly appointed commander of Canadian Joint Forces Command (CJFC).

Molstad emphasized that the CJFC will manage joint military capabilities across all domains: land, sea, air, cyber, and space. He noted that while discussions about this reorganization have been ongoing for nearly 15 years, the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine has highlighted the urgent need for these changes. The war has underscored the importance of having a unified command that can effectively manage elements that do not fit neatly into traditional military branches.

"We're seeing that as a great example in Ukraine where their command and control systems, their use of dual-use technologies and communication systems, provide situational awareness," Molstad said. He added that Ukraine's extensive use of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems has proven to be transformative.

As part of the reorganization, one of the initial focuses will be to strengthen the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. Molstad stated, "We've got to expand our capacity to provide not just spectrum of care but to build out to be able to provide health services in extremis in a potential conflict." This expansion is partly driven by Canada’s commitments to NATO.

The transition of military police oversight will not occur immediately. Currently, the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal (CFPM) is under the supervision of the vice chief of the defense staff. However, pending legislation in Parliament, known as Bill C-11, will transfer this responsibility to the CJFC once it receives royal assent. Molstad assured that while the CJFC will take over military police duties, the organization will maintain its independence in executing policing functions.