The integration of the Canadian Forces logistics system and its effect on the operational capabilities of the Canadian military

This thesis is an examination of one of the most controversial periods in the history of Canadian defence policy. In 1968, the three separate services of the Canadian Army, Navy, and Air Force were reorganized into a single unified force. A fundamental aspect of this reorganization was the integration of the Canadian military logistics system. The aim of this thesis is to prove that this integration was a failure and this ultimately contributed to the significantly reduced operational capabilities of the Canadian Forces in the decades that would follow.;This study examines the basic concepts and fundamental principles of logistics as they apply to the integration of the Canadian military logistics system. Initial discussion focusses on the historic roles of logistics in various campaigns and wars throughout history, highlighting the importance of logistics considerations in contributing to the success or failure of military operations. The study then turns to a theoretical analysis of the relevance logistics and the logistics system in relation to the evolution of Western military strategy. This relevance is then applied to an examination of the Canadian military logistics system and the factors which led to the failure of the integration process. The implications of the failure of this process on the operational capabilities of the Canadian military in the post-Cold War era are the concluding focus of this study.;The failure of the integration of the Canadian military logistics system is attributed to the overriding political and economic priorities in the determination of defence policy. The integration of the Canadian Forces logistics system reflected the subordination of the military purpose of defence to its economic and social purposes in peacetime. The motivation for integration was essentially economic, the objectives were primarily political, and the results were a failure to support the operational needs of the military.