RSM badges Pointe-Claire Cadets
Westmount, 18 December 2023: On Saturday 16 December 2023, the Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM) of the RMR, Master Warrant Officer James Quesnel, was invited by Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps 2806 Pointe-Claire (RMR) to present regimental cap badges to 10 deserving Cadets. It was a homecoming of sorts, given that MWO Quesnel had spent nearly four years with the Pointe-Claire Cadet Corps, attaining the rank of Cadet Regimental Sergeant-Major before he joined the reserves.
The regimental cap badge holds significant importance in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and is a symbol of pride, tradition, and identity for Canadian military personnel. Not all soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces are eligible to wear a regimental cap badge. Typically, wearing a specific badge is earned through service in the associated unit. Soldiers must demonstrate their commitment, dedication, and competence to be allowed the privilege of wearing the badge. This recognition adds to the sense of accomplishment and pride associated with the badge.
Being allowed to wear a regimental cap badge is a privilege and a recognition of a soldier’s affiliation with a specific regiment or unit. The Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR) only permits members to wear the badge when they have qualified for their Infantry trade. Prior to that a recruit wears the Canadian Forces badge – popularly known as the ‘cornflake’ – and must graduate from their basic Infantry course before gaining the privilege and honour or wearing the badge. This can take a year, or more. The regiment extends this privilege to trained members of their affiliated Army Cadet Corps (2806 and 2862).
The regimental cap badge is a distinctive symbol that represents a specific military unit, such as a regiment, battalion, or corps. It serves as a visual identifier, allowing both military personnel and civilians to recognize the soldier’s affiliation. These badges often feature unique designs and symbols that reflect the unit’s history, traditions, and achievements. The RMR’s distinctive badge was designed by H. Salmon, who worked in the orderly room as an NCO clerk at the time, volunteered to “sketch out a few designs” since he was a “draftsman and designer”.
Wearing the same regimental cap badge fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie among members of a unit. It reinforces the idea that soldiers are part of a larger team with a shared history and mission. Soldiers take great pride in wearing their regimental cap badges. It represents not only their personal commitment to the military but also their unit’s legacy and achievements. Soldiers often have a deep sense of honour associated with their unit’s history, and the cap badge is a tangible representation of that pride.
The regimental cap badge is a symbol of continuity from one generation of soldiers to the next. Soldiers take on the responsibility of upholding the unit’s traditions and values, and the cap badge is a tangible link to that heritage.
In summary, the regimental cap badge in the Canadian Armed Forces is more than just an emblem; it is a symbol of unit identity, history, and the shared values of a military unit. Being allowed to wear one is a privilege earned through service, and it carries a deep sense of honor and tradition for those who have the opportunity to display it.
