Program directory · National Defence
Ready Special Operations Forces
- Department
- National Defence
- Program code
- BUO05 (ND)
- Core responsibility
- Ready Forces
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
The Ready Special Operations Forces program generates, sustains and renews combat effective, multi-purpose special forces and capabilities that are ready for operations. The program is deliberately organized to ensure that Special Operations members are trained and adequately equipped, which allows the Special Operations to be scalable, agile, responsive and interoperable both domestically with civil authorities and other Government Departments, and internationally with allies and partners.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready Special Operations Forces | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $2.83B |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Spending $461M, against $319M in 2019-20 (+45%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Spending $590M, against $438M in 2022-23 (+35%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2024-25 | Spending $347M, against $590M in 2023-24 (−41%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned spending $497M, against $347M in 2024-25 (+43%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 100% | 2019 | 100% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 100% | 2020 | 96% Special Operations Forces elements were ready to execute mandated tasks. The 96% represents minor gaps in the maintenance of specialty training qualifications, the accessibility of Information Technology networks and the availability of equipment. These gaps resulted in occasional prioritization of training or equipment being given to personnel on High Readiness and Very High Readiness status. Al… | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 100% | 2021 | 94% Special Operations Forces elements were ready to execute mandated tasks. The 94% represents minor gaps in support staff positions due to the need to prioritize efforts as a result of COVID-19. In addition the maintenance of specialty training qualifications, the accessibility of IT networks and the availability of equipment resulted in occasional prioritization of training or equipment being give… | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 100% | 2022 | 94% Special Operations Forces elements were ready to execute mandated tasks. The 94% represents minor gaps in support staff positions due to the need to prioritize requirements as a result of funding limitations. In addition, the increased demand for specialized information technology applications and software outpaced development capacity. Finally, prioritization of equipment management procedures w… | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 100% | 2023 | 91% Special Operations Forces elements were ready to execute mandated tasks. The 91% represents gaps in staffing levels with observed increases in both civilian and military position vacancy. Reasons for this include funding and personnel availability. In addition, the increased demand for specialized IT applications and software continued as well as efforts to address communications security needs.… | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 100% | 2024 | 95% Special Operations Forces elements were fully prepared to execute all assigned tasks and respond effectively to their mandates. However, there were notable issues impacting readiness, including staffing shortages and limited materiel availability. Increases in both civilian and military position vacancies were observed, primarily due to funding constraints and personnel availability. Additionally… | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 100% | 2025 | 94% The target was not met due to gaps in staffing levels and materiel availability. Internal mitigation ensured no impact on operations and all specific tasks were met. | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
No indicators in the 2026-27 plan.
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 100% | 2032 | — | Planned |
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $319M | $292M |
| 2019-20 | $308M | $319M |
| 2020-21 | $325M | $461M |
| 2021-22 | $343M | $383M |
| 2022-23 | $357M | $438M |
| 2023-24 | $460M | $590M |
| 2024-25 | $463M | $347M |
| 2025-26 | $497M | — |
| 2026-27 | $465M | — |
| 2027-28 | $471M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $479M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 1,743 | 1,823 |
| 2019-20 | 1,878 | 1,985 |
| 2020-21 | 506 | 1,965 |
| 2021-22 | 2,321 | 1,975 |
| 2022-23 | 1,962 | 2,053 |
| 2023-24 | 2,007 | 2,291 |
| 2024-25 | 2,250 | 2,341 |
| 2025-26 | 2,277 | — |
| 2026-27 | 2,502 | — |
| 2027-28 | 2,553* | — |
| 2028-29 | 2,599* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $319,323,548 | $321,375,131 | $324,847,553 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $307,790,924 | $313,878,194 | $324,210,272 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $324,992,440 | $322,983,865 | $330,423,893 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $342,604,820 | $345,166,670 | $354,569,198 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $357,115,745 | $355,907,591 | $359,807,878 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $459,773,989 | $451,635,710 | $459,106,415 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $463,231,700 | $459,741,175 | $462,886,858 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $497,239,916 | $496,879,065 | $504,110,798 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $464,562,790 | $470,724,196 | $479,283,817 | ||||||||
| Actual | $291,966,016 | $318,641,800 | $460,686,767 | $382,555,208 | $438,162,208 | $590,340,375 | $346,793,342 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
