Canadian Rangers The Canadian Rangers ( often mistakenly called the Arctic Rangers ) are a sub - component of the Canadian Forces reserve that provide a military presence in Canada ' s sparsely settled northern , coastal , and isolated areas . Formally established on May 23 , 1947 , a primary role of this part - time force is to conduct surveillance or sovereignty patrols ( SOV PATS ) as required . Some Canadian Rangers also conduct inspections of the North Warning System ( NWS ) sites and act as guides , scouts , and subject matter experts in such disciplines as wilderness survival when other forces ( such as Army units of the Regular Force or Primary Reserve ) are in their area of operations . The Canadian Rangers are a volunteer force made up of Inuit , First Nations , Métis and non - Aboriginals ; however , it is a common misconception that the organization is a First Nations entity . The ethnic make - up of the numerous patrols across Canada is entirely an element of geography . Canadian Rangers are paid according to the rank they hold within their patrol and when present on operations or during training events . History . Modern Canadian Rangers can trace their history back to the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers ( PCMR ) . Formed on March 3 , 1942 , the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers were volunteers who patrolled , performed military surveillance , and provided local defence of the coastline of British Columbia and in the Yukon against the wartime threat of a possible Japanese invasion . At their height , the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers consisted of 15 , 000 volunteers in 138 companies . The Pacific Coast Militia Rangers were officially disbanded on September 30 , 1945 . Patrol area of the PCMR . The PCMR was composed of 138 companies under three major patrol areas , which were Vancouver Island , the lower Fraser Valley and the Bridge River area . Some of the principal officers of the PCMR were Lieutenant - Colonel C . W . Peck , Lieutenant - Colonel A . L . Coote and Major H . Ashby . There are currently approximately 5000 Rangers serving in various communities around Canada . Equipment . Each Canadian Ranger is issued a red Canadian Ranger sweatshirt , CADPAT pants , combat boot s , baseball cap , safety vest , rifle and navigation aids . They are expected to be mostly self - reliant regarding equipment . However , they are also provided with a small amount of patrol - level stores ( mostly camp stores - tents , stoves , lanterns , axes , etc . ) . They are reimbursed for the use of personal vehicles and equipment and are paid for this use according to the nationally - established equipment usage rates . Items that a Canadian Ranger could be reimbursed for include snowmobiles ( called light over - snow vehicles , or LOSVs , in the military ) , all - terrain vehicle s , watercraft , trailers , pack horses , sled dog teams , and a variety of tools and equipment ( such as radios , chainsaws , generators , and the like ) . Weapons . Canadian Rangers are issued the . 303 British calibre Lee Enfield No 4 rifle , with each user being provided with 200 rounds of ammunition every year . While the bolt action Lee - Enfield has been out of general service in the Canadian military since the 1950s , it has proven to be reliable in the Arctic environment . Canadian Rangers carry the weapon primarily for subsistence and protection against predators rather than with the expectation of engaging an enemy force . Rifle replacement . Owing to the decreasing availability of spare parts , the replacement of the Lee - Enfield rifle had long been expected and in August 2011 after user requirements had been determined , Chain of command . The Canadian Rangers became part of the Canadian Army in October 2007 , having previously been under the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces . The Commander of the Canadian Army is the Canadian Ranger National Authority ( CRNA ) . The Commander of the Canadian Army has a small cadre of CRNA staff in Ottawa . These CRNA staff act as a conduit for information , assist with general development and improvement , assist in generating , modifying , and maintaining policy which addresses the unique nature of the Canadian Rangers ( including administrative policy , unit establishment and structure , training policy , and logistical policy ) , and with the financing of the Canadian Rangers . These staff are not directly within the chain of command , but are instead seen as the technical and advisory link between the Canadian Ranger units and the Commander of the Canadian Army . Command and control of the respective Canadian Ranger units ( known as Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups ( or CRPGs ) ) is devolved from the Commander of the Canadian Army down to his subordinate commanders of the various regional divisions . There are five CRPGs and each CRPG corresponds to one of the regional divisions ( as seen below ) . The CRPGs tend to be provincially oriented , apart from 1 CRPG , which covers the whole of northern Canada north of the 60th parallel , and 4 CRPG which covers the four western provinces ( British Columbia , Alberta , Saskatchewan , and Manitoba ) . Each CRPG has a headquarters and a number of patrols . The patrols tend to be centred on remote communities throughout Canada and are frequently named after the town or village they are from ( the Terrace Patrol , in British Columbia , for instance ) . Patrol areas . There are five main patrol areas of the Canadian Rangers . Each patrol area is directly controlled by the headquarters unit of a Canadian Ranger patrol group or CRPG ( in French , or GPRC ) . Junior Canadian Rangers . The Junior Canadian Rangers Programme was created on May 31 , 1996 , and consists of more than 3 , 400 members in 119 locations . Under the supervision of the Canadian Rangers , the Junior Canadian Ranger Programme is open to young Canadians , from ages 12 to 18 . Issued on September 1 , 1942 , the training publication , " The Ranger " , was in circulation for the PCMR , as it contained such articles as " Know where to shoot " , " Edible plants of BC " , " What can you do with a tarp ? " , and " Dig or die " . The Canadian Rangers ' motto is " " Vigilans " " .