Chaplain Branch ( Canadian Forces ) The Chaplain Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces ( CF ) that has approximately 192 Regular Force Chaplains and 145 Reserve Force Chaplains representing the Christian , Muslim and Jewish faiths . Mission and Vision . The mission of this Branch is to " support and enhance the effectiveness of the CF as a whole – its leadership , the individual men and women who serve and their families – through the provision of comprehensive religious and spiritual support , advice , and care . " The vision of the Chaplaincy is to " be an operationally relevant Chaplaincy that supports and cares for all CF personnel and their families , wherever they live and serve , empowering them spiritually and morally to meet the demands of military service . " Leading Prayer . In accordance with their role , Chaplains offer prayer services at home and abroad . Some services are inherently religious , such as Sunday worship , baptisms or religious funerals and burial at sea ceremonies . Other times , Chaplains may offer a prayer for secular occasions such as base divisions , changes of command , mess dinners or ship commissioning ceremonies . Before offering prayers during parades and ceremonies , it is customary that the order to remove headdress be given to those on parade . In November 2004 , Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada ruled that this order was " not lawful " since it unjustifiably required all attendees to show participation in a prayer that that may not believe . Following this ruling , non - believers are now permitted to retain their headdress , just like Jews and Sihk s do in accordance with their faith . Training . Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre . The Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre ( CFChSC ) in Borden , Ontario , is responsible for the training of all chaplain s ( Regular and Reserve , Protestant , Roman Catholic , Muslim and Jewish ) . CFChSC provides training in operational and static ministry . The training is provided with an operational focus and an interfaith approach . Courses are available in both official languages English and French . Courses include Chaplain Basic Officer Training , Ethics , Pastoral Counselling , Chaplains in Deployed Operations , Intermediate , Advanced , Chapel Life Coordinator ( Protestant and Roman Catholic ) , and Ministry in a Pluralistic Environment . CFChSC prepares military chaplains for service in times of peace and times of conflict . The Resource Centre contains a library relating to ministry , religion and related areas . The Chaplains provide ministry to Canadian Forces personnel and their families . Annual Chaplain Branch Retreat and Seminar . Since the amalgamation of the former Protestant and Roman Catholic Chaplaincies in the mid - 90 ’ s into a single multi - faith Canadian Forces Chaplaincy , a joint annual retreat and seminar has been held . Consisting of seminars , business meetings and worship services , the annual retreat provides opportunities for the professional and spiritual development of chaplains and for fellowship as a Branch . The Annual Protestant Chaplain Branch Retreat and Seminar was held annually at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston , Ontario in the late 1980s and 1990s . Badges . On 24 September 2006 , the Department of National Defence issued a press release indicating that , " [ i ] n order to better represent the diversity of Canadian society , and reflect the multi - faith nature of today ’ s chaplaincy " , the current Branch cap badge would be replaced with three new badges . The new badges would retain the crowned wreath of red maple leaves and central blue circle ; the Maltese Cross behind the circle would be removed . On the circle would be " a different symbol for each faith tradition : for Christian chaplains , the Maltese cross , which has long been associated with Christian chaplaincy . Jewish chaplains will wear the symbol of the tablets of the Law and the Magen David ( the star of David ) and Muslim chaplains will wear the crescent . " A scroll with the motto " " VOCATIO AD SERVITIUM " " would be placed below the circle . These badges were approved by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on 15 March 2006 .