operators to the regiment and during mess dinners to toast the regiment. The special forces badge is awarded to personnel once they complete the Special Forces Course and become badged special forces operators. The arrowhead is symbolic of the FSSF, the V-42 symbolizes both the connection to the FSSF and allegiance to CANSOFCOM. The lightweight combat utility tool, referred to in the regiment as "the tomahawk", is issued to each special forces operator. In addition to being an element of their operational equipment, the tomahawk represents the great contribution of Indigenous peoples in Canada to the development of irregular and special warfare. The origin of the steel tomahawk comes from the boarding axes used by Royal Marines during naval combat. The design of the head was a proven utility item and if needed a combat weapon. Its use flourished by both French and British frontiersman as well as a trade item to Indigenous peoples. The first European military uses in North America came from the original French Marine Militia dispatched to New France and later was an issued item among British colonial regiments, specifically the colonial-raised ranger regiments, one of the most famous of which was Rogers' Rangers, who conducted scout and special operations missions during the French and Indian War. During the American Revolutionary War Captain Robert Rogers fought for Britain against the Continental Army. Canadian Special Operations Regimental Association The Canadian Special Operations Regiment Association was incorporated May 2016 and founded to provide an avenue to resources and support services, including training, social services, family education grants, emergency support services and the like. See also Joint Task Force 2 Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit, the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response unit 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron, the aviation arm of the Canadian special forces References Bibliography External links Canadian Special Operations Regiment Association Special Force CBC Documentary Airborne units and formations of Canada Canadian Special Operations Force Command Military units and formations established in 2006 Regiments of Canada Special forces of Canada Military counterterrorist organizations Army reconnaissance units and formations