Shortly after the armed services were unified into the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, the service-specific uniforms (navy blue, khaki, and light blue) were abandoned in favor of the Canadian Forces’ rifle green, single-breasted, four-button tunic and pants, with beret or service cap uniform, commonly referred to as “CF greens”. Introduced for trials in 1967, full production does not appear to have begun until early 1969.
Under “unification” the legal entities of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force were eliminated along with their distinctive uniforms and rank titles. The traditional service dress uniforms were replaced by the Canadian Forces Green Uniform or “CF Greens”. The CF green service dress uniform for male members consisted of a polyester/wool Rifle Green jacket, trousers and necktie, light “Linden Green” long and short sleeve shirts, a service dress cap, and a gabardine raincoat.
The first female version of CF Greens consisted of a blouse and a matching skirt. The female version of the linden green shirt was worn, with a dark green neckpiece. The early pattern female CF uniform was a much lighter green than the man’s pattern, and rank insignia was much smaller. The second pattern female version CF uniform jacket and skirt was identical in colour to the men’s. Larger rank insignia was issued and a black issue purse was worn over the left shoulder.
Example (left) of forage cap issued Female CF Green
The Canadian Forces Green uniform lasted in service about 15 years and was replaced by “Distinctive Environmental Uniforms” (DEU) in 1985.