The Royal Military College Saint-Jean (), commonly referred to as RMC Saint-Jean and CMR, is a Canadian military college and university. It is located on the historical site of Fort Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, 40 km south of Montreal. RMC Saint-Jean is an arm of the Canadian Military College (CMC) system that provides two college-level programs in Social Science and Science, which are closely integrated with the undergraduate programs offered by the Royal Military College of Canada. RMC Saint-Jean was granted independent university status in 2021, and it currently offers a bachelor's degree in International Studies.
Academics
Science Social Sciences Mathematics Biology Physics Chemistry Sociology Psychology History Political Science Politics Economics
The core courses in both programs include: literature, humanities, second language, and physical education.
The mandate of the preparatory year is to develop in its students good work habits, academic diligence, critical facility, and team spirit.
Regular Officer Training Program
Officer and Naval Cadets at RMC Saint-Jean are eligible for the Regular Officer Training Program. This program is designed for officer candidates to obtain a bachelor degree (which is required to be an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces) while attending either the Royal Military College in Saint-Jean or the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. For certain degrees, it is possible to do ROTP through a civilian university if it is not offered at one of the military colleges.
Uniforms
Officer/Naval cadets wear a variety of uniforms depending on the occasion and their environment: ceremonial dress (semi ceremonial); full dress (formal occasions); outside sports dress; service dress Air Force; service dress Navy; service dress Navy without jacket; Service dress Air Force without jacket; service dress Army without jacket; and combat dress.
In winter 2009, Royal Military College Officer/Naval cadets returned to wearing a distinctive Dress of the Day (DOD) uniform which consists of a white shirt, black sweater/light jacket, as well as black trousers/skirt with a red stripe down the side. The headdress is a black wedge with red piping.
Mess dress is worn in the Senior Staff Mess for formal occasions such as mess dinners.
Positions of responsibility To further their leadership skills and abilities, Officer/Naval cadets are appointed to positions of responsibility according to merit or a need for development. Each cadet wears 1–5 of bars to indicate authority. An appointment typically last a semester. PositionDescriptionBarsCSL/COMOThe Cadet Squadron Leader (CSL) is responsible for the management of a squadron of cadets, which generally consists of around of 75 members.4CSTO/INSTROThe Cadet Squadron Training Officer (CSTO) is responsible for discipline and ensuring good behaviour, dress, and deportment of all cadets in a squadron.3CFL/COMIThe Cadet Flight Leader (CFL) is responsible for one of the two flights of cadets within a squadron, which generally consists of around of 30 members.3DCFL/ACOMIThe Deputy Cadet Flight Leader (DCFL) is a 2 I/C to the CFL and is responsible for discipline and ensuring good behaviour, dress, and deportment of all cadets in a flight.2SECLThe Section Leader (SECL) is responsible for one of 4 section of cadets within a flight, which generally consists of around of 10 members.2DCOMSEC/ACOMSECThe Deputy Section Commander is a 2 I/C to the COMSEC and is responsible for discipline and ensuring good behaviour, dress, and deportment of all cadets in a section.1
Squadrons of the Cadet Wing
The undergraduate body, known as the Cadet Wing, is subdivided into three smaller groupings called Squadrons, under the guidance and supervision of senior cadets. The squadrons are currently named in honour of local communities that take their name from historical figures of New France. Squadrons are subdivided into flights and sections. In 2017, another squadron was added named Jolliet. These squadrons have a competition called the "Commandants Cup" which is a competition in the four pillars of the college.
Squadron #NameHistorical figure1RichelieuCardinal Richelieu2IbervillePierre Le Moyne d'Iberville3TracyAlexandre de Prouville de Tracy4JollietLouis Jolliet5PrinceTommy Prince
In the 1960s, the three squadrons were named Cartier, Maisonneuve and Champlain in honour of historical figures. In 2026, Prince squadron became the official fifth squadron.
History
In the fall of 2007, the federal government reopened the military college at Saint-Jean. The military college was slated for closure in 1995, but on 9 July 1994, the federal and provincial governments agreed to maintain it as a non-degree-granting college.
The reopened RMC Saint-Jean greatly differs from the original college which opened in 1952 and from the RMC of Canada located in Kingston. The new RMC Saint-Jean encompasses the Canadian Forces Management and Development School, one of the oldest CF training establishments in the country. It is also the home to the Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Profession of Arms Institute, which develops the prospective future senior leaders of the Canadian Forces NCM Corps.
Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, inaugurated the Royal Military College Saint-Jean on 24 May 2008, and she presented the new college coat of arms to the commandant, Colonel François Pion.
The Commandant of Royal Military College Saint-Jean reports to the Commander, Canadian Defence Academy (CDA). RMC Saint-Jean also has its own board of governors. Officer/Naval cadets at RMC Saint-Jean are issued scarlet uniforms. The first-year program at RMC Saint-Jean is freeing up beds at RMC allowing more Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP) cadets to attend RMC rather than civilian universities.
YearSignificance1926Fort Saint-Jean plaque (Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada 1926) Constructed in 1743 by M. de Léry under orders from Governor la Galissonnière. This post was for all the military expeditions towards Lake Champlain. On 31 August 1760, Commandant de Roquemaure had it blown up in accordance with orders from the Governor de Vaudreuil to prevent its falling into the hands of the English. Rebuilt by Governor Carleton, in 1773. During the same year, under the command of Major Charles Preston of the 26th regiment, it withstood a 45-day siege by the American troops commanded by General Montgomery.1926Fort Saint-Jean plaque (Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada 1926, replaced 1980):
"As a result of the Iroquois wars a first fort was erected at Saint-Jean by the French in 1666. In 1748 a second fort was built to protect the French colony against British military expeditions coming up the Richelieu. Later on, as a result of the American Revolution two redoubts were built to protect the now English colony against an American invasion. Following the 1837 uprising a new military complex was built on the site of its predecessors. It is this complex which has served since 1952 as the core of the new Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean."1948In the post-war reorganization of the Canadian Forces, the Canadian Military Colleges Circle (CMC) was formed with RMC, Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) and Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR), now known as RMC Saint-Jean1950The Old Brigade, alumni celebrating 50 or more years since they entered one of the military colleges, are inducted.1952The Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR) was established to conduct tri-service cadet training within the Canadian Forces. It was a classical college, with the initial purpose of providing a more equitable representation of French Canadians in the three services of the Canadian Forces. During the spring of 1952, Louis Saint-Laurent, Prime Minister of Canada, made the decision to found a bilingual military college in Quebec, to open in September. In 1952 the Governor General of Canada officially opened the CMR.1968Pavillon Lahaie was built, featuring laboratory, library and office space1971CMR established a formal partnership with the Université de Sherbrooke, after which CMR cadets were able to obtain a bachelor's degree without leaving Saint-Jean.1972Publication of "Le Defilé 1952–1972 Collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean 20th Anniversary Yearbook"1973 The CMR March, "La marche du Richelieu", composed in 1954 by Madame Denise Chabot, the wife of head of French department LCol C.A. Chabot, became the official college march."La marche du Richelieu". "La Gaillarde" is the slow march. To honour the academic staff of Canadian Military Colleges, the bands play "March of the Peers: from Iolanthe" (1881) words Sir William S. Gilbert, music Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842–1900), arrangement Bryceson Treharne which opens with a fanfare leading to a swaggering march from Sullivan's ‘Iolanthe’.1974Col (Ret'd) André D. Gauthier OMM, CD, then Vice-Commandant and Director of Cadets 1973–1975 presented "CADET" (1974), an 18-inch statuette of an Officer Cadet to CMR, which is currently displayed in the Commandant's Office. The then Cadet Wing Commander, 10055 OCdt Pierre Trahan (CMR 1974) served as the model 'at attention' and in the moment of drawing his sword to bring it to a full salute as on a ceremonial parade ground.1 October 1977The College is granted the Freedom of the City.1977–1991 25th Anniversary celebrations on 8 October 1977. Plaque presented to Collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean by the RMC Club 8 October 19771983First Terry-Fox run in Saint-Jean 1983: 2,000 runners attended the 2nd race held Sun 9 September 19841984 Honour Guard of 114 cadets at the visit of Pope Jean-Paul II on 20 September 1984 On Saturday 12 May 1984, the band performed at the CMR graduation for the first time1985The Quebec government passed an act granting CMR its own university charter.1988CMR was authorized to grant master's and doctorate degrees.1992The College is granted the Freedom of the City.1994Col (Ret'd) André D. Gauthier OMM, CD, then Vice-Commandant and Director of Cadets 1973–1975, loaned over 30 military-themed statuettes and bas reliefs, which were displayed at the Cadet Mess at CMR until the college's closure. These works now form part of the Gauthier Collection of over 70 items on display at RMC.1995 The College is granted the Freedom of the City. Following the end of the Cold War and massive government cutbacks on defence spending, the Department of National Defence closed Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) and Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR). RRMC is no longer a military institution, and is now maintained by the Government of British Columbia as Royal Roads University. The loss of CMR and RRMC along with their many traditions and history as military colleges remains a bitter event for many cadets and alumni.2007 The reopening of CMR was discussed during the Debates of the Senate (Hansard) 1st Session, 39th Parliament, Volume 143, Issue 93 on Thursday, 3 May 2007. The reopening of CMR was announced in July 2007 for the fall term 2007.2008 Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, inaugurated the bilingually named Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean) and Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR Saint-Jean). On 24 May 2008, she presented the new college coat of arms to the commandant, Colonel François Pion. RMC Saint-Jean now operates as part of ASU Saint-Jean as Campus Saint-Jean where preparatory year ("prep year") cadets acquire the necessary academic standard needed to attend RMC.2012 Royal Military College Saint-Jean celebrates 60th anniversary 1952–2012. On 22 April, the College is granted the Freedom of the City.2015Royal Military College Saint-Jean Dutch Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden2017Held Leadersphere Symposium 2017 and hosted International Symposium on the Development of Military Academies (ISoDoMA)