Silent Resolve: Inside Canada’s Elite Special Operations Command

On a rooftop in Mosul in 2017, a Canadian sniper took a shot that echoed around the world — a single round fired from 3,540 meters away, the longest confirmed sniper kill in history. That extraordinary moment, achieved by an operator from Joint Task Force 2, was more than a feat of marksmanship; it was a glimpse into the quiet world of Canada’s most secretive warriors. Silent Resolve reveals that hidden world for the first time — a world defined not by glory or recognition, but by quiet precision, discipline, and an unyielding sense of duty.

From the frozen Arctic to the burning deserts of the Middle East, Canada’s elite soldiers of CANSOFCOM — the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command — operate in the shadows. Their mission: to respond swiftly to threats anywhere on Earth, whether rescuing hostages, hunting terrorists, dismantling weapons of mass destruction, or countering cyber and biological dangers. Formed officially in 2006, CANSOFCOM united four distinct units under one flag: JTF2, the nation’s counterterror and direct-action specialists; CSOR, the fast-moving commando regiment; SOAS, the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron; and CJIRU, the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response unit. Together, they form a compact but world-class force built around one enduring creed — Facta Non Verba, “Deeds, Not Words.”

Mick Trenlow-Symes traces the evolution of these modern-day shadow warriors from their wartime ancestry to their global standing today. Their story begins in the mountains of Italy during World War II, when Canadians and Americans joined forces as the First Special Service Force, the legendary “Devil’s Brigade.” From that crucible came the idea that small, elite units