10.0 Afghanistan Veterans

10.0 Afghanistan Veterans

The Canadian flag was lowered for the last time in Afghanistan on March 12, 2014. This mission involved the deployment of more than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel—the largest deployment since the Second World War.

The following tables provide demographic details regarding Afghanistan Veterans (including RCMP) in receipt of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) benefits and services.

Table 10.1 Afghanistan Deployed Members (Unique)

Service Type As of March 2014
Regular Forces Members 34,640
Primary Reserves Members 5,386
Total Members 40,026

Source: Canadian Armed Forces - Strategic Joint Staff, Deployment Data 2001-2013, March 31, 2014

Table 10.2 Afghanistan Veterans (including RCMP) in Receipt of VAC Benefits

Afghanistan Veterans Actuals as of March 31, 2022 % of CAF Veteran Population
2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
Afghanistan Service IdentifiedFootnote 1 16,432 17,802 19,368 21,540 23,423 5%
Veterans in receipt of Disability Benefits related to Afghanistan ServiceFootnote 2 (included in above total) 10,551 11,645 12,659 13,735 15,024 3%

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

Table 10.3 Afghanistan Veterans (including RCMP) by Age – March 2022

Age Afghanistan Service

IdentifiedFootnote 1		 % by Age Veterans in receipt of Disability

Benefits related to AfghanistanFootnote 2		 % by Age
Under 30 9 0% 3 0%
30 to 39 5,155 22% 3,764 25%
40 to 49 7,773 33% 5,217 35%
50 or more 10,486 45% 6,040 40%
Total 23,423 100% 15,024 100%

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

Table 10.4 Afghanistan Veterans in Receipt of Disability BenefitsFootnote 3 by Disability Class – March 2022

Disability Class Percentage Disability Pension & Awards Percentage
78% and above 4,474 30%
53% to 77% 3,822 25%
28% to 52% 3,811 25%
5% to 27% 2,731 18%
1% to 4% 186 1%
Entitlement Only 0 0%
Total 15,024 100%

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

Table 10.5 Afghanistan Veterans in Receipt of Disability BenefitsFootnote 4 – Mental Health Conditions

Afghanistan Veterans in Receipt of Disability Benefits March 2019 March 2020 March 2021 March 2022
For Mental Health Conditions 7,578 8,334 9,260 10,523
For Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 6,219 6,837 7,543 8,550

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

Table 10.6 Afghanistan Veterans – Quick Facts – March 2022

  • 73% of deployed members had 1 tour of Afghanistan, 21% had 2 tours and 6% had 3 or more.
  • 90% of Afghanistan deployed members were males, 10% females.
  • 19% of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans in receipt of VAC benefits have Afghanistan Service.
  • 13% of CAF Veterans in receipt of VAC benefits have a disability benefit related to service in Afghanistan.
  • 70% of CAF Veterans, with a disability benefit related to service in Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for a Mental Health condition.
  • 57% of CAF Veterans, with a disability benefit related to service in Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
  • 26% of members deployed to Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for a mental health condition related to their service in Afghanistan.
  • 21% of members deployed to Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to their service in Afghanistan.

Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch

 
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