The Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) Canadian Rangers program is lauded by allies as an inventive program to provide remote Canadian communities and Arctic hamlets with Indigenous Army Reserve units. While the Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the CAF Army Reserve, they employ a separate operation model than the Primary Reserve Forces. CAF Primary Reserve units are located in hundreds of larger communities across Canada with many part-time positions and training often occurring on weekends. While the Primary Army Reserves and Canadian Rangers both fall under the large umbrella that is the Army Reserves, there are significant differences. A comprehensive analysis of the Canadian Rangers and Primary Reserve Force members is examined in this thesis. Both internal and external characteristics of each group are examined. The internal factors compared include: leadership, rank structure, typical tasks, guiding documents, discipline, military professionalism, training plans, command and control structures and combat capabilities. The external characteristics compared include each group’s geographical location, recruitment demographics, and different ways of knowing. This thesis asks, why does the Government of Canada have separate Army Reserve systems with differing internal and external characteristics? What are the differences and similarities between the groups and what are the lessons learned? These are the questions this research project addresses to glean policy-informed advice for the CAF, Government of Canada, and allies.