Citizen Force, noun phrase

1. In historical contexts. A division of the Union Defence Forces, comprised of trained, demobilized soldiers who were liable to be called upon during times of war. Also attributive. See also Active Citizen Force sense 1.
1912 Act 13 in Stat. of Union 198The Citizen Force shall consist of all persons liable to render personal service in time of war, who are not members of the Permanent Force.
1936 H.F. Trew Botha Treks 15On his right flank, General Maritz was commanding a column of Citizen Force which was to support him in his invasion of German territory.
1942 Off. Yr Bk of Union No. 22, 1941 (Union Office of Census & Statistics) 394The Citizen Force..comprises three divisions, viz., the Active Citizen Force, the Citizen Force Reserve, and the National Reserve.
2. The reserve force of the South African Defence Force, comprised of civilians who, having completed a period of national service, have to serve additional short periods annually for several years. Also attributive. See also Active Citizen Force sense 2.
1957 R.B. Durrant in Hansard 27 Feb. 1834The Citizen Force soldier is trained as a full-time soldier to play a full-time part in the event of immediate mobilization.
1957 Act 44 in Stat. of Union 530Composition and Organization of the South African Defence Force and Reserve The South African Defence Force shall consist of: (a) The Permanent Force; (b) The Citizen Force; and (c) Commandos.
1963 Rand Daily Mail 3 May 2Members of both the Permanent Force and the Citizen Force were trained as military police.
1964 M. Benson Afr. Patriots 287In May 1961 Mandela called the three-day strike. Whereupon the Government called out the police, army, commandos, citizen forces and Saracen armoured cars.
1971 Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. III. 614As far as legislation is concerned, the Defence Act of 1957..warrants special mention...Among the changes of note are..the clear definition of the functions of the Permanent Force (formerly the South African Permanent Force), the Citizen Force (formerly the Active Citizen Force) and the Commandos.
1977 B. Marks Our S. Afr. Army 13South African Army members, Permanent Force, Citizen Force, Commando Force and National Servicemen.
1981 Cape Times 2 Dec. 1One of his colleagues was a Citizen Force sergeant with a healthy distrust of things that go bang.
1983 J. Keegan World Armies 530Citizen Force units are fed by national servicemen but in recent years have been under strength...Since the South African army has few permanent operational units except those under training as national servicemen, the Citizen Force is the mainstay of the conventional forces.
1987 Uniform 7 Apr. 1The closing date for applications from young ladies wishing to do a year’s voluntary Citizen Force military training in 1988, at the South African Women’s College in George, is 31 May 1987.
1990 [see Active Citizen Force sense 1].
A division of the Union Defence Forces, comprised of trained, demobilized soldiers who were liable to be called upon during times of war. Also attributive.
The reserve force of the South African Defence Force, comprised of civilians who, having completed a period of national service, have to serve additional short periods annually for several years. Also attributive.
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