The aft c.g. as Tony says lets more of the lift be used as lift.
For your situation, probably finding a better airfoil would be the way to go, and keep the c.g. aft.
A hgher alpha before stall.
Possibly a 3D airfoil, fat forward, moderate leading edge radius.
For combat, a canard.. no, I don't think so.
All the other problems canards bring with them, and have the control surface doing the impacting on the enemy...