PaCE team listens to feedback from Defence Team members to improve the platform

June 13, 2022 – Defence Stories

The new Performance and Competency Evaluation (PaCE) system has been in full effect since April 1, 2022 and is the new personnel performance appraisal tool for all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members.

Members have had the chance to familiarize themselves with the new system for months now with five online PaCE courses available through the Defence Learning Network (DLN). Now that the 2022-2023 fiscal year has started, members at all levels should have finished their training, ensured the appropriate setup of their PaCE profiles in Monitor MASS, and those of their subordinates. CAF members and their supervisors should have gained familiarity with key features of the new system, from Job Descriptions to Member Aspiration Profiles to Feedback Notes, and be in the “Go” phase of PaCE’s “Ready, Set, Go!” approach.

Ensuring that all members have completed a Job Description, a Member Aspiration Profile, and have been documenting Feedback Notes is the top priority. The Q1 Debriefing Session deadline is 30 June 2022.

Because PaCE is something internally developed, it can be changed as necessary to make for a better member experience. Indeed, each quarter there are upgrades and improvements.

Recently, an update to the software made the experience better for users by introducing new categorization for Feedback Notes that helps members, supervisors, the chains of command better understand how the system is being used.

“Now that all CAF members are implementing the use of this new platform, I am even more interested and committed to contributing to the continuous improvement of the PaCE system. The trial period has taught us that we are still in the infancy stage with many more changes to come, especially when we think that the CAF has been assessing members a certain way for decades, we can’t expect them to change that way of thinking overnight. I am confident that with proper education and appropriate quality control, this system will be a great improvement over the Canadian Forces Personnel Appraisal System (CFPAS),” said Squadron Chief Warrant Officer Jean Plamondon from the 404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron, who has been testing the system through the PaCE Trial and Pilot Groups.

“The project team has been outstanding at fielding our trial concerns and ensuring that all identified trouble areas are fixed while also implementing a great majority of the improvements proposed from all levels of involvement. Proposed improvements for Feedback Notes should assist authors and reviewing officers in generating accurately scored Performance Appraisal Report (PARs) for their members” he added.

Following the release of the Initiating Directive on the Integration of the Measurement of Inclusive Behaviours in the Defence Team [PDF-470KB] (accessible only on the National Defence network), the PaCE team has been working with the Chief Professional Conduct and Culture organization, Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis team, and others to implement the Inclusive Behaviours Rating, leveraging the CAF Competency Dictionary embedded in PaCE. These changes mean that identifying, understanding, and demonstrating examples of inclusive behaviour are now part of the performance appraisal process. For more information, please consult the Message to Defence Team members: Promoting and measuring inclusive behaviours within the Defence Team from the Deputy Minister and the Chief of the Defence Staff.

Although it may be challenging for some members to familiarize themselves with the new improved system, there is additional information and consulting for specific questions and requests available.

Defence Team members are encouraged to join our PaCE Knowledge Centre channel to get the latest information, ask questions, or connect with other system users and project staff. It is essential to the implementation of PaCE that users throughout the organization are engaged in the process. It’s also a great opportunity to learn, discuss, and ask questions directly to the people developing the system.

To refresh your knowledge of PaCE, visit the internal site (accessible only on the National Defence network). Questions regarding training or how-to can be sent to +PaCE Training; reach project management, request for system changes, or philosophical questions can be sent to PaCE-EPC@forces.gc.ca.