Vital tool for RCN leaders: Updated Guide to Divisional System released

An updated document was released on April 1 to help Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) personnel understand a structure at the very heart of the organization, the Divisional System, and their role in it.

The Guide to the Divisional System is a vital tool for leaders at all levels as it provides overarching direction for the care and custody of subordinates. Personnel can find the guide on the RCN Intranet, accessed internally on the DWAN only.

The Divisional System is the foundation of the RCN’s personnel management structure, a concept that forms the nucleus of the RCN itself.

The importance of the Divisional System cannot be understated, as it forms the backbone of the relationship between subordinates and their leaders by allowing for feedback, encouragement and direction.

 The Divisional System is part of the glue that holds the chain of command structure together, and is central to one of the RCN’s three core tenets: Ready to Lead.

Additionally, the Divisional System:

• Defines performance standards and expectations;
• Allows for recognition, performance enhancement, and career and talent management; and
• Is part of the discipline and rehabilitation framework.

Although this guide will not tell leaders what to do in every scenario, as every individual and situation requires unique considerations and approaches, it will point personnel to valuable resources that will assist in the development of subordinates.

Since the last edition, Chapter 4 has been updated to capture changes in Code of Conduct reporting, including sexual misconduct and hateful conduct, as well as to the harassment and grievance reporting systems.

Chapter 7 has been rewritten to incorporate the introduction of the Canadian Armed Forces’ new personnel evaluation system: Performance and Competency Evaluation (PaCE), which was fully adopted on April 1, 2022. This chapter details key milestones regarding a member’s career aspirations and providing performance feedback.

Sections on Personnel Management and Training have been moved to the forefront as current crewing challenges will be addressed by a renewed focus on people and training. All references have been updated and streamlined.

Although this guide was written from a military point of view, civilian managers of military personnel can also use this guide, specifically the reference materials found inside, to help properly take care of their military subordinates.