Compassionate status (with or without a Compassionate Posting) and Contingency cost moves for personal reasons

CAF members of the Regular Force must adhere to minimum operational standards specific to their component or sub-component under the principle of Universality of Service. In some circumstances, failure to meet those minimum standards can lead to administrative review and possibly a release from service.

So, what happens when personal circumstances, that are out of the ordinary, unforeseen and/or unavoidable, conflict with your ability to perform your duties and to deploy? What happens when personal circumstances impact your well-being, your family’s, or both, leaving you at odds with your military career commitments and consequently putting your career at risk?

The CAF, through Director General Military Careers (DGMC), has administrative tools to help you with dedicating some time to resolving these personal circumstances and then enabling you to resume your commitment to minimum operational standards – without long term risk to your career. At any time of the year, DGMC career authorities can consider your eligibility for compassionate status (with or without a compassionate posting) or a contingency cost move (CCM) for personal reasons.

CAF Military Personnel Instruction 02/25 – Contingency Cost Moves for Personal Reasons, Compassionate Status and Compassionate Posting explains the purpose and function of each tool, helping you better understand the:

• general considerations about your ability to be employed and deployed;
• career, course and promotion restrictions;
• process for requesting them;
• process by which your submission is considered and the decision-making factors;
• acts, regulations and policies relevant to processing and rendering a decision on your request; and
• shared roles and responsibilities of the actors involved with monitoring, maintaining and completing your status or posting.

Other Resources

• Military Career Managers
• Transition Sheet – Compassionate – Canada.ca for submission and follow-up of a Cost Contingency Move and Compassionate Status/Posting request
• Memo - Request for Compassionate Posting - Canada.ca
• FAQ - Contingency Cost Move (CCM) and Compassionate Status/Posting - Canada.ca
• Contingency Cost Move (CCM) and Compassionate Status/Posting - Canada.ca
• The following resources and support options may also help reduce the stress caused by your personal circumstances:
  • Dear Conflict and Complaint Management Services: Compassionate Leave Request Quandary - Canada.ca
  • Crisis texting services for kids
  • Parenting support for children experiencing behaviour issues or anxiety
  • Resources and services for supporting families with children with special needs
  • CFMWS Education Services
  • Family Information Line | CFMWS
  • CFMWS and MFRC Support Services | CFMWS
  • Financial support
  • Spousal and partner employment
  • Elder Care | CFMWS and MFRC | CFMWS
  • Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP)
  • Occupational transfer
  • Release and transition to civilian life 
  • Health and wellness resources for military families
  • Resources for caregivers
  • Garnet Families
  • Directory of services · Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families