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Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 03/10 – Regular Force Members Supporting Cadet Programmes

Table of Contents

  1. Identification
  2. General
  3. Military Support
  4. Civil Support
  5. References

   

Chef of Military Personnel Crest

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2010-06-07

Date of Modification: 2024-12-01

Application: This instruction applies to Officers and Non-Commissioned Members (NCMs) of the Regular Force component of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who provide support to the Canadian Cadet Organisations.

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. General

Context

2.1 National Defence Act (NDA) section 33(1) states that Regular Force members are at all times liable to perform any military duty. NDA section 2 states that “military” is construed as relating to all or any part of the CAF.

2.2 NDA section 46 authorizes the formation of cadet organizations. Cadet organizations are not part of the CAF but are supported by the CAF. The Canadian Cadet Organisations (CCO) is a youth organisation under the control and supervision of the CAF.

2.3 Queens Regulation and Orders (QR&O) article 2.034(c) establishes the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (COATS). CAF members in COATS have the authority and command of Cadet organizations.

2.4 The aim of the Cadet Programme is to develop, in youth aged not less than 12 years of age and who have not attained the age of 19 years, the attributes of good citizenship and leadership, promote physical fitness and to stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land and air activities of the Canadian Armed Forces.

2.5 To achieve its aims the CCO requires the assistance of Regular Force members and Adult Volunteers.

2.6 Any Regular Force member:

  1. may be ordered to support:
    1. cadet organizations; and
    2. COATS members; and
  2. in their civil capacity (that is when not on duty), may support cadet organizations.

Policy Statement

2.7 Every Regular Force member is liable to support cadet organizations and COATS members.

2.8 All Regular Force members are encouraged, in their civil capacity, to support cadet organizations in accordance with this instruction.

3. Military Support

Authority to Assign Duty to Support Cadets

3.1 A Regular Force member may be ordered to support cadet organisations and specific COATS members by their Commanding Officer.

3.2 Regular Force members who are interested in using the knowledge and skills they have gained in the CAF to assist the cadet movement may request to be ordered to support cadet organizations and COATS members.

3.3 An order issued under this instruction must be in writing and recorded on the member’s personnel file. The order must specify:

  1. the type of support the member will provide; and
  2. if necessary, any restrictions on that support.

Criteria for Assigning Duty to Support Cadets

3.4 A Commanding Officer may order a Regular Force member to support cadet organizations or COATS members if, at a minimum, all of the following conditions are met:

  1. there is a request for support;
  2. the member completes the Police Records Check (PRC) / and Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) process as detailed in the Cadet Administrative and Training Order (CATO) 23-04, Canadian Cadet Organizations Adult Screening Policy;
  3. the member possesses valid CAF qualifications for the activity that they will support; and
  4. the support is in the best interests of the CAF.

Note – The best interests of the CAF are not to be confused with the best interests of the cadet organization.

Service and Duty Status

3.5 A Regular Force member who is ordered to support cadet organizations and COATS members:

  1. is on duty when providing that support; and
  2. remains:
    1. on service; and
    2. subject to the Code of Service Discipline and all military orders and instructions.

3.6 No order issued under this instruction:

  1. transfers a Regular Force member from the Regular Force to the Reserve Force; or
  2. otherwise changes the member’s conditions of service.

Uniforms

3.7 QR&O article 17.04 (1) When Uniform Worn requires Regular Force members to wear their uniform when on duty unless otherwise directed.

3.8 The COATS member in charge of cadet activity may, when appropriate to do so, direct a Regular Force member who is on duty supporting that activity to wear civilian clothing.

Injury

3.9 Injury-related benefits under the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act (“New Veterans Charter”) are determined, by Veterans’ Affairs Canada (VAC), generally on the basis of whether the injury, disability, aggravation thereof or death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. The member’s duty status is one of the factors considered when determining eligibility for VAC benefits.

3.10 The injury of a Regular Force member who is ordered to support cadet organizations and specific COATS members may be related to their service.

3.11 A CF 98 form, Report on Injuries or Exposure to Toxic Material, must be completed in respect of every Regular Force member who is injured when supporting cadet organizations and specific COATS members.

Legal Assistance and Indemnification

3.12 The Treasury Board Policy on Legal Assistance and Indemnification provides for legal assistance and indemnification to Crown servants.

3.13 A Regular Force member who is ordered to support cadet organizations and COATS members may be eligible for legal assistance or indemnification if they:

  1. acted in good faith;
  2. did not act against the interests of the Crown; and
  3. acted within the scope of their duties or course of employment.

4. Civil Support

General

4.1 Regular Force members, in their civil capacity, that is, when not on duty, are encouraged to support the cadet movement as Adult Volunteers.

Selection

4.2 Regular Force members who volunteer to support the cadet movement in their civil capacity do so under the auspices, authority and control of the Navy League of Canada, the Army Cadet League of Canada, or the Air Cadet League of Canada as appropriate.

4.3 A cadet organization:

  1. may select a Regular Force member to support cadet organizations as an Adult Volunteer; but
  2. must not select a Regular Force member to support cadet organisations as a Civilian Instructor.

Criteria for Selection

4.4 A Cadet organisation is not obliged to select a Regular Force member as an Adult Volunteer.

4.5 A Regular Force member who, in their civil capacity, wants to support cadet organizations as an Adult Volunteer must complete the Police Records Check (PRC) and Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) process as detailed in CATO 23-04.

4.6 A cadet organization may publish other criteria for the selection of Adult Volunteers.

Service and Duty Status

4.7 A Regular Force member who, in their civil capacity, supports cadet organizations as an Adult Volunteer:

  1. is not on duty when providing that support; but
  2. remains:
    1. on service; and
    2. subject to the Code of Service Discipline and all military orders and instructions.

Note – The cadet organization must consider and treat a Regular Force member who, in their civil capacity, is supporting a cadet organization as an Adult Volunteer just like any other civilian Adult Volunteer.

Uniform

4.8 A Regular Force member who, in their civil capacity, supports a cadet organization must not wear their uniform.

Injury

4.9 The injury of a Regular Force member who, in their civil capacity, supports a cadet organization is normally not related to their service.

4.10 A CF 98 form, Report on Injuries or Exposure to Toxic Material must be completed in respect of every Regular Force member who, in their civil capacity, is injured when supporting cadet organizations.

Legal Assistance and Indemnification

4.11 A Regular Force member who, in their civil capacity, supports a cadet organization as an Adult Volunteer:

  1. is not on duty and therefore not normally eligible for legal assistance or indemnification under Treasury Board policy; but
  2. may be eligible for legal assistance or indemnification under private insurance policies held by the cadet leagues.

5. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD 

Other References

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