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Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 02/15 – Supplementary Reserve

Table of Contents

  1. Identification
  2. Abbreviations
  3. Policy Direction
  4. Transfer and Enrolment
  5. Service with other Components and Sub-components
  6. Administration
  7. Release
  8. Responsibilities
  9. References

   

Chef of Military Personnel Crest

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2015-06-15 

Date of Modification: 2024-12-01

Application: This Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction (CAFMPI) applies to officers and non-commissioned members (NCMs) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). 

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP) 

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC) 

2. Abbreviations

Abbreviation Complete Word or Phrase
AR Administrative Review
AR/MEL Administrative Review – Medical Employment Limitations
CD Canadian Forces’ Decoration
CDS Chief of the Defence Staff
CFRC Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre
CMP Chief of Military Personnel
CO commanding officer
DMCA Director Military Careers Administration
DRSM Director Reserve Support Management
NCM non-commissioned member
CRA compulsory retirement age
Reg F Regular Force
Res F Reserve Force
Supp Res Supplementary Reserve
VCDS Vice Chief of the Defence Staff

3. Policy Direction

Context

3.1 As detailed by DAOD 2020-4, Supplementary Reserve, the Supplementary Reserve (Supp Res) is a subcomponent of the Reserve Force (Res F). The purpose of the Supp Res is to augment the Regular Force (Reg F) and other sub-components of the Res F with individual officers and non-commissioned member (NCMs) through component transfer and sub-component transfer:

  1. as required during normal peacetime situations, with their consent; and
  2. during an emergency or mobilization if placed on active service, without their consent.

3.2 The Supp Res is comprised of:

  1. members who have previously served in the Reg F or another sub-component of the Res F; and
  2. persons without previous military experience who have special skills or expertise and for which there is a military requirement.

Policy Statement

3.3 This policy sets out the CAF position with respect to the management of Supp Res members and is intended to assist CAF personnel and chains of command to understand their obligations and responsibilities.

4. Transfer and Enrolment

Control of Transfer and Enrolment

4.1 Transfer and enrolment in the Supp Res is controlled by CAF requirements and operational priorities set by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) in consultation with Level 1 Advisors. Transfer and enrolment in the Supp Res is not a right.

Voluntary Transfer to the Supplementary Reserve

4.2 A member may apply for transfer to the Supp Res if:

  1. the member is eligible for release under Item 4(a), 4(b), 4(c), 5(a), 5(c) or 5(d) in the table to QR&O article 15.01, Release of Officers and Non-Commissioned Members;
  2. the losing unit CO recommends transfer;
  3. the member is trained to the operationally functional point in accordance with the military occupation specifications; or
  4. the member is more than one year from CRA for the Supp Res (see the CRA block in the Release map).

Note 1 – Members who are eligible for release under Item 5(d) require the approval of the CO Supp Res prior to the transfer being authorized.

Note 2 – Eligibility for transfer to Supp Res under Item 5(a) does not apply to those with CRA 60.

Note 3 – Exceptions to the training requirement may be considered for officers trained under CFAO 9-49, Reserve Entry Training Plan – Canadian Military Colleges.

4.3 An application by a Reg F member for transfer to the Supp Res requires approval under QR&O article 10.04, Voluntary Transfer to Reserve Force.

4.4 Unless otherwise authorized by the DRSM (CO Supp Res), a member is transferred to the Supp Res in the substantive rank and military occupation held at the time of transfer.

Compulsory Transfer to the Supplementary Reserve

4.5 In accordance with QR&O article 10.06, Transfer Between Sub-components of the Reserve Force, a member of the Primary Reserve, Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service or Canadian Rangers may be transferred to the Supp Res without the consent of the member. Such a transfer must not be used to avoid the consequences of disciplinary action or compulsory release action.

Military Occupation Transfer

4.6 Only in exceptional circumstances will a request by a Supp Res member for a military occupation transfer be approved by the CO Supp Res.

Voluntary Transfer

4.7 Eligibility for transfer from the Supp Res is in accordance with existing orders governing transfers and enrolment standards of the gaining component or sub-component. Rank and military occupation on transfer must be determined by the requirements of the gaining component or sub-component.

Enrolment with Previous Service in the CAF

4.8 An applicant who has previous service in the CAF is eligible for enrolment in the Supp Res if the applicant:

  1. has normally not been released for more than five years from the date of the enrolment application;
  2. meets the qualifications for enrolment set out in QR&O article 6.01, Qualifications for Enrolment; and
  3. is more than one year from CRA for the Supp Res (see the CRA block in the Release map).

4.9 The CO Supp Res determines the rank and military occupation on enrolment of an applicant with previous service in the CAF. These members are normally enrolled in the substantive rank and military occupation held prior to release from the CAF.

Enrolment Without Previous Military Service

4.10 In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who does not have previous military service may be eligible for enrolment in the Supp Res if the applicant:

  1. has a special qualification for which there is a military requirement;
  2. meets the qualifications for enrolment set out in QR&O article 6.01; and
  3. is more than one year from CRA for the Supp Res.

4.11 An applicant who does not have previous military service is enrolled as an officer in the rank of officer cadet/naval cadet or as an NCM in the rank of private/Sailor 3rd Class (S3)/aviator. After consulting with the applicable career field and occupation authority, the CO Supp Res recommends the military occupation and rank and whether the applicant may be promoted immediately on enrolment, in accordance with QR&O article 11.01, Authority for Promotion. CMP approves the rank.

Approving Authorities for Transfer to the Supplementary Reserve from the Regular Force

4.12 In accordance with QR&O article 10.04, the approving authority for a transfer of a Reg F member to the Supp Res is the same as the release authority for that member. Release authorities are set out in the CDS Delegated Release Authorities – Regular Force document. However, members who are eligible for release under Item 5(d) require the approval of the CO Supp Res prior to the component transfer being authorized.

Enrolment in Supplementary Reserve or Transfer to Supplementary Reserve from other than the Regular Force

4.13 The following table sets out the approving authorities for enrolment in the Supp Res or transfer to the Supp Res from other than the Reg F: 

The approving authority is for applicants who are
CO Supp Res
  • former members of the Reg F or Res F;
  • persons with no previous service in a military force;
  • members of another sub-component of the Res F compulsorily transferred to the Supp Res; and
  • members who are eligible for release under Item 5(d) and who request transfer to the Supp Res.
the same as the release authority as set out in the CDS Delegated Release Authorities – Reserve Force document
  • members who meet the criteria and are transferring directly from the Primary Reserve, Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service or Canadian Rangers.

Enrolment Process

4.14 CFRC must process applications for enrolment in the Supp Res and forward the applications to the CO Supp Res for approval.

Period of Service

4.15 The period of service for Supp Res members is normally five years or until CRA, whichever comes first.

4.16 The CO Supp Res is the approving authority for any extension to the five-year period of service. Requests for an extension by members who have not served on Class "A", "B" or "C" Reserve Service within the last five years are normally not approved.

Promotion

4.17 A Supp Res member is not eligible for substantive promotion except in an emergency after being placed on active service by the Governor in Council, or in exceptional cases on enrolment only, as described at paragraphs 4.10 and 4.11 above.

5. Service with other Components and Sub-components

Conditions of Service

5.1 Supp Res members without previous military service are required to undergo basic military training immediately upon being transferred from the Supp Res to the gaining component or sub-component.

5.2 To be eligible for Class "A", "B" or "C" Reserve Service, Supp Res members are required:

  1. to meet the minimum operational standards set out in DAOD 5023-1, Minimum Operational Standards Related to Universality of Service, age, medical, dental and physical fitness standards, military occupation specifications, rank and security clearance requirements for the position and the component or subcomponent with which they will be serving; and
  2. to be component or sub-component transferred to an establishment position within another CAF component or sub-component.

6. Administration

Pay

6.1 A Supp Res member is entitled to pay only when performing duty on active service. 

Use of Rank

6.2 A Supp Res member must use rank in accordance with QR&O article 3.13, Use of Rank by Members of the Supplementary Reserve. 

Wearing of Uniform

6.3 A Supp Res member is authorized to wear a uniform when on service or attending military entertainment or a ceremony at which the wearing of uniform is appropriate. 

Canadian Forces’ Decoration Qualifying Time 

6.4 Time in the Supp Res does not count as qualifying time towards the CD. 

CAF Pension Entitlements 

6.5 Every person’s entitlement under the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA) is unique, and therefore will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Enrolment or transfer into the Supp Res may influence a person’s CFSA pension entitlements. Any person who has previously contributed to a CFSA pension plan and who is now considering enrolling or transferring into the Supp Res is strongly advised to discuss the effects of this action on their CFSA entitlements with the Directorate for Canadian Forces Pension Services.

7. Release

Compulsory Retirement Age

7.1 For members enrolled in or transferred to the Supp Res, CRA is age 60.

Release

7.2 Supp Res members must be released at the earliest occurrence of one of the following events: 

Event Release Item
Reaching CRA 60 5(a) Retirement Age

Completion of a five-year period of service

Note – Unless an extension is authorized by the CO Supp Res.

 5(c) Service Completed for Which Required
Failure to advise the Supp Res administrative staff of a change of address, as directed on the CF 1117, resulting in a Return to Sender received from Canada Post 5(c) Service Completed for Which Required
Change in Medical Fitness recorded on a CF 2088, resulting in an AR/MEL decision by Director Military Careers Administration (DMCA) to release from the CAF 3(a) or (b) Medical
Request for release submitted by the member 4(c) Voluntary On Request – Other Causes
AR decision by DMCA to release from the CAF As determined by DMCA

Authorities to Initiate Release and Approve Release

7.3 The authorities to initiate release and approve the release of Supp Res members are set out in the CDS Delegated Release Authorities – Reserve Force document.

8. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

8.1 The following table identifies responsibilities for the Supp Res:

The... is or are responsible for...
CO Supp Res
  • establishing procedures concerning records management and administration;
  • performing administrative functions;
  • coordinating the administration of releases;
  • preparing the list of officers for release and submitting it to DMCA; and
  • issuing a certificate of service (DND 2279) for those who make a written request.
gaining component/subcomponent authority
  • reviewing medical, dental and physical fitness, age and security clearance requirements prior to authorizing Reserve Service;
  • determining, prior to transfer from the Supp Res, if a military occupational qualification is current and incentive pay category and rank are suitable for the period of service; and
  • performing administrative functions associated with the transfer of a Supp Res member.
Supp Res member
  • advising the CO Supp Res of changes to personal circumstances, such as change of address, change in medical employment limitations when issued by the CAF, offences, or service-infractions, which may affect retention in the Supp Res.

9. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD

Other References

Page details

2025-05-27