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Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 14/04 – The Canadian Armed Forces (Regular Force and Primary Reserve) Compulsory Retirement Age

Table of Contents

  1. Identification
  2. Definitions
  3. Overview
  4. Compulsory Retirement Age 60
  5. Transition
  6. References
  7. Annexes

 

   

Chef of Military Personnel Crest

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2004-07-09

Date of Modification: 2025-02-28

Application: This instruction applies to all members of the Regular Force and Primary Reserves. 

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. Definitions

Age 60 Release (Libération à l’âge de 60 ans)

The age specified at Table H to QR&O 15.17 (officers) and Table E to QR&O 15.31 (Non-Commissioned Members). Upon reaching age 60, the member shall be released unless an extension is authorized.

Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) (Age de la retraite obligatoire (ARO))

This is the age beyond which a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) may not serve, unless an extension to CRA is authorized. The age that is applicable to an officer or non-commissioned member of the Regular Force will be in accordance with the appropriate table to QR&O 15.17 (Officers) and QR&O 15.31 (NCMs). The age that is applicable to members of the Primary Reserve will be as authorized by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS).

3. Overview

Purpose

3.1 This instruction amplifies QR&O 15.17, Release of Officers – Age and Length of Service and QR&O 15.31, Release of Non-Commissioned Members – Age and Length of Service. It also amends the CFAOs noted above.

General 

3.2 Information pertaining to the release of Officers and Non-Commissioned Members of the Regular Force is contained in CFAO 15-2, Release – Regular Force. Release information for the Primary Reserve is contained in CFAO 49-10, Terms of Service Reserve Officer and CFAO 49-11, Terms of Service Non-Commissioned Members Primary Reserve.

4. Compulsory Retirement Age 60

General 

4.1 This section outlines the procedures that will allow members of the Regular Force and Primary Reserve serving on 30 June 2004 to convert their current retirement age to 60.

Principles

4.2 A member who wishes to elect CRA 60 must:

  1. do so in writing using the election form at Annex A. The form must be acknowledged by the member’s Commanding Officer or representative; and
  2. acknowledge that the change to CRA 60 does not guarantee service until age 60. Compulsory retirement age does not displace mechanisms to manage personnel flow in order to maintain an effective force.

4.3 Election of CRA 60 is irrevocable; consequently, requests to revert to the CRA to which the member was subject prior to electing CRA 60 will not be accepted.

5. Transition

Regular Force

5.1 A member who enrols in the Regular Force on or after 1 July 2004 will have a retirement age of 60 years. Members of the Regular Force serving on 30 June 2004 will have the opportunity to select a retirement age of 60 years no later than one year prior to their current retirement age. Completing the election form at Annex A activates this selection. 

5.2 This provision is waived for those members who have less than one year to serve to CRA or who are serving on an extension beyond CRA as of 1 July 2004. If these members wish to select a CRA of 60 they must make that selection no later than 30 days prior to their current retirement age or expiration of CRA extension. During the period immediately after the effective date of CRA 60 (1 July 2004), members whose circumstances rule out compliance with the 30 day notification period will be processed on a case-by-case basis. Inside the 30-day window, the election will be processed, but there is increased risk of administrative problems. 

5.3 There is no action required by members of who do not wish to elect CRA 60.

5.4 Human Resources Management Services (HRMS) records will be updated at the Unit Record Section (URS). 

Primary Reserve

5.5 Members of the Primary Reserve who enrol on or after 1 July 2004 will be subject to a retirement age of 60 years. Primary Reserve members serving on 30 Jun 2004 will have the opportunity to elect a retirement age of 60 years at any time prior to their 54th birthday. Completing the election form at Annex A activates this selection. 

5.6 This provision is waived for those members who wish to select the retirement age of 60 and who, as of 1 July 2004: 

  1. have passed their 54th birthday; or
  2. are serving on an extension to their CRA; and
  3. are serving in an establishment position that would allow continued service.

5.7 These members must complete the election form at Annex A at least 30 days prior to their 55th birthday or the expiration of their extension period. During the period immediately after the effective date of CRA 60 (1 July 2004), members whose circumstances rule out compliance with the 30 day notification period will be processed on a case-by-case basis. Inside the 30 day window, the election will be processed, but there is increased risk of administrative problems. 

5.8 There is no action required by members of who do not wish to elect CRA 60.

5.9 HRMS records will be updated at the Unit Record Section.

6. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD

Other References 

7. Annexes

  1. Annex A - Request to Change Compulsory Retirement Age to 60
  2. Annex B - CFAO Amendments
    1. Appendix 1 – CFAO 6-2, Re-Engagement NCMs Regular Force
    2. Appendix 2 – CFAO 9-70, Special Commissioning Plan
    3. Appendix 3 – CFAO 11-14, Special Requirements Commissioning Plan
    4. Appendix 4 – CFAO 15-2, Release Regular Force
    5. Appendix 5 – CFAO 15-4, Release by Age and Years of Service Members Other than Officers
    6. Appendix 6 – CFAO 49-9, Terms of Service General Service Officers Regular Force
    7. Appendix 7 – CFAO 49-10, Terms of Service Reserve Officers
    8. Appendix 8 – CFAO 49-11, Terms of Service Non-Commissioned Members Primary Reserve

Page details

2025-05-27