DAOD 5023-0, Universality of Service

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Policy Direction
3. Consequences
4. Authority
5. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2006-05-19

Effective Date: 2006-05-08

Date of Last Modification: 2025-04-01

Date of the Last Review: 2025-04-01

Application: This DAOD is an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Regular Force (Reg F) and the Primary Reserve (P Res).

Note 1 – This DAOD does not apply to members of the Supplementary Reserve (Supp Res) as they are not required to perform military or any other form of duty or training as members of that sub-component.

Note 2 – This DAOD does not apply to members of the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (COATS) as the nature of their duties does not engage the principle of universality of service.

Note 3 – This DAOD does not apply to members of the Canadian Rangers (CR) as the nature of their duties does not engage the principle of universality of service.

In this DAOD, the term “CAF members” is used to identify the members of the CAF to whom this DAOD applies.

This DAOD is also a directive that applies to employees of the Department of National Defence (DND employees) solely for the purpose of supervisory duties when they supervise CAF members.

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Policy Office of Primary Interest: Director Military Careers Policy and Grievances (DMCPG)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. Policy Direction

Context

2.1 The mission of the CAF is to provide combat-effective, multi-purpose forces at home and abroad to protect Canada and Canadians. 

2.2  To execute this mission, the CAF must be given broad authority and latitude to call upon the unique and distinct skills of CAF members as members of the profession of arms. The statutory basis for this authority is section 33 of the National Defence Act. The fundamental importance of this authority that impacts the functioning and effectiveness of the CAF is recognized in subsection 15(9) of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which provides that the duty to accommodate under subsection 15(2) of that Act is subject to the principle of universality of service (U of S). The principle of U of S is also recognized in section 9 of the Accessible Canada Act.

2.3 Under this principle, CAF members must at all times and under any circumstances perform any lawful duty. Effective performance of the broad range of defence and security tasks assigned to the CAF requires that CAF members be capable of performing a similarly broad range of general military, common defence and security duties, in addition to the more particular duties of their military occupation or occupational specification. 

Policy Statement

2.4 The CAF is committed to the application and enforcement of the principle of U of S. Therefore, CAF members must meet minimum operational standards related to U of S. CAF members who are permanently unable to meet these standards will be transitioned out of the Reg F and P Res.

Requirements

2.5 The DND and the CAF must:

1. assess a CAF member’s ability to meet minimum operational standards related to U of S;
2. provide supportive actions, services, and opportunities to address temporary circumstances which would represent a CAF member’s inability to meet minimum operational standards related to U of S if they became permanent; and
3. support CAF members who are permanently unable to meet minimum operational standards related to U of S throughout their transition out of the Reg F and P Res in accordance with the provisions of transition to post-military life policies.

3. Consequences

General

3.1 Should clarification of the policy statement, requirements or authorities set out in this DAOD be required, DND employees and CAF members may seek direction through their channel of communication or chain of command, as appropriate. The anticipated results set out in the policy statement may not be achieved by the DND and the CAF if the requirements specified in this DAOD are not properly implemented. Not achieving the anticipated results could affect the ability of the DND and the CAF to ensure that the CAF is prepared to undertake missions for the protection of Canada and Canadians and the maintenance of international peace and stability.

4. Authority

4.1 CMP has the authority to develop and approve policies and instructions concerning U of S.

5. References

Act, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Policy DAOD

• Canadian Human Rights Act
• Accessible Canada Act
• National Defence Act 
• DAOD 1000-7, Policy Framework for Military Personnel Management

 

Other References

• DAOD 5023-1, Minimum Operational Standards Related to Universality of Service
• DAOD 5023-2, Common Military Tasks Fitness Evaluation
• R-01-007-000-AG-000, Body of Research for Minimum Operational Standards Related to Universality of Service
• Canadian Armed Forces Ethos: Trusted to Serve