Five Year Posting Rule - 25 March 2019

Judge Advocate General
National Defence Headquarters
Major-General George R. Pearkes Building
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K2

0160-1-06580-13-0001

25 March 2019

Chief of Staff — Judge Advocate General

FIVE (5) YEAR POSTING RULE

As you know, on release of the Auditor General’s report on the Administration of Justice in the Canadian Armed Forces in Spring 2018, I directed that most legal officers assigned to the Canadian Military Prosecution Service (CMPS) and Defence Counsel Services (DCS) were to remain in their positions for the 2018/2019 posting year.

Following that immediate response, and in advance of the 2019/2020 posting season, I directed that legal officers will be posted to CMPS or DCS for a minimum of five years, subject only to the availability of a vacant position on the establishment at the appropriate rank, or to the Director of Military Prosecutions' or the Director of Defence Counsel Services' assessment of their respective operational requirements.

I confirm that this continues to be my direction to you, as the Chief of Staff for the Office of the JAG.

It is possible that this direction will change once the analysis of the Legal Officer occupation is completed.  It is my hope that this analysis will provide the data to identify the appropriate approach to ensure the necessary litigation expertise, which could result in a different approach to postings within the Office of the JAG.

Geneviève Bernatchez
Commodore
613-992-3019 / 613-995-3155

c.c.
Deputy Judge Advocate General – Military Justice
Director of Defence Counsel Services
Director of Military Prosecutions