SSAV Report Cover Letter

March 29, 2017

Distribution List

SPECIAL STAFF ASSISTANCE VISIT
ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA

On 30 August 2016, I directed the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff to deploy a Special Staff Assistance Visit (SSAV) to assess all aspects of the climate, training environment, culture, and program-construct of the Royal Military College of Canada and its superior headquarters.

This report meets with my expectations in providing a comprehensive assessment of the challenges and opportunities that must be addressed in order to ensure the College remains effective in its primary mission to educate and train future commissioned officers as leaders of the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. I therefore accept the recommendations contained in the report. We now need to conduct a detailed analysis to determine how and when they will be implemented.

There is no single cause for the shortcomings the report addresses. There are a variety of factors spread over a period of many years that led to the need for a SSAV. I am confident the report is a good starting point to improve all aspects of the RMCC experience for staff and Officer Cadets.

Many of the report's more than 70 recommendations β€Žare complex and it is clear that immediate action is required in order to affect the necessary change as quickly and efficiently as possible. Therefore, the Chief of Military Personnel is directed to develop an action plan for my endorsement by the end of May 2017. It is my intent that significant progress on the recommendations will occur in time for the 2017/2018 academic year; however, some larger items will take longer to implement.

I wish to thank Vice-Admiral (Retired) Greg Maddison and his entire team as well as all organizations and individuals who have supported the SSAV. This effort has yielded valuable insight, which I will act upon decisively to ensure RMCC thrives, now and well into the future.

Jonathan H. Vance
General
Chief of the Defence Staff

Enclosure

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