CAF Anthropometric Program for Soldier System Acquisition

Government Institution
Department of National Defence (DND)

Government official responsible for the PIA
BGen Chris Moyle
Director General, Land Equipment Program Management

Head of the government institution or Delegate for section 10 of the Privacy Act
Anne Bank, Executive Director
Directorate Access to Information and Privacy

Standard or Institution Specific Class of Record:
DND WEE 665
Military Clothing and Personal Equipment

Standard or Institution Specific Personal Information Bank:
CAF Anthropometric Program for Soldier System Acquisition (CAPSSA) – Under Development

Background

Studies on recruiting and attrition often cite the challenges faced by military personnel in achieving peak performance in the absence of proper equipment. Studies also cite pain, discomfort, or injury as factors affecting a member’s decision to resign. Not only are medical releases swelling in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), so too are disability claims.

Bearing in mind the above, CAF’s Assistant Deputy Minister, Material (ADM(Mat)), Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence Research and Development (ADM(DRDC)) and Director General of Military Personnel Research and Analysis (DGMPRA), were tasked with renewing efforts at improving the design, fit, and performance of military clothing and equipment. Central to this tasking was the need to establish requirements and definitions for the development of an enterprise-wide anthropometric program.

‘Anthropometrics’ is the application of the science of anthropometry, which defines and measures the size, form, proportions, and functional capacities of the human body. Anthropometric data – widely used for fitness, engineering, architecture, and the design and production of apparel and equipment – has real and significant applications in the design and procurement of clothing and personal equipment within the CAF. It is also important in the design and engineering of weapon platforms, workstations, and defence infrastructure. Anthropometric data can be used to inform decisions regarding the design, fit, sustainment, development, and procurement of new soldier systems, and to improve the operation and effectiveness of existing systems.

Improving Personnel and System Performance

As with other militaries, the CAF has long employed anthropometry in the design and sizing of personal clothing and equipment. Its anthropometric database is, however, limited and outdated. Anthropometric data last collected through the 2012 Canadian Forces Anthropometrics Survey was derived from a limited number of CAF members and is no longer representative of the CAF’s current population. The CAF’s anthropological methods, processes, and reporting systems are also outdated.

The lack of anthropometric data in equipment design and accommodation can result in the issuance of poorly fitting equipment, which in turn can impact the health and safety of soldiers and their performance in training and theatres of war. Injuries and performance impacts arise from a decrease in mobility or comfort, or from issues of usability caused by discomfort, chaffing, and pressure points. Shortfalls in equipment fit become more evident over time, as equipment functionality decreases, further compromising system and soldier performance. While the costs of ill-fitting equipment are not always significant in the short-term, they can lead to unquantifiable long-term costs, including the loss of CAF personnel.

In keeping with the above, the CAF has elected to update its anthropometric database and the solution it uses to support clothing and equipment design and procurement. Under the CAF Anthropometric Program for Soldier System Acquisition (CAPSSA), the CAF intends to procure a small quantity of commercial off-the-shelf three-dimensional (3D) scanning solutions to capture the body morphology of a cross section of its members. CAPSSA will also involve the management and production of anthropometric and demographic reports.

Purpose and Scope of the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)

The Department of National Defence (DND) is named in the Schedule to the Privacy Act and is subject to the privacy policies and directives of the Government of Canada. Under the Policy on Privacy Protection, all federal institutions subject to the Privacy Act are required to undertake an assessment of the privacy impacts associated with the development or design of new programs or services involving personal information (or when making significant changes to an existing program or service). In keeping with the above, DND/CAF has elected to undertake a PIA in relation to CAPSSA and the Program’s collection and use of anthropometric data.

Whereas CAPSSA is still in the early stage of its design, the PIA was intended to inform project requirements and decisions, and to help support the Program’s overall implementation. At the time the PIA was drafted, DND/CAF was in the process of developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for commercial off-the-shelf solutions, to be launched in 2023-24. The full deployment of the Program and the new CAPSSA system is not expected until 2025.

Given the status of the Program, the PIA was limited to an assessment of stated plans and priorities. Program plans, priorities, and requirements may change substantially prior to implementation, such that the PIA may need to be updated prior to Program implementation. Given the sensitivity surrounding the Program, DND/CAF is undertaking several privacy, security, and legal assessments in relation to the CAPSSA, the results of which will be incorporated into future or updated PIA reports.

Summary Results

Based on the results of the PIA, privacy risks arising from CAPSSA are expected to be moderate.  Potential impacts on the privacy of complainants are being properly managed however by DND/CAF through legal, policy and technical measures geared at the protection of personal information. Recommendations included in the PIA are expected to reduce program risks to a low (or acceptable) level.

Risk Area Identification and Categorization

Type of Program or Activity	Risk Level
Administration of Programs / Activity and Services A program or activity that does involve a decision about an identifiable individual.	3

Type of Personal Information Involved and Context	Risk Level
Sensitive personal information, including biometric, DNA, genetic, health, or financial information, which may be particularly sensitive in certain contexts.	5

Program or Activity Partners and Private Sector Involvement	Risk Level
Within the department (amongst one or more programs within the department)  Program partners may include private sector organizations.	4

Duration of the Program or Activity	Risk Level
Long–term program The program is expected to operate without a pre-determined sunset date.	5

Program Population	Risk Level
The program's use of personal information is for internal administrative purposes but only affects certain employees.	1

Technology and Privacy	Risk Level
Does the new or modified program or activity involve the implementation of a new electronic system, software or application program including collaborative software (or groupware) that is implemented to support the program or activity in terms of the creation, collection or handling of personal information?	Yes
Does the new or modified program or activity require substantial modifications to IT legacy systems and / or services?	No
The new or modified program or activity involves the implementation of potentially privacy invasive technologies?	Yes

Information Transmission	Risk Level
The personal information is used in a system that has connections to at least one other system.	3
The personal information may be transferred to a portable device or converted into a different medium.

Risk Impact to the Individual or Employee	Risk Level
Inconvenience.	5
Reputational harm.
Psychological harm.
Physical security.

Risk Impact to the Department	Risk Level
The embarrassment of public officials.	5
A short-term loss of institutional credibility.
Financial harm.
Legal action.

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