Summer Students: Welcome to the Defence Team!
May 29, 2023 - Defence Stories

Welcome to the Defence Team!
We are thrilled to embrace your diverse perspectives to help us grow, and together, build the future of our organization! As a new student to the Department of National Defence, there is a lot to learn in your new role. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. We have plenty of great resources to help you navigate your new role at DND:
- The Student Passport will guide you through the onboarding process, starting on your first day and then at key milestones throughout your work term. It is essential that you complete the tasks, as this will help you to grow, integrate, and become more familiar with the Defence Team.
- The Student Cheat Sheet will serve as your one-stop guide for a quick reference, tips and guidance, and tools to help you understand the organization.
- Delivered virtually by the Learning and Career Centres (LCCs), the DND Orientation Session for New Students will introduce you to the culture and environment of DND and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). You will learn about the various DND/CAF organizations, their roles, their responsibilities, and your pay. You should receive an email invitation to this session. If you do not, please contact DND’s Onboarding team with a copy of your Letter of Offer (LOO).
Check out these networks to create a community of connections to maximize your experience here at DND:
- DND’s Student Corner (accessible only on the National Defence network)
- GC Students
- Student Social Network
- Defence Employment Equity Advisory Groups (DAGs) (accessible only on the National Defence network)
- Defence Team Young Professionals Network (DT YPN) (accessible only on the National Defence network)
When employees self-identify as being a member of an employment equity group, it helps the department measure its ongoing progress toward reflecting Canada’s changing demographics in its workforce. If you are interested, you may ask your manager about self-identifying or contact Diversity-Diversite@forces.gc.ca if you have questions about the self-identification program.
Your supervisor is your first point of contact if you have any questions about your onboarding experience.
If you have an HR question, you can contact HR Connect RH (accessible only on the National Defence network) online or by calling 1-833-747-6363!
Welcome aboard!