Supporting CAF Reconstitution with the Interim Reconstitution Employment Measure (IREM)

August 9, 2024 - Defence Stories

While we focus on the readiness and long-term health of our military, we are taking bold steps in support of CAF Reconstitution. As part of these efforts, we are announcing the Interim Reconstitution Employment Measure (IREM) at a time when the CAF has critically low effective strength and depleted experience to ensure its operational effectiveness.

Along with our recruitment efforts, leveraging the talent and experience of our trained members will help address our personnel shortages. The preservation of CAF institutional knowledge is paramount to a capable force and is a central element to sustaining an operationally ready CAF.

The IREM is an extraordinary measure that supports the temporary employment of trained CAF members with permanent medical limitations, during the reconstitution period.

To be eligible for an IREM, CAF members must:

• Be part of the Regular Force or the Primary Reserves;
• Have reached Operational Functional Point in their currently assigned occupation;
• Perform military duties at an assigned workplace unless identified as an employment limitation, and during hours normally expected from a Regular Force or the Primary Reserve member;
• Have valid Terms of Service (TOS) for continued employment, noting there may be a requirement to renew the TOS and that the IREM will not extend beyond the compulsory retirement age of 60;
• Be within an occupation experiencing a critical shortage, or one in which the Commanding Officer (CO) identifies a requirement for a specific skill set;
• Maintain an expected standard of conduct and performance that will not lead to an earlier or immediate release; and
• Be recommended by their CO.

While on an IREM, CAF members do not have to meet the FORCE/Common Military Task Fitness Evaluation requirements.

Further career implications for members on an IREM should be considered. The IREM may be approved on a case-by-case basis for a three-year period. Members who are eligible for IREM may continue to receive posting instructions to meet the needs of the CAF and are not eligible for promotions or career courses.

We encourage members to read Canadian Forces Military Personnel Instruction 03/24 (accessible only on the National Defence network) to learn more about these provisions and discuss them with their Chain of Command.

The IREM is mutually beneficial to members, their families, and the CAF. It is a strong effort that serves to contribute as a temporary measure to CAF Reconstitution.

This is just one measure that we are taking to urgently fill the gap between our actual force size and our authorized force size. As directed in Our North, Strong and Free, we are concurrently working to modernize our recruitment processes, create a probationary period to enable the faster enrolment of applicants, streamline the security clearance process, and re-evaluate medical requirements.

We must and can get this done together – and we thank you for your ongoing work to this end.