Ministers Sajjan and O’Regan announce stand up of Transition Group focused on improving the transition experience of Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families
News release
December 10, 2018 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces / Veterans Affairs Canada
The Government of Canada is improving the transition of Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families from military to civilian life by ensuring there is a full range of support and services available to them.
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, today announced the stand up of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group.
The creation of the Transition Group is a key aspect of improving the transition experience for Canadian Armed Forces members and their families; it will ensure that members begin to think about transition earlier in their careers with leadership guidance and mandatory training that will make them feel equipped, confident and secure to plan and prepare for life after service.
The new formation will deliver personalized, guided casualty support and transition services to Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families, with special care and attention to those who are ill and injured. In collaboration with key partners, including Veterans Affairs Canada, the Transition Group will design a renewed process with a goal of assisting Canadian Armed Forces members in their journey throughout their career and beyond.
The stand up of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group introduces the launch of the Transition Trial at Canadian Forces Base Borden, a pilot project that will assist the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group in developing the professional, standardized, and personalized approach to transition that will eventually be put in place across the Canadian Armed Forces.
The stand up of this Transition Group is also an important step in ensuring a seamless transition for Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families to life after service. In the same way, it also responds to the commitment made in Canada’s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged to better support members as they transition to post-military life.
Today’s announcement comes with the launch of the Military Career Transition portal on Canada.ca, where members, veterans and families can access information on support and services throughout the transition process, including a new online Transition Guide.
Quotes
“The care and support of ill and injured members and their families, and the families of fallen members, is our top priority. The Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group will continue to work with its partners to ensure that ill and injured members and their families receive the full range of care, compensation, and benefits available to them. Whether on the road to recovery, rehabilitation, returning to duty, or transitioning to life after service, we are dedicated to supporting them in their journey.”
Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Defence
“We want to make sure that Veterans have purpose, are financially secure, safely housed, in good physical and mental health, resilient in the face of change, well integrated in the community, and proud of their legacy. The Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group will help deliver on our Government’s commitment to not only improve benefits and services for Veterans, but for their families as well.”
Seamus O`Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of Defence
“Canada`s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged directed the creation of a new Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group to provide support to all members for their next mission in life. We are committed to honouring those that have selflessly served this country, by continuing to take additional steps to finding solutions that will improve the health, wellbeing, and financial security of our military members, veterans, and their families.”
General Jonathan H. Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff
Quick facts
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The establishment of the Transition Group is another in a series of Government of Canada investments to improve the experience of transitioning military members, Veterans, and their families.
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Equipped with additional personnel, information, and tools, newly created Transition Units and Transition Centres will evolve with the formalizing of a future model for Transition Centres and the transition process. This will come out of lessons learned during the Transition Trial at Canadian Forces Base Borden.
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Each year, approximately 10,000 Canadian Armed Forces members transition from military service to post-military life.
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Contacts
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
Alex Wellstead
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defense
Email: Alex.Wellstead@canada.ca
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