Defence Minister highlights success of full-time summer employment program 

News release

January 15, 2019 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

As outlined in Canada’s Defence Policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Canadian Armed Forces are committed to employing new and recently enrolled members of the Reserves

Today, at the Fusiliers Mont-Royal Armoury in Montreal, Québec, Minister of National Defence, Harjit S. Sajjan, highlighted the Canadian Armed Forces success during the inaugural year of the full-time summer employment program and encouraged eligible members to participate in the program in the summer of 2019.

In 2018, the program exceeded expectations, seeing more than 7,200 Army Reservists from across Canada participate in the program.

This opportunity is part of the Government of Canada’s on-going commitment made in Strong Secure Engaged to increase the size of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.  

Full-time summer employment strengthens the Army Reserve by enhancing individual training and developing leaders. The program will be open to new recruits and Army Reservists currently enrolled in their first four years of service. The program will also offer full-time work in various occupations across Canada for a four-month period between May 1 and August 31, 2019.

During their summer employment, Reservists will gain unique and relevant work experience and, learn valuable life and leadership skills while earning competitive pay. To accomplish this, priority is given to the training and employment that will best help participants advance in their chosen fields.

Additional multimedia

Reservists from 34 Canadian Brigade Group participate in a mortar class as part of their summer individual training.
Reservists from 34 Canadian Brigade Group participate in a mortar class as part of their summer individual training. Photo: Corporal Yan Chalin, 34 Canadian Brigade Group ©2018 DND/MDN Canada
Reservists from 34 Canadian Brigade Group participate in a field exercise during  their summer individual training.
Reservists from 34 Canadian Brigade Group participate in a field exercise during their summer individual training. Photo: Corporal Yan Chalin, 34 Canadian Brigade Group ©2018 DND/MDN Canada

Quotes

“Through our defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, we are ensuring that Canada’s Reservists are well supported in their careers. It is wonderful to see how many of our Reservists have benefitted from the full-time summer employment program. I am proud of the program’s success, and I encourage Reservists and Canadians to consider this important program.” 

Defence Minister, Harjit S. Sajjan

“Last year’s success is highly encouraging. This is an exciting time to be a Reservist with incredible opportunities for them to complete courses and training essential to advancing their military careers. We look forward to building on this success in 2019.”                                        

Commander of the Canadian Army, Lieutenant-General Jean-Marc Lanthier 

Quick facts

  • One of the objectives in Strong, Secure, Engaged is to increase the size of the Reserve Force to 30,000 (an increase of 1,500), and reduce the recruitment process to a matter of weeks. 

  • Reservists in their first four years of service who wish to take part in the program are not required to participate for the full four months. While they are encouraged to volunteer for as much time as possible, the Canadian Army will support its members and work to find meaningful training for all Reservists who qualify for the program for the dates they are available for employment. 

  • The Army Reserve is a vital enabler to the Canadian Armed Forces and key to force readiness, particularly in regional and domestic operations. In international operations, the role of the Army Reserve is to augment, sustain and support deployed forces.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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