Contingency Cost Move (CCM) and Compassionate Status/Posting
To outline the key element of the CCM, Compassionate Status or Posting for members.
This document does not replace Ref A. It is meant to assist an individual in understanding the key element of the policy and assist them in request the appropriate solution for the situation.
Compassionate Posting
A compassionate posting is a posting approved to alleviate the personal circumstances of a CAF member who is assigned compassionate status.
Compassionate Status
Compassionate status is the status assigned to a CAF member whose personal circumstances limit the CAF member's deployability or ability to perform duties.
Contingency Cost Moves for Personal Circumstances
Contingency cost moves (CCM) for personal circumstances are moves to respond to personal circumstances which do not limit deployability or the ability to perform duties.
Personal Circumstances
A situation or set of interrelated situation faced by a serving military member that is out of the ordinary, unusual, unforeseen, and unavoidable.
This document is to be read in conjunction with references A through C and is designed to provide assistance not override policy. CAF members are required to remain mobile and deployable to meet the needs of the CAF and to enhance training and experience. However, personal circumstances may arise that temporarily limit a CAF member's deployability or ability to perform duties. In these circumstances, the CAF member may be given special consideration in the form of compassionate status, with or without a compassionate posting.
Note: A CAF member may be released if CAF requirements preclude a contingency cost move for personal reasons or compassionate status, with or without a compassionate posting. When staffing such files, it is important to appreciate that the CAF policy regarding compassionate situations is based on the following core principles that recognize the mission of the CAF, and the value of CAF members in fulfilling that mission:
- It is in the best interest of the CAF to retain trained CAF members;
- The well-being of CAF members and their families is critical to the maintenance of the operational effectiveness of the CAF;
- Personal circumstances may arise in which a CAF member would benefit from a posting to a specific geographic location or a posting cancellation;
- A contingency cost move for personal circumstances to a specific geographic location may be considered to permit a CAF member to deal with personal circumstances if the CAF member's deployability and ability to perform duties at the location will not be affected;
- Compassionate status, with or without a compassionate posting, may be considered if a CAF member's deployability or ability to perform duties is limited by personal circumstances; and
- A CAF member is subject to career restrictions if compassionate status is assigned.
General Considerations
CCMs deal with personal circumstances which do not preclude deployment and do not limit the member’s ability to perform his duties, but where a posting to a specified location could help with or stabilize the situation. A member posted under a CCM for personal reasons is not subject to the career restrictions of compassionate status. However, a CCM may only be approved once for the same personal circumstance during a career.
Member’s Responsibilities
CAF members must confirm their deployability and that their ability to perform duties will not be limited; this includes career courses, military operations and exercises. They are also responsible to inform the CO (Commanding Officer) if the circumstances surrounding the case change.
Monitoring
The CO shall monitor the performance of the member and if there is evidence that deployability or the member's ability to carry out his or her duties are negatively affected, the situation shall be reviewed.
Duration
A CCM shall normally be a standard posting length as with CAF members of the same rank and military occupation. At the end of the posting, the CAF member is considered for posting in the same manner as other CAF members of the same rank and military occupation.
Transition Center (TC): Members posted to TC are allowed to make CCM request, however, this request will be handled internally by the TC HQ.
DGMC is the approval authority for General Officers, DSA is the approval authority for Cols/Capt(N) and CWO/CPO1 and D Mil C is the approving authority for LCols/Cdrs and MWO/CPO2 and below. The approval criteria are as follows:
- An establishment vacancy must exist at the unit where the member is being considered for posting;
- The situation must be resolvable within the established timelines;
- The member will normally remain in the geographic location for a minimum of two years.
Steps
- The process is initiated by the member who identifies the situation that warrants consideration because of personal circumstances. As per Ref A, CoC must forward request to DMILC.
- The Chain of command investigates, consults with experts and submits formal, substantiated and well documented requests to the Career Manager (CM). This should include the following:
- CO's letter detailing the member's circumstances with CO's recommendation;
- Social Workers report and recommendation; and
- Any other information deemed relevant to the case.
- Career Manager staffs the request by way of an DFR through their Section Head to D Mil C for consideration.
- DMILC or DGMC as applicable has 14 days to review and render a decision. The Career Manager will then inform the member through their chain of command by PROTECTED B decision message.
- If the CCM is granted, CM will issue posting message with screening instructions for the intended unit/geo-location as applicable.
Unresolved Personal Circumstances.
If the personal circumstances causing the CCM for personal reasons have not been resolved by the end of the posting, the member's CO shall order a further Social Worker's Report and forward it, along with the CO's recommendation to the member’s Career Manager for consideration. The Career Manager will conduct a second DFR and recommend one or more of the following:
- Compassionate status, which is accompanied with applicable career restrictions;
- A posting extension of a maximum of, one year at the same location, can be requested by the member, and if the CO in consultation with the member’s Social Worker concludes that the personal circumstances are likely to be resolved in that period of time. Using the same process, a fourth year can be allowed if the situation is warranted. However, no further extension beyond the fourth year is possible;
- Normal consideration for posting; or
- Compulsory release.
General Considerations
If the personal circumstances of a CAF member limit the member’s deployability or ability to perform duties, compassionate status may be assigned. A compassionate posting may only be approved if compassionate status is assigned.
Obligatory Service
Time served on compassionate status will be included when calculating obligatory service time.
Career Restrictions
Officers of the rank of Captain/Lieutenant(N) and above, and non-commissioned members of the rank of corporal/leading seaman and above, shall not be promoted nor have any promotion protection during a period of compassionate status.
Before bypassing a CAF member on compassionate status for promotion, the Career Manager shall confirm with the CO that the requirement for the compassionate status still exists. In the event that the personal circumstances have been resolved, the compassionate status may be terminated, and the CAF member promoted and posted as required to meet the needs of the CAF.
Selection boards shall consider a CAF member on compassionate status in competition with other CAF members for promotion and for offers of terms of service.
Officers selected for promotion up to the rank of Captain/Lieutenant(N), and Privates/Ordinary Seamen selected for promotion to Corporal/Leading Seaman, may be promoted while on compassionate status, provided the promotion does not cause a change in the CAF member's compassionate status.
As with a CCM, for Compassionate status and/or compassionate postings, DGMC is the approval authority for General Officers, DSA is the approval authority for Cols/Capt(N) and CWO/CPO1 and D Mil C is the approving authority for LCols/Cdrs and MWO/CPO2 and below. Approval criteria state the following:
- An establishment vacancy must exist at the unit where the member is being considered for posting;
- The situation must have a reasonable prospect to be resolvable within two (2) years. Two extensions of one year can be given subsequently;
- If CAF requirements preclude a compassionate status/posting then compulsory release may be considered.
Step 1
The process is initiated by the member who identifies the situation which precludes their deployment or ability to perform their duties by way of a detailed memorandum to his or her chain of command. As per Ref A, CoC must forward request to DMILC.
Step 2
The Chain of command investigates, consults with experts, and submits formal, substantiated and well documented requests to the Career Manager. Once received from the member, the CoC should actioned within 14 days (will be in the DAOD). This request should include the following:
- CO's letter detailing the member's circumstances with CO's recommendation;
- Social Workers report and recommendation. As per the upcoming DAOD 5003-6 will state, a SW must be included. In order for D Mil C to make an informed decision, a SW report is required;
- Member's memorandum to the chain of command; and
- Any other information and supporting documents deemed relevant to the case.
Step 3
Career Manager staffs the request by way of an DFR through their Section Head to D Mil C for consideration. The CM has 14 days to action the DFR once all documentation is obtained.
As part of the DFR process for a compassionate posting, the Career Manager shall conduct a staff check to see if a position exists for the member at the requested location. If a position in the member's occupation does not exist, the Career Manager should consult other Career Managers within the section. If still unable to find an available and appropriate position, advise the Section Coord who will conduct a D Mil C-wide staff check. Double banking in an accountable position that is not an appointment (subunit command, CO’s, CSM/RSM, etc) is acceptable if there is reasonable chance of a vacancy being created later that year. In coordination with the gaining unit, the section coord will ensure compatibility with the mbr’s MOSID, Skills and/or experience. The DFR must include the following items:
- The Social worker report;
- The CoC recommendation; and
- The member request memorandum.
Step 4
Once D Mil C has rendered a decision, the Career Manager informs the member through their chain of command by PROTECTED B letter or message. If the request is not approved, the decision message will state that the request was not supportable IAW policies and include reference to grievance process.
Termination of Compassionate Status
The circumstances that resulted in compassionate status must be resolvable within the time frame allotted and will normally not exceed two years. In advance of the completion of an assigned compassionate status period, the member's CO will forward their recommendation, accompanied by a new Social Worker's Report, to the Career Manager for D Mil C consideration. The Career Manager will staff a follow-on DFR to D Mil C to determine whether compassionate status should be lifted.
If the member's personal issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned, the Career Manager will recommend that compassionate status be lifted and the member be posted IAW the needs of the service. If, however, the personal circumstances causing the compassionate status have not been resolved by the end of the compassionate status period, the Career Manager will recommend one of the following actions:
- Termination of compassionate status;
- A one-year extension; or
- Compulsory release.
If the Career Manager recommends compulsory release or if there is a likely probability that the decision will be to compulsory release the member, the entire file will be disclosed to the member prior to it being forwarded to D Mil C.
Once D Mil C has rendered a decision, the Career Manager informs the member through their chain of command by PROTECTED B letter or message stating the reason for the decision.
DGMC, DSA or D Mil C, as applicable, may terminate compassionate status at any time on the CO’s recommendation and assurance that the personal circumstances no longer limit deployability or employability. As stipulated in the originating Decision Message, the CO's recommendation must be accompanied by a Social Worker's Report. Termination of compassionate status does not necessarily require posting action.
Note: The chain of command must make recommendations at the end of the prescribed time period. Failure on the part of the chain of command to seek a further Social Worker Report and provide the necessary recommendation can result in significant delays in staffing. If a Career Manager has a member within a few months of the end period of his or her period of compassionate status, contact the member’s chain of command and remind them of what is required.
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