CAF public service priority entitlement

Public Service Employment

The Public Service Employment Act aims to help Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and veterans access federal public service job opportunities.

If you are thinking about applying for a job with the federal public service, here is what you should know.

While you wait for more information on your eligibility, please review the following content for more context on Priority Hiring Entitlement and its advantages to CAF members.

Medical Release

In order to improve and simplify services offered to CAF members and veterans and in the hope of creating a single point of contact for all matters related to the transition from military to civilian life, CAF Transition Centers (CAF TCs) will provide administrative support and priority entitlement information to eligible CAF members or Veterans. The Director Casualty Support Management (DCSM) will remain responsible for the policy and assessment of the policy on behalf of the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Canada.

A member may initiate the administration related to the activation of their priority entitlement up to 30 days in advance of their date of release, however, a member must be completely released from the CAF to have and/or use a priority entitlement.

Criteria to be eligible

Must be medically Released 3a/3b;
The applicant must be officially released from the CAF to apply;
Must apply within 5 years following Date of Release (DOR).

Process

Within five years following the date of release, it is the Veteran’s responsibility to contact the National Priority Management Team (NPMT) with DND Civilian Human Resources (DND-HR) to activate their priority entitlement and for registration in the Public Service Commission's Priority Information Management System (PIMS). The NPMT contact information will be provided to them by the CAF TC Services Manager/ Coordinator (CAF TC Svcs Mgr/Coord). The veteran must provide the NPMT with the following documentation:

a letter from the DCSM stating that the CAF member has been or will be medically released under release item 3(a) or 3(b) and confirming the date of release (DOR);
for Veterans with a service attributable medical release, a copy of the two-page cover letter provided to them by VAC following a favourable Medical Release Attributable to Service Determination (VAC 1002e)(note : the official determination document is private information and veterans do not need to provide it to DCSM or to the NPMT);
a copy of the certification or letter from a competent authority (a health care professional) stating the date that the person is fit to return to work. The fitness date indicated in the letter from the competent authority must be within five years of the date of release, and must be submitted to NPMT within this period, even if the veteran is awaiting the outcome of the VAC 1002 determination (this is very important for medically released reserve force members not eligible to regulatory priority). A current template of the PSC approved fitness letter is provided in annex A. As the priority entitlement begins on the date specified by the competent authority. It is important that the fitness documentation be obtained and submitted to NPMT as close as possible to the return-to-work date, allowing members to take maximum advantage of the five-year priority period. A separate competent authority letter may be needed to document and support the veteran’s workplace limitation and accommodation needs (annex B), but this additional information is not required, nor part of the priority activation process itself. Note: Veterans are usually advised to wait as close as possible to the end of re-training under Manulife’s or VAC’s vocational rehabilitation programs before activating the priority; and
an up-to-date résumé or curriculum vitae, in electronic format such as MS Word, but not PDF, and any other relevant documents to help the veteran market themselves. An optional résumé template is available from the PSC’s web site.

Voluntary / Honourable Release

CAF members transitioning to a public service position

Learn about  Priority, Preference, and Mobility entitlements for CAF members transitioning to the public service.

Are you a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member planning to transition to the Public Service (Ensure a smooth transition by reviewing the following items at least two months before you plan to leave the CAF. Before transitioning from the CAF to the Public service within DND, contact HR Connect RH (accessible only on the National Defence network) at 1-833-747-6363 to book a consultation with a Compensation agent to discuss your transition plan.

Note: As part of the out-clearance for CAF members who are Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol)/Commander (Cdr) and above who are planning to transition to the Public Service, must fill out the DND 2840 form (accessible only on the National Defence network) and send it to the Conflict of Interest (COI) Section by email at COIDEP-CIPED@forces.gc.ca for post-employment guidelines. The COI team will provide the relevant recommendations to ensure you do not place yourself or the department in a conflict of interest situation.;

Pension

Contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre at 1-800-267-0325 to discuss the details of your CAF pension. Then, contact the Public Service Pension Centre at 1-800-561-7930 to discuss the options that are relevant to your personal situation, including your consideration to transfer your CAF pension to the Public Service Pension Plan (PSSA).

Important: Pension contributions are capped at a maximum of 35 years of combined Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA)/RCMP and Public Service Pension Plan (PSSA) pensionable service.

Benefits

We recommend you take the time to review the Benefits Guide for former CAF Members [PDF, 407.3 KB] as this guide covers such things as salary on appointment, application for continuous employment, pension surrender, benefits, leave, probationary period and relocation.

For additional information, review the public service group insurance benefits plans which are available to you as a public servant. You may wish to defer adhering to the medical and dental care plans as a CAF Pensioner since plan contribution rates are less costly under the Public Service plans.

Ex-military leave credits

To obtain recognition of prior service as a CAF member, for the purpose of determining vacation leave entitlements only, employees must submit:

a copy of their Member Personnel Record Resume (MPRR) after their release or an MPRR confirming the date of their release; and
a copy of a release message or a letter that states the date of their release.

To do so, you need to submit a Pay Action Request (PAR) through the Human Resource Services and Support (HRSS) (accessible only on the National Defence network) portal. Login to HRSS and go to: Submit Pay Action > Submit PAR. Ensure to complete all mandatory fields on the PAR form, including:

Work Type: Leave;
Sub Work Type: Establishing Service Dates;
Attach a copy of your MPRR and your release message/letter under “Attachments”, then click “Submit”.

Important: a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) card is required to access the HRSS system. If you do not have access to the Defence Wide Area Network (DWAN) or require assistance navigating the HRSS system call HR Connect RH (accessible only on the National Defence network) at 1-833-747-6363.

Medical Release Details

Priority Hiring entitlement (PH) goal is to secure an indeterminate position in the federal government after a CAF member has been medically release. The process can start up to 30 days before the final date of release (DOR). However, it can only be activated once the CAF member has officially been released and they have 5 years to use it after activation

Statutory priorities

CAF members can apply if they have been released for medical reasons that are attributable to service (3a).

Submit VAC 1002 form via “My VAC account”;
Medical Release Attributable to Service Determination (VAC 1002).

*Persons with a statutory priority are appointed ahead of all others

Regulatory priorities

CAF members can apply if they have been released for medical reasons not attributable to service (3b)

Regular Force;
Reserve Force on Class C service;
Reserve Force on Class B service of more than 180 days.

**Persons with a regulatory priority are appointed after persons with a statutory priority, but in no relative order.

If you think you are eligible or would like to request additional information, please complete the CAF priority entitlement for medically released members form and a DCSM employee will be in contact with you shortly.

Important information on activation CAF Medically Released Priority Entitlement

This content was prepared to help you with the activation of your priority entitlement following your final date of release from the CAF.

Important: If you wish to activate your priority entitlement immediately after your release, you may also start the administrative process, up to thirty (30) days prior to your final Date of Release (DOR) which is the date indicated on the Release Notification Message (RNM) provided by your release section.

However, the actual priority entitlement cannot be active until the day after your final DOR from the CAF.

How does CAF Medically Released Priority Entitlement priority entitlement work?

The goal of the priority entitlement is to secure an indeterminate position (i.e., permanent job) in the federal public service.
A CAF priority entitlement must be activated within five years of the DOR.
- There are no exceptions and no excuses to this limit.
Once activated, the CAF priority entitlement can run for a maximum of five years.
- It cannot be extended for any reason.
The CAF Medically Released Priority Entitlement is a one-time deal; once used, it done.
When a public service manager has to fill a position, they must consider persons with a priority first.
It is the right for a person with a priority to be appointed before all others who do not have a priority entitlement, if they meet the essential qualifications and the conditions of employment of the position.
If you meet the essential qualifications and the conditions of employment, and there is no one else competing for the position with the same level of priority or higher, the hiring organization should be offering you the job or advising you in writing why they think you do not meet the essential qualifications for the position in question.
If you feel you were not assessed or considered fairly, contact the PSC Priority Entitlement Consultants and/or the PSC Veterans Advisors.
- PSC Call Centre at 1-888-780-4444 or use the form found at Contact us.
- email to veterans@cfp-psc.gc.ca and indicating that you would like to make contact with one of the Veterans Advisors.

To use your priority entitlement, you must first try to find a job, once you have found one that you are interested in, you can now start the process.

Do you have a GC Jobs account?

Government of Canada jobs
Can you see internal advertised job opportunities as well as external advertised job opportunities?
- If not, add your CAF Service Number
When you create an applicant account in GC Jobs
- Go to ‟My account, personal information, in the Name and identification” section:
  - be sure to enter your service number and your name exactly as it appears on your Members Personnel Record Resume (MPRR) (e.g., Daniel, not Dan; Christine, not Chrissy)
Applying for Government of Canada jobs

If you think you are eligible for this process, please see below the documents you will need from DCSM to be able to continue with NPMT.

Documents needed for ND Human Resources (DND-HR) National Priority Management Team (NPMT).

The National Priority Management Team (NPMT) activates your priority in PIMS.

Send an email to NPMT: PriorityManagement-GestiondesPriorites@forces.gc.ca

Documentation needed for DND-HR NPMT:

DCSM priority entitlement letter (mandatory)
- Directorate of Casualty Support Management (DCSM) will provide you with a letter confirming the date of release for medical reasons.
- This is a letter confirming your date of release and that you were release for medical reasons
VAC 1002 Cover Letter (if applicable)
- VAC is the only organization to make the determination that a medical release is attributable to service.
- Following your VAC 1002 application, VAC will send you a package of information with their determination.
- Take note that you only need to provide the two-page cover letter to NPMT.
- If you have completed the VAC 1002, you don't have to wait for the decision to activate your priority. Once VAC reaches a decision and sends you the supporting documentation, then you can easily ‘upgrade’ your regulatory priority to the statutory priority level and your clock is then set back to 5 years
PIMS résumé
- must be detailed (list of experiences and skills acquired in each position / focus on relevant information),
- must list all your educational information and achievements. it should not use or contain military jargon and abbreviations
- should use as much public service language and terminology as possible,
- should be written for civilian managers.
- should be submitted in MS Word and in simple text document (do not send a PDF or resume with all kinds of different text boxes)
Fitness letter
- The fitness letter (certifying your readiness to return to work) is required to activate your priority.
- This document simply states that you are ready to return to work as of a specified date.
- Serving members: request the document during your release medical, especially if you are planning on activating the priority right after the DOR, or if you are not certain to have access to regular health care following your DOR.
- Released members: you may obtain the document from a civilian “competent authority”; this is a good idea if you do not plan to activate your priority immediately or shortly after your DOR.
- The date indicated on the fitness letter, or your DOR, whichever is later, is used to start the five-year clock running on your priority entitlement. If you use a stale-dated letter, you will lose time out of the five years.
- You must submit the fitness letter to NPMT within the five-year period following your DOR, even if you’re still waiting for the VAC 1002 determination. If you do not submit the fitness letter to NPMT before the end of the five-year period, you will lose the priority entitlement.

Extra Information

Do you know why it’s important to submit a VAC 1002?

This form is submitted through your My VAC account. Following a favourable determination, you will have what is called a statutory priority.
There are four levels of statutory priority. The highest level of statutory priority is for CAF members with a service-related medical release. They are considered ahead of all others who have a priority entitlement.
Persons with a regulatory priority entitlement are appointed after persons with a statutory priority entitlement, but in no relative order. The CAF regulatory priority is granted to those eligible CAF members whose medical release is not attributable to service, or not yet attributable to service, if they are awaiting a VAC 1002 determination.

What is the Priority Information Management System (PIMS)?

PIMS is a tool to help human resources (HR) professionals administer priority entitlements. You will hear this term being used in connection with various aspects of the process.
The PIMS identifies not-yet-advertised positions in the public service that persons with a priority entitlement may wish to consider and pursue.
You can think of it as being part of a “hidden job market” that is only accessible to persons with a priority entitlement.

How does PIMS work?

When PS managers have to fill a position, they go to PIMS system first to look if there is a person with a priority that meets the essential qualifications for the job. Managers will do a search using key words and phrases in their Statement of Merit Criteria (SOMC) for the essential qualifications and if you have them in your profile that will get you noticed by the system’s search.
If it appears to managers that you may meet the essential qualifications for the jobs, PIMS will send you a job notification (this is completely separate from GC jobs notifications you may receive). Each email will ask you to let the hiring organization know, within a specified timeframe, if you are interested in the position or not and it will provide the next steps in the process.
You must reply to each PIMS email because PIMS also sends the names of the identified persons with a priority entitlement to the hiring organization so that they know who they are awaiting responses from.

If you want to know more about NPMT or have any questions about the process, please contact them by email PriorityManagement-GestiondesPriorites@forces.gc.ca

Useful resources:

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Date modified:: 2024-10-03

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