13-26 – ​Return to Unit – Cadets

Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATOs)

General

1. This order describes the procedures to be followed for returning to unit a staff cadet or a cadet from a Cadet Summer Training Centre (CSTC) or any other nationally/regionally authorized activity within the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO).  Return to unit (RTU) should be considered a measure of last recourse.

Definition – Misbehaviour

2. For the purpose of this order misbehaviour means a single or multiple breach of one or several regulations, orders and/or instructions.

Conditions for Return to Unit

3. Staff cadet. Return to unit (RTU) of a staff cadet will be effected under the following circumstances:

1. medical reasons. In all medical situations, the Commanding Officer (CO) will seek advice of the medical staff on the need for RTU of the staff cadet;
2. compassionate reasons;
3. when the parents/guardians or the cadet submit a request for a RTU. Parents may be held liable for transportation costs;
4. unsatisfactory performance; and
5. misbehaviour.

4. Cadets. RTU of cadets will be effected under the following circumstances:

1. medical reasons. In all medical situations, the Commanding Officer (CO) will seek advice of the medical staff on the need for RTU of the cadet;
2. cadets arriving at the training center or assembly point who do not meet age prerequisites must be RTU’d in accordance with the procedures outlined at paragraph 7 below;
3. subject to paragraph 6, the cadet is unable to meet the course prerequisites or standard;
4. compassionate reasons;
5. when the parents/guardians or the cadet submit a request for a RTU.  Parents may be liable for transportation costs; or
6. misbehaviour.

5. Requests for RTU may be accepted by phone or in writing. Requests by phone must be fully documented and a copy of the information placed in the cadet’s file.

6. Cadets without the qualifications for the assigned course or activity should not be RTU’d on those grounds alone. Instead, the cadet should be allowed to continue when, in the judgment of the CO, the cadet is capable of completing the training or activity. The cadet may also be re-assigned to another training course.

Procedures for RTU

7. The RTU of staff cadets and cadets from a training center or other nationally/regionally authorized activity will be effected utilizing the following procedures:

1. the parents/guardians, Area Cadet Officer (ACO) and the CO of the Cadet Corps or the contact officer of the Cadet Corps will be contacted by telephone by the CO of the training centre or activity OPI or delegate prior to the RTU;
2. the training centre or activity OPI will arrange transportation to the cadet’s home through the responsible regional/detachment movement office who in turn will make any air transportation reservations through D Cdts transportation section;
3. the RCSU as well as the cadet’s home region if the cadet comes from another region will be informed by message or e-mail according to the example at Annex A by the CO of the training centre or activity OPI;
4. in the event medical aid is required, a medical escort, determined by medical authorities, must accompany the staff cadet or cadet until he/she reaches his/her home or is met by his/her parents/guardians.  The escort is authorized to update the parents of general state of the cadet; and
5. a letter containing an explanation will be forwarded within seven days by the CO of the training centre or activity OPI after the RTU to the CO RCSU with an info copy to the ACO and if the cadet comes from another region, a copy to the applicable CO RCSU. A sample letter is included as Annex B to this order. The RCSU shall inform the appropriate Cadet Corps CO of the circumstances surrounding the RTU. The cadet corps CO will put a copy of the letter in the cadet’s file. Any letter will be made in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations and orders including privacy and age of majority legislation and regulations. In the case of significant incidents, the procedures outlined in CATO 12-26, Reporting of Significant Incidents shall be followed.

8. A staff cadet or cadet will not be dispatched from a training centre or activity until confirmation that the parents (or another person as designated by the parents) will be available to meet the cadet at the final destination and travel arrangements are made and confirmed.

9. The cadet shall not be released to anyone other than one of the persons listed on the form CF 51 Application and Approval - Cadet Activities (Employment-Course-Exchange). In cases when the parents or guardians cannot receive the cadet at the destination, the form “Request for parental/guardian pickup/drop off of cadet” must be completed by the parent or guardian prior to the departure date.

10. Normally, a cadet should not be dispatched from the training centre or activity unless the travel to the cadets’ home can be accomplished the same day. In exceptional circumstances when travel cannot be accomplished the same day, a request to complete the travel on the second day shall be sent to the CO RCSU for approval.

Transportation Cost Recovery - Voluntary RTU

11. Depending on the circumstances, the CO RCSU or his delegate may decide to request reimbursement of transportation costs associated with a voluntary RTU.

12. If reimbursement is requested and the parents/guardians cannot pay, the cadet shall not be penalized in any way for the parents’ failure to pay.

Finance

13. A cadet who would normally be entitled to a training bonus who is RTU’d shall be paid the authorized training bonus according to the guidelines establish in CATO 17-32, Training Bonus - Cadets.

14. Staff cadets who are RTU’d shall be paid the authorized daily rate according to guidelines established in CATO 13-28, Advanced Training - Staff Cadets including the day of departure.

Cadet Course Report/Staff Cadet Advanced Training Report

15. When a cadet has completed part of the training before being RTU’d, a Cadet Course Report (CF 1364) must be submitted to the RCSU along with the letter mentioned in paragraph 7(e) of this CATO.  In the case of a staff cadet a Staff Cadet Advanced Training Report (CF 1364) must be submitted along with the letter mentioned in paragraph 7(e) of this CATO.  Every attempt shall be made to have the report signed by the staff cadet or cadet before his/her departure from the training establishment or activity and shall be placed in the cadet’s file.

Annexes

Annex A

Message Format for RTU

Annex B

Sample Letter – Return to Unit

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OPI:  D Cdts 2

Date: Jun 06

Amendment:  Ch 4/06