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8060-7 Annex C - Selection Process

Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group Order (CJCR Gp O)

Selection Process

1. The selection process, depending on the specific course, will be comprised of two or three assessment factors which will be administered in the following order:

  1. qualifying exam;
  2. file review; and
  3. merit interview.

2. It is recommended that cadets attend the pre-selection briefing for GPTC/PPTC, organized by each RCSU OC Air Ops.

3. The following table outlines the minimum score for each assessment factor and the composition of the final score:

Activity

Assessment Factors

Minimum Score Required

% of Final Score
IACE File Review   75%
Merit Interview 50% 25%
PPTC Qualifying Exam 50% 40%
File Review   35%
Merit Interview 50% 25%
GPTC Qualifying Exam 50% 40%
File Review   35%
Merit Interview 50% 25%

4. The RCSU will generate selection lists, by region/province and by activity using data exported from the Fortress ranking tool. Cadets will be prioritized for selection, highest to lowest score, based on their final score.

5. RCSUs will use the generated selection list when making selections for each activity. In accordance with the number of billets allocated to the region/province, the RCSU will identify on each selection list if a cadet is selected or on stand-by.

6. If a squadron has submitted the maximum number of applications for an activity, the lowest scoring applicant will be placed on stand-by, following the interview stage.

7. Cadets placed on stand-by will be used to backfill positions as they become available. Backfills will be selected based on the applicable selection list, except in the instance that a cadet has been designated as stand-by due to their squadron reaching their maximum number of selections. In this case, the cadet will not be selected unless a previously selected cadet from the same squadron withdraws and that cadet is the next-ranked cadet, or there are no other cadets remaining on the regional/provincial selection list for that activity.

8. Should there be no stand-by cadets left on the regional/provincial selection list, the billet will be reallocated by CJCR HQ in accordance with the billet allocation calculator. 

Explanation of the Assessment Factors

Qualifying Exam

9. In accordance with CATO 54-27, Power Pilot Scholarship Course and CATO 54-26, Glider Pilot Scholarship Course, all PPTC and GPTC applicants are required to pass a qualifying exam.

10. The qualifying exam will be conducted and administered as part of the Air Cadet National Online Ground School (OGS). Cadets must complete all of the national OGS to undertake the qualifying exam.

11. There is no limit on the number of cadets per squadron who can apply for the national OGS and write the qualifying exam. However, cadets must meet the activity specific eligibility requirements, found at Annex A, in order to be selected for national OGS.

12. Qualifying exam scores will be forwarded to squadron COs in accordance with timelines detailed in Annex D.

13. Cadets who fail to meet the minimum score of 50% on the qualifying exam will not be permitted to continue in the selection process.

14. The cadet’s score on the qualifying exam will be entered by the RCSU as a percentage, e.g. 86.35%, into the Fortress ranking tool.

File Review

15. The file review will be completed using the Fortress ranking tool. The file review is based on the cadet’s Fortress records and the manually inputted education score. Cadets will be awarded points in the following scoring factors:

  1. attendance – mandatory local activities;
  2. current rank;
  3. Regionally Directed Activity participation;
  4. Nationally Directed Activity participation;
  5. Cadet Training Centre (CTC) qualifications;
  6. total number of years enrolled in the cadet program;
  7. age;
  8. Cadet Fitness Assessment level;
  9. CTC staff cadet rank;
  10. Squadron CO priority ranking;
  11. RCSU CO priority ranking/OC Air Ops priority ranking; and
  12. education.

16. The scoring factors, their associated point distribution and explanation on how they are calculated is detailed in Annex E.

17. No manual adjustment of points is authorized. It is critical that squadrons ensure each cadet’s Fortress record is up to date.

Merit Interview

18. The merit interview will be conducted virtually under the direction of the RCSU.

19. CJCR HQ publishes the maximum number of interview positions by region/province and by activity. Interview positions will be calculated based on the number of billets allocated, plus 50%, with a minimum of five interviews conducted per region/province and by activity.

20. The merit interview must be conducted in accordance with the Interview Guide for Board Members published by CJCR HQ. This guide will be provided to board members by the RCSU in accordance with timelines indicated at Annex D.

21. An Interview Guide for Cadets will be published by CJCR HQ to assist cadets with preparing for the merit interview. This guide will be provided to cadets by the RCSU in accordance with timelines indicated at Annex D.

22. The purpose of the merit interview is to assess each cadet in person and assign them a score using the provided scoring rubric. The interview will determine:

  1. level of civic engagement;
  2. breadth of knowledge of the Cadet Program;
  3. ability to express themselves and their ideas in a confident manner;
  4. level of interest in aviation (PPTC and GPTC applicants only); and
  5. awareness of current domestic and international events (IACE applicants only).

23. All merit interview boards will have a board chairperson (minimum rank Captain) who will be responsible for overseeing the conduct of the interviews, as well as managing all administrative requirements.

24. Any of the following individuals may comprise the three-person interview board (there must be at least one CIC Officer on every board):

  1. CIC Officer (Cadet Flying Training Centre staff, squadron CO, RCSU staff);
  2. COATS General Service Officer (GSO) or COATS General Service Non-Commissioned Member (GS NCM); 
  3. Regular Force Officer/Senior NCM or Reserve Force Officer/Senior NCM; 
  4. member of the Air Cadet League of Canada; or
  5. interested civilian with relevant skills, knowledge and experience.

25. Cadets must achieve a minimum score of 50% on the merit interview in order to progress in the selection process.

26. The cadet’s score, averaged from the score of the three-person interview board, will be entered by the RCSU as a percentage, e.g. 86.35%, into the Fortress ranking tool.

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Division of Responsibilities

27. CJCR HQ will:

  1. update scoring factors in the Fortress ranking tool;
  2. allocate and manage billets, annually by region/province and by activity;
  3. publish and manage activity serials in Fortress;
  4. publish annually a maximum number of interview positions, by region/province and by activity;
  5. develop, publish and maintain the interview guides (board member and cadet);
  6. monitor the execution of the plan;
  7. move selected IACE cadet participation applications from the generic IACE serial to the country specific serials; and
  8. archive final data extract.

28. RCSUs will:

  1. post activity serials in Fortress, ensuring that application start and end dates are as directed;
  2. conduct virtual PPTC/GPTC pre-selection briefings;
  3. oversee the entering of the qualifying exam, to include:
    1. consolidating the qualifying exam score by squadron;
    2. forwarding the qualifying exam scores to squadron COs;
    3. entering the cadets’ qualifying exam score into the Fortress ranking tool; and
    4. refusing the Fortress participation application for any cadet who did not attain at least the minimum score of 50% on the qualifying exam.
  4. review cadet participation applications, in Fortress, by activity, to confirm they meet or will meet all specified selection criteria;
  5. calculate and enter each cadet’s education scoring factor into the Fortress ranking tool in accordance with the explanation of scoring factors in Annex E;
  6. identify and assign the Air Operations priority ranking (PPTC/GPTC), as required, taking into account factors such as geographic need, previous squadron allocations, force generation needs assessment, and/or Flying Training Site recommendation by entering a ‘1’ in the parent RCSU Loading Priority in the parent RCSU recommendation tab in Fortress;
  7. identify and assign the RCSU CO priority ranking (IACE), as required, taking into account factors such as geographic need, previous squadron allocations, needs assessment, area office recommendation, and/or squadron CO recommendation by entering a ‘1’ in the parent RCSU Loading Priority in the parent RCSU recommendation tab in Fortress;
  8. create PPTC and GPTC interview priority lists, by region/province, using data exported from the Fortress ranking tool, that ranks cadets from highest to lowest score, based on compilation of the qualifying exam and file review assessment factors;
  9. create IACE interview priority lists, by region/province, using data exported from the Fortress ranking tool, that ranks cadets from highest to lowest score, based on the file review assessment factor;
  10. identify cadets who will be completing an interview, by region/province, in accordance with the number of published interview positions, based on the applicable activity priority list;
  11. plan, coordinate, and conduct the merit interview boards, to include:
    1. identifying a virtual platform to conduct the merit interviews;
    2. identifying merit interview board members;
    3. creating the cadet merit interview schedule;
    4. publishing list of cadets who will be completing an interview;
    5. refusing the Fortress participation application for any cadet who was not selected to complete an interview;
    6. notifying squadrons of interview board dates, cadet interview schedules, and virtual login information;
    7. forwarding digital copies of interview documents, i.e. questions and rubrics, to interview board members;
    8. overseeing the conduct of the interviews;
    9. entering cadet merit interview scores into the Fortress ranking tool; and
    10. refusing the Fortress participation application for any cadet who did not attain at least the minimum score of 50% on the merit interview.
  12. generate selection lists, by region/province and by activity, using data exported from the Fortress ranking tool, that prioritizes cadets for selection, highest to lowest score, based on the compilation of the scores achieved on each of the separate assessment factors;
  13. identify on each selection list, in accordance with the number of billets allocated to the region/province, if a cadet is selected or stand-by;
  14. forward regional/provincial selection lists, by activity, to CJCR HQ;
  15. forward, to the host RCSU, the IACE regional/provincial selection lists;
  16. ensure the IACE supporting documents are submitted to the host RCSU:
    1. IACE Destination Request Form,
    2. IACE Information Form,
    3. passport (copy of page 3), and
    4. digital photo;
  17. complete selections in Fortress for PPTC and GPTC, based on the applicable regional/provincial selection list, by indicating if the cadet is selected or stand-by and publishing the result to the squadron; and
  18. complete backfills, as required, in accordance with selection lists, for PPTC and GPTC.

29. Host RCSU will:

  1. allocate IACE billets to regions/provinces, by country, in a standardized and equitable fashion;
  2. assign IACE billets, using regional/provincial selection lists, taking into account country specific requirements, as required;
  3. forward IACE selection list to CJCR HQ;
  4. forward to IT SMC the list of cadets who have been identified as selected, by country, so they can be moved to the country specific IACE serial;
  5. complete selections in Fortress for IACE, using the country specific serial, by indicating that the cadet is selected and publishing the result to the squadron;
  6. update Fortress, for those cadets not selected, by indicating that the cadet is on stand-by and publishing the result to the squadron;
  7. monitor and update, as required, IACE selections in Fortress due to cancellations and failure to submit required supporting documentation; and
  8. complete backfills, as required, IAW the IACE selection list.

30. Squadron COs will:

  1. brief eligible cadets on ACNSTC options and the associated selection criteria;
  2. ensure interested cadets attend the PPTC/GPTC pre-selection briefing;
  3. register cadets in Fortress for the national OGS that meet minimum criteria to apply for either GPTC/PPTC;
  4. conduct pre-selection, as required, to identify the best candidates for each activity, based on factors such as the qualifying exam score, participation in squadron activities, overall program participation, etc., ensuring that identified cadets meet minimum selection criteria;
  5. create cadet participation applications in Fortress, by serial, in accordance with the maximum number of applications allowed;
  6. complete the CO’s decision block of each cadets’ participation application in Fortress by:
    1. identifying if the cadet is approved for consideration or refused;
    2. providing a written substantiation (recommendation);
    3. entering a selecting priority ranking, i.e. ‘1, 2’; and
    4. identifying how the cadet has performed since being returned to unit for disciplinary reasons, as required;
  7. review each cadet’s Fortress records, ensuring that all information is current;
  8. print and provide the cadet a copy of the applicable participation application and associated supporting documents from Fortress;
  9. forward supporting documentation, as required, to RCSU;
  10. assist cadets with preparing for the merit interview;
  11. inform cadets of the associated details for completion of the merit interview board, as required;
  12. monitor Fortress for selection announcements and inform cadets, as required;
  13. print and provide the cadet a copy of the applicable Offer of Participation – Courses, Positions and Activities and associated supporting documents; and
  14. ensure all supporting documents are submitted to the RCSU.

31. Cadet applicants will:

  1. attend a briefing on ACNTSP options and the associated selection criteria;
  2. submit expression of interest to apply for ACNTSP;
  3. complete national OGS and qualifying exam if applying for GPTC/PPTC;
  4. forward supporting documentation, as required, to squadron CO; and
  5. prepare for and complete the merit interview, as required.

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