Staffing of Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service Positions
Topic
Staffing of Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service Positions
Case number
Issue
The Committee currently has several files concerning the staffing of positions under the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group (Natl CJCR Sp Gp). In each of these cases, the Committee found that the Natl CJCR Sp Gp had disregarded the hiring practices specified in the Canadian Forces Military Personnel Instruction (CF Mil Pers Instr) 20/04, the governing Reserve employment policy.
In a 2010 grievance decision addressing this very same issue, the Final Authority (FA) clearly advised the Director of Cadets (now Natl CJCR Sp Gp), that their staffing practice contravened the applicable Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) policy. The Natl CJCR Sp Gp acknowledged the FA’s decision but failed to discontinue the incorrect practice. More recently, the Commander (Comd) Natl CJCR Sp Gp reiterated the same errant practice in his Human Resources Implementation Directive dated 7 December 2015.
The Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp explained that amendments to the CF Mil Pers Instr 20/04 will help address the issue of promotion within the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (COATS). However, no such amendments have been put in place.
The Committee recognized the requirement for the CAF policy to be reviewed to determine whether the changes sought by the Natl CJCR Sp Gp were justified. However, the Committee could not condone the Natl CJCR Sp GP’s unauthorized deviations from the current CF Mil Pers Instr 20/04 policy.
Recommendation
The Committee recommended that the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) direct a review of all Natl CJCR Sp Gp hiring processes (both Reserve Employment Opportunities and Competency Based Appointments) conducted since the 2015/2016 reorganization in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the CF Mil Pers Instr 20/04. Those found to not be in compliance should be re-done properly.
The Committee also recommended that the CDS direct a review of the unique policy requirements expressed by the Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp in order to determine whether changes to the provisions of CF Mil Pers Instr 20/04 are justified, and if so, what those changes should be.
Finally, the Committee recommended that the CDS direct the Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp, and all under his authority, to fully comply with the CF Mil Pers Instr 20/04 until such time as the aforementioned policy review has been completed and any authorized changes have been properly implemented.
Final Authority decision
The CDS agreed with the Committee's Systemic Recommendations and acknowledged that there is a requirement for change to the CF Mil Pers Instr 20/04 in order to help address the issue of promotion within the COATS. Nonetheless, he reiterated that, until such time as an approved change to the policy is implemented, the CAF policy regarding the employment of COATS officers remains as written “underranking shall only be used in those exceptional cases where no other qualified candidate is available”.
The CDS also directed the A/VCDS “to conduct a review of all Natl CJCR Sp Gp hiring processes conducted since the 2015/2016 reorganization in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the CF Mil Pers Instr 20/04. Those found not to be in compliance are to be re-staffed in accordance with CAF policy”.
Finally, the CDS directed “the A/VDCS, in conjunction with CMP, to consider the unique policy requirements identified by Chief Reserves and Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp, with an aim to implementing the necessary changes into CAF policy as soon as practical”.
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