CJCR Gp Honours and Recognition | Chapter 4

National Awards

Order of Military Merit

1. The Order of Military Merit (ORMM) recognizes distinctive merit and exceptional service displayed by members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), both Regular and Reserve Force.
2. One ORMM has been allocated to a Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (COATS) member each year. Each Regional Cadet Support Unit (RCSU) and Cadets and Canadian Junior Rangers Group (CJCR Gp) Headquarters (HQ) is to provide at least one nomination which is reviewed at the CJCR Gp Honours and Recognition (H&R) board held in March of each year. Any nominations for COATS members attached with the Canadian Army (CA) specific to the Junior Canadian Rangers (JCR) Program will be reviewed at the CJCR Gp HQ H&R board.
3. Once approved by the Commander (Comd) CJCR Gp, the nominations are forwarded to the Vice Chief of Defence (VCDS) H&R board.
4. Additional information can be found at Canadian Forces Honours Policy Manual, Chapter 9, Annex A.
5. The VCDS has prepared an ORMM Nomination Guide, and it is located on the Cadet365 H&R page.

Meritorious Service Medal

6. The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) recognizes a military deed or activity that has been performed in a highly professional manner or of a very high standard that brings benefit or honour to the CAF.
7. Members of COATS are eligible for the MSM and nominations are to be submitted through the chain of command for the CJCR Gp H&R board.
8. Additional information can be found at Canadian Medals Chart, Meritorious Service Medal.
9. The template for MSM citations is located on the Cadet365 H&R page.

Chief of the Defence Staff and Command Commendations

10. The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Commendation is awarded by the CDS to recognize deeds or activities beyond the demand of normal duty.
11. Cadets and JCR are eligible for the CDS Commendation only if the event is associated with a cadet or JCR activity. For example, if the event happened during a cadet or JCR activity or the cadet or JCR was in uniform at the time of the event, or was traveling to or from a cadet or JCR activity.
12. Additional information on the CDS Commendation can be found at Canadian Medals Chart, Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation.
13. The CDS grants the authority to specific commanders to award the Command Commendation (e.g. VCDS, CA). Command Commendations are awarded to recognize deeds or activities beyond the demand of normal duty.
14. Commendation recipients will be advised by their chain of command, generally the CJCR Gp HQ CO/RCSU CO or DCR/CRPG CO. They will then be sent two commendation insignia that they may wear from the moment of notification.
15. Arrangements will be made for the presentation of the commendation scrolls.
16. A photographer should be available for the scroll presentations and the images must be high-resolution photos (300 dpi) and accompanied by appropriate captions identifying every individual in the picture, the occasion, location and date and photo credit. Photos may be selected by the Directorate of Honours and Recognition (DH&R) and published in “The Honours & Recognition for the Men and Women of the Canadian Armed Forces”.
17. Example of a photo caption: Captain Roger Motty, CD, receives his Command Commendation insignia from Brigadier-General Dominque Brais, CD, Commander, Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers, St. John’s, 16 November 2023.
    Photo credit Lt(N) Georgina White.
18. Additional information on the Command Commendations can be found at Canadian Medals Chart, Command Commendation.

Commander Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group Commendation

19. The Commander CJCR Gp Commendation recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional skill and performance in the planning and implementation of Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) initiatives or activity or for outstanding deeds designed to advance the aims or in support of the CCO.

Criteria

20. Nominees must meet all three of the following mandatory criteria:
    1. promoted the aims of the CCO;
    2. demonstrated exceptional performances; and
    3. demonstrated ethical and social responsibility.
21. Nominees must demonstrate the above-mentioned mandatory criteria plus at least one of the following criteria:
    1. Completed outstanding work or performed at an unusually high level over an extended period that has made a positive impact on the CCO by mentoring, inspiring and supporting others.
    2. Consistently excelled in work activities, accountable to deliver on commitments and achieve results, found solutions to identified problems, and sought and accepted new challenges and displayed excellent leadership and collaboration skills.
    3. Successfully completed, in a manner beyond that which normally could be expected by leadership, a major project or task.
    4. Demonstrated true leadership in advocating in favour of a horizontal approach to a complex problem by displaying outstanding initiative and consistently excelled in work activities and accountability to deliver on commitments and achieved intended results.
    5. Displayed outstanding courage or performed life saving first aid or act that is not eligible for other recognition.
    6. Managed an activity in a cost-effective, efficient and responsive manner.

Description

22. The Comd CJCR Gp Commendation is comprised of a certificate and, in the case of a cadet/JCR, two pins. The certificate indicates the recipient’s rank, name, post-nominals (if any) and citation. The certificate is signed by the Comd CJCR Gp and enclosed in a special presentation folder.
23. The Comd CJCR Gp Commendation pin is a silver bar with one maple leaf and will be worn on the cadet/JCR uniform in accordance with the A-CR-CCO-100/AG-001, Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Dress Instructions.
24. The CJCR Gp H&R Coordinator will update Fortress for cadet recipients and Unit H&R coordinators are to provide a copy of the commendation to the Unit Orderly Room (OR) so it can be added to the member’s personnel file. In the case of JCR, this will be coordinated in collaboration with CA.

Presentation

25. The CJCR Gp H&R Coordinator provides the commendation and pins for the cadets/JCR to the RCSU/CRPG for presentation. Where possible, the Comd CJCR Gp Commendation is presented by the Commander or their representative.

Canadian Forces’ Decoration

26. The Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) is awarded to officers and Non-Commissioned Members of the CAF who have completed twelve years of service. A clasp is awarded for every additional 10 years of qualifying service.
27. CD and clasps are ordered by the HQ/RCSU OR when the member has completed the required service. It is a momentous occasion in a member’s career and should be presented in a manner fitting this. Within the CJCR Gp, 3^rd clasps are presented by the Comd, where possible.
28. CD and clasps can be presented in-person or through a virtual event. The member should be advised in advance so family members can attend. A short biography of the member’s career should be read and photographs taken of the event.
29. Member should be provided with a letter to take to clothing stores and a form confirming it was received. This form should be signed and returned to the OR for placement in the member’s file.

Life-Saving Recognition

30. Saving a life is not in itself the most important consideration in being nominated for a life-saving recognition. The degree of risk faced and the persistence in completing the action despite the risk are important in the evaluation. There are six possible levels of recognition currently awarded through the CAF and DND. Additional information is available at the Cadet365 Honours and Recognition page.
31. Life-saving acts recommended for a CDS Commendation must have some degree of risk or leadership, while for a VCDS Commendation, the life-saving act does not need to have an element of risk or leadership.
32. Nominations for CDS or VCDS Commendations for life-saving acts for members of the CJCR Gp would be submitted using the same process as other nominations. A sample citation for a CJCR Gp member being awarded a CDS Commendation for a life-saving act is located on the Cadet365 H&R page.

Corporate Awards and Recognition Program

33. The Defence Team celebrates the achievements of members through the Corporate Awards and Recognition Program. The program includes awards that are internal to the CAF and DND and external awards that are open to public servants and in some cases all Canadians. These include the Celebrating Excellence Awards Program, the APEX Awards of Excellence and Deputy Minister Commendations. Additional information is located at Awards and Recognition - Canada.ca.
34. The call for nominations for the various recognition is released throughout the year by the CJCR Gp HQ to the Unit H&R Coordinators and CA (DCR). This includes the nomination forms, instructions and guidelines. Nominations must clearly demonstrate how an individual or team performed and how they met the award criteria. Some of the awards require leadership approval before submission so it is important to consider the time required for that approval to ensure the nomination is submitted on time.