Recourse for career issues
Note that Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) official policies take precedence over any information provided in this document.
Some information is only available on the Defence Team Intranet.
Every member’s situation is unique. If there are exceptional reasons that prevent you from addressing your career concerns through regular channels such as time sensitivity, health, security, or financial concerns, for you or your family, you can contact our office by telephone or in writing. In cases where compelling reasons exist, our office can ensure that all relevant parties know about your circumstances, and that the proper process is being followed to assist the appropriate authority in taking an informed decision.
As a CAF member, you may encounter career challenges during your service. This information can help you better understand recourse options specific to career issues that can result in grievances. Refer to other information sources as well as this webpage. For information on career questions and for policy clarification, consult your chain of command and career manager.
Note: If you are a member of the Reserve Force, your unit and formation chain of command share career management functions.
In certain circumstances, such as health and safety, your chain of command and support networks—such as chaplains, social workers, medical staff, and local CAF Transition Units—may have to disclose relevant information about your situation to your career manager. If you have information about your situation that you do not want disclosed, discuss this with your chain of command or support network.
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Performance Appraisal (PaCE)
Other supports
- Your chain of command and career manager can answer questions, clarify policies, and describe how these policies affect your career.
- Your Orderly Room, Padre, Military Family Resource Center family liaison officer, the Administrative Response Centre, or Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) financial counselor can also be helpful.
- Address in-service transition questions by booking a consultation with a transition advisor at your nearest CAF Transition Centre.
- Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) can provide support, information, or guidance on informal or formal resolution services, including grievance processes.
Your supervisor or your assessor can explain your performance and competency evaluation (PaCE) results. In addition, these persons can confirm that they had all relevant information required to evaluate you.
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and you can demonstrate your application was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support or guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
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Promotions
Other supports
- Your chain of command and career manager can answer questions, clarify policies, and describe how these policies affect your career.
- Your Orderly Room, Padre, Military Family Resource Center family liaison officer, the Administrative Response Centre, or Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) financial counselor can also be helpful.
- Address in-service transition questions by booking a consultation with a transition advisor at your nearest CAF Transition Centre.
- Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) can provide support, information, or guidance on informal or formal resolution services, including grievance processes.
Review your Selection Board Results in the Employee Member Access Application (EMAA) accessible only on the Defence Team Intranet. Your chain of command can clarify your results or contact your career manager to confirm that the board reviewed all relevant documentation. This can include performance appraisal reports, second language results, course reports, letters of commendation from formation or higher, military fitness evaluation results as well as the Selection Board Personnel Record Resume.
Provide any new or missing information to your career manager via your chain of command. If your career manager agrees, they may review your file and may convene a Supplementary Board to assess you for promotion.
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and can demonstrate your application was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support, information or guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
Note: If you have been by-passed for promotion due to medical reasons refer to CANFORGEN 012/17 (DE-LINKING OF MEDICAL CONDITION FROM PROMOTION CRITERIA) and the related Questions/Answer page that are accessible only on the Defence Team Intranet. You can also discuss your circumstances with your Base or Wing Human Resources Administrator (HRA).
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Remedial measures
Other supports
- Your chain of command and career manager can answer questions, clarify policies, and describe how these policies affect your career.
- Your Orderly Room, Padre, Military Family Resource Center family liaison officer, the Administrative Response Centre, or Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) financial counselor can also be helpful.
- Address in-service transition questions by booking a consultation with a transition advisor at your nearest CAF Transition Centre.
- Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) can provide support, information, or guidance on informal or formal resolution services, including grievance processes.
Your chain of command can clarify information if you are unsatisfied with a remedial measure decision involving Initial Counselling (IC), Recorded Warning (RW), or Counseling and Probation (C&P).
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and you can demonstrate your application was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support and guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
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Occupational Transfer
Other supports
- Your chain of command and career manager can answer questions, clarify policies, and describe how these policies affect your career.
- Your Orderly Room, Padre, Military Family Resource Center family liaison officer, the Administrative Response Centre, or Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) financial counselor can also be helpful.
- Address in-service transition questions by booking a consultation with a transition advisor at your nearest CAF Transition Centre.
- Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) can provide support, information, or guidance on informal or formal resolution services, including grievance processes.
Voluntary Occupational Transfer (VOT)
Your chain of command or local Base or Wing Personnel Selection Office can clarify why your request for VOT was denied.
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and you can demonstrate your application was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support, information and guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
Compulsory Occupational Transfer (COT)
Your chain of command can clarify the reasons why you are the subject of a COT with your career manager.
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and can demonstrate your application was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support, information and guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
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Courses and Training
Other supports
- Your chain of command and career manager can answer questions, clarify policies, and describe how these policies affect your career.
- Your Orderly Room, Padre, Military Family Resource Center family liaison officer, the Administrative Response Centre, or Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) financial counselor can also be helpful.
- Address in-service transition questions by booking a consultation with a transition advisor at your nearest CAF Transition Centre.
- Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) can provide support, information, or guidance on informal or formal resolution services, including grievance processes.
Course deferral or withdrawal
If you cannot attend a compulsory course, notify your chain of command in writing as soon as possible. Your chain of command will outline the steps to follow as well as the information required to support your request for course deferral or withdrawal. If more detailed recommendations are required about personal or medical information, your commanding officer may refer you to a social worker. The social worker’s report will help your commanding officer make a recommendation to the approving authority for consideration.
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and you can demonstrate your application was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support, information and guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
Administrative Review – following course failure, withdrawal, refusal to attend, or return to unit.
If you fail a career course, withdraw, refuse to attend, or return to your unit before completion of the course, the officer who is authorized to act as the approving authority may initiate an Administrative Review (AR). This process determines what subsequent administrative actions should be taken.
An administrative review does not always imply misconduct, incompetence, or failure. An AR may also be the result of Medical Employment Limitations (MEL) which prevent a member from meeting particular trade or universality of service requirements.
If you are notified that an AR will be initiated, contact your chain of command as soon as possible. Ask about the reasons for the AR as well as the procedural steps to follow, including the process to provide written representation.
Refer to the Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DOAD) 5019-2 - Administrative Review for more information on the Administrative Review process. You may also discuss your situation with your Base or Wing Human Resources Administrator (HRA).
Possible AR outcomes may vary according to your circumstances. They may include:
- no career action;
- remedial measures under DAOD 5019-4;
- occupational transfer;
- transfer between sub-components;
- posting;
- an offer of terms of service in any case in which an offer has not been made by CAF authorities;
- reversion in rank; or
- release or recommendation for release, as applicable.
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and you can demonstrate your request was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support and guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
The grievance authorities for an academic misconduct or any administrative action are:
- the Commander Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) for courses conducted by the CDA, and
- the Commander of a Command for courses conducted by the Command.
Refer to Defence Administrative Orders and Directors 5019-6 – Academic Misconduct for more information.
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Release
Other supports
- Your chain of command and career manager can answer questions, clarify policies, and describe how these policies affect your career.
- Your Orderly Room, Padre, Military Family Resource Center family liaison officer, the Administrative Response Centre, or Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) financial counselor can also be helpful.
- Address in-service transition questions by booking a consultation with a transition advisor at your nearest CAF Transition Centre.
- Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) can provide support, information, or guidance on informal or formal resolution services, including grievance processes.
Every release situation is unique and certain elements are time sensitive.
Any request for release must be submitted in writing through your chain of command. Your request must include the reasons why you want to be released as well as a proposed release date.
Your chain of command can provide clarification if your request is denied.
If you are unsatisfied with the decision and you can demonstrate your request was not processed fairly, you may file a grievance. Consult with a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) Centre agent for support, information and guidance about the grievance process. The grievance process is time sensitive.
For more information on releases, read the Queen’s Regulations and Orders – Chapter 15 - Release . Here are a few special circumstances to consider:
Special circumstances
Requesting a voluntary release with less than three years of service
When you enrolled, you signed a CF 92 – Pre-enrolment/Transfer of Understanding and Update available only on the Defence Team Intranet. Under normal circumstances, you cannot request to be released until you complete the first three weeks of basic military training.
Until you reach the operationally functional point (OFP), the releasing authority is the Commanding Officer of your designated training authority. The OFP occurs when a CAF member completes all qualifications required for first employment in their military occupation.
Requesting release for personal reasons with less than six months’ notice and incomplete terms of service
Under normal circumstances, you cannot request to be released within six months of the completion of your current term of service.
Requesting a voluntary release while serving a period of obligatory service.
You must submit a written request to your chain of command which explains the reasons for a voluntary release before the expiry of your period of obligatory service.
Contesting a Notice of Intent to Recommend Release
If you receive a Notice of Intent to Recommend Release, you have 14 days to provide your representation. This may include any objections, clarifications, or required explanations. The decision authority who prepared the notice will consider your objections. The authority will decide to either withdraw the Notice of Intent to Recommend Release or proceed with a Recommendation for Compulsory Release.
Contesting the CAF’s decision to release a member and/or the release category administered
Before the CAF makes any release decision, you will receive information about the reason for your release based on an Administrative Review or a Notice of Intent to Release. During this time, you can also make representations on your behalf.
Medical release
For more information, refer to The three phases of medical release.
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