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Voluntary Delay of Releases from the Canadian Armed Forces due to COVID-19

Posted on by VA3DBJ

UNCLASSIFIED

REFS: A.QR&O 15.02 RELEASE AS OF RIGHT
B.CDS DESIGNATED RELEASE AUTHORITIES TABLE – REGULAR FORCE DATED 01 DEC 2017
C. CDS DESIGNATED RELEASE AUTHORITIES TABLE – RESERVE FORCE DATED 01 DEC 2017
D. QR(AND)O 15.17 AND 15.31 RELEASE OF OFFICERS AND NCMS – RETIREMENT AGE
E. QR&O 15.03 RELEASE DATE
F. CANADIAN FORCES PENSION ACT, ARTICLE 16 (1) (A)
G. QR&O 9.05 SERVICE WITH CONSENT

  1. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS HAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE, UNDERSTANDABLY, CONCERNED. THE CAF AND DND ARE DOING THEIR PART TO ASSIST CANADA AND CANADIANS AND WE WILL ASSIST FURTHER BY CREATING LESS BURDEN ON THE PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH SERVICES BY DELAYING, WHERE IT IS APPROPRIATE AND DESIRED, RELEASES OF CAF PERSONNEL UNTIL THE SITUATION STABILIZES FURTHER
  2. THE CAF HAS SEEN DECREASED RECRUITING AND TRAINING RESULTING FROM MEASURES RELATED TO COVID 19 SAFETY AND SECURITY. DELAYS TO RELEASES WILL ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MEMBERS WHILE REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE RISKS AND PRESERVING OUR CAF STRENGTH
  3. TO THIS END, CAF MEMBERS WHO WISH TO VOLUNTARILY CHANGE THEIR RELEASE DATE, INCLUDING THOSE BEING MEDICALLY RELEASED ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND (COC) TO DETERMINE IF THE OPTION TO DELAY RELEASE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM. YOUR COC WILL, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOU AND AUTHORIZED RELEASE AUTHORITIES, ASSIST IN COORDINATING NEW RELEASE TIMINGS THAT ARE SUFFICIENTLY DELAYED AS NOT TO BE IMPACTED BY COVID 19 RELATED ISSUES. THE CURRENT RELEASE TARGET DATE SHOULD NOT BE BEFORE 31 AUGUST
  4. FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR EXISTING PLANS TO RELEASE, YOU CAN EXPECT SOME DELAYS IN ADMINSTRATIVE SUPPORT DUE TO REDUCED STAFFING IN UNITS. YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND FLEXIBILITY IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES ARE APPRECIATED
  5. FOR MEMBERS WHOSE OFFICIAL RELEASE HAS ALREADY BEEN ACTIONED IN GUARDIAN AND WHO HAVE CONDUCTED THEIR FINAL RELEASE INTERVIEW, YOUR RELEASE WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED
  6. FOR MEMBERS WHO ARE BEING RELEASED BY DMCA UNDER RELEASE ITEM 2A, 5D OR 5F, THE RELEASE DATES CURRENTLY ADVERTISED WILL BE RETAINED WHERE FEASIBLE
  7. FOR MEMBERS WHO ARE BEING RELEASED BY DMCA UNDER RELEASE ITEM 1, THE NORMAL RELEASE PROCESS WILL BE FOLLOWED AND THE RELEASE DATE SHALL BE AS SOON AS PRACTICAL AFTER THE AWARDING OF THE PUNISHMENT IAW REF E
  8. IF YOU REQUEST TO DELAY YOUR DATE OF RELEASE, THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED:
    1. MEMBERS WITH PENSION CONCERNS DUE TO A DELAY OF RELEASE DATE MUST CONTACT PENSION SERVICES AT 1-800-267-0325. THEY WILL ASSIST YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES IN MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS
    2. MEMBERS WHO WILL REACH THE COMPULSARY RETIREMENT AGE 60 (CRA 60) BEFORE RELEASE WILL NEED TO SEEK APPROVAL THROUGH YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND FOR AN EXTENSION. SUCH REQUESTS WILL BE PROCESSED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO ENSURE NO GAP IN PAY NOR SERVICES
    3. FOR MEMBERS ON AN INTERMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT PERIOD 20 (IE 20), YOU MUST CONTACT PENSION SERVICES AT 1-800-267-0325, TO DISCUSS PENSION IMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY A DELAY OF RELEASE DATE
    4. FOR RESERVE FORCE MEMBERS, PROPER DOCUMENTATION FOR CLASS B AND CLASS C ROUTE LETTERS AND STATEMENTS OF UNDERSTANDING ARE STILL REQUIRED AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE MEMBERS’ CONSENT. YOUR RESERVE FORCE COMPENSATION DOCUMENTATION WILL NEED TO BE AMENDED BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY. EMPLOYING UNITS WILL ASSIST MEMBERS WITH NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO RETAIN MEMBERS ON UNIT STRENGTH UNTIL RELEASE
  9. YOU RETAIN THE RIGHT TO RELEASE AND NOTHING IN THIS CFG IS INTENDED TO IMPEDE THESE RIGHTS. THE DELAYED RELEASE OPTION ABOVE IS BEING OFFERED TO ENSURE THAT CAF MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORTED IN A TIME OF INCREASED UNCERTAINTY
  10. QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO RELEASE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION (RBA) [email protected] OR IN THE CASE OF MEDICAL AND MISCONDUCT RELEASES CONTACT DMCA POSITIONAL MAIL BOX DMCAADMINREVIEWQUERIES(AT)FORCES.GC.CA.
  11. CMP S ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE CENTRE (ARC) IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF CMP PERSONNEL POLICIES. CONTACT THE ARC AT: [email protected](PLUS CMP ARC – CRA CPM AT CMP DGMP AT OTTAWA-HULL) OR BY CALLING 1-833-445-1182. PLEASE ALSO FEEL FREE TO VISIT ARC AT URL:
    HTTP://CMP.MIL.CA/EN/SUPPORT/MILITARY-PERSONNEL/ADMINISTRATIVE-RESPONSE-CENTRE.PAGE (ENGLISH)
    HTTP://CMP.MIL.CA/FR/SOUTIEN/PERSONNEL-MILITAIRE/CENTRE-DE-REPONSES-ADMININSTRATIVES.PAGE (FRENCH)

Military says no link between movement of armoured vehicles and COVID crisis

Posted on by VA3DBJ

The Canadian Armed Forces is shooting down suggestions of a link between the movement of a large number of army trucks and armoured vehicles and the COVID-19 crisis, after video of the vehicles spurred questions about a potential military mobilization.

Video of the military vehicles being transported by rail circulated on social media over the weekend, sparking calls to the Department of National Defence over whether the Forces was mobilizing or otherwise preparing to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Defence Department says the vehicles were returning from a training exercise that was to be held at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta in May. Canadian Army commander Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre cancelled Exercise Maple Resolve last week due to COVID-19.

In response to the social media posts, the Quebec-based 2nd Canadian Division made its own video using the same footage superimposed with the words “No link with the coronavirus.” The message was repeated in French.

The spread of the videos and questions about a potential military mobilization nonetheless sparked concerns within the Defence Department, which has been on heightened alert for false information — deliberate and unintentional — given the current climate with COVID-19.

“The risks and impacts of misinformation during this critical period are real and need close and careful monitoring,” department spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said in a statement.

“While it is normal and expected that the public are, at this time, far more sensitive to the public environment, the viral propagation of inaccurate or decontextualized content could lead to confusion or impact efforts to flatten the curve.”

The Canadian military has curbed many of its activities in light of COVID-19. Training exercises and some operations have been suspended or cancelled to protect the force from the respiratory illness and ensure the military is ready to respond should it be called upon.

The frigate HMCS Fredericton has been ordered to cancel a number of port visits and ceremonies during its deployment with a NATO fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, while two other naval vessels are cutting short their drug-interdiction efforts and returning home from the Caribbean.

The military has stopped providing updates on the number of service members who have contracted COVID-19, suggesting the information could be used by adversaries.

Chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance warned in a letter to military personnel last Friday that they needed to “face the reality that the three-week operational pause we are experiencing now may continue.”

Canadian Military to Launch 3-satellite System

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Canadian military to launch 3-satellite system to track vessels.

Canada is preparing to launch a group of three satellites to track ships near the nation’s coast and also track vessels in parts of the world where Canada conducts military operations with allied nations, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced in a press release.

“This mission will carry a multi-mode synthetic aperture radar and an automatic identification system to enable enhanced ship tracking and provide greater awareness of Canada’s territories as well as other areas of interest around the world where DND and its allies operate,” the release said on Friday.

In addition to the upcoming satellite launch, Canada will invest $6.7 million in 12 research projects to develop new Earth-observation technologies that simplify and accelerate intelligence collection, the release said. With matching contributions from private industry, the research effort will total more than $13 million, the release said.

One of the 12 projects will attempt to develop an on-board video processing system on ships, which will be used together with space-based radar and ship detection sensors to enhance near-real-time vessel detection, tracking and identification, the release said.

Another project will develop a multi-satellite data classifier to better distinguish between ship and non-ship targets, such as icebergs, according to the release.

Source: Sputnik News