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

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)