Spring 2016 Report of the Auditor of (Tabled on 3 May 2016) Report 5: Canadian Reserve - National Defence

DETAILED ACTION PLAN FOR OAG RECOMMENDATIONS – REPORT 5: RESERVE – NATIONAL DEFENCE

Responsible Report OAG Departmental Response Description of Expected Final Key Interim Milestones Organization/ Reference Recommendation Final Expected Outcome/Result Completion Date (Description/Dates) Point of Contact (Name, Position) Para 5.22 Guidance on preparing Agreed. Providing the necessary The Canadian Army (CA) will 31 March 2017 The Strengthening the Army , for missions training to soldiers before they refine the direction provided in the Reserve Directive will be issued Canadian Army participate in international Annual Operating Plan to clearly in May 2016 which will (Comd CA) National Defence deployments is of paramount identify the requirements for highlight the key activities to be should provide importance to the Canadian Army. Reserve participation in conducted as part of an analysis Col R.M. Foster individual Army Guidance regarding the required international operations. to ‘mission task’ specific reserve Dir Army Reserve Reserve units with training is provided in the Army’s units to meet expeditionary clear guidance so that annual operation plan. Once requirements. they can prepare their Reserve participation in a given soldiers for key tasks expeditionary operation is assigned to the Army announced, specific direction is By 1 December 2016 determine Reserve for given with respect to the training the units that should be mission international missions. required for individuals and for tasked based upon capabilities designated Reserve Teams (to that could be resident within the conduct tasks such as Convoy Army Reserve. Escort, Force Protection, and Persistent Surveillance). Every By 1 December 2017 confirm by Team is “confirmed” through a and Branch the correct deliberate process before being structure of units and equipment given the green light to deploy. The associated to meet tasks. Army will work toward improving its guidance for anticipated key tasks By 31 March 2018 include clear for major international missions. direction to

Divisions//Units on the mission tasks and expectation of the Army Reserve to meet operational requirements.

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Para 5.32 Guidance on preparing Agreed. A procurement plan is Establish and implement minor and By December Identify equipment shortfalls Comd CA for missions under way to address the shortages major capital projects to provide 2019 the project and gaps by Corps and Branch – within certain fleets. The Canadian equipment to the Army Reserve. will be December 2016. Col R.M. Foster The Canadian Army Army has defined and provides the implemented. should define and equipment required to conduct Dir Army Reserve provide access to the domestic operations. The majority Identify nationally held equipment that Army of this equipment is held either equipment that can be Reserve units and within the unit or with the Canadian redistributed to address gaps in groups need to train . When a specific order of priority to meet and deploy for requirement or gap is identified that capability and training domestic missions. is not within the Brigade Group, the requirements– Spring 2017. will reallocate from within its own resources or will request Build Command additional items from national Software (MCS) Equipment stocks. Establishment for Army Reserve Units – December 2017.

Develop Capital Project for Army Reserve Equipment and implement – December 2019. Para 5.34 Guidance on preparing Agreed. The Canadian Army will Develop a formal annual confirmation 31 March 2017 By Fall 2016 - Develop Plan for Comd CA for missions review the process and develop a method for the Territorial formal confirmation – Fall 2016. better-documented confirmation Group (TBG), Arctic Response Col D.J. Lambert The Canadian Army method. The Army conducts Group (ARCG) and Implement Plan in Annual Chief of Staff should require Army training on an annual basis for the 10 Independent Domestic Response Operations Plan for FY 2017/18. Canadian Army Reserve groups to Territorial Battalion Groups and the Companies. formally confirm that four Arctic Company Response Doctrine Training they are prepared to Groups. This training may be Centre support domestic verbally confirmed through the chain missions. of command, which is found to be sufficient for training objectives.

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Para 5.57 Sustainability of Army Agreed. Retention enables Canadian CAF will develop and implement a 30 September Strategy Development: Military Personnel Reserve units Armed Forces’ operational and retention strategy that includes both 2018 Command (MPC) institutional excellence. National Regular and Reserve Force, in order to Defence will develop and implement Phase 1 (June 2016 – May National Defence achieve approved manning levels, BGen S.J.R. should design and a (CAF) 2017) Orientation: This phase retain talent, and optimize recruiting will encompass a review and Whelan implement a retention retention strategy that will ensure and training outputs thereby analysis of the concepts, MILPERSGEN/ strategy for the Army retaining our members in uniform is contributing to operational and Reserve. a fundamental aspect of how we research and gaps in DComd institutional effectiveness. understanding retention in the manage our people, and is given equal, if not greater, prominence in CAF. our attraction and recruiting efforts. Our approach going forward will be Phase 2 (April 2017 - comprehensive and incorporate the December 2017) Strategy Regular and Reserve Force, creating Design: The development of the greater mobility between these retention strategy goals, components and accounting for the objectives and actions that will range of requirements inherent in link ends, ways and means to each. While consideration will be achieve the strategic intent. given to transactional requirements in the areas of compensation and Phase 3 (June 2018 - benefits, National Defence will September 2018) Strategy develop effective measures Implementation: This phase will including, but not limited to, career entail the completion of a management, family support, mental number of actions including the health and wellness support, and review, development and/or diversity requirements. amendment of policies, plans

and programs that will achieve The Canadian Army is developing a the strategic goals. retention strategy for the Army Reserve, and is in the process of updating the strategy based on Chief Military Personnel initiatives. Phase 4 (Not before Summer 2019) Validation: Once the Strategy has been implemented, a validation will be completed to

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ensure its effectiveness and efficiency. Para 5.62 Sustainability of Army Agreed. The Canadian Armed CAF will review the requirement for 30 September N/A MPC Reserve units Forces will review the framework amending the “terms of service” (more 2017 for the Reserve Force terms of accurately, the classes and periods of Vice-Chief of the National Defence service and the administration of service) for Reserve Force members, in Defence Staff should review the Reserve Force service to ensure it order to ensure compliance with the (VCDS) terms of service of complies with the National Defence National Defence Act and Queen’s Act and the regulations enacted Army Reserve soldiers, Regulations and Orders (QR&O) Col B.J.G. Poulin and the contracts of under it. Chapter 9. full-time Army Director Military

Reserve soldiers, to Careers Policy ensure that it is in and Grievances compliance with the (DMCPG) National Defence Act. MGen P.J. Bury Chief Reserves and Cadets (C Res & Cdts) Para 5.65 Sustainability of Army Agreed. The Canadian Forces Implementation of a Reserve Medical Full Amending QR&O 34 is MPC Reserve units Health Services Group (CF H Svcs Readiness assessment tool to assess implementation foundational to generating any Gp) Headquarters is actively occupational fitness of Class A FY 2017/2018 definitive policy on reserve CF H Svcs Gp National Defence advancing a number of initiatives to members undertaking medical care. The amendment is Point of Contact: should review its review and support policies for employment/deployment limited to a currently with the National Dr. M. Lorenzen, policies and clarify medical assessments that contribute domestic environment. This would The Canadian Defence Regulations Section. National Manager Army Reserve soldiers’ to soldiers’ overall include occupational fitness related to Forces Health Professional access to medical readiness for training and marching on floor, Services Group Affairs and services. deployment, and that clarify access participating in a week-long exercise or will conduct a Decision brief to Surgeon- Clinical Quality to medical services, including: deploying in response to domestic trial in General to select course of action disasters such as floods/fires. preparation for for Reserve Medical Assessment - issuing a communiqué to establish the full roll-out of Tool (RMAT) trial – June 2016 Col M. Bilodeau, the Reserve D Med Pol; or the priority for Reservists to receive medical assessments from Medical Col K. Stevens, D Headquarters (released October Readiness Resolution of legal issues HS Res, (medical assessments = medical

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2015); Assessment tool. care thereby engaging QR&O 34 The trial will be and 34.16 specifically). Currently CFLA - LCdr C.J. - Updating the Queen’s Regulations conducted, first in with Deputy Judge Advocate Deschênes, and Orders, Chapter 34, Section 2 parallel and General/Military Personnel Legal Officer / (Medical Care of Officers and Non- ultimately, in (DJAG Mil Pers) to provide Directorate of commissioned Members), currently conjunction, with opinion – 16 May – 15 June Law, Military with the National Defence the ongoing 2016 Personnel Regulations Section for amendment Medical

drafting, with estimated anticipated Assessment ******************** approval six months after Section review for all work is complete. In 2009, Health Canadian Armed The following milestones are Services Group Headquarters Forces members based on receiving legal concurrence by mid-June 2016. published interim guidance on being conducted entitlement to health care for by Director Any delays in the process may

Reserve Force personnel. This was Medical Policy impact these dates. also communicated to members in (D Med Pol). correspondence dated 2011 from the Prepare trial plan, conduct trial of Col K. Stevens, D Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, The trial assessment tool – June - HS Res along with an accompanying guide. completion date is December 2016 Annual reminders are issued to expected to be health care providers with regard to September 2017.

entitlement rules; Trial analysis, tool updates, Col K. Stevens, D - Assessing courses of action development/roll-out of HS Res proposed in the joint Canadian implementation and communication plan, information Forces Ombudsman/Health Services Group study, “The Feasibility of briefs – January – December

Providing Periodic Health 2017 Assessments to All Primary Reservists” (June 2015) and other potential tools to determine medical Assessment tool full roll-out – Col K. Stevens, D fitness and conduct periodic health January 2018 HS Res assessments, through a Reserve Medical Readiness Working Group. It is anticipated that alternatives will

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be developed by August 2016 and implemented in the fall of 2016. Para 5.70 Sustainability of Army Agreed. Work is ongoing through Readiness Information: Guardian, the 31 January 2022 Guardian Release 1 – May 2017 MPC Reserve units the Military Personnel Management new military Human Resource (Excludes availability and self- Capability Transformation project to Management System will incorporate service capabilities) BGen J.S. Sirois National Defence maintain all Reserve Force personnel the personal readiness and availability MPMCT Project should ensure that it readiness using the future military data for all military personnel, Leader has up-to-date personnel management tool, including Reserve soldiers and be information on whether Guardian. As part of the project, available for managers and Army Reserve soldiers investigation and analysis will take commanders to support operational are prepared for into account the possibility of decision making. Guardian will allow deployment. This including civilian qualifications. members and supervisors increased

information should ability to update the information in include civilian The Canadian Army will make every order for this information to remain qualifications held by effort to utilize existing human relevant using self-service capabilities. Army Reserve soldiers. resource systems to keep data up to

date in relation to readiness. Civilian Qualification Data Bank: 31 January 2022 Guardian Release 1 – May 2017 Guardian will incorporate the ability (Excludes self-service capability) for all military personnel, including Reserve soldiers, to include in their Service Record civilian qualifications and a means to query and extract the information for decision making by commanders using self-service capabilities. Para 5.80 Sustainability of Army Agreed. The Canadian Army The Canadian Army has commenced a 31 March 2017 Working Groups conducted on Comd CA Reserve units assigns resources to ensure that all review of the Army Reserve Funding requirement March/April 2016 mandated tasks are funded. We will Model and will have it implemented for National Defence Col R.M. Foster monitor whether these tasks are 1 April 2017. should ensure that consistent with the results expected Data gathering from Division/CB Dir Army Reserve budgeted annual of them. G level completed by June 2016 funding for Army Reserve units is New Model development aligned consistent with to outcomes by September 2016

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expected results. Para 5.84 Sustainability of Army Agreed. National Defence utilizes a A Corporate Fund structure is The Corporate N/A ADM(Fin)/CFO Reserve units financial reporting structure to implemented to capture how much Fund C127 was record how much is allocated to and funding is allocated to, and spent by implemented in Capt(N) C.S. expended by the Primary Reserves. National Defence Reserve Forces (i.e., Army, Navy, Air DND/CAF for the Corrigan should complete Commencing 9 February 2016, Force, etc.) for wages and operations start of FY Director Budget planned changes to the expenditures related to the Reserve and maintenance (O&M). 2016/17. way it reports its Program were incorporated in the

annual budgets and the financial reports briefed to senior

expenses of the Army management. This approach will Funding and expenditures for the Reserve, so that provide greater visibility on funding Primary Reserves are reported to the This change was N/A National Defence can and expenditures, and will support Investment and Resource Management implemented in Committee on a quarterly basis via a link assigned funding enhanced reporting and performance February 2016. dashboard. to expected results. measurement.

Funding and expenditures against the C127 Fund for the Primary Reserves will be reported monthly in the FY To be included in N/A 2016/17 Departmental FinStat and this the DND FinStat information is distributed across the starting with the DND/CAF Comptroller community. Period 3 report to be issued by mid- July 2016. Para 5.96 Training of Army Agreed. National Defence will Provide a recommended way forward 15 February Canadian Forces Liaison Council VCDS Reserve soldiers consult with the Public Service to DND partners to incorporate and 2017 (CFLC) and Canadian Forces Commission of Canada and other synchronize provisions within the Legal Advisor (CFLA) conduct Chief Reserves National Defence applicable agencies to determine Canada Labour Code and the Reserve initial consultations with and Cadets/CFLC should work with whether changes to federal job Forces Training Leave Regulations that Department of Justice and the departments and protection legislation can be would specifically encompass coverage Public Service Alliance of Canada Col D.L. Cheff, agencies that have justified. of absences to attend occupational (PSAC) to determine whether ED, CFLC responsibility under the skills training into the Code and the previous work on the file remains Canada Labour Code Regulations. valid in scope and context, and to and the Reserve Forces determine the range of feasible Training Leave measures to support Regulations to consider recommendations

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including coverage of – 15 August 2016 absences to attend all types of occupational Internal consultations with skills training into the Reserve Environments and other Code and the CAF stakeholders – 15 Regulations. September to 1 November 2016

CFLC / CFLA initial report to VCDS (to include feasibility assessment, cost/benefit analysis) – 15 November 2016

Final report to VCDS – 15 January 2017 Para 5.98 Training of Army Agreed. Only once the original Conduct an evidence-based feasibility 15 February CFLC begins two-month internal VCDS Reserve soldiers program is fully implemented and study, with recommendations as to 2017 consultation process to engage institutionalized will National whether the Compensation for senior reserve leadership, as well Chief Reserves National Defence Defence undertake an evidence- Employers of Reservists Program as applicable Reserve training and Cadets/CFLC should consider based feasibility study on the should be expanded to include absences authorities to determine a problem amendments to its expansion of the Compensation for for occupational skills training of all definition – 15 August 2016 Col D.L. Cheff, proposed Employers of Reservists Program to Primary Reserve and Canadian Ranger ED, CFLC Compensation for include leave for occupational and personnel. The study will consider: Draft feasibility study submitted Employers of career training courses, including whether extant administrative tools or to VCDS – 15 November 2016 Reservists Program to associated training activities required processes are available to manage such include absences for all for career progression. a complex program, the human and Final report to VCDS – 15 occupational skills financial resources required to manage November 2016 training of Army an expanded Compensation for Reserve soldiers. Employers of Reservists Program, and the design options that would be required to re-profile the program (should no existing systems exist). Para 5.106 Training of Army Agreed. The Canadian Army The Canadian Army will provide 31 March 2017 Introduction of Mission: Ready, Comd CA Reserve soldiers already provides sufficient detail to training to ensure Army Reserve which is the Canadian Army ensure that Army Reserve soldiers soldiers are ready for expeditionary Integrated Performance Strategy Col D.J. Lambert National Defence are trained to the level required for

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needs to ensure that employment on domestic and operations. (CAIPS). Mission: Ready focuses Chief of Staff training of Army international missions. The Army on providing all CA soldiers with Canadian Army Reserve soldiers for ensures that Reserve soldiers are the tools needed to enhance their Doctrine Training international trained to their occupational function performance across all fitness Centre deployments addresses point within their trade and that domains, thus increasing both all known gaps in continuation training is provided their personal resilience and the individual occupational annually to enable those soldiers to Army’s readiness for operations. skills training. operate in - and company- The Mission: Ready website can level operations. Gaps or be found online at deficiencies in skills are identified strongproudready.ca. during the pre-deployment training phase, and the designated Clearly articulate collective Commanders assess and determine training requirements by Battle how those gaps will be rectified Task Standard for Army Reserve (through individual training courses sub-sub-units () and or collective level training at the sections – Fall 2016. deploying unit level). Once deployed, whether Regular or Reserve, the unit will conduct Assign to the Army Reserve refresher or continuation training to specific tasks, equipment and ensure skill proficiency is associated training objectives for maintained. If a new task or piece of employment in expeditionary equipment is identified, the deployed operations– Spring 2017. unit Commander will provide the level of training as required. The Introduce new Fitness programme Canadian Army will ensure the (FORCE COMBAT) – April training records of individual 2017. soldiers are kept up to date and will

continue to explore ways to minimize all known skill gaps. Articulate Training guidance for Army Reserve in Op Plan 17/18 – 1 April 2017. Para 5.119 Training of Army Agreed. The Canadian Army is Improved Reserve and 31 March 2018 Insert draft concept of Reserve Comd CA Reserve soldiers taking the necessary steps to develop integration within the Army Collective integration into Army Op Plan opportunities for stronger integration Training framework, thus enhancing 17/18 - 1 April 2017. Col D.J. Lambert

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National Defence between the Regular Army and the the CA readiness for domestic and Chief of Staff should improve the Reserve Force. expeditionary operations. Review Maple Resolve 17’s Canadian Army collective training and lessons learned in terms of 4 Doctrine Training integration of Army Division’s Op Centre Reserve units with REINFORCEMENT trial to their Regular Army determine an effective and counterparts so that sustainable way ahead for they are better prepared Reserve Integration with the to support Regular Force –Fall 2017 with a deployments. view to implement starting 1 April 2018.

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