Veterans Advocate

CANADIAN ARMED FORCES/VETERAN AFFAIRS CANADA

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS/TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT/SERVICE DELIVERY

CONTENTS

Introduction:
Page No. 2, Paragraphs 1 thru 8.
VAC/CAF Integration - Basic Military Qualification (Great Beginnings:
Paragraphs 9 thru 14.

Page No. 3,

VAC/CAF Integration Leadership Progression (Building a Relationship):

Paragraphs 15 thru 20.

Page No. 4,

VAC/CAF Integration Cyclical Training (Continuity):

5, Paragraphs 21 thru 25.
VAC/CAF Integration The Joint Personnel Support Unit (Service Delivery):
Paragraphs 26 thru 29.
The JPSU, Soldier-to-Civilian Transition (A Respectful Return):
6, Paragraphs 30 thru 35.
VAC/CAF Integration/JPSU (Summary):
No. 7, Paragraphs 36 thru 38.

Page No.
Page No. 5,
Page No.
Page

VAC/CAF Integration/JPSU (Lessons Learned?) (Available on Request):

Annexes.
A. Study List: Soldier Transition. (Available on Request)
B. Published Works: Soldier Transition. (Available on Request)
C. CF 98 / MPRR (VAC/CAF Tracking). (Available on Request)
D. A Thoughtful Second Look (JPSU Transformation). (Available on Request)

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1.
Introduction: In reviewing the minutes of previous meetings of VAC/National Defence
committees, Ive noticed that much has been said about the importance of a seamless
transition through an injury in military society to life in civilian society - from CAF to VAC
support. However, there appears to be ongoing issues preventing this much sought-after
seamless transition from taking place this brief provides a means to resolve this elusive
goal.
2.
From my time in the CAFs injured support organization, The Joint Personnel Support
Unit (JPSU), I can state from experience that the benefits afforded injured service-members
and their families while still in the CAF can be difficult for a person to understand, and in fact
can cause a great deal of frustration for a military family. As an advocate for Veterans and
serving-members, Ive gained the perspective of both CAF and VAC Service Delivery at the
point of transition from serving-member to veteran, from CAF to VAC.
4.
My role as an advocate has allowed me the freedom of movement I didnt have as a
JPSU Sergeant Major, and I found that the CAF was not properly trained to administer more
complex benefits (such as home-modifications) for transitioning-out persons dealing with a
new disability. There was also confusion between the CAF and VAC at the point of transition
with regard to which organization would be covering what service for the injured member
upon departure from the CAF.
5.
These being my experiences, I will include in my brief the CAF and VAC in a role of
Complete Transition, something missing from the current CAF philosophy. In this role, the
JPSU-VAC and its service-partners become a component of the transition-in (civilian to
service-member), military society (through cyclic training) and transition-out (from a soldier
back to civilian) whether or not the service-member is injured or healthy.
6.
To accomplish this, a VAC module will be included during Basic Military Qualification
(BMQ), through the various CAF training modules (leadership/cyclic), to the release of a
military-member as a veteran. This is a significant move away from the six-month
timeframe currently employed when a person has been injured and is looking at release
(probably the worst time that this can loaded upon an injured service-member and family).
7.
In doing so, VAC will become an integral pro-active component of military society
rather than reactively waiting on the periphery until an injured person is transitioned to
civilian life, or post-release when a military-related injury is discovered. Through the sharing
of CF98 and MPRR information, it will also allow the CAF and VAC to use their respective
databases to identify trends which up until now they may have been unable to track.
8.
With this relationship in-place, the VAC Service Delivery component becomes a
known from the moment a civilian transitions into the CAF, through their career and the
transition back to civilian life as a veteran. In this manner, the military family will be well
briefed on VAC and CAF services prior to them ever needing support or services.

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Barry L. Westholm, CD
Sergeant Major (Retd)

VAC/CAF INTEGRATION:
BASIC MILITARY QUALIFICATION (Great Beginnings)
9.
In-place Resources: CAF Recruiting Centres, Recruit Schools, JPSU Detachments (VACCAF personnel).
10.
Background: The CAFs Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) is a civilians first-contact
with the CAF culture where they are psychologically de-constructed from their civilian-self
and are re-constructed as a soldier (1). It is the entranceway to the CAF society where all
manner of important military education and training take-place and where a recruits civilian
baggage is left at the door, not to be seen until they release from the CAF as a veteran.
11.
Recommendation: Amend the in-place curriculum to include a VAC module on the final
week of a persons BMQ to include:
a. The role of the the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU).
b. The working relationship between VAC/CAF through the JPSU.
c. Importance of VAC and its inclusion in leadership courses throughout their
military career.
d. The benefits offered members of the CAF, Veterans and families should they
be injured.
e. The inclusion of family members in the VAC support equation.
f. Transition programs for injured members through the JPSU.
g. Importance of recording of injuries on a CF98 and VAC shadow-file.
h. CF98/MPRR data to track and inform CAF Health Services of injury patterns.
i. Introduction and training on the VAC website.
j. A Brief on the New Veterans Charter.
k. Testing on all of the above (80% pass).
l. Package mailed to parents/family.
m. Probably a phone-call to a parent*.
n. The opening of a My VAC Account.
o. Send a test CF98 to the My VAC Account system.
12. Summary: The above describes the first-contact of a CAF/VAC cycle, a cycle that does
not yet exist in this depth. If the preceding were adopted (and it would very easy to
accomplish) the recruit, now a trained CAF member, would depart their BMQ with a good
understanding about VAC, the New Veterans Charter, the My VAC Account system, and with
this knowledge VACs first Service Delivery: Confidence for the recruit and Peace-of-Mind
for their family.

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13. In stating the above, the definition of VAC Service Delivery has been expanded, but
it is undeniable that providing those two intangibles (Confidence and Peace-of-Mind) will
instill an appreciation to both the soldier and their family that should an injury occur, the
CAF and VAC will be there to support them. For the soldier and the CAF, this also has a
strategic outcome - the knowledge that a seamless and integrated support structure exists,
and that its importance is such that its been given a special module during the BMQ, will
provide a confidence that will stay with a soldier while operating in harms way. The
knowledge that the CAF and VAC have got the soldiers back negates the need for them to
worry about such support (as much).
14. The CAF expends a great deal of effort transitioning a person from civilian-to-soldier
but expends none for soldier-to-civilian after a decades long career none. Military society
is one within Canadian society but with many differences and, as stated by Mr. Guy Parent in
a previous committee meeting, it is not so much a reintegration (to civilian society), but
integration. This is indeed the case.
VAC/CAF INTEGRATION:
LEADERSHIP PROGRESSION (Building a Relationship)
15. In-place Resources: CAF Leadership Schools, Bases, JPSU Detachments (VAC-CAF
(Service Partners)).
16. Background: The CAFs Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) is the first in a series of
career courses/modules provided to the military-member if they display the potential to fulfil
the duties of the next-higher rank. As a service-member increases in rank so does the
scope of their responsibilities. In order to ensure the person is ready for the next-higher rank
the person must show the potential for leadership and, when developed to a certain level,
they must attend various leadership courses.
17. The first level of leadership is at the junior Non-Commissioned Member level at the
rank of Corporal to Master Corporal known as the Primary Leadership Program (PLP). The
second is at the Sergeant to Warrant Officer level, is the Intermediate Leadership Program
(ILP) the next at the Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer level, is the Advanced
Leadership Program (ALP) and Senior Leadership Program (SLP) and finally at the Master
Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer with Senior Appointment Program (SAP) and
Executive Leader Program (ELP).
18.
Recommendation: The CAF understands the importance of preparing a member for
the responsibilities of the next higher rank. Those responsibilities should include the
knowledge of VAC services on an incrementally increasing scale proportionate to the rank
level. At the highest rank and position (Command Chief Warrant Officer/Executive Leader)
the member should be setting the strategic leadership pace for the CAF/VAC relationship.
That person would be drawing on information on the ground from Master and Chief
Warrant Officers across the CAF spectrum. At the lower rank levels (Master Corporal, thru
Warrant Officer) the CAF/VAC relationship would be taught and maintained within units and
on CAF Bases.
19. The most important unit providing information on the CAF/VAC relationship would be
unit assigned the task of injured service-member transition: The Joint Personnel Support Unit
(JPSU). (Note. The JPSU structure currently cannot accomplish this task and requires some
modification.)
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Transition-In
CAF/VAC
BMQ

Civili
an
Socie
ty

TransitionOut
JPSU
VAC/CAF

PLP

SAP

ILP
ALP

20.
Summary: If the
preceding were
adopted, the partnership between CAF and VAC would have visibility from the moment a
person joined the CAF, their rise through the ranks, yearly training regime and upon release.
This would ensure that VAC support would become an integral, well understood and highly
regarded component of military and post-military civilian life.

VAC/CAF INTEGRATION:
CYCLICAL TRAINING (Continuity)
21.

In-place Resources: Cyclical Military Training (First Aid Qualification), JPSU.

22. Background: Members of the CAF must go through regular currency training (rifle
ranges, weapons training, first aid training, etc.) as part of the yearly training cycle. The
Military First Aid module is different from one that you would find in the civilian sector and
recently included first responses to psychological trauma on the battlefield.
23. Recommendation: The CAF understands the importance of preparing a member for
injuries sustained in the performance of their duties, whether their own or on another
person. Given the context of this training, it is only logical to expand the training regime to
include a component of VAC. This can be included again as a Service Delivery as it shows
the close working relationship between VAC and the CAF.
24. This addition will allow for changes in VAC services, allowing for reporting procedures
to be communicated on a regular basis using the already in-place Cyclical Training regime.
Another advantage to this addition is that these courses are run continuously throughout
the year in order to ensure all military personnel receive the training. This being the case,
VAC Services will become a routine day-to-day component of military life. If one wanted to
expand on this recommendation, VAC personnel could also attend these first-aid courses as
they would be both helpful and encourage interaction and understanding of supported
personnel.
25. Summary: If the preceding were adopted, the CAF/VAC partnership would have
visibility and interaction on both a daily basis and throughout a VAC employee/servicemembers career.

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VAC/CAF INTEGRATION:
JOINT PERSONNEL SUPPORT UNIT (Service Delivery)

26.

In-place Resources: JPSU Detachments, VAC Offices, Service Canada Offices.

27. Background: The CAFs Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) was designed to provide
consolidated support to injured and ill military-members, their families and veterans. Stoodup in 2009, it transferred injured personnel from the former and much maligned system
(SPHL) to the JPSU. The JPSU is the unit where VAC, the CAF and the injured service-member
and their family all meet and the transition process begins.
28.
Recommendation: If the JPSUs military and VAC resources (human, infrastructure,
training, IT) could be networked across Canada it would be a far more efficient means of
sharing knowledge, infrastructure and experience working together with transitioning
service-members, military families and veterans.
29.
Summary: This is a critical juncture for the JPSU and the way ahead should be the
right one there were many lost opportunities under the past/present leadership (the
persons in charge of the JPSU remain very much the same as before). That said, care should
be used, and the new rationale examined thoroughly, before going forward to the new
JPSU.

JOINT PERSONNEL SUPPORT UNIT:

SOLDIER-TO-CIVILIAN INTEGRATION (A Respectful Return)
30.

(Almost) In-place Resources: Fully Integrated (CAF/VAC) JPSU Transition-Out Program.

31.
Background: The CAF leadership has had eight-years to develop its current transitionout plan in the JPSU, and around 100 years before that to develop its predecessor, the SPHL.
While there are some notable advancements in injured soldier support, there is not much
tangible in the way of a solid transition-out program. In fact, many service-members only
days away from medical-release from the CAF are being ordered around as if they were
recruits. This is the exact wrong way to transition an indoctrinated person from a military
society to a civilian society.
32.
I recently witnessed a soldier with PTSD and a service dog close to medical-release
being given a hard time for having their service dog on a military base and arriving to a
meeting in civilian clothes. In response, a JPSU staff member escorted the person to the
military medical facility at the quick-march to get a doctors note exempting the person
from something that caused them great anxiety: the military uniform. This lack of flexibility
on behalf of the unit designed for transition a military member to civilian society (the JPSU) is
cause for great concern.
33.
Recommendation: The JPSU must identify military-members that will be transitioning
to civilian society and place them in a Transition-Out stream as soon as possible. This
would not be tied to a six-month pre-release timeframe, but as soon as it becomes apparent
that the CAF member will be transitioning even if by their own choice. While in the
Transition-Out stream they will be given a series of options and benefits that may be
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afforded them by both the CAF (relocation) and VAC (Post-Release Support). They will no
longer be required to wear military dress and will be allowed a more relaxed policy on
haircuts, jewelry, etc. Courtesies normally paid to Officers and NCOs will be amended
toward being business-polite. The military staff of the JPSU must support this as an critical
component of transitioning-out as much as they did with the transitioning-in (BMQ)
component. They must be conversant with various preparation programs, CAF and VAC
benefits and encourage civilian interaction for the departing member. This is a task that
cannot be readily accomplished by a civilian, it can only be accomplished by a servingmember or veteran. It is in every sense a formal training regime designed to de-militarize
and acclimatize the service-member (and family) to civilian life as a veteran family.
34.
Summary: Perhaps it is because the CAF is a society within a society that some
military persons have difficulty allowing a releasing CAF member some latitude in preparing
for the next phase of their civilian lives. One can find serving military-members whose
parents and grandparents were also military-members and whose children are as well. While
this is a remarkable commitment to Canada, it also places some very senior CAF militarymembers on the periphery of civilian society in some cases since World War 1, 2 and the
Korean War. In the case of these longstanding (generational) military families, perhaps they
just dont know the civilian world enough to properly prepare an injured or ill soldier (and
family) for departure from the CAF.
35.
This shouldnt be an unexpected situation - the military has gone to great lengths (and
for some military families, for many decades) instilling a warrior spirit, discipline and a
military mindset in a person but have expended little effort in removing it. This must be
taken into account when reviewing the next version of the JPSU and must certainly be
addressed before going forward.

VAC/CAF INTEGRATION:
JOINT PERSONNEL SUPPORT UNIT (Summary)
36.
This document contains the basic solutions that have been discussed for years
regarding injured veteran transitional support, but never resolved. It is not intended to go
into great detail but it does give you a broad look at how a system from Basic Military
Qualification (transitioning-in), through a military career (leadership courses, annual training)
and then release (transitioning-out) can incorporate VAC.
37.
If the above plan were to be built upon, the CAF and VAC would have eyes-on a
military member from the moment they depart Basic Training (VAC Training Module/CF-98
Test), through their career (CF-98 issuances and MPRR) and upon release (JPSU). This would,
for the first time, complete the circle of a military-members career of transitioning-in to
transitioning-out. But there will be opposition to it.
38.
As of this writing the Chief of Military Personnel stated the the unit designed for
transition (the JPSU) is looking at an additional 18 months of restructure/review over-andabove the previous eight-years of development and three previous reviews this is far too
long. I suggest then that consideration be made for VAC to take the lead, or equal
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partnership, in those CAF personnel and families who are in the Transition-to-Civilian stream
and provide them the transitional support to VAC Services pre and post-release.

Barry L. Westholm, CD
Reference: (1) Anybodys Son Will Do Gwynne Dyer, Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_G2u1RrLOk

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