Engineering Officer Recruitment Allowance
DND Press Release, 12 February, 2002
OTTAWA - The Canadian Forces (CF) has been actively engaged in a three-year recruiting program that began 1 April 2001. While this program has many components, developing new and innovative attraction tools is central. On 7 February 2002 Treasury Board approved a $40,000 recruitment allowance for applicants to six Regular Force engineering occupations that are experiencing significant shortages of personnel. Its goal is to increase the enrolment of engineering officer applicants who possess engineering or specific science degrees.
The allowance came into effect on 8 February 2002 and has been under development for several months.
The Conference Board of Canada recently reported that more than 75% of organizations in 2001 reported difficulties in recruitment and/or retention for key positions, and that attracting engineers is among the greatest challenges. The allowance will increase the CF‘s ability to compete in the Canadian labour market for these highly desirable individuals.
The CF pays for members‘ undergraduate degrees through the Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP) at either Royal Military College or civilian universities. However, the number of engineering graduates from ROTP is not sufficient to meet the shortfall of engineering officers. The CF estimates that it will need to recruit approximately 600 new engineers by 31 March 2006. It is imperative, therefore, that the CF increase its enrolment of applicants who already possess undergraduate engineering and science degrees. This will alleviate personnel shortages, reduce the time required to produce qualified engineering officers and help ensure that operational effectiveness is not compromised.
Costs
It is estimated that the costs until 31 March 2006 will be $30.56 million, from funds currently allocated to National Defence.
Eligibility Criteria
The $40,000 allowance will be payable to applicants who possess specific engineering or science degrees who enrol in one of six Regular Force engineering officer occupations.
Four categories of people will be eligible for the allowance:
:bullet: Direct entry applicants who possess a relevant engineering or specific science degree
:bullet: Reserve Force members with relevant degrees who transfer into Regular Force engineering officer occupations
:bullet: Non-commissioned members who possess relevant degrees who are granted commissions and assigned to Regular Force engineering occupations
:bullet: Former members with relevant degrees who re-enrol if they left the Regular Force or transferred to the Reserve Force before 7 February 2002.
Applicants must not have received direct financial assistance, subsidization or funding from the Canadian Forces to help them attain their engineering or science degrees.
All successful applicants must also meet the general eligibility requirements for enrolment into the Canadian Forces, including the following:
- be a Canadian citizen
- be of good character (determined through, for example, credit and criminal record checks)
- meet the minimum age requirement for the entry plan
- meet all medical and enrolment standards
- successfully complete the pre-enrolment fitness evaluation
Obligatory Service and Payment Procedures
Officers who receive the allowance must make a commitment to serve for four years in the Regular Force from the date of enrolment or transfer or - in the case of former non-commissioned members - from the date they were commissioned as officers.
The allowances are subject to income tax, Canadian Pension Plan deductions and Employment insurance deductions. They are payable in two equal instalments.
The first instalment in the amount of $25,000 will occur when engineering officers have met all the eligibility requirements. The applicants must successfully complete basic officer training or be exempt from the training.
The second installment of $15,000 will be paid on the second anniversary of the first payment. The officers must still be serving in the Regular Force in their assigned occupation or another engineering occupation.
If special or unforeseen circumstances lead to an officer‘s request for release before the completion of the obligatory service, the Chief of the Defence Staff may approve the release. Depending on the circumstances, if officers transfer to non-engineering occupations or are released for other than compassionate reasons, they will be obliged to repay all or a portion of the allowance, pro-rated according to the length of time they have served as engineers.
Eligible Degrees
Engineers
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Communications and Electronics Engineering
Maritime Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Airfield Engineering