Operation Transition - 30 day admin entitlement upon release

[PMedMoe]

Every dinosaur now wants to twist this instruction around to suit their worldview of how things were done "back in the beginning".

Hey, I'm out of the CF.  I have no dog in this fight.  Personally, I don't give a flying f*ck what Cpl Bloggins does during his transition period.  Unfortunately though, something  like a recreational injury or a DUI during that period would be pounced upon by the press.  Just my  :2c:

 

[Throwaway987]

As professionals we want to make sure our people are taken care of, and in some cases we have to adult for them, so we want to make sure our soldier's release is going good and they are doing well mentally as well.  It is what leaders do.

Is “adulting for them“ part of what it means to be a good leader? I’m only half trolling this time...

I’ve only been in a few years but sometimes the CAF feels like a large daycare with 50% adults and 50% children. Is it unreasonable to expect to work with other professionals who are responsible for their own matters? I’m not sure where the line is between being a “good leader” and expecting personal responsibility from others. Here’s the list of things to do, take your 30 days to get it done, and call your supervisor if you need help.

Edit: I’d argue that maximum exposure to personal responsibility/developing self-efficacy would be the best way to prepare someone for release and civilian life. No one is going to care about them in 30 days so they might as well have a trial run while they still have the CoC safety net.

 

[Jarnhamar]

If a member is being 3a or 3b (medically) released and they're not posted to a JPSU then someone from their chain of command should be assisting them and making sure they're being taken care of properly.

If there's mental health issues, especially self-harm concerns, then the member probably shouldn't be releasing in 30 days.


These 30 admin days will be a members last time in uniform. If it's spent giving them a hard time or just micromanaging them they're going to leave pretty pissed off. From what I'm told we're recruiting 4000 members a year and losing 6000 (or something like that, but we're losing more members than we're gaining).  If a members last days in uniform are filled with frustration then they're going to hop on social media and probably cost us applicants.

 

[Haggis]

My apologies for getting fired up, but clearly this instruction was required because the old way wasn't getting it done for the CAF, it wasn't getting it done for the member.

There will still be cases where members cannot complete the release process in 30 calendar days.  Despite my best efforts and some very accommodating folks at CFSU (O), I needed almost eight weeks to release.  Crap happens.  People go to QM but forget kit at home. People need need specialist appointments to ensure service related injuries are properly captured. Release clerks get sick/injured and take a few days off work.
 

Every dinosaur now wants to twist this instruction around to suit their worldview of how things were done "back in the beginning".

Not every dinosaur.  I wholeheartedly support this policy even though it came into effect after I released.  Had it been in effect at the time I released, I might've pulled it off in under thirty days due to the increased flexibility in my schedule, but maybe not. Because early on in my release process, I realized that I wasn't the only one going through the process and those supporting me have only so many working hours in a day to process everyone.

 

[mariomike]

Unfortunately though, something  like a recreational injury or a DUI during that period would be pounced upon by the press. 

I'm not an HR expert. But, I would guess there could be a financial liability concern for an employer, during that period.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Honestly, maybe the directive is too broad and/or generous.  They could have offered "up to 30 days, as required."

I'll disagree;  the past 2 pages show that 'everyone has their own thoughts/spin on it' and units are ignoring the policy as it stands.

Back years ago, they came out with a leave policy manual...one of the reasons was to standardize leave admin across the CAF, as units 'put their own spin' on things.  To this day, despite the Leave Policy Authority (well above the CO level) stating in plain black and white that a leave pass is not required for weekend leave, some units still demand it.

If they don't use the specific wording "shall" and give the number of days, some people will get 30 days and some will get zero days.

They've made it easy enough, the policy is black and white.  People just need to follow it.  But, historical abuses in the CFPAS and Leave aspects of the CAF tell the story that, despite the clear policy, it will be ignored by people who think they can make their own rules up and state ridiculous things like "COs can make any policy more restrictive".

 

[Milhouser911]

Update:

I located a phone number for the Transition Group Client Services folks and gave them a call.  They have confirmed that the policy is in fact 30 days with NO WORK, and will be phoning my CoC to explain it to them.

That phone number for anyone else in a similar predicament is 1-800-883-6094.  I left a message on Friday and got a call back today, so it looks like turnaround should be pretty fast.

-Scott

 

[garb811]

I'd say the easy button to fix this is to have an automatic attach posting to the local TC at D -30, but then you'd have some units pulling garbage like not planning the DWD because the member "no longer belonged to them"...

 

[Jarnhamar]

Update:

I located a phone number for the Transition Group Client Services folks and gave them a call.  They have confirmed that the policy is in fact 30 days with NO WORK, and will be phoning my CoC to explain it to them.

That phone number for anyone else in a similar predicament is 1-800-883-6094.  I left a message on Friday and got a call back today, so it looks like turnaround should be pretty fast.

-Scott

Good job dude.

I'd say the easy button to fix this is to have an automatic attach posting to the local TC at D -30, but then you'd have some units pulling garbage like not planning the DWD because the member "no longer belonged to them"...

I bevelieve there's talk about having all releasing members (and not just medical) sent to a transition center for their last month in the CAF.

 

[The Bread Guy]

I bevelieve there's talk about having all releasing members (and not just medical) sent to a transition center for their last month in the CAF.

Everyone needs time to admin out, no matter why they're leaving -- makes some sense.  Or does making sense jinx the idea?

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Ok- Devils advocate time.

If I have had a long, successful and enjoyable career, why would I want to spend my last 30 days in uniform away from my friends and colleagues at my unit and be forced to "transition centre", surrounded by people who don't know me?

I would find that stressful and not very enjoyable.

 

[dapaterson]

A responsible unit would send you to the Transition Centre to give you expert support in getting out, while remaining connected to you & keeping you "part of the family".

If the unit dumps you at the door of the Transition Centre, then locks their doors and forgets about you, they probably weren't going to do a very good job of helping you on the way out.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Why can't someone just come out and say the following:

"During a members last 30 days in the CAF, they aren't doing any work whatsoever"

/theend

Seems pretty straight forward.

 

[mariomike]

If I have had a long, successful and enjoyable career, why would I want to spend my last 30 days in uniform away from my friends and colleagues at my unit and be forced to "transition centre", surrounded by people who don't know me?

Sounds depressing.

 

[dapaterson]

Why can't someone just come out and say the following:

"During a members last 30 days in the CAF, they aren't doing any work whatsoever"

/theend

Seems pretty straight forward.

Well, given what comes out of some places in the CAF, how is that a change?

 

[MARS]

Why can't someone just come out and say the following:

"During a members last 30 days in the CAF, they aren't doing any work whatsoever"

/theend

Seems pretty straight forward.

Agreed, but I suspect such a directive might play out as follows:

-Said statement makes its way into the MSM, likely through social media such as Reddit
-DND does a poor job of explaining to a largely disinterested, ignorant public (albeit one that is chomping at the bit to rage at something, especially if it sounds like government mismanagement) the unique requirements of releasing after a lifetime of military service and transitioning to civilian life
-Ministers of the Crown are embarrassed and call for an immediate review of said policy
-Policy is reworked to provide LESS time for this transition, perhaps even rescinded completely and we go back to however we have been doing it prior to this policy
-Military members are worse off than whatever problems this policy is currently causing; general public is sufficiently satisfied that they have yet again stamped out government waste and have already moved on to the next day's outrage, whatever that is; Ministers decree that they are not to be bothered with this issue ever again

 

[Journeyman]

Agreed, but I suspect such a directive might play out as follows...

So cynical.  You're coming along nicely.  ;D

 

[Milhouser911]

Here's some cynicism for you:  After being contacted and corrected by the transition centre, my CoC has decided that even though I cannot be employed, I will be required to report to work every day, in uniform, during all regular working hours unless I have identified an appointment to them in advance.

They wanted to say no (In fact they did say no, and that they didn't support my original request in any way), were told they HAD to say yes, and then worked hard to ensure that the difference between "yes" and "no" was minimal.

I'm fucking done with this unit.  I will never regret leaving this particular hole and its incompetent, selfish, malicious denizens. 

 

[Jarnhamar]

Contact the transition center you spoke with and let them know what your chain of command is up to. The TC may or may not get further involved.

 

[Haggis]

Here's some cynicism for you:  After being contacted and corrected by the transition centre, my CoC has decided that even though I cannot be employed, I will be required to report to work every day, in uniform, during all regular working hours unless I have identified an appointment to them in advance.

Make sure your first booked appointment is with clothing stores.  Then, come in to work in civvies every day thereafter.