CFAO 49-4 -- CAREER POLICY NON-COMMISSIONED MEMBERS REGULAR FORCE
PURPOSE
1. This order amplifies QR&O chapters 11 and 14, and prescribes the
policy for non-commissioned members (NCMs) on promotion, reduction,
reversion, and relinquishment of rank in the Regular Force.
DEFINITIONS2. In this order:
ENROLMENT
includes re-enrolment in, or transfer to, the Regular Force;
ENTER PROMOTION ZONE (EPZ)
means the date on which a member is eligible for consideration for
promotion. The EPZ date is determined from the enrolment date adjusted
by adding any leave without pay (LWOP) granted on enrolment, plus the
minimum promotion time prerequisite for the next higher rank specified
in Annex A, minus the time credit for promotion (TCP) if applicable,
but it is never earlier than the enrolment date; or on promotion it is
determined from the seniority date plus the minimum time prerequisite
for the next higher rank specified in Annex A;
OCCUPATION TRANSFER (OT)
means the transfer of NCMs from their current military occupation
(MOC) to another MOC;
PROMOTION
includes appointment as master corporal (MCpl), granting of acting
rank, and advancement within the rank of private from private
(recruit) (Pte(R)) to private (basic) (Pte(B)) to private (trained)
(Pte(T));
QUALIFICATION LEVEL (QL)
replaces "Trade Qualification (TQ)" and means the level of skill and
knowledge specified for individual MOCs in the A-PD-series
publications;
QUALIFYING SERVICE
means the service required for entry into the promotion zone (EPZ) or
for promotion to the next higher rank;
REDUCTION IN RANK
means the compulsory demotion from a substantive rank to a lower rank
by reason of, or consequent upon, a sentence imposed by a Service
tribunal;
REVERSION IN RANK
means the return to a lower rank by other than reduction and includes
revocation and relinquishment of rank or appointment;
SENIORITY DATE
means the date of promotion to substantive rank or in the case of a
person who holds the rank granted on enrolment, the date of enrolment.
This date may be subject to various adjustments;
TIME CREDIT FOR PROMOTION (TCP) TCP
means the qualifying service calculated on the basis of the member's
previous service, rank and military and/or civilian qualifications.
TPC determines the earliest date a member may be eligible for
promotion to the next higher substantive rank and is used to calculate
the initial EPZ date, and
TRAINING IN THE NEW MOC
includes MOC qualification training and/or language training.
PROMOTION FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE OR GALLANTRY
3. A member may be promoted in recognition of meritorious service or an
act of gallantry; such promotions require the approval of the Minister of
National Defence.
PROMOTION AUTHORITY
4. Subject to paragraph 5, the approving authority for:
a. promotion to Pte(B), Pte(T), acting lacking/corporal (AL/Cpl),
acting/corporal (provisional) (A/Cpl(P)) and Corporal (Cpl) is
the member's commanding officer (CO);
b. except as specified in Annexes A, B and F, appointment to MCpl,
or promotion to sergeant (Sgt) or to a higher rank, is National
Defence Headquarters/Director General Personnel Careers Other
Ranks (NDHQ/DGPCOR); and
c. except as specified in Annexes C and F, granting and revoking
acting rank (acting lacking (AL) and/or provisional(P)) is
NDHQ/DGPCOR.
5. The approving authority for:
a. accelerated promotion to Cpl is the member's CO subject to any
limitations imposed by the officer commanding the command (OCC);
b. accelerated promotion to MCpl or to a rank higher than Cpl is
NDHQ/DGPCOR; and
c. promotion from acting to substantive rank is the CO when the
lacking prerequisite has been obtained.
6. The sole authority for revoking a member's appointment as MCpl is
NDHQ/DGPCOR. Except as provided for in Appendix 2 of Annex B and paragraph
10 of Annex F, eligibility for reappointment will be determined by the
first merit board convened following revocation.
7. The approving authority for granting acting rank "while so employed"
is limited to designated commanders of operational theatres, as determined
by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). A rank authorized on a
while-so-employed basis shall be revoked not later than the date when the
member ceases to be employed in the operational theatre.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION
8. In accordance with QR&O 11.02, a member may not be promoted unless
the following conditions are met:
a. an appropriate vacancy in the total establishment for the
component exists:
b. the member is recommended by the appropriate authority; and
c. the member meets such promotion standards and other conditions as
the CDS may prescribe. Except in cases of OT as outlined in
paragraph 26, a member who declines promotion will be subject to
a Career Review Board (CRB) in accordance with paragraph 41.
9. Superseded by CANFORGEN 087/06
MILITARY REQUIREMENTS
10. The military requirement referred to in subparagraph 9b(2) is the
number of NCMs required at each rank level, in each military occupation, to
man the Canadian Forces (CF) establishment. Annual promotion quotas are
determined by calculating the difference between the military requirement
and the actual strength after subtracting the projected attrition for the
year from the latter figure. A member who will be selected for promotion
from the merit list within the annual promotion quota may be promoted out
of sequence during the promotion year to meet Service requirements. This
action will ensure units as full a complement of leaders as possible,
reduce turbulence, and permit the member the benefit of rank commensurate
with assigned duties.
ACTION BY COMMANDING OFFICER RESPECTING PROMOTION
11. For promotion to Cpl, AUCpl or A/Cpl(P) and for nominations to
accelerated promotions and from acting to substantive rank, form CF 743A,
UER (Unit Employment Record) Qualification Record Sheet, shall be completed
and distributed as described in Annex G.
12. A recommendation by a CO for promotion, or for qualification leading
to promotion, shall be construed to mean that the member has, in all
respects, demonstrated the necessary potential, and that the CO is prepared
to retain and develop the member in the higher rank.
13. When a CO has recommended the promotion of a member in a Personal
Evaluation Record (PER) or by any other means, it is imperative that any
change in circumstances that could affect the member's suitability for
promotion be reported immediately to NDHQ/DGPCOR by message.
14. When a promotion to Pte(T) or Cpl is denied, the CO shall inform
NDHQ/DGPCOR of the circumstances and specify the intended period of delay,
and inform the member of the action taken.
15. In all cases, the CO shall, prior to approving promotion, confirm that
the member meets the minimum medical category for the MOC as prescribed in
34-30, Medical Standards for the Canadian Forces.
16. When a promotion instruction has been issued and the CO does not
concur, recommendation that the promotion be denied shall be forwarded to
NDHQ/DPCAOR 2. The member shall be advised of the CO's action and of the
NDHQ decision.
