Reconstitution

[dimsum]

I get that discounts are not a guaranteed thing and it sounds a bit petty, but many US military discounts don’t apply to allied members posted and working in the US (and who shop in the US).

But hey, their business, their rules.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I get that discounts are not a guaranteed thing and it sounds a bit petty, but many US military discounts don’t apply to allied members posted and working in the US (and who shop in the US).

But hey, their business, their rules.

Yup- I never expect a discount, nor am I insulted if my enquiry is denied.

 

[Fabius]

There are some interesting numbers in this article in regards to the Naval Experience Program.

Canada's navy leans on adventure to entice recruits and help fill thousands of vacant positions

Canada's Naval Experience Program, which offers people a year to test their sea legs, is attracting some international attention

nationalpost.com

1500 applied
264 enrolled
43 have completed their year
Of those 43;
50% have elected to stay RCN
30% have gone elsewhere in the CAF
20% have released

 

[Pelorus]

I think NEP overall has been a big success, and my exposure to them the past year is that they're generally quite keen, interested to learn and fit in, and overall seemed to be enjoying themselves. That said, I'm sure the inevitable problem cases don't get sent down to lodger units to the same extent.

I do think you are likely to see a drop in post-NEP enrollments as the program matures, or at least you might if the recruiting system can solves its intake delays. A couple of them have mentioned to me that they had already applied to the CAF, but ultimately signed up for NEP because they first and foremost were looking for steady employment, and NEP was a quicker pipeline to enrollment. I'd suspect this accounts for a good chunk of the "30% retained elsewhere in the CAF" portion.

 

[daftandbarmy]

There are some interesting numbers in this article in regards to the Naval Experience Program.

Canada's navy leans on adventure to entice recruits and help fill thousands of vacant positions

Canada's Naval Experience Program, which offers people a year to test their sea legs, is attracting some international attention

nationalpost.com

1500 applied
264 enrolled
43 have completed their year
Of those 43;
50% have elected to stay RCN
30% have gone elsewhere in the CAF
20% have released

I wonder what the cost per 'successful recruit' would be?

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

I wonder what the cost per 'successful recruit' would be?

The numbers don't look great....

So 21 have stayed in the RCN, out of 264 enrolled.

That's an 8% retention rate. That is atrocious and it's a bloody expensive way to generate half a platoon of PATs.

 

[Remius]

The numbers don't look great....

So 21 have stayed in the RCN, out of 264 enrolled.

That's an 8% retention rate. That is atrocious and it's a bloody expensive way to generate half a platoon of PATs.

Those might have been 21 they would have gotten anyways and would be perhaps further ahead to OFP?

The idea is interesting but the results don’t look great.

 

[PrairieFella]

Those might have been 21 they would have gotten anyways and would be perhaps further ahead to OFP?

The idea is interesting but the results don’t look great.

Can't fault the RCN for trying to be innovative.

 

[MJP]

The numbers don't look great....

So 21 have stayed in the RCN, out of 264 enrolled.

That's an 8% retention rate. That is atrocious and it's a bloody expensive way to generate half a platoon of PATs.

I don't read it the way you do.

34/43 that have completed the programme and stayed.

The remaining ones are still in the year of experience and aren't at the stage to determine if they stay or not.

So the vast majority have chosen to stay. I have no doubt that the numbers will regress but a 70 to 80% retention rate right now means they got something right.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

I don't read it the way you do.

34/43 that have completed the programme and stayed.

The remaining ones are still in the year of experience and aren't at the stage to determine if they stay or not.

So the vast majority have chosen to stay. I have no doubt that the numbers will regress but a 70 to 80% retention rate right now means they got something right.

That isn't the way it's written in the article though.

Would be a point to clarify and even still, how much $$$ are they spending?

From a $$ perspective, it doesn't seem responsible to do things like fly recruits to Scotland for an 'experience'. You could pay a retaining bonus of $10,000.00 to a trained sailor that's on the fence about quitting and receive more value for your $$. Repayable of course, should they elect to leave

I would love to see the accounting on this program and how much was spent, especially when people bemoan how much things like RMC ROTP cost .

 

[MJP]

That isn't the way it's written in the article though.

That is exactly how it is written in the article.

Of those, 43 sailors have finished the one-year program, he said. Half of them have chosen navy trades, 30 per cent have decided to go elsewhere in the Canadian Armed Forces, and the remaining 20 per cent left the military.

My comment is on the 43 people (small sample size for sure)

I agree that retention bonus and other measures should be looked at for in-service personnel.

I also hope we can improve recruiting timelines. While I know some measures are being taken, it is a ridiculously bureaucratic process.

 

[PuckChaser]

The way it's written leaves room for interpretation. You can read that as only 43 people have been in for the full year (every starts at different times) or only 43 people stuck out the full year of the 200 enrollees.

 

[daftandbarmy]

That isn't the way it's written in the article though.

Would be a point to clarify and even still, how much $$$ are they spending?

From a $$ perspective, it doesn't seem responsible to do things like fly recruits to Scotland for an 'experience'. You could pay a retaining bonus of $10,000.00 to a trained sailor that's on the fence about quitting and receive more value for your $$. Repayable of course, should they elect to leave

I would love to see the accounting on this program and how much was spent, especially when people bemoan how much things like RMC ROTP cost .

It would be good to see some kind of cost/benefit comparison.

I'm thinking a section of Class B recruiters roaming the local high schools etc might get better results.

 

[dimsum]

It would be good to see some kind of cost/benefit comparison.

I'm thinking a section of Class B recruiters roaming the local high schools etc might get better results.

That assumes said high schools are receptive to Class B recruiters.

To clarify - I’m not saying that the school system is against the CAF as a whole. But between not having a conflict going on where CAF members are in the news (except for bad things) and how the younger generation spends their time, I’d almost rather spend that $ on ads and AMAs on various social media platforms.

 

[Rifleman62]

There is also the intangible of the NEP. Young people get life experiences, learn to do tasks, self-discipline, etc. Plus another person who knows something about the military.

 

[Halifax Tar]

You could pay a retaining bonus of $10,000.00 to a trained sailor that's on the fence about quitting and receive more value for your $$.

The RCN cant do that.

What they can do is fly/sail people places and provide experiences though. Hopefully positive experiences.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

The way it's written leaves room for interpretation. You can read that as only 43 people have been in for the full year (every starts at different times) or only 43 people stuck out the full year of the 200 enrollees.

No, it does not.

43 people of a total of 246 currently enrolled in the NEP have completed their first year in the program and must make a choice: stay or release (the other 203 still have time, although, they can elect to commit to the CAF or release any time).

Of those 43, about 80% percent have been retained (not 8%, as proposed, upthread). That is pretty good- although it can rightly argued that a number of folks who were going to join anyway used it as a quick method to bypass alot of the CFRG churn.
But alot of the success should be obvious- leaders who care about their subordinates, give them interesting training and experiences. Sounds like every unit in the CAF could do that part, right?

The RCN pushed this through against great opposition in certain circles. It was deliberately kept small scale to avoid overwhelming both coasts (there are not unlimited NCMs to supervise, nor shacks to house). The next year will be the real test- do the numbers hold up?

It can’t be a total failure, if our Allies (including the USN) are sniffing around, asking how to do it.

 

[IKnowNothing]

It would be good to see some kind of cost/benefit comparison.

First have to quantify the value of the "no further enrollment" NEP member. They go through BMQ + a 4 week Naval training program- are they pure sightsee-ers sailing as supernumeraries for the rest or are they actually contributing?

 

[Grimey]

It would be good to see some kind of cost/benefit comparison.

I'm thinking a section of Class B recruiters roaming the local high schools etc might get better results.

With Victoria-area schools balking at the police liaison program despite parent support, a section of roaming baby-killing MAGA fascists ( as I’m sure BCTF would interpret it) might be a bit much for the bleeding heart brigade.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

First have to quantify the value of the "no further enrollment" NEP member. They go threw BMQ + a 4 week Naval training program- are they pure sightsee-ers sailing as supernumeraries for the rest or are they actually contributing?

No.

Enroll in this context means “after 1 year in the program, the NEP candidate commits to a Basic Engagement in the CAF in trade x”