Question six is “How can DND and the CAF improve the
way they support the health and wellness of military members? In what areas
should more be done?”
The most common complaint most of the public hear
about how military members are being treated relates to the management of Canadian
Forces veterans benefits.
As
it happens those issues are not within the mandate of the Department of
National Defence. Veterans Affairs
Canada is the department within the Government
of Canada which has the responsibility for the pensions, benefits and
services for veterans, retired and still-serving members of the Canadian
Forces, as well as their
families.
This has been the case since 1928 when the
Departments of Pensions and National Health became responsible for caring for
ill and injured soldiers returning from that war. After World War II the
volume of soldiers returning home made it clear that the Government of Canada
would require a department dedicated to serving ill and injured veterans. This
is now Veterans Affairs Canada and at this time it reports directly to a
cabinet level minister.
In other words, there is nothing, beyond advocacy,
that the DND can do for veterans.
As for serving members of the Canadian Forces it
would appear that within the DND “health and wellness” are within the purview of
Military Personnel Command.
According to the Defence 101 Presentation found at the Defence policy review the
command structure is made up of four commands. They are;
- Combined Joint Operations Command
- Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
- Military Personnel Command
- Canadian Forces Intelligence Command
The Chief of Military Personnel “provides functional direction/guidance to the
Canadian Forces on all military personnel management matters, monitors
compliance with Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel management policies, and
is accountable for the effective management of the CAF Personnel System”.
According to their website
the CMP's current priorities are to:
- To provide Defence Team members of Military
Personnel Command with a healthy work environment built on trust and
respect for each individual, where everyone is afforded the opportunity to
reach their optimal potential;
- To maintain a responsive and flexible personnel
generation system through research-based planning, innovative attraction,
representative selection, and challenging professional development to
produce tomorrow’s warriors and leaders;
- To care for our personnel and their families,
in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, by providing the
programs, services and support they need to afford them a rewarding and
fulfilling career and assist their transition from military service;
- To recognize the service and sacrifices of all
by providing the spectrum of care that is compassionate, agile, and
responsive to their needs while responding to those of the Canadian Armed
Forces; and
- To enhance the resiliency and well-being of
military personnel and families with mission support capabilities by
training, equipping and organizing Medical, Dental, Chaplaincy and
Personnel Support services.
In other words it is the
duty of the Chief of Military personnel and Military Personnel Command to
provide “Health and Wellness.”
Therefore it would seem
that the way for the DND and the CAF improve the way they support the health
and wellness of military members is to take whatever steps are necessary to
improve the ability of Military Personnel Command to deliver those services. Possible they could start with a concentrated
attempt to remove as many buzzwords as possible from their ‘mission statement’.
Defence
Policy Review
Defence
101 Presentation
Chief
of Military Personnel
