MND announces summer employment commitment for Res F soldiers; new CCA announced

Spring’s arrival brings about some important changes for the Canadian Army and some long-awaited good news for our Army Reserve.

MND announces summer employment commitment for Res F soldiers

Reserves 2000 supporters across Canada are encouraged to give last week’s ministerial announcement concerning summer employment for Army Reservists wide distribution, especially to potential new recruits in your unit’s area. What a great way to start a post-secondary education — and to start contributing to a pension plan!

For our ‘fine print’ readers, the full text of Minister Sajjan’s news release and relevant backgrounders is available online. A short short excerpt follows here:

The Government of Canada is standing by its commitment of creating additional, high-quality jobs that will directly benefit Canada’s middle class and Canadian youth. As outlined in Canada’s Defence Policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Canadian Armed Forces is committed to employing new and recently enrolled members of the Reserves. Starting this summer, Canadian Army Reservists in their first four years of service can partake in the Full-Time Summer Employment program, from May 1 to August 31. During this time they will gain unique and relevant work experience while learning valuable life and leadership skills.

Through this initiative, Army Reserve members will receive competitive pay, learn valuable military skills, and gain experience that will set them up for success. Furthermore, Army Reserve members will conduct training within a selected military occupation that could lead to various employment opportunities in support of Canada’s defence commitments at home and abroad.

Guaranteed annual summer employment from May 1 to August 31 will also provide Army Reservists the training necessary for career progression. If certain members are identified as potential future Army Reserve junior leaders, they will also undergo leadership training during this period.

Based on the good work undertaken over the past two years by LGen Paul Wynnyk, the outgoing Commander Canadian Army (CCA), we continue to have good reason for optimism in 2018.

On March 2, it was announced that LGen Wynnyk will be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff at NDHQ in Ottawa.

MGen Jean-Marc Lanthier will be promoted to the rank of MGen and will be appointed Commander Canadian Army at NDHQ in Ottawa.

MGen Lanthier is a past commanding officer of the 12e Régiment Blindés du Canada (2005-07) and commanded the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre in Kingston from 2014 to 2017. His operational career includes three deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina and two tours in Afghanistan. In Kandahar, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team in 2006. In 2011, he served as the ISAF Joint Command Director of Afghan National Security Forces Operations in Kabul. He also commanded, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in 2009, and was Canadian Deputy Commander Joint Task Force Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake. As a BGen, he served as the Deputy Commanding General Sustainment, I Corps, US Army before taking command of the 2nd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force (East) in 2013.

Reserves 2000 looks forward to meeting with the new CCA in the near future. It’s our sincere hope that LGen Lanthier will carry on the work begun by the outgoing CCA, LGen Wynnyk.

We trust that the new CCA will embrace the task of redeveloping and strengthening our Army Reserve with the same passion and commitment as his predecessor.

On behalf of our supporters, I’d like to extend our very best wishes and deep appreciation to LGen Wynnyk as he undertakes his new role as Vice Chief.

Please feel free to contact me anytime by telephone (416.868.1186) or email with your comments, concerns or suggestions on any developments in your neighbourhood.

John Selkirk, Lieutenant Colonel (retired)

Executive Director