REINVENTING TRANSITION Life as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces is a process of continuous transition, from the moment a person steps into a recruitment centre to the day they take off the uniform, and beyond. Through their careers, military members will take on different jobs, get posted to various bases across the country, participate in training exercises, and deploy on operations at home and abroad. Putting service before self – the ethos of the Canadian Armed Forces – involves frequent life changes, which can place significant stress on our members and their families. These stresses are particularly acute for those who suffer illness or injury that prevents them getting back to active duty. That is why, when it comes to the transition out of uniform, we need to work with Veterans Affairs Canada to provide the best possible care and support to our military personnel. While recruits receive a lot of personalized attention as they train and develop into sailors, soldiers, and airwomen and men, the same approach does not exist for members leaving the military. This defence policy is correcting this not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because caring for our own is critical to ensuring that we can attract and retain Canada’s best and brightest. This policy reinvents the way we approach transition. It ensures that members receive the professional, customized, and personalized support they need as they transition to post-military life. This will ease their adjustment, and help them continue to live productive, meaningful lives. To deliver dedicated professional and personalized support to all Canadian Armed Forces members, including those in transition, the Canadian Armed Forces will re-establish a Personnel Administration Branch of experts in military human resources management. A new Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, commanded by a General Officer, will be established. All military personnel will use the services of this group, where the professional staff will ensure that all pre-release and pension administration is completed, and benefits are in place, before the transition to post-military life. This group will also make sure that retired members are aware of and/or enrolled in career transition programs offered by the Defence team and Veterans Affairs Canada as well as third-party service providers, such as vocational rehabilitation, individual career counselling, job search placement, and financial literacy. 30