From: barrylw11@hotmail.com To: pm@pm.gc.ca; gallant.c@parl.gc.ca; mackap@parl.gc.ca; jflaherty@fin.gc.ca; walter.natynczyk@forces.gc.

ca Subject: Annuitant Policy: Joint Personnel Support Unit Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 23:44:23 -0400 Hello All Mr. Harper/Mr Flaherty Once again I congratulate the Conservative Government on leading Canada through global economic turmoil with nary a ripple of discomfort to her citizens (perhaps the luck of the Irish?). I expect that the discomfort is of such a minor degree that many of my fellow Canadians do not appreciate fully the work youre doing from the strategic level, right down to the tactical level where Cheryl is out there working like mad for her constituents while giving continuous support to the CF members in Petawawa. Mr. McKay/Cheryl It was great meeting with you at the ribbon cutting ceremony at JPSU, Eastern Ontario Region Headquarters. At that time, I was the Regional Master Warrant Officer and Sergeant Major for the Region; as I write this email I am much more I am a civilian! I am a civilian because of a curious requirement of my (former/paused) position called an annuitant break. Recently there has been a policy shift that affects all annuitants and it was something that I believe was brought to your attention on the day of the ceremony. I would like to cover some more ground on this issue because I believe it to be an important one whose application will have, and is having, a direct impact on the JPSU. Background. When I first heard of the position of the Regional MWO position with the JPSU I asked for permission to accept this position and received approval, from my (EME) Branch to do so. However, when I applied for the position, I was informed that a Regular Force soldier was not suitable and only annuitants (retired Regular Force soldiers) or classic Reservists would be hired into the position. That said, Regular Force personnel could apply for the position but only if they relinquished their Regular Force status by retiring (for 24 Hrs) and then re-enrolling as a Class B Reservist (and annuitant). I wanted this job quite badly, so I went through the application/interview process, made the grade and was hired for the position. In keeping with the process, I put in my release, waited the required time and then took my position as a Class B Reservist (and annuitant). As it turns out, because of this policy, over 90% of the JPSU military staff is made up of people in the same circumstance as I (which makes sense as it was a prerequisite to get the job.) I was told that the reason for this policy was the requirement for high-quality, personalityspecific, experienced leaders (something gained from full-time Regular Force service) and a stable staff. Stable meaning that outside forces, like a persons Branch, couldnt move personnel in and out of the JPSU based on Branch priorities or send less-than-stellar personnel to the JPSU. So needless to say, when a policy change comes out that affects all annuitants, it by extension affects the JPSU itself.

Situation. The recent annuitant policy basically puts all annuitants on notice that they will have to stop taking their pensions and re-enrol into a pension program again. This essentially means an enormous pay cut to include losing ones pension, a reduction in pay (from Reg Force to Reservist), a reduction for renewed pension contributions and I believe the addition of other expenditures as well. In total, some figure it will be a 60% or more pay cut (I havent done the math myself). Some people have also calculated that they can release from the CF (Reserves), keep their pension and get a part-time job for minimum wage and come out financially better off. This does not bode well for the JPSU and I know for a fact that people across the unit have departed for greener pastures because of the mere threat of this new policy. I mention it as a threat because there is a caveat for exceptions to the new annuitant policy that basically allows for some Reserve positions to carry on status quo as Class B Annuitants. However as of this writing that annuitant exception has not been applied to the JPSU staff. For months now, this has put tremendous pressure on the staff of the JPSU and their families, and Im sure it extends to the ill and injured posted it into our unit (how cant it?). The circumstances are now such that military staff members are spending energy worrying about their livelihood (including job searching), which takes energy away from the JPSU Mission. Summary. The annuitant policy change was brought out poorly it would have been much better to identify exceptions before the release of the policy change rather than let the threat hang over every annuitants head for a great deal of time it is very stressful. The reasoning for using Class B Annuitants to fill the ranks of the JPSU leadership is sound it could have been accomplished in other ways, but it is sound. I know that if this was a classic Regular Force position, people would be posted-in long enough to get to know the job then posted-out, causing a chaotic environment that would not be good for a unit such as the JPSU. Also, and I hate to say it, there would be a strong inclination on behalf of persons Branches, Regiments etc, to put their poorer performers in the JPSU also a bad choice for a unit such as this. If the JPSU was staffed with classic Reservists, then you would have an enormous experience shortfall that non-annuitant Reservists just could not fill. A conundrum. Recommendations. As follow: Apply the annuitant exception to the JPSU military staff; or Make the JPSU military staff a special Regular Force trade that can be controlled internally, thus limiting outside influence on postings. General Natynczyk Hello Sir As mentioned earlier in this email I am of this writing 100% civilian, as such I have an opportunity to take liberties that would otherwise be unavailable to me, such as writing to you directly. For many years now, I have contacted my elected officials and raised all manner of concerns from Order of Canada policy at the Supreme Court level, through to long gun registry, to PWGSC procurement policy and so-on. From time-to-time Ill raise a point of concern regarding the Canadian Forces, but I only do so from a citizens position and not that of a CF member.

My joining the JPSU was for a few reasons, chief among them was that I was run over by the PTSD train back in 1995 and understand full well the negative effects PTSD has on a persons health, wealth and family I suffered greatly in all these areas because of it. I figured I could use these experiences to better good in the capacity of a member of the JPSU than in my Branch so (with my wifes permission!) I made the switch. I have no regrets best job Ive ever had; I think the JPSU is an important addition to the CF and its presence has been felt to members in the CF who have served as far back as the Korean War this is to my knowledge unprecedented. However sometime great ideas get tripped up by bad and out-dated policy and I know that this is the case with the JPSU there are now Platoons of well over 100 personnel in Eastern Ontario Region personnel that require an inordinate amount of administration, counselling and leadership because of their situation. This is difficult to do when youre staffed for a Platoon size strength and your compliment is at a Company size strength this would be difficult to accomplish even if everyone was 100% fit. There was a stop-gap solution fielded of using the injured themselves in leadership positions in the JPSU to augment the staff something I was very much in favour of. In fact we had assigned to the JPSU a number of MMO/MMH positions that we could use to this end. The intent was to offer up to three-year extensions of service to personnel who would otherwise be released except policy got in the way. The policy states that you cant accommodate CF members who are in a "Green" Trade (at PML) so even if we found an exemplary Senior NCO Infantry soldier with a bum knee, we couldnt accommodate him in the JPSU as his trade was deemed Green. The only issue with this is, even if he were accommodated in the JPSU it would have absolutely no negative impact on his trade whatsoever, making the Green status irrelevant. So out he goes and we continue searching. The next member is far less qualified technician from a Red Trade who we can accommodate; however this also has no positive impact for his trade because he/she is in the JPSU. (I think this would be a good area to inject some common sense - the JPSU is unique and requires some flexibility to manoeuvre to staff itself). If you would like to engage me on any other issues I find of concern with the JPSU some of extreme concern I would be happy to write to you about them (as a civilian). All In closing, as always, this email is not meant to be a whistle-blower type document, nor do I have any desire or intent to send this email to others, or to the media - it is for your eyes only and to do with what you feel appropriate. This is simply a concern I have that I feel you should be aware of (from the perspective of a Canadian citizen). With greatest respect... Mr. Barry Westholm, CD