2008-4 Public Affairs – Summer Training

Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group Order (CJCR Gp O)

1. Identification

• Date of Issue: 2021-05-04
• Date of Verification: 2026-05-14
• Application: This is an order that applies to members of the Canadian Armed Forces and a directive that applies to Civilian Instructors, Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group Volunteers, and employees of the Department of National Defence employed within the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group.
• Supersession: N/A
• Approval Authority: This order is issued under the authority of the Commander Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group.
• Office of Primary Interest: Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group Deputy Chief of Staff - Strategic Capabilities
• Enquiries: Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group Senior Public Affairs Officer

2. Abbreviations

3. Definitions

Cadet Correspondent

A cadet who has completed the cadet correspondent course and is filling a role within a corps/squadron, area directed activities, regionally directed activities, nationally directed activities, or cadet training centre in support of the public affairs function.

Public Affairs Material.

See DAOD 2008-2, Media Relations and Public Announcements.

4. Policy

Context

• 4.1 As outlined in CJCR Gp O 8002-0, Cadet Program Structure, summer training focuses on providing a set portion of the cadet population with instruction and opportunities to develop advanced knowledge and skills in specialized activities, and to develop instructors and leaders for these specialized activities. Additionally, summer training activities provide cadets with opportunities to apply the general knowledge and skills obtained through the Corps/Squadron Program. Highlighting this goal helps improve understanding and support for the interdependent relationships of different aspects of the Cadet Program
• 4.2 CTCs and NDAs are operated across the country and are typically fast paced, with many activities occurring during a short timeframe. Advanced preparation is essential to showcasing the unique opportunities during these summer training activities.
• 4.3 While summer training at CTCs and NDAs is typically delivered during July and August, some related PA activities may support future CJCR Gp PA initiatives. CTC and NDA PA activities must consider and balance both current and future PA needs.

Policy

• 4.4 During the summer training period, CTC COs and NDA OICs are responsible for all public affairs material for their CTC/NDA. During this time, the RCSU CO may delegate the approving authority for media relations to a CTC CO or NDA OIC.
• 4.5 CAF Members and DND employees must read, understand and comply with DAOD 2008-2, Media Relations and Public Announcements. Communications pertaining to significant incidents or issues are to follow CJCR Gp O 2008-3, Issues and Crisis Management.
• 4.6 Each CTC is permitted official social media accounts in accordance with CJCR Gp O 2008-6, Internet Publishing and Social Media to support the execution of CTC PA activities and the National CJCR Gp Summer PA Plan. NDAs will leverage CJCR Gp national social media accounts.

5. Responsibilities

• 5.1 PA is a command responsibility and should be a consideration in all summer activity planning.
• 5.2 The RCSU CO is responsible for all PA programs within their respective region.
• 5.3 The RCSU PAO is responsible to the RCSU CO for the coordination of summer PA activities and will support their implementation through the provision of professional communications support to the RCSU, CTC COs and NDA OICs.
• 5.4 CTC COs and NDA OICs are responsible to the RCSU CO to support the effective application of PA support and must liaise closely with the RCSU PAO to ensure that CTC/NDA UPARs are utilized effectively.
• 5.5 The collective summer PA team, including RCSU PA staff, CTC/NDA UPARs, and cadet correspondents, must actively collaborate to implement PA activities that support the National CJCR Gp Summer PA Plan objectives. CTC/NDA UPARs are responsible to coordinate the local PA support requirements of their CTC CO or NDA OIC.

6. Approach

• 6.1 The RCSU PAO and CTC/NDA UPARs should be allowed direct access to CTC and NDA Command Teams for the purpose of executing the summer PA plan. To be effective, CTC/NDA UPARs should be considered part of the command element, and the responsibility for their local supervision should not be delegated beyond the DCO/XO level.
• 6.2 Cadet correspondents are important members of CTC/NDA PA teams and are vital to sharing the youth voice. The RCSU PAO and CTC/NDA UPARs should ensure that cadet correspondents have access to equipment and professional development opportunities necessary to fulfill their role.
• 6.3 Summer PA plans are based on an active PA approach. In support of this approach, CTC COs and NDA OICs must ensure that PA staff are:
  1. closely involved in the planning, preparation, and execution of all activities conducted at the CTC/NDA;
  2. allowed direct access to the CTC CO/DCO or NDA OIC for the purpose of providing advice and information, to raise questions and concerns, and to facilitate the development of appropriate PA support;
  3. adequately resourced to participate in and provide support to the summer training program; and
  4. included in senior staff meetings to ensure their overall situational awareness of CTC/NDA activities.

7. Summer Training Public Affairs Plans

• 7.1 CTC and NDA Command Teams will familiarize themselves with the National CJCR Gp Summer PA Plan and their respective CTC/NDA PA plan and liaise with the RCSU PAO to support its implementation to the greatest extent possible.

8. Resources

• 8.1 The RCSU PAO will advise on resources required by PA staff to perform their duties. These include the provision of imaging equipment, imagery technician augmentation where necessary, or other required resources.
• 8.2 The RCSU J6 Digital Services Officer will ensure that IT requirements for PA staff are fulfilled in accordance with the scale of issue published by the CJCR Gp Sr PAO and CJCR Gp IT SMC.
• 8.3 CTC COs and NDA OICs must ensure the provision of a secure office space suitable for distraction free writing and audio/video editing, and rations and quarters for PA staff, as required.

9. Public Affairs Evaluation

• 9.1 The effectiveness of the National CJCR Gp Summer PA Plan and individual CTC/NDA PA plans shall be evaluated throughout the summer and adjusted as required to ensure maximum effect.
• 9.2 RCSU PAOs shall remit a weekly progress report detailing traditional and social media results, and a summary of associated PA products to the CJCR Gp Sr PAO.
• 9.3 An annual report on the overall effectiveness of summer PA activities nationally will be released following the completion of the summer training period and forwarded to Comd CJCR Gp for review.

10. Publication

• 10.1 Publication and review of CJCR Gp Os and CJCR Gp Instructions are conducted in accordance with CJCR Gp O 1000-0, Foundation Framework for CJCR Gp Orders and Instructions.

Frequency of Publication

• 10.2 A periodic review of CJCR Gp Os will be initiated every five years, or more frequently, as required.

Errors/Omissions or Suggestions

• 10.3 Readers of CJCR Gp Os are encouraged to identify any errors, omissions or suggested orders to the attention of CJCRPol-PolCRJC@forces.gc.ca.

11. References

Source References

• CANCDTGEN 034/20, Authorized use of Personal Information
• DAOD 2006-1, Procedures for the Safeguarding and Authorized Disclosure of Information in the DND and the CAF
• DAOD 2008-0, Public Affairs
• DAOD 2008-2, Media Relations and Public Announcements
• DAOD 2008-6, Internet Publishing
• DAOD 2008-8, Official Use of Social Media
• QR (Cadets) 2.33, Relationships Between the Canadian Forces, the Cadet Leagues and Local Sponsors
• QR (Cadets) 5.52, Communications to News Agencies

Related References

• Privacy Act
• CJCR Gp O 2008-1, Public Affairs at the Corps/Squadron
• CJCR Gp O 2008-2, Public Affairs – Media Relations
• CJCR Gp O 2008-3, Issues and Crisis Management
• CJCR Gp O 2008-5, Public Affairs Planning and Program Delivery
• CJCR Gp O 2008-6, Internet Publishing and Social Media
• National CJCR Gp Summer PA Plan, produced annually