5027-0 Honours and Recognition Program

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

On this page

1. Identification
2. Abbreviations
3. Definitions
4. Policy
5. Preparing the Nomination File
6. Call for Nominations
7. Review of Nominations
8. Committee Composition
9. Publication
10. References
11. Forms

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2017-06-20

Date of Verification: n/a

Application: This is an order that applies to members of the Canadian Armed Forces and a directive that applies to employees of the Department of National Defence within the Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers.

Supersession: 5400-1 (D Cdts & JCR 2-2) Honours and Recognition – CAF Members dated 29 June 2015

Approval Authority: This order is issued under the authority of the Comd CJCR Gp.

Office of Primary Interest (OPI): CJCR Gp HQ J1

2. Abbreviations

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3. Definitions

Celebrating Excellence Awards. Celebrating Excellence Awards include the following:

• Deputy Minister Award of Excellence; 
• The Deputy Minister/Chief of the Defence Staff Innovation Award; 
• The Deputy Minister/Chief of the Defence Staff Renewal Award; 
• The Deputy Minister Emerging Leader Award; 
• The Deputy Minister Sustained Contribution to Defence Award; 
• DM/CDS Award for Management Excellence – Leadership Category; 
• DM/CDS Award for Management Excellence – People Management Category; 
• The General Tom Lawson Team Builder Award; 
• The Deputy Minister Unsung Hero Award; 
• The Deputy Minister Diversity Ambassador Award; and 
• The Deputy Minister/Chief of Defence Staff Workplace Wellness Award. 

Departmental Awards. Departmental awards include the following: 

• Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation;
• Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service; 
• VCDS Commendation; and 
• CJCR Gp Commander’s Commendation. 

Employee. An employee is a public service employee working for the Department of National Defence.

H&R Committee. H&R Committee refers to the CJCR Gp Honours and Recognition Committee.

National Honours and Awards. The following National individual and unit awards are available under the CAF Decorations and Honours program: 

• Order of Canada; 
• Order of Military Merit;
• Military Valour Decorations;
• Canadian Bravery Decorations;
• Meritorious Service Decorations; 
• Mention in Dispatches; 
• Commander-In-Chief Unit Commendation; 
• Canadian Forces Commendation; and 
• CF Medallion for Distinguished Service. 

Sports Awards. Sports Awards include the following: 

• CAF Sports Hall of Fame;
• CAF Sports Honour Roll;
• Dedication to CAF Sports Award; and
• CAF Sports Achievement Award.

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4. Policy

Context

4.1 The CJCR Gp H&R Program has been instituted to recognize meritorious acts, deeds, achievements and dedicated service by CAF members, employees and civilian instructors serving or employed within the CJCR Gp.

4.2 The meritorious acts, deeds and achievements of cadets are recognized through the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) National H&R Program.

Policy

4.3 The CJCR Gp is committed to recognizing the significant contribution that CAF members, employees, and civilian instructors make to Canadian society through:

1. the excellence of their work;
2. their exemplary behaviour; and
3. the positive results they achieve.

Requirements

4.4 It is important that acts, deeds or achievements be recognized in a timely fashion. In the case of CAF members, the honour or recognition should be presented while they are still a serving or employed member.

4.5 At no time will the staffing process be accelerated or shortened to consider a nomination submitted after a communicated deadline. Nominations that miss the promulgated submission deadline will be reviewed at the next H&R Committee meeting.

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5. Preparing the Nomination File

5.1 The nominator shall refer to VCDS Gp Order 5027-1 or other applicable OPI information source to determine the most appropriate honour or award to nominate a CAF member, employee, or civilian instructor. The nominator must prepare the file in accordance with direction provided by the VCDS or the applicable OPI. All nominations are to be designated as “CAN PROTECTED B – Honours in Confidence”. Incomplete files will be returned for additional preparation.

5.2 The H&R Committee can either elevate, or lower, the level of honour or award as appropriate. If a nomination is not considered appropriate for any recognition the Commanding Officer will be advised.

5.3 The DND 2448 form is included in the nomination package and will be signed as follows:

Staffing of Nominations

5.4 For consideration by the H&R Committee or the Comd CJCR Gp, the nomination must be staffed as follows:

CJCR Gp Commander’s Commendation 

5.5 Eligibility Criteria – Awarded by Comd CJCR Gp, this commendation is designed to officially commend and recognize military or civilian members of the CJCR Gp for acts that do not qualify for higher awards, but which are deserving of formal recognition. The CJCR Gp Comd’s Commendation recognizes achievements of members who have contributed to the CJCR Gp, the CAF, and DND by personal effort and example. This award indicates a significant contribution and is always signed by Comd CJCR Gp.

5.6 Nomination packages for the CJCR Gp Comd’s Commendation must contain the following signed documents:

1. covering letter addressed to the Comd CJCR Gp;
2. DND 4362 – Comd, CJCR Gp Commendation nomination form;
3. updated MPRR; and
4. other supporting documents and/or witness statements if applicable.

5.7 The nomination form will be signed as follows:

Submitting Nomination Package

5.8 Nomination packages may be submitted by regular mail or by encrypted email. If submitting by email, do not include any personal information of the nominee in the subject line as this information is not encrypted. The subject line must include the words “H&R Nomination” and the type of award, e.g. “H&R Nomination – CDS Commendation”. The contents of the nomination package shall be provided in a PDF format.

5.9 Nominations shall all be submitted to the H&R Committee Coordinator.

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6. Call for Nominations

6.1 Individual call for nomination messages will be promulgated for honours and awards throughout the year to meet the applicable nomination deadline.

7. Review of Nominations

Nomination Files

7.1 H&R Committee members shall receive the nomination files ten working days in advance of the H&R Committee meeting. Files will include the following information:

1. a list of nominees in order of appearance;
2. an electronic voting spreadsheet listing nominees in order of appearance;
3. award criteria, to allow H&R Committee members to select the most appropriate award;
4. nomination files, in order of appearance as follows:
   (1) National Honours;
   (2) Departmental Awards;
   (3) Celebrating Excellence Awards;
   (4) Sports Awards; and
   (5) other awards.

7.2 H&R Committee members shall return their votes via encrypted email, no later than three working days before the scheduled H&R Committee meeting. Results will be consolidated before the scheduled meeting with the final H&R Committee review to take place at the scheduled meeting.

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8. Committee Composition

8.1 The Composition of the H&R Committee is as follows:

Roles and Responsibilities

8.2 The H&R Committee responsibilities include the following: 

Voting Procedure

8.3 The H&R Committee Advisor will present voting results of each nomination. After each nomination, members will be required to confirm the outcome of the voting. If a nomination is neither clearly endorsed nor rejected by a majority of members, the nominating RCSU CO or COS CJCR Gp HQ will present arguments in favour of the nominee without introducing items not already included in the original nomination package.

8.4 The H&R Committee must achieve a majority endorsement for a nomination to be considered successful and eligible to be forwarded to the Comd CJCR Gp for consideration.

8.5 If there is a tie, the Chair will provide direction to the members in order to achieve a majority endorsement.

9. Publication

Frequency of Publication

9.1 Annual or more frequent review and updates, as required.

Errors/Omissions or Suggestions

9.2 Users of CJCR Gp Orders are encouraged to bring any errors, omissions or suggested orders to the attention of CJCR Gp HQ J1 Policy.

10. References

Source References

• DAOD 5027-0, Recognition
• DAOD 5027-1, Awards and Recognition
• National Honours System
• Queen’s Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces
• VCDS Gp Order 5027-1, Honours and Recognition Program

Related References

• A-SJ-100-001/AS-000, National Defence Security Policy
• DND 2448, Recommendation for Individual and Unit Awards
• DND 4362, Commander, CJCR Gp Commendation nomination form

11. Forms

DND 2448, Recommendation for Individual and Unit Awards
DND 4362, Commander, CJCR Gp Commendation nomination form

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