# 2024-020 Careers, Release , Release - Reserve

Case summary

F&R Date: 2025-05-23

The grievor challenged the omission of Canadian Army Headquarters to post him to a Canadian Armed Forces Transition Unit (CAF TU) prior to his medical release, indicating that he was denied benefits because of it. As redress, the grievor sought financial restitution to mitigate the lost wages he incurred due to an early termination of his period of Class “B” Reserve Service, various transition benefits, relocation benefits and additional pensionable time credits.

The Chief of Military Personnel, acting as the Initial Authority (IA), found that the grievor had been aggrieved and granted partial redress. The IA noted that while the grievor's chain of command (CoC) was implementing a plan to transfer him to a CAF TU, the grievor requested an expedited medical release, which was granted. The IA acknowledged that while the grievor felt in retrospect that his transition needs were not fully met without a posting to a CAF TU, the IA indicated that the grievor had access to all of the benefits he would have had if he was posted to a CAF TU, and the reason he was not posted to a CAF TU was due to the rapid release, which was administered on the grievor's wishes. The IA found that lost wages cannot be paid, but the grievor should have received Return Move benefits, and directed that the Director General Compensation and Benefits ensure that those benefits were made available.

The Committee found that the grievor's expectation of a posting to a CAF TU immediately following an initial temporary medical category was unrealistic. The Committee noted that the grievor's CoC acted appropriately by offering continued Class “B” Reserve Service as part of the Return to Duty Program and initiating a plan for a CAF TU posting. However, the grievor's request for a quick release to pursue civilian employment, despite the CoC's recommendation to allow time for the process to unfold, is the reason he was not posted to a CAF TU. The Committee further found that the benefits sought are not dependent on being posted to a CAF TU, the grievor had to meet the eligibility requirements for each of those benefits. The Committee recommended that the Final Authority not afford the grievor redress.