Remedial measures

Reduction, Reversion, and Relinquishment of Rank are all terms that concern the lowering of a member’s rank. However, each term has a different definition. Each definition is based on circumstances and consequences relating to the member’s conduct, performance, and career path, as recorded in human resources administration and procedure. 

Reduction in rank is defined as a compulsory demotion from substantive or temporary rank to a lower rank.Reduction in rank may be imposed as punishment during sentencing by a court martial as the result of a service offence or as a sanction imposed due to a service infraction. In the latter case, rank may only be reduced by one substantive rank to the highest classification of the lower rank.

These Queen’s Regulations and Orders (QR&Os) support the National Defence Act (NDA) Sections139(1) and 140.2. These two sections designate reduction in rank as part of a scale of incremental punishments based on service offences. They refer to reduction in rank as an optional punishment to accompany imprisonment.

When a court martial sentence imposes a reduction in rank to accompany imprisonment, rank is reduced to the lowest substantive rank. The lowest rank will depend on whether the member is commissioned or non-commissioned.

Reversion in rank is an administrative action which allows career authorities to lower a member’s rank by means other than by reduction.

There are several instances in which reversion in rank may occur:

• inefficiency in the performance of a military occupation;
• transfers between components, subcomponents, and units;
• Occupational Transfer or Remuster which involves the voluntary or compulsory reassignment of a non-Commissioned member from one MOC to another;
• failure to qualify in course training;
• declining or not being available for personal reasons to attend formal course training;
• conviction by a civilian authority for an offence;
• misconduct;
• revocation of acting and temporary rank or appointment;and
• relinquishment of rank for a Component Transfer or Voluntary Occupational Transfer.

When career authorities impose a reversion in rank, the substantive rank of a non-commissioned member is that rank below which the member cannot be reduced. Career authorities may revert lower than substantive ranks as the result of inefficiency, misconduct, or conviction by a civilian authority. The nature of the offence will determine whether the member is unfit to hold and exercise the authority of that rank.

References:

• QR&O 1.02 - Administration - Definitions
• QR&O 3.03 (2)(b) - Rank, Seniority, Command and Precedence - Substantive Rank
• QR&O 104.2 – Punishments and Sentences
• QR&O 3.05 - Rank, Seniority, Command and Precedence - Acting Rank
• QR&O: Volume 1 - Chapter 11 - Promotion, Reversion and Compulsory Remustering,
• CFAO 49-4 – Career Policy Non-Commissioned Members Regular Force
  • CFAO 49-4, Article 2 - Definitions
  • CFAO 49-4, Article 26 - Occupation Transfer
  • CFAO 49-4, Annex C - Acting Rank – Acting Lacking (AL) or Provisional (P)
  • CFAO 49-4, Annex E - Terms Offered on Enrolment, Transfer and Occupation Transfer (OT)
  • CFAO 49-4, Annex F - Alteration of Punishment and Promotion Following Reduction, Reversion and Relinquishment of Rank - Articles18-22
• CFAO 49-5 – Career Policy-Non-Commissioned Member-Primary Reserve, Annex C – Rank and MOC on Transfer, Enrolment and Re-Enrolment and Annex D – Alteration of Punishment and Promotion Following Reduction, Reversion or Relinquishment of Rank
• CFAO 49-10 – Terms of Service-Officers-Primary Reserve, Annex B – Transfers
• CFAO 49-11 – Terms of Service Non-Commissioned Members Primary Reserve, Annex B - Transfers and Annex C - Remuster
• CFAO 49-12 – Promotion Policy-Officers-Primary Reserve, Article 22; DAOD 5019-4 General Principles; DAOD 5019-5 Administrative Review Process

Revocation is a reversion or reduction in temporary or acting rank involving specific instances when this rank is lowered back to substantive rank.^[1] 

CFAO 49-4 Annex C Articles 13 and 14 describe revocation in circumstances of a member’s misconduct or inefficiency as being determined in an administrative action exercised by a career review board.

CFAO 49-4 Annex F Article 6 defines the circumstances in which revocation may be exercised to reduce rank as punishment for an offence.

[1]Refs CFAO 49-4 Arts 2, 4, 6, and 7, Annex C Acting Rank

Relinquishment of rank is the process of reverting a CAF Member’s rank at the member’s request and with subsequent permission.^[2],[3],[4]  It is common for members to relinquish rank as part of a voluntary transfer. Such transfers can be:

• from one military occupation to another;
• between the Reserve Force and the Regular Force;
• between subcomponents of the Reserve Force;
• between Units of the same Reserve Force subcomponent; or
• for the duration of full-time Class B reserve service, thereby allowing for a return to prior rank upon completion of that service.

The following references describe the circumstances in which relinquishment of rank may be considered. They also list the authorities who may approve such relinquishment. Both of these aspects of relinquishment will vary according to the member’s component.

References:

• QR&O 11.02,
• QR&O 11.12
• CFAO 49-4 Annex F Article 23,
• CFAO 11-6 Article 26,
• CFAO 49-5 Annex D Article 16,
• CFAO 49-11 Annex B Transfers Article 9,
• CFAO 49-11 Annex C Remuster Article 5,
• CFAO 49-12

[2]CFAO 49-5 Annex D – Art.16 -- CAREER POLICY - NCM -- PRIMARY RESERVE (mil.ca)

[3]CFAO 49-4 – Annex F Art.23 CAREER POLICY NCM - REGULAR FORCE (mil.ca)

[4]CFAO 11-6 Art. 26 - COMMISSIONING AND PROMOTION POLICY - OFFICERS - REGULAR FORCE (mil.ca)