Sentinel Program Moves to New Cell

Designed to designate voluntary military members as mental health champions, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) Sentinel Program will now fall under the newly created Spiritual Resilience and Wellness Cell.

Office of the Chaplain General

The Spiritual Resilience and Wellness Cell is part of the Office of the Chaplain General.

Additionally, new military instructions outlined in CANFORGEN 069/24 reinforce that all members of the Sentinel Program must be trained and supervised by Chaplains as the program falls under the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service.

“Emphasized in this communication is the necessary oversight of the program and support of active Sentinel teams by qualified Royal Canadian Chaplain Service chaplains to ensure the quality of care for all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members,” said Derek Abma, Senior Communications Advisor, Military Personnel Public Affairs.

Instructions for Sentinels

Since Sentinels are required to work under the guidance of chaplains, as per the CANFORGEN, the Sentinel Program cannot be applied in a workplace, including all CAF operations, where no direct chaplain support is available.

“As a result, Sentinels cannot exercise their role without the ongoing direct presence, support and contact with a CAF chaplain,” stated the CANFORGEN.

Sentinels are allowed to carry out their duties during regular working hours at their primary place of military work. After-hour communications should be referred to duty chaplain or unit chaplain.

Strict orders are given to Sentinels on what to do during after-hour situations.

“Under no circumstances may sentinels be used as stand-in chaplains or helping professionals, nor can they be assigned as duty sentinels in routine orders.”

About the Sentinels

The CAF Sentinel Program was launched in 2007 as a peer-support network consisting of trained and supervised volunteer members of all ranks of the CAF. Civilians can also serve as Sentinels with the approval of the local chain of command and sentinel chaplain.

“Sentinels keep an eye out for signs of distress in their colleagues, particularly with respect to mental health. They offer human contact and encourage dialogue and networking to reduce potentially harmful isolation,” explained Abma.

The program has grown exponentially, with more than 12,000 qualified Sentinels across Canada’s military.

CAF members can reach out to someone from the Sentinel Program here.