Special Requirements Commissioning Plan Seeking Senior Non Commissioned Members

A door of opportunity has opened for senior non-commissioned members (NCM) looking to jump ranks to an officer under the recently announced Special Requirements Commissioning Plan (SRCP).

The 2025-2026 plan aims to give senior NCMs a chance to move to the ranks of commissioned members while allowing the military to capitalize on the skills of chief warrant officers (CWO) and chief petty officers (CPO1).

“SRCP is focused on meeting the limited and special needs of officer MOSIDS and is a position-driven process. Once SRCP positions for Active Posting Season 25 have been identified, members may apply or be nominated for specific positions,” stated CANFORGEN 151/14, announcing the program for 2025.

Members looking to enter this program are advised that there will be no special occupation training, and they should “possess the competencies and qualifications” required for the position.

Timelines

The first phase of initiating SRCP 2025 began at the end of October when the Director Military Careers identified officer positions that will be considered for the program. This information was then disseminated to Environmental Command/Level 1s.

It is then the duty of Commanding Officers to identify candidates through nomination or application and submit a nomination letter by Feb. 3, 2025.

DSA will then conduct the Selection Board Process on Feb. 27, 2025, according to the CANFORGEN. Following this, positions will be assigned.

Any candidates not selected for APS 2025 may be considered if positions appear later in the posting season.

Those not chosen will need to resubmit applications for future consideration, according to the CANFORGEN.

Selection Criteria

The military memo outlines a set of criteria required for non-commissioned members to be considered for the program.

The following criteria are required to fill an SRCP position:

• No suitable offer is available to fill the position.
• The position has been identified as a position that cannot remain vacant and will profit from the experience of a CPO1 or CWO.
• The gaining unit has provided written consent to accepting an SRCP officer for the position.
• The terms of reference for each position have been provided to DSA.

Specific requirements for the applicants are:

• must have at least three years experience as CPO1/CWO and be at that rank currently;
• Have a minimum of three years of eligible service left.
• Have a current fitness test that meets the CAF minimum physical fitness standard.
• Meet the designated medical standard for the officer military occupation.

Interested Applicants

Interested applicants must also: “Be considered suitable based upon their qualification, skills, competencies and military experience that match the requirements of the position to be filled,” reads the CANFORGEN.

Those NCMs looking to fill positions to a lieutenant commander or major position will require the completion of one post-tactical leadership team appointment for two or more years.

The CANFORGEN noted, those chosen for this program will be released in the future at the rank of LT(N)/Capt or Lieutenant-Commander/Major, if applicable, and not at their NCM rank.

For questions, CAF members can reach out to PO2 MACKENZIE AT 613-901-8320 or visit here.