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PERSONNEL SUPPORT PROGRAMS DIVISION
As a division of the CFPSA, and a part of the fabric of the CF Community, Personnel Support Programs (PSP) Division is committed to ‘Serving Those Who Serve’. Below is a selection of 2005-06 PSP highlights.
PSP Construction
In anticipation of a follow up program to the PSP Re-Capitalization Project of 1998-2002, initial steps have been taken with ADM(IE) staff to conduct a condition survey of present PSP facilities. Local units were consulted in order to validate a list of present inventory and identify future requirements.
Canadian Forces Newspapers
There are 18 CF Newspapers (CFN) on bases and wings across Canada, with a combined circulation of 90,000. CFNs – published under the Commanding Officer’s authority – are NPP activities managed locally through PSP by Staff of the NPF, CF. Two thirds of the newspaper’s revenue is generated from local and national advertising sales. Revenues for fiscal year 2005-06 totaled $2,979,712; including $145,582 from national advertising.
In April, 2005, the CFN policy was approved by the NPP Board of Directors, and replaced the previous CF Administrative Order (CFAO). CFPSA is responsible for CFN policy, national advertising sales and training sessions and for organizing an annual conference.
Corporate Sponsorship and Donations
In December 2005, the NPP Sponsorship and Donations policy was approved. This policy will become the basis of the upcoming NPP Authorized Sponsorship and Donation Agent certification course.
Local NPP Sponsorship and Donation programs are operated at various bases, wings and units across Canada under the authority of the base/wing commanders. Non-standardized financial coding in the field has been identified as a challenge to be addressed next fiscal as it does not allow for complete national roll-ups of sponsorship and donation revenues.
In the meantime, existing conservative records suggest that approximately $1.4 million revenue was contributed from sponsors and donors in fiscal year 2005-06 at both Headquarters and locally at bases, wings, and units. In addition to these revenues, it is estimated that an equal value has been contributed as product-in-kind (PIK). These contributions go directly to enhancing morale and welfare programs for the CF members and their families.
Deployed Operations
A new CF Radio and Television (CFRT) contract was signed in January 2006. CFRT will continue to transmit via satellite live radio and television programming to CF members deployed in Europe, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and to Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships in the Persian Gulf region
During the past year, PSP Division has recruited, trained and deployed 80 civilian CFPSA personnel to Task Force Afghanistan (TFA). We also participated in the theatre activation for Operation Archer in Kandahar commencing in August 2005. Operation Athena, Camp Julien, ceased operations in November 2005 and Operation Archer, Kandahar stood up concurrently. During the closure of Camp Julien, 20 sea containers of morale and welfare equipment were packed, moved, and set up at Kandahar Airfield (KAF). This year also saw the completion of planning for an important addition to deployed operations – the opening of a Tim Hortons outlet in Kandahar. Now, PSP has 55 CFPSA employees delivering morale and welfare programs for the military staff of TFA.
Human Performance and Health Promotion
Health Promotion (HP) program highlights for 2005-06 include: The Second Annual HP National Conference held in May 2005. HP core programs in Addiction Awareness and Prevention, Injury Prevention/Active Living, Nutritional Wellness, and Social Wellness will continue to be rolled out to the CF.
These programs are develope by the Director General Health Services (DGHS) staff at DND, and delivered by CFPSA HP personnel at bases/wings/units. Programs are available to Defence team members including: CF Regular And Reserve Force members, retired and former CF personnel, military families, DND employees, and NPF employees.
Research and Development
The Agency’s Research and Development section improved the Fire Fighters Physical Fitness Maintenance program, including the research and development of Fire Fighter Selection Standards, and research on women’s capability to meet physical performance requirements of the professional fire fighter.
Work continues on elite level physical fitness standards, and programs for special operations in the CF. Phase 3/3 of the CF Divers physical fitness maintenance standards is complete, and final recommendations will be provided in support of CF physical fitness maintenance standards for CF diving operations. Work is in progress to develop a Minimum Physical Fitness Standard (MPFS) for CF Personnel 55 years and older, which will be in concert with the CF MPFS which is currently in use in the CF.
In the spring of 2005, a comprehensive pregnancy, exercise, and nutrition program was delivered to the CF. Ongoing work on a ‘Compendium of Research on Military Related Injuries’, for the Director of Casualty Administration and Support, will assist Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) in understanding military activities and their contribution to chronic injury of CF members.
Mess Services, Hospitality, Sports, Recreation, and Finance and Informatics
In January 2006, the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Program was approved by the NPP Board of Directors. CRM is a joint PSP Division and Finance and Informatics Division program that has been under development for five years. It will align and integrate morale and welfare programs and services on bases and wings across Canada.
Military Family Services
This was the first year of funding the Canadian-based Military Family Resource Centres (MFRC) using a Memorandum of Understanding and the out-of-country Canadian Military Family Resource Centres (C/MFRC) by way of Service Level Agreements. The Directorate of Military Family Services (DMFS) now has the framework that, along with quarterly expenditure reports and the Service Delivery Agreements, mark us as an accountable organization. In addition, the revised DMFS funding mechanism with clearly delineated roles and responsibilities introduced last year is now web based and continues to ensure that our support of CF families is second to none.
In keeping with its continued commitment to evaluation and accountability, DMFS kicked off a new approach to national evaluation of the MFSP after consultation with stakeholders and regional training of MFRCs.
The Mission Information Line (MIL) continues to provide vital support services to the increasingly frequent calls from families of deployed members.
Recreation
Recreation programming in Europe saw a pilot project for new swimming programs. In partnership with the National Lifesaving Society, PSP Recreation successfully piloted new swimming programs for all skill levels during 2005-06.
A review of swimming programs will be conducted in 2006-07, related to the notion of Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
To align and integrate recreation programs, PSP Recreation continued work on software applications related to recreation management and CRM.
Youth Model
2005-06 is a milestone year for the CF National Youth Model. In support of the enhancement of CF Youth, the Connecting CF Youth web site, targeting youth of CF families, was officially launched in September 2005. The web site was designed by a group of 70 Canadian military youth located around the world, through an innovative youth engagement project funded by National Defence Online (NDOL).
Canadian Military Community Youth programming progressed with development of the “virtual” outreach initiative, which was directly responsible for connecting over 425 CF youth who actively use the Connecting CF Youth web site.
Of the $2.3 million allocated by the NPP Board of Directors to the Youth Model (over three years), the first generation of Youth Model Funding is being disseminated to bases and wings using a joint “PSP and (C/MFRC)” service delivery model. This funding supports the enhancement of national and local youth programs, services, resources, facilities, partnerships, and employment/volunteerism strategies.
A youth movie trailer has been created and plays in base theatres to promote the CF Youth initiative. With the success of the youth model pillar, Connecting Youth, the next pillar, Healthy Choices, will be developed in 2006-07.
Additional PSP programs include:
National Sports:
http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/Sports/index.asp
International Sports:d
http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/cism/index.asp
Physical Education:
http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/Fitness/index.asp