Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group: Leading the Way for a Smooth Transition

Abstract

Transitioning out of the military can be a difficult time for many veterans and can be especially challenging for members who are ill and/or injured. The Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group (CAF TG) Satisfaction Survey was administered to ill and/or injured Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who had accessed the services of their local Transition Centre (TC) over a two-year period. At the request of senior leadership in the CAF TG, an infographic was subsequently created to provide CAF members with an overview of some of the key findings. While a full report on the survey methods and results is planned for the near future, the purpose of this paper is to make this infographic and a short narrative more accessible to a broader audience. 749 CAF members completed the survey yielding a response rate of 32%. Nearly three-quarters of respondents reported being satisfied overall with their local TC, and only 11% reported dissatisfaction. In line with this finding, respondents reported that their well-being had significantly increased since accessing TC programs and services. Of the nearly 50% of respondents who reported that they were transitioning out of the CAF, most were aware of the transition services available. Finally, the majority reported being satisfied with the transition services they had used, in that they rated these as relevant, complete, timely, and helpful in preparing them for their transition from the CAF to civilian life. Together, these results demonstrate the value and importance of the programs and services offered by the CAF TG and TCs in providing military members with a smooth transition out of the CAF.