Department Of National Defence Research Articles

Ottawa's Burden: Fort Churchill and Military Nursing in Northern Canada, 1945–1975

Between 1949 and 1964, Canada's Department of National Defence owned and operated the Fort Churchill Military Hospital in northern Manitoba. As one of only two military hospitals in the country to treat civilian patients, the other being Whitehorse, Fort Churchill played a unique and critical role in the provision of federal health services in the postwar period. This article centres the experiences of military nurses in the Hudson Bay area of northern Canada, using the rise and fall of Fort Churchill's hospital, to investigate Ottawa's approach to medical governance. Military medicine is more than a wartime or overseas phenomenon, and it is incumbent upon medical historians to consider domestic military contexts in peacetime as a crucial component of Canada's twentieth century health history.

Tracking Quantum S&T from strategy to implementation plan: what we learned about the Canadian Armed Forces’ quantum posture

ABSTRACT The Department of National Defence has been an important actor in the shaping of Canada’s strategic approach to quantum science and technology through the release of two key documents: the Quantum S&T [Science and Technology] Strategy and the Quantum 2030 implementation plan. This article examines how the DND/CAF quantum strategies have been implemented over recent years and identifies how the approach to quantum science and technology has become more threat-focused. Through a mixed-method discourse analysis of these strategic documents, we argue that there is a transition of the Canadian stance from viewing quantum science and technology as a neutral space with opportunities and threats, to a more dangerous domain. We conclude that there is a significant intensification of threat language, discuss potential explanatory factors, and sketch out further research areas.

An access to innovation program to enhance the technological capabilities of the armed forces

As part of “Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada’s Defence Policy” (Department of National Defence (2017) Strong, Secure, Engaged) released in 2017, the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) announced the creation and implementation of an access to innovation program to be called the “Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)” Program. The IDEaS Program was introduced to support, increase, and sustain science and technology (S&T) community capacity external to DND that can generate new ideas and formulate solutions to Canada’s current and future defence and security innovation challenges. This paper will explore the design of this new business model through the delivery of the first proof of concept to have gone through the whole IDEaS cycle, in order to showcase the validity of this concept and processes. It also demonstrates that IDEaS has allowed a closer relationship with innovators and firms that had never worked with the defence industry, as well as the identification of novel solutions to a host ofproblems/challenges facing defence and security.

Education for children and youth living in Canadian military families: Lessons from the past and future considerations

LAY SUMMARY Infrastructure to support the educational experiences of children and youth living in Canadian military families has ebbed and flowed over time. With the launch of initiatives, such as Seamless Canada, in recent years and the recent restructuring of support infrastructure in the Department of National Defence, it appears that the educational experiences of military-connected children and youth are once again becoming a priority. However, without knowledge and awareness of past efforts to support the educational experiences of these children and youth, present-day challenges faced by the Canadian Armed Forces may make forward progress more difficult. Using the Second World War Canadian military, particularly the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), as a historical example, this article provides lessons learned and future considerations for supporting the educational experiences of children and youth from Canadian military families.

DESIGNING, DEVELOPING, AND DELIVERING WARGAMES

On November 16, 2023, Mr. David Redpath, Senior Wargames Designer and member of the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre and Department of National Defence, presented Designing, Developing, and Delivering Wargames for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The key points discussed were the definition, scope, and usefulness of Wargames; who should partake in Wargaming; and how Wargames are utilised effectively.
 
 Received: 01-20-2024
 Revised: 01-28-2024

Military training in the Canadian Pacific: Taking aim at critical habitat or sufficient mitigation of noise pollution impacts?

The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) has approved the resumption of military activities within ‘Whiskey Hotel’, a 330 km2 area in the Strait of Juan de Fuca that overlaps the critical habitat of endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Multiple Canadian and United States defense organizations use the area for training. The renewal of small-arms training follows a three-year cessation self-imposed by DND to allow a third-party consultant to investigate the risk in-air and underwater training noises pose to marine mammals. Here, we summarize the findings and limitations of the commissioned report and discuss the broader implications for mitigating aquatic noise pollution. The report evaluated the potential for marine mammals to experience injury, behavioral disturbances, and acoustic masking, and proposed mitigation measures (e.g., avoidance zones) to limit impacts. However, the narrow scope of the commissioned report prevented the investigation of the potential effects on non-mammalian taxa and the inclusion of vessel noise generated during training. Resuming military activities within the habitats of imperiled species is contentious among stakeholders. Nevertheless, the DND’s approach to examining noise pollution employs at least two of the precautionary principle’s four components, and their decision to commission a third-party investigation and implement mitigation strategies represents a framework rarely applied when evaluating the impacts of pollutants. The importance of this approach is magnified given the absence of federal underwater noise regulations, the pending development of Canada’s Ocean Noise Strategy, and multiple nations seeking to balance industrial and military activities with environmental stewardship.

Detecting and responding to hostile disinformation activities on social media using machine learning and deep neural networks

Disinformation attacks that make use of social media platforms, e.g., the attacks orchestrated by the Russian “Internet Research Agency” during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election campaign and the 2016 Brexit referendum in the UK, have led to increasing demands from governmental agencies for AI tools that are capable of identifying such attacks in their earliest stages, rather than responding to them in retrospect. This research undertaken on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence. Our ultimate objective is the development of an integrated set of machine-learning algorithms which will mobilize artificial intelligence to identify hostile disinformation activities in “near-real-time.” Employing The Dark Crawler, the Posit Toolkit, TensorFlow (Deep Neural Networks), plus the Random Forest classifier and short-text classification programs known as LibShortText and LibLinear, we have analysed a wide sample of social media posts that exemplify the “fake news” that was disseminated by Russia’s Internet Research Agency, comparing them to “real news” posts in order to develop an automated means of classification.

Trials and tribulations among members of Canada's Defence Team early in the pandemic: key insights from the COVID-19 Defence Team Survey.

Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, there is a need for research assessing pandemic-related challenges and stressors. The current study aimed to assess key concerns and general well-being among members of Canada's Defence Team, including Canadian Armed Forces personnel and members of the Department of National Defence (DND) Public Service. The COVID-19 Defence Team Survey was administered electronically to Defence Team staff in April and May of 2020 and was completed by 13 688 Regular Force, 5985 Reserve Force and 7487 civilian DND Public Service personnel. Along with demographic information, the survey included assessments of work arrangement, pandemic-related concerns, general well-being and social and organizational support. Weighted data (to ensure representation) were used in all analyses. The majority of respondents were working from home, with a small minority unable to work due to restrictions. Though many concerns were endorsed by a substantial proportion of respondents, the most prevalent concerns were related to the health and well-being of loved ones. The majority of respondents reported their partner, family, supervisors, friends, colleagues and children provided general support. Half of the civilian defence staff and one-third of military respondents reported a decline in mental health. Women, younger respondents, those with dependents and, in some cases, those who were single without children were at risk of lower well-being. The pandemic has negatively impacted a substantial portion of the Defence Team. When responding to future crises, it is recommended that leaders of organizations provide additional supports to higher-risk groups and to supervisors who are ideally positioned to support employees during challenging times.

Pandemic-Related Challenges and Organizational Support Among Personnel in Canada's Defense Establishment.

In the final week of March 2020, 2.8 million Canadians were away from their usual places of work and engaging in remote and/or telework to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (Statistics Canada, 2020). The Government of Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) were no exception, with most members from the regular force (Reg F), the primary reserve force (P Res), and the DND public service (DND PS) working from home. The COVID-19 Defence Team Survey was administered from April 29th, 2020, and May 22nd, 2020, to gain insight into work, health, and family-related challenges since the onset of the pandemic and change in work arrangements. Responses from five open-ended questions were qualitatively analyzed to determine general themes of concern regarding work, personal, and family related challenges, stress-management and coping strategies, and recommendations for improving the work situation and personal well-being. Given the different roles and conditions of employment, responses of the different groups or “components” of respondents (Reg F, P Res, DND PS) were compared to identify common and unique challenges to inform targeted organizational responses. A total of 26,207 members (Reg F = 13,668, 52.2%; P Res = 5,052, 19.3%; DND PS = 7,487, 28.6%) responded to the survey's five open-ended questions, which yielded a total of 75,000 open-ended responses. When asked about work-related challenges, respondents' most common challenges included dissatisfaction with technology/software, work arrangements, ergonomics, work-life balance, communication within the organization, and the uncertainties regarding career development. In terms of personal and/or family-related challenges, the most common challenges included social isolation, the impact of the pandemic on mental health, school closures and homeschooling, caring for vulnerable family members, and childcare concerns. The most common stress-management and coping strategies included exercise, spending time outdoors, communicating or spending time with family members, household chores/projects, mind-body wellness exercises, and playing games. The most common recommendations made by respondents to improve their work- or personal-related situations included improving technological capabilities, streamlining communication, providing hardware and software necessary to ensure comfortable ergonomics, the provision of flexibility in terms of telework schedules, return-to-work decisions, and the expansion of benefits and access to childcare services. In terms of differences among the components, DND PS personnel were most likely to report dissatisfaction with technological changes and ergonomics, and to recommend improving these technological limitations to maximize productivity. Reg F members, on the other hand, were most likely to recommend increased support and access to childcare, and both Reg F and P Res members were more likely to mention that increased benefits and entitlements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic would be ameliorative. The results of this study highlight several important facts about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on personnel working in large, diverse organizations. For example, advancements in organizational technological capabilities were highlighted herein, and these are likely to grow to maintain productivity should remote work come to be used more extensively in the long-term. This study also highlighted the importance of flexibility and accommodation in relation to individual needs – a trend that was already underway but has taken on greater relevance and urgency in light of the pandemic. This is clearly essential to the organization's role in supporting the well-being of personnel and their families. Clear and streamlined communication regarding organizational changes and support services is also essential to minimize uncertainty and to provide useful supports for coping with this and other stressful situations.

Recalibrating the Department of National Defence approach to active sonar impact management

Fielding a well-trained, combat-ready military, and observing Canada's responsibility as environmental stewards are at times conflicting priorities for the Department of National Defence (DND). As new low frequency sources are introduced into service, DND must review and update policies and procedures regarding the use of active sonar to minimize its impacts on marine mammals with an evidence-based approach. Risk is mitigated primarily through avoidance, which requires an understanding of marine mammal distribution in order to avoid the most sensitive species and their habitats. In parallel, a research and development program evaluates and develops technological solutions to minimize the risk of harm. By first embracing an empirical framework to assess acute and chronic impacts, DND has been able to partner with other government departments and researchers to develop technology targeted towards the residual risks to marine mammals posed by sonar operations.

The Job Engagement Scale: Development and Validation of a Short Form in English and French

The original 18-item Job Engagement Scale (JES18) operationalizes a multidimensional hierarchical conceptualization of the investment and expression of an individual's preferred self in-role performance. Encompassing three dimensions (i.e., physical, cognitive, and emotional), job engagement is a known predictor of organizational performance and personal outcomes. Using a sample (N = 7185) of military and civilian personnel nested within 59 work units in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Canadian Department of National Defence (DND), we developed and cross-validate a 9-item short-form (the JES9) of the original JES18 in English and French. Results demonstrated that both linguistic versions the JES9 and JES18 yielded comparable psychometric properties. The scales also displayed measurement invariance as a function of participants' sex (male/female), employee type (civilian/regular force/primary reserve), and role (supervisor/employee). Finally, the associations between scores on the JES9 and the JES18 and a series of covariates (i.e., employees' psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, burnout, and turnover intentions) were assessed. Collectively, results highlight the strong psychometric soundness of the English and French versions of the JES9 and the JES18 for organizational practitioners and academics.

In-situ load testing of a WWII era timber Warren truss in the development of a structural health monitoring program

This research paper presents the experimental results of an in-situ load-testing program within a WWII era, timber Warren truss structure located at Canadian Forces Base St-Jean, Quebec. Four point load tests were carried out on a 68 m long, Douglas fir timber truss instrumented with conventional electric strain gauges, distributed fibre optic sensors, and string potentiometers, among other instruments. These instruments makeup a larger, long-term structural health monitoring program implemented within the truss structure. The objectives of the local point load tests were to (1) confirm the in-situ monitoring instruments are in working order, (2) compare calculated mechanical properties with assumed properties, and (3) calibrate a numerical model capable of replicating truss response and compare to current modeling standards used within the Department of National Defence. Non-destructive testing, including moisture content and cable tension tests, was also conducted to determine existing material properties. Load testing and non-destructive testing results identified variations between the existing properties of the truss and the assumed properties of certain structural members, as well as identifying possible lower strength or stiffness values of stress-reversed members. Results also indicated the importance of analyzing timber as an orthotropic, bimodular material for reliability and conservatism, particularly in numerical modeling. Lastly, the results presented in this paper outline the importance of in-situ load testing with an aim to determine existing material properties for monitoring projects. Moreover, the identification of the existing properties and behaviour of the structure is fundamental in the development of a structural health monitoring program for emergency purposes.

Probability of Sea Condition for Ship Strength, Stability, and Motion Studies

Modeling and simulation continues to be an important tool for determining the response of sea-going vessels to wind and waves. To provide appropriate forcing functions to the models, it is important to have environmental data of sufficient fidelity to facilitate an assessment of platform response, which is as accurate as possible within the practical constraints of time and resources. Fortunately, there are a variety of sources of good wave data, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This study examines the wave data in the context of simulation codes for assessing characteristics of ocean craft response. It also looks at some practical considerations to limit the scope of simulations. The work is strongly influenced by modeling and simulation of naval surface ships, looking for extreme behaviors, but many of the issues discussed are broadly applicable to other applications. Copyright 2021 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, Department of National Defence

Comparison of multiple monitoring techniques for the testing of a scale model timber Warren truss

This paper outlines the testing and monitoring procedure of a scale model Warren truss constructed of 2 inch × 4 inch (38 mm × 89 mm) members and bolted connections within a laboratory environment. Several forms of deflection monitoring and strain monitoring instrumentation were utilized throughout this laboratory testing phase of a longer-term research program. Instruments included: an automatic total station, linear variable differential transducers, light detection and ranging, electric strain gauges, and distributed optical fibre sensors. The distributed point load-testing regime included two configurations: ( i) the original truss configuration and ( ii) the installation of intermediate columns beneath the truss. Objectives of this phase included identifying instrument capabilities, limitations, and overall reliability/effectiveness with respect to representing the behaviour of the truss system. In addition, members of interest and critical monitoring locations along the Warren truss were determined. The purpose of this laboratory endeavour was to determine an optimized structural-health monitoring program prior to implementation in a heritage timber Warren truss structure within the infrastructure inventory of the Department of National Defence (DND). An options analysis of monitoring techniques was conducted whereby the effectiveness of each instrumentation type was evaluated according to relevant metrics/factors to determine an effective monitoring technique for this heritage building and other similar DND truss structures.

Gender Mainstreaming in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence: Lessons on the Implementation of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+)

This article uses the Canadian military’s gender-mainstreaming strategy—gender-based analysis plus (or GBA+)—as a case study to explore the implementation of gender mainstreaming in militaries. Utilizing a mixed method approach, including group interviews and surveys, we employ Jahan’s model of gender mainstreaming to understand how GBA+ has been operationalized. We argue that the implementation of GBA+ in the Defense Force constitutes a more superficial integrationist approach to the implementation of gender mainstreaming rather than a transformative, agenda-setting approach, despite the internalization of messaging to the contrary by many in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND). While not ideal, we suggest that an integrationist approach does not necessarily mean a GBA+ agenda will fail in a male-dominated organization like the CAF; rather, we contend that it could constitute a valuable starting point for progressive, large-scale change.

Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences.

Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences.

Bridging the academic‐policy gap in Canadian defence: What more can be done?

AbstractThis article assesses the academia‐policy gap in Canadian defence. The field of Canadian defence studies is inherently interested in the work of defence practitioners, and the Department of National Defence has had an ongoing interest in supporting academic defence expertise. A gap nonetheless persists between the two communities, owing to their different cultures, approaches, and objectives. Drawing on personal experiences as members of both the academic and policy worlds and on findings from semi‐structured interviews with serving and retired defence officials, the article examines the nature of academia‐policy gap in Canadian defence, the factors that make the gap persist, and what measures can help bridge the gap.

Public CFO competencies – A National Defence case study examining the balance between financial and strategic priorities

AbstractThe role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the public sector is relatively new. Prior research on private sector CFOs identified that CFOs tend to focus on either financial or strategic issues. In this study, we examined if these same tendencies exist within the public sector. Using the Department of National Defence as a case study, we asked Comptrollers to compare a set of 8 roles to determine if a bias towards financial or strategic roles exists. We found that some bias exists within National Defence; however, we also found most recognize that you cannot focus exclusively on either role.

Organizational change in Canadian public institutions: The implementations of GBA+ in DND/CAF

AbstractIn 2016, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) committed to the adoption of a Gender‐Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) toolkit across the forces. This article finds that the organizational culture of DND/CAF has helped them to adapt to this new policy approach, but that learning and transformation are not occurring. Based on DND/CAF documents, published internal DND/CAF studies, participant observation, interviews, surveys, and focus groups with DND/CAF staff, this article suggests that internal efforts to adjust to GBA+ continue to be challenging because of organizational culture.

A comparative analysis of medically released men and women from the Canadian Armed Forces

Introduction: Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries and mental health (MH) disorders are the leading causes of medical attrition in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Historically, medical attrition rates have been higher for women than men. In order to better understand the medical release trends of men and women, a descriptive analysis of the medical reasons for release was undertaken. Methods: Administrative data sources within the Department of National Defence were used to identify medically released personnel together with their primary medical diagnosis and demographic characteristics, including sex, age, and rank. The analysis included 5,180 Regular Force personnel medically released between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2017. Results: While overall trends in the reasons for medical release were sometimes similar for men and women, statistically significant differences between the medical release reasons of men and women were found in several of the sub-groups considered. These sub-groups included non-commissioned members (NCMs), officers, Air personnel, and members who had not deployed in the 10 years prior to their release, as well as personnel in the earlier and later stages of their career. Discussion: An increased understanding of the differences between medically released men and women is important for the development of future injury and illness prevention strategies, which have the primary objective of improving the health and operational readiness of serving members, as well as a secondary objective of lowering medical attrition rates to improve overall retention in the CAF.