JCRATO 61-03 JCR PATROL FORMATION, VIABILITY, PROBATION AND DISBANDMENT

GENERAL

1. The Junior Canadian Rangers (JCR) Programme capacity (number of JCR patrols) is determined by expansion authorized by the Vice Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS) and is based on business planning and available funding. The membership (number of JCR) is at the discretion of the Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (CRPG) in consultation with the community.

FORMATION OF A JCR PATROL

2. Formation of a JCR patrol occurs throughout six phases.

Phase One – Verification

3. The following shall be verified prior to visiting a community:

  1. there is co-location of Canadian Rangers (CR);
  2. the community is remote and isolated; and
  3. the expansion is in accordance with the national JCR Programme expansion plan.

Phase Two – Preliminary Planning

4. During this phase, a community should have no expectation that a JCR patrol has been authorized to be established in their community. The process involved in setting up a patrol may span more than one year. Each CRPG will have to adapt a general process to meet both the needs of the community as well as their own.

5. CRPG shall do the following, in no particular order, in consideration for opening up JCR Patrols:

  1. conduct visits to the community to present the JCR Programme to the community leaders and CR;
  2. determine there is a compelling reason to set-up the JCR patrol;
  3. ensure the community understands the JCR Programme and accepts what their role would be in implementing it;
  4. consider options for the other cadet programmes, and in the case that a cadet corps is already in that community, the CO CRPG will liaise with the CO RCSU to ensure that the community can support both the JCR Programme and the Cadet Program;
  5. ensure there are enough available youth to sustain a JCR patrol;
  6. ensure there is support from the local CR patrol with at least two CR nominated to assist as the JCR Patrol Leader and JCR Patrol Second in Command. Nominations can be in consultation with the community, Band, and/or Municipal Council;
  7. ensure there are enough interested adults that could comprise an Adult Committee (AC);
  8. ensure there is a suitable training location at no cost to DND;
  9. begin the screening process for those interested in working with the JCR patrol (CR, AC, volunteers) has begun; and
  10. ensure there is significant community support, such as a Band Council Resolution or official letter from the community stating their support for the JCR Programme.

Phase Three – Formal Request to Director Cadets & Junior Canadian Rangers
(D Cdts & JCR)

6. The following may now occur:

  1. CRPG CO may recommend;
  2. Area Commander may recommend; and
  3. a request to form a patrol, detailing each item in Phases One and Two, as well as reference to the two recommendations, forwarded to D Cdts & JCR for authorization.

Phase Four – Authorization

7. Based on the recommendations received, D Cdts & JCR may authorize:

  1. funding of the JCR patrol; and
  2. formation of the JCR patrol.

Phase Five – Registration

8. The following shall now occur:

  1. establishment of an AC, completion of volunteer agreements and screening;
  2. confirmation of the JCR Patrol Leader and JCR Patrol Second in Command by the CRPG;
  3. registration of JCR and ordering of uniforms;
  4. completion of screening for CR; and
  5. completion of volunteer agreements and screening for volunteers.

Phase Six – Stand-Up

9. The following shall now occur:

  1. nomination of the JCR Sergeant /Master Corporal (usually by vote) under the supervision and with the confirmation by the CRPG; and
  2. formal stand-up parade.

Designation

10. A JCR patrol shall be designated by the name of the community (communities) in which it is (they are) located or by the CR Patrol by which it is supported.

VIABILITY OF A JCR PATROL

11. Although CRPGs provide a formal reporting of the viability of their patrols to D Cdts & JCR in the annual JCR Patrol Participation List, the actual monitoring of a JCR Patrol by CRPGs is continuously occurring. JCR Patrols noted as requiring additional attention (indicated as “yellow” in the Participation List) and JCR Patrols noted as requiring immediate action (indicated as “red” in the Participation List) need to be acted upon in an effort to maintain their viability.

Factors Negatively Affecting Viability

12. There are many factors that could negatively affect a JCR Patrol’s viability including but not limited to:

  1. a decrease in a JCR Patrol’s effectiveness;
  2. the JCR Patrol is becoming less active;
  3. membership of JCR drops below 10;
  4. there is no training facility;
  5. there are not enough instructors to carry out safe and properly supervised activities;
  6. the AC ceases to exist and cannot be reconstituted; and/or
  7. the level of community support is decreasing.

Additional Attention (Yellow)

13. When factors start negatively affecting a JCR Patrol’s viability, “additional attention” is required. During this time CRPG should be taking actions to address the concerns before they escalate. CRPG may:

  1. conduct additional visits to the community;
  2. conduct additional Enhanced Training Sessions (ETS);
  3. conduct activities specifically targeted to the JCR Patrol;
  4. conduct public relations specifically targeted to JCR Programme stakeholders;
  5. use assistance from other CR/JCR Patrols, such as bringing in CR/JCR from another community or having CR/JCR travel to another community; and/or
  6. take other actions deemed appropriate.

14. CRPG may request additional funding from D Cdts & JCR to assist in maintaining a JCR Patrol’s viability.

15. A JCR Patrol may be considered as requiring “additional attention” for an indeterminate amount of time.

Immediate Action (Red)

16. When factors have persisted for a length of time or are serious enough to harshly impact a JCR Patrol’s viability, “immediate action” must be taken. During this time CRPG should be taking actions to address the concerns before they become serious enough to warrant probation, amalgamation, or disbandment. CRPG may:

  1. continue with actions initiated in the “additional attention” phase;
  2. conduct refresher workshops for CR/AC;
  3. conduct professional development for CR;
  4. correspond officially with the community, such as a letter expressing a shared concern of the JCR Programme’s viability;
  5. conduct community meetings; and/or
  6. take other actions deemed appropriate.

17. Although reported in the annual JCR Patrol Participation List, at the time a JCR Patrol is considered as requiring “immediate action”, D Cdts & JCR is to be notified.

18. CRPG may request additional funding from D Cdts & JCR to assist in maintaining a JCR Patrol’s viability.

19. A JCR Patrol may be considered as requiring “immediate action” for an indeterminate amount of time.

PROBATION

20. When the actions taken to address the concerns of a JCR Patrol continue to be unsuccessful, a JCR Patrol may be put on probation. The authority to place or remove a JCR patrol on probation is vested in the CRPG in consultation with the JCR Patrol leadership.

21. Probation is trial period in which the JCR Patrol must have its deficiencies corrected otherwise actions such as amalgamation or disbandment would be considered.

22. A JCR Patrol can be put on probation for a period of time not to exceed three years total. Probationary periods may be up to one year in length. At the end of a probationary period, an evaluation will be conducted. If the JCR Patrol is not at an acceptable level, but has shown signs of improvement and is considered marginally viable, the probationary period can be extended as required.

23. The CRPG shall confirm the probation of the JCR patrol in writing to the AC, the JCR Patrol Leader, and D Cdts & JCR. Other JCR Programme stakeholders may also be notified. The circumstances and conditions of the probation as well as the length of probation with a definitive end date must be stated.

24. During the probationary periods, CRPG should be taking the necessary steps to rebuild the JCR Patrol. CRPG may request additional funding from D Cdts & JCR to assist in maintaining a JCR Patrol’s viability.

25. If the steps to rebuild the JCR Patrol are unsuccessful, a JCR Patrol may be given a pause in operations. This pause will allow the JCR Programme stakeholders the opportunity to demonstrate there is a compelling reason to keep the JCR Programme in the community.

AMALGAMATION AND DISBANDMENT

26. Amalgamation of the JCR Patrol with another JCR Patrol is preferred over disbandment.

27. A JCR patrol may be amalgamated or disbanded if:

  1. the conditions and deficiencies stated in the probation are not satisfied; and/or
  2. local CR are unable to support the JCR patrol.

CRPG Recommendation

28. If it is not viable to retain the JCR patrol independently, the CRPG CO shall submit a recommendation to D Cdts & JCR to either disband the JCR patrol or amalgamate it with another. Recommendations shall be made in consultation with the AC.

Authority

29. D Cdts & JCR will authorize the amalgamation or disbandment of JCR patrols.

Materiel

30. CRPG shall account for all materiel belonging to DND.

OPI: D Cdts 3
Date: Oct 11
Amendment: Ch 4/11