The Royal Canadian Navy is launching a “no strings connected” program in hopes of recruiting new sailors by means of a trial contract.
Launched Friday, the brand new “Naval Expertise Program” permits Canadian residents and everlasting residents to expertise the Navy on a one-year contract.
Following the year-long interval, contributors can select to proceed working within the Royal Canadian Navy, both full-time or part-time. They’re additionally free to decide on to switch to a different factor or depart the Navy solely.
“Life within the Navy might be demanding and difficult at instances,” navy commander Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee mentioned in an announcement. “It is not for everybody and that is why the brand new ‘Naval Expertise Program’ offers contributors the possibility to expertise life within the Navy, for one yr, no strings connected.”
Contributors will undergo an eight-week fundamental navy coaching and four-week naval environmental coaching. They may be a part of Navy fleets on both the east or west coast, in Halifax or Esquimalt, BC
After finishing each coaching packages, new sailors can have the chance to finish frequent duties on a ship, in addition to shadow varied jobs each at sea and ashore.
In keeping with the media launch, contributors will obtain the identical pay and advantages as some other Canadian Armed Forces recruits.
On high of being a Canadian citizen or everlasting resident, eligible contributors have to be between the ages of 16 and 57. Anybody youthful than 18 should get permission from their father or mother or guardian.
Individuals on social media had combined reactions concerning the announcement of this system.
“Appears like a tremendous alternative,” one Instagram consumer commented.
“Do not like this!! I feel it is foolish,” one other added. “Play soldier for yr and depart. Wasted cash!”
“Holy, the nice thought fairy got here by means of and did properly,” a Twitter consumer penned.
“Good things, we must always tailor this in the direction of the Cadet program as a spot yr once they end highschool,” one other suggested.
“You retain speaking about this navy of tomorrow, but you do not look after the navy of as we speak,” somebody shared. “Quickly sufficient you will not have a navy in any respect.”
This system comes as all components of the Canadian Armed Forces wrestle with recruiting and retaining new members.
In September, Topshee advised The Canadian Press that 17 per cent of navy positions — round 1,400 sailors — are vacant.
“Describing the present crewing and staffing shortages with ‘disaster’ might be the appropriate phrase throughout the navy,” Topshee famous. “We want extra folks. We want them as shortly as we will get them.”