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Backgrounder

Non-Commissioned Member Subsidized Education Program (NCM-SEP)

BG-03.014 - April 15, 2003

In order to assist the CF in attraction and recruiting efforts, Defence Plan 2001 included the task to expand subsidized education opportunities for Regular Force Non-Commissioned Members (NCMs) by March 2003.

Currently, there is a long-established Navy plan through which members entering applicable Navy occupations can obtain subsidized college educations. It is called the Naval Technician Training Plan (NTTP) and comprises two sub-plans: the Marine Engineering Technical Training Plan and the Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Plan.

Within a scope similar to the NTTP, five non-Naval occupations have been selected in which subsidized educations may be obtained. The NTTP and the other five occupations will now fall under the new Non-Commissioned Member Subsidized Education Plans (NCM-SEP).

Through the NCM-SEP, selected applicants will complete post-secondary institution (i.e., community college) programs that fulfill all or most of the initial occupation training requirements of the Regular Force occupations entered. Selected applicants will be subsidized for up to two years for tuition, associated fees, books and instruments. For civilians already in suitable academic programs when they apply for the NCM-SEP, only the remaining year(s) required to complete the programs will be subsidized.

Individuals may be accepted as civilian applicants entering the Regular Force, as serving Regular Force NCMs through voluntary occupation transfers, or as component transfers from the Reserve Force. Civilian applicants may apply through the nearest Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre or Detachment and must meet all CF enrolment and selection requirements.

One hundred and five new seats will be funded at educational institutions. As well, NCM-SEP will fund 40 of the Navy's NTTP seats. Annual costs for NCM-SEP will be approximately $1.9 million. This includes $1.1 million for the 105 new seats, $443,000 for advertising and staff to manage the program as well as approximately $400,000 allocated to the long-standing Navy plan. Funding for the program is built into the existing fiscal framework.

NTTP students will continue to be administered by the Navy while at their educational institutions; students in the five non-Navy occupations while posted to their respective colleges will be managed by Canadian Forces Recruiting Group Headquarters.

NCM-SEP features

Other features of the NCM-SEP include:

• Applicants must be unconditionally accepted at post-secondary institutions selected by the CF and meet all applicable CF enrolment/transfer requirements for the occupations of choice. (More than 30 institutions across the country, plus CEGEPs in Quebec, offer suitable courses);
  
  

• Selected applicants will be subsidized for up to two years. If individuals are already in suitable academic programs when they apply for the NCM-SEP, only the remaining year(s) required to complete the programs will be subsidized (e.g., year(s) two and/or three of a three-year program). The exception to the two-year subsidization rule is for a three-year program at one French language institution approved by Transport Canada for Avionics Systems Technicians. Selected members in this French language program will be subsidized for up to three years;
  
  

• Tuition, associated fees, books, and instruments will be funded by the CF;
  
  

• The period of obligatory service for NCM-SEP graduates in the five non-Navy occupations, as well as non-graduates who have incurred obligatory service, will be two months service for each month of subsidized education training (obligatory service requirements for the Navy plans are noted in Maritime Command Orders 9-61).
  
  

• Students in the five non-Navy occupations will incur obligatory service after the completion of six months of subsidized education training.
  
  

• Students must maintain satisfactory academic standards in their academic programs;
  
  

• Students who are voluntarily released from the CF before incurring obligatory service will not have to reimburse the CF for the cost of training received;
  
  

• Students who request voluntary releases from the CF after they have started to incur obligatory service, or graduates of the NCM-SEP who are serving obligatory service, will have to reimburse the CF for the cost of training received; and
  
  

• Students will be subject to the code of service discipline as well as the rules and regulations of the academic institutions they are attending.

New subsidized occupations

Aerospace Telecommunications and Information Systems Technician. The Aerospace Telecommunications and Information Systems Technician performs, supervises and directs repair and maintenance of all types of Air Force systems, as well as national and infrastructure operational command and control information systems. These include static and deployable airfield communications systems; radar and navigational aids systems; long range radar and associated communication link systems; special purpose computer and electronic systems; and all levels of maintenance on associated cryptographic equipment.

Avionics Systems Technician. The Avionics Systems Technicians are aircraft electronic technicians. They are responsible for maintaining all automatic flight control systems, navigation systems, compass systems, airborne communication systems and radar systems on both land- and ship-based fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. As part of the aircraft maintenance team, these technicians are responsible for first line servicing operations in launching and recovering all types of aircraft.

Fire Control Systems Technician. Fire Control Systems Technicians are the only electronic/optronic technicians dedicated to the Land Force (Army) and are assigned to support all Canadian Forces elements. Fire control systems are the equipment that accurately directs ammunition onto targets using leading-edge computer technology and sighting systems. These technicians are responsible for the maintenance, repair and modification of this equipment.

Land Communications and Information Systems Technician. Land Communications and Information Systems Technicians repair and maintain all types of Land Forces' communications, command and control and information systems. These include land tactical and non-tactical communications equipment and radio systems; radio relay teletype systems; low level air defence communications and radar systems; ground surveillance and miscellaneous radar systems; radiation detection and associated equipment; and all levels of maintenance on associated cryptographic equipment. They also maintain strategic long range radio communications systems, portable satellite communications systems, microwave systems, personal computers and area networks, and ground telecommunications systems.

Vehicle Technician. Vehicle Technicians work as a members of a team that provides skilled technicians responsible for the complete range of servicing, maintenance, repair and overhaul of all land vehicles and related equipment used by the Canadian Forces.

Naval Technician Training Plan (NTTP)

The two sub-plans of the NTTP - the Marine Engineering Technical Training Plan (METTP) and the Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Plan (NCSTTP) - have been in existence for many years.

The METTP is a subsidized two-year college program offered at the Marine Institute of Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. It leads to a technician's diploma in marine engineering and is applicable to the following occupations:

Marine Engineering Mechanic. Marine Engineering Mechanics assist with the operation and monitoring of a ship's propulsion systems as well as maintenance of various auxiliary systems.

Marine Engineering Technician. Marine Engineering Technicians operate, monitor and maintain advanced propulsion systems in Canada's Navy. (This occupation is only open to internal transfers from Marine Engineering Mechanic.)

The NCSTTP is also a subsidized two-year college program at the Marine Institute of Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. It leads to a technician's diploma in electronics engineering or electromechanical engineering and is applicable to the following occupations:

Naval Weapons Technician. Naval Weapons Technicians maintain and operate shipboard armament equipment and systems and have care and custody of all onboard ammunition and explosives.

Naval Electronics Technician (Acoustic). Naval Electronics Technicians (Acoustic) maintain shipboard acoustic equipment and associated systems.

Naval Electronics Technician (Communications). Naval Electronics Technicians (Communications) maintain shipboard internal and external communications equipment and systems, including radio navigation aids and beacons.

Naval Electronics Technician (Tactical). Naval Electronics Technicians (Tactical) maintain shipboard radar, fire control and electronic warfare equipment and associated systems.

Further information about these occupations as well as METTP and NCSTTP can be found at http://www.recruiting.forces.gc.ca.

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