Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Dental Officer Information

Please note:
This is a guide to assist in giving you an overview of a career as a Regular Force Dental
Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Specific details are subject to change as
policies are continually being updated.

Contents:

Topics of Discussion:

a. Eligibility Criteria;
b. Roles of CAF;
c. Rank Structure;
d. Pay and Benefits;
e. Subsidized Education - Dental Officer Training Plan (DOTP);
f. Basic Training for Officer Cadets;
g. Selection Process;
h. Roles of CAF Dental Officers;
i. Posting locations and duration;
j. Overseas Deployments;
k. CAF Dental training;
l. Dental Requirements;
m. Professional Benefits; and
n. Personal Benefits

A. Eligibility Criteria:

In order to make an application to the CAF, you must be a Canadian citizen, between the
ages of 17-53 (49 if being subsidized thru DOTP), free from any legal obligations and
licensed to practice dentistry in a Canadian province/territory, or be accepted without
condition into a Faculty of Dentistry at a Canadian university.

B. Roles of CAF:

There are several roles of the CAF:

 United Nations peacekeeping;

 Member nation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);
 Search and Rescue;
 Aid to Civil Power;
 Defend Canada; and
 Participation in NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence).

2019-06-11 1 1
 C. Rank Structure:

There are two different rank structures in the CAF, Officers and Non-Commissioned
Members (NCMs). Officers are the leaders, policy makers and planners. NCMs are the
tradespersons, technical experts and they implement the Officer’s plans.

As a CAF Dentist, you will be an Officer. During Basic Military Officer Qualification
(BMOQ) you will be the rank of Second Lieutenant (2Lt). Upon being licensed to practice
dentistry you will be promoted immediately and hold a Queen’s commission to the rank of
Captain. Captain rank is the working rank for the Officer Corps. The Officer is a leader.
From the first day, officers are trained to be responsible for a group of people. They oversee
the sailors, soldiers or air personnel in the conduct of their activities. You could serve in
Canada or overseas. Dental is one of 32 officer careers in the CAF. The educational
requirements to be eligible to apply as an officer are higher than those of the Non-
Commissioned Member. To be eligible to be an officer you must be a Canadian citizen and
either possess the required level of university or enrol under the Dental Officer Training Plan
(DOTP).

Commitment: When you join the Regular Force, you are signing on for several years of
service. The CAF offers "Terms of Service" of different lengths. The length of the Variable
Initial Engagement (VIE) varies from military occupation to occupation depending upon the
needs of each occupation and the training time required for that occupation. The VIE ranges
in length from three to thirteen years, not including subsidized training or education. If you
continue your military career, this initial engagement can be followed by an Indefinite Period
of Service or a Continuing Engagement. Qualified Dental Officers are required to sign a 6
year VIE, 10 years if your dental school is being subsidized.

D. Pay and Benefits:

As a licensed dentist, your pay is based on your years of experience as a qualified dentist. For
students, you are entitled to receive a monthly pay-check while attending school. The pay-
check will vary depending what year of school you are attending. For first year students, the
monthly pay-check will be approximately $4,400, for fourth year students $5,100. While you
are attending school you are entitled to full medical and dental coverage. In addition, all of
your schooling is pensionable. However, if you do not complete your 3-4 years of obligatory
service, there will be a full or partial repayment. In addition to your monthly pay-check, the
CAF has a Post Living Differential (PLD), if you qualify and are attending school in a high
cost of living city (for example Toronto), the CAF could pay you an additional monthly
allowance, but there are no guarantees.

Vacation: Regular Force personnel receive 20 working days of annual vacation leave until
the completion of 5 years of service. After 5 years of service, annual leave is increased to 25
working days per year and continues to increase depending on years of service. In addition to
your annual holidays, you are also entitled to statutory holidays and Special Leave for
Christmas.

2019-06-11 2 2
 Medical/Dental Coverage: Regular Force personnel receive medical and dental care from
the time of enrolment to their release date. CAF personnel may also take advantage of the
coverage available for their families through the Public Service Health Care Plan and the
CAF Dental Care Plan.

Comprehensive Medical Care:

Services will include:

 Physician Services;
 Hospital Services;
 Ambulance Services;
 Addiction Counselling and Treatment;
 Social Work Services;
 Out-Patient Diagnostic Services;
 Rehabilitation Care;
 Home Care;
 Long Term Care Facilities; and
 Health Practitioner Benefits.

In addition to the comprehensive coverage, supplemental health care benefits will include:

 CAF Drug Benefits;

 Vision Care Benefits; and
 Miscellaneous Expense Benefits.

Comprehensive Dental Care

This care consists of emergency care, primary or routine care provided by general
practitioners, and secondary care provided by specialists.
Eligible dental services include:

 preventive services
 periodontal services
 restorative services - minor
 restorative services - major
 prosthodontic services - minor
 prosthodontic services - major
 orthodontic services - minor
 orthodontic services - major
 endodontic services
 surgical services
 adjunctive general services

2019-06-11 3 3
 However, for eligible CAF members, major restorative, prosthodontic and surgical services
are usually limited to members with three or more than three years of completed service; and
sufficient time remaining in their current terms of service to complete the procedures and the
required follow-up. Major orthodontic services are limited to the treatment of a functional
disability related to malocclusion.

Pension:

Your pension plan is designed to provide you with a retirement income on completion of
your military career. In the event of your death, the plan provides an income for your
survivor and eligible children. The plan is basically a service purchase plan. This means that
the more pensionable service you acquire under the plan, the greater your benefits when you
retire.

If you are a member of the Regular Force, you will start to build up pension credits
immediately upon your enrolment. All the service for which you contribute will be included
in your pensionable service credits at retirement.

Parental Leave:

The purpose of parental benefits is to facilitate: the care and nurturing of the child by both
parents, whether biological or adoptive; and a period of bonding between parents and their
child.

To ensure recruitment, employment and retention of suitably qualified women and men, the
CAF, as an employer of choice, will provide maternity and parental benefits that assist both
female and male members to balance the demands of military service with family
responsibilities associated with the birth or adoption of their children.

The CAF provides eligible members with time away from their military duties and
compensation to care for their newborn or adopted children free from undue financial or
duty-related concerns.

These benefits support policies of: gender equity by encouraging both parents to share family
responsibilities, and employment equity by encouraging the recruitment and retention of
women. Parental leave is for one year and you receive 93% of your wage.

Domestic Travel and Family Benefits:

CAF members and their families are entitled to various domestic travel and family-care
related benefits. These benefits are to compensate them when they travel, become separated
from their family and/or to assist them in compassionate situations.

2019-06-11 4 4
 Second Language Training:

For licensed dentists, second language training may be deferred to a later date in your career.
CAF members are sometimes posted to areas where an ability to communicate in the other
official language is critical. In these circumstances, a unilingual spouse suffers hardship in
terms of employment, support services, and social interaction.

Providing conversational second-language instruction will improve the spouse's integration

into the community, help make the spouses feel more comfortable in their new environment,
and assist in employment potential.

Sports and Fitness:

Activities range from league sports competing between CAF bases and within the community
such as fastball, hockey, soccer and many more. Most bases have a swimming pool,
gymnasium and sports field. Some have skating rinks, curling clubs, ski hills and golf
courses. There are lots of things to do on base and lots of people to do them with. In addition,
we have national sports teams in which they compete against other nation’s military sports
teams. If you qualify, you can travel to various places around the world to compete at the
international level.

E. Dental Officer Training Plan:

This plan is designed to educate and develop for commissioning, selected civilian candidates
for service as Regular Forces career officers. Selected candidates are appointed the rank of
Second Lieutenant (2Lt) while on Basic Training, and for the period of their subsidization.
Subsidization is carried out at an approved Canadian University.

 Tuition/books and required school supplies paid by the CAF/monthly salary/Post

Living Differential (PLD, cost of living allowance – some restrictions);
 Focus on studies during school year, military training during summer months;
 All school time is pensionable while receiving full benefits at the same time; and
 For any subsidization, there is obligatory service incurred.

F. Basic Training for Officer Cadets:

Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) training is generally conducted at the Canadian
Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. CFLRS
provides initial indoctrination to the rudiments of military knowledge and leadership together
with the fundamental ethics and values that characterize the profession of arms. CFLRS is
the centre of excellence responsible to conduct basic training in a progressive and sustained
manner essential for those who have volunteered to serve Canada. The training emphasizes
physical and mental robustness, basic military

2019-06-11 5 5
 skills, fundamentals of leadership and ethical values. Health Services Officer’s may have the
opportunity to complete an abridged version of Basic Officer Training. Depending on the
need to place you in a clinical setting, you may complete a 6 week Basic Training in lieu of
the 14 week course. This would only be considered for licensed dentists only. During Basic
Training you will have to complete a physical fitness test.

The requirements are as follows:

Test item

 Sandbag Lift - 30 consecutive lifts of a 20 kg sandbag from the floor to a height of 1

m. (standard time 3 min 30 s)
 Intermittent Loaded Shuttles – 10 consecutive shuttle, 1 shuttle= 20 m there, 20 m
back, alternating between loaded shuttles with a 20 kg sandbag and unloaded shuttles,
totalling 400 m, (standard time 5 min 21 s)
 Sandbag Drag – carry one 20 kg sandbag and pull a minimum of four on the floor
over 20 m without stopping. Number of sandbags being dragged depends on the type
of floor, (standard time – completed without stopping)
 20 m Rushes – starting from the prone position (on your belly), complete two shuttle
sprints (1 shuttle = 20 m there, 20 m back), dropping to a prone position every 10 m,
for a total of 80 m. (Standard time 51 sec)
 You must achieve the standard for all of the four items in order to carry-on with
your BMOQ course.

G. Selection Process:

To submit an application, as a minimum, you will have to be in possession of (all originals),

your birth certificate (spouse/dependent’s birth certificates, your social insurance card,
university transcripts, university degree, your provincial dental license/or unconditional
acceptance letter into a Faculty of Dentistry at a Canadian university. The application process
consists of the following:

 Aptitude Testing ;
 Medical examination;
 Selection Interview; and
 Background Check (to include a credit check/criminal record check).
 Phone interview with CAF Dental Officer (licensed Dentists only)

Note: Depending on local recruiting centre resources, the aptitude test, medical and interview
can be conducted in one–day processing.

2019-06-11 6 6
 H. Role of CAF Dentist: Serve your country by supporting the operational activities of the
CAF by maintaining the dental health of CAF members.

 Large multi-practitioner dental clinics;

 Small/medium dental clinics;
 Field units
 On-board ship (East/West) coast
 Conducting Policy; and
 Teaching position.

What is a Base Medical Clinic: Team of health care professionals dedicated to treat sick or
injured military personnel, and is a team oriented and collaborative effort.

 Pharmacists;
 Physicians / physician assistants;
 Nurses / nurse practitioners;
 Medical assistants;
 Physiotherapists;
 Lab & X-ray technicians;
 Social workers;
 Preventative medicine technicians; and
 Dental team.

Dental Role at a Base Clinic:

 Provide dental services to military personnel “in-garrison” and in a field setting

 Assist other health care personnel when required (ie: mass casualty evacuation)
 Provide a forensic odontology capability when required
 Provide instruction and courses in your field of training/expertise

Dental Role at a Field Ambulance Unit:

Group of health care professionals dedicated to support military personnel in a field setting.

Policy Positions

 Part of Director of Medical Policy;

 Promulgates dental policy;
 Oversees Continuing Education & Maintenance of Competence programs.

Other Dental Roles

 Canadian Forces Dental School (teaching positions).

2019-06-11 7 7
 I. Posting Locations and Durations:

Victoria, B.C. Petawawa, ON

Comox, B.C. Ottawa, ON
Edmonton, AB St. Jean, QC
Winnipeg, MB Valcartier, QC
Trenton, ON Gagetown, N.B.
Kingston, ON Greenwood, N.S.
Borden, ON Halifax, N.S.
Shilo, MB Bagotville, PQ
Wainwright, AB
Cold Lake, AB Gander, NL
Longue-Pointe, QC North Bay, ON
Moose Jaw, SK St. John’s, NL
Toronto, ON

We also have positions in Germany and Belgium. The duration of this posting could last
from 1 month to 3 years. Postings generally last between 3-5 years at the above locations.
The needs of the CAF must come first, but we will seriously consider your posting
preferences as well.

J. Overseas Deployments:

Generally speaking, all members of the CAF must have the expectation of being deployed.
Deployments could include Africa or anywhere around the world. The duration of overseas
deployments could last from 2 weeks to 9 months.

K. CAF Dental Training:

 Basic Military Officer Qualification (14 weeks);

 2nd Language Training (up to 7 months), may be deferred for licensed dentists and
students attending a civilian university shall have access in accordance with the CAF
annual priorities;
 Health Services Officer Staff Officer Course (HSO SOC - 6 weeks), CFB Borden
 Basic Dental Officer Course (BDOC - 4 weeks), CFB Borden, ON

L. CAF Dental Requirements:

 Dentistry Degree from a recognized Canadian university or holder of a National

Dental Examining Board of Canada Certificate and certified for licensure by a
Canadian provincial regulatory authority; or
 Accepted into a Faculty of Dentistry at a Canadian Accredited university.

2019-06-11 8 8
 M. Professional Benefits:

 Supportive team environment;

 Dental military network;
 Well “equipped” dental clinics;
 Maintenance of Dental continuing education;
 Support for continued education and training (fully sponsored specialty training to
include: periodontics, prosthodontics, oral/maxillofacial surgery, public health
dentistry and comprehensive dentistry
 Variety of roles and experiences.

N. Personal Benefits:

 Education Scholarship;
 Travel;
 Emphasis on sports and fitness;
 Adventure;
 Camaraderie/job security;
 Excellent medical/dental/optical coverage;
 25 days annual vacation (20 for 1st 5yrs); and
 Pension (time in school counts).

Note: Generally speaking, once you are working at your first posting (after training), a
typical work-day begins at 07:30am to 15:30pm. You are entitled to one-hour for lunch
and one-hour of physical fitness during business hours (depending on location). There is
no shift work, evenings or weekends. However, on occasion, depending on the
deployment tempo of the CAF, you may have to conduct screening activities for
deploying troops. We emphasize quality of life, a balance between work and your
personal life.

2019-06-11 9 9
 For further information on military dentistry go to www.forces.ca or contact the Canadian
Forces Health Services Specialist Recruiter:

Canadian Forces Health Services Specialist Recruiter - West

Captain Jack MacFarlane (Based out of Oshawa, ON)
Jack.MacFarlane@forces.gc.ca

Canadian Forces Health Services Specialist Recruiter - Central

Captain Jack MacFarlane (Based out of Oshawa, ON)
Jack.MacFarlane@forces.gc.ca

Canadian Forces Health Services Specialist Recruiter - East

Captain Simon Pelchat (Based out of Sherbrooke, QC)
Simon.Pelchat@forces.gc.ca

Canadian Forces Health Services Specialist Recruiter - Support

Sergeant Laen Hanson (Based out of Borden, ON)
Laen.Hanson@forces.gc.ca

2019-06-11 10 10