PROFESSIONALISM IN THE CIC
By Maj Serge Dubé
Future training aimed at professionalism As defined by the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, professionalism is “the skill or qualities required or expected of members of a profession.” he occupational specification for the CIC states that “CIC officers are youth development practitioners with high standards of professionalism. They satisfy the high societal expectations that are naturally imposed on an individual responsible for the well-being, support, protection, administration, training and development of our nation’s most precious resource: Canada’s youth.”
T
The CIC training being developed as part of the CIC Military Occupational Specification Change Management Project is integral to high standards of professionalism within the CIC. When CIC officers from the field and headquarters were asked during the project what they did in their jobs, their answers varied depending on the job they were performing at the time.
But a common theme of their responses was the need for more training in the areas of youth development and leadership. Based on these responses, officers from all levels of the organization wrote job descriptions, and training was created to prepare CIC officers for these jobs. Care was taken to ensure that entry-level officers will receive the tools they need to properly lead and understand youth (cadets) early in their careers, as opposed to receiving them over a three- to four-year period. This is expected to help them lead more professionally. Here are some of the subjects incorporated into future entry-level training: adolescent development, the
Officers, such as SLt David Lang who instructed at Regional Gliding School (Eastern) this past summer, will receive the tools they need early in their careers to properly lead and understand youth.
CIC officer’s responsibility for cadet supervision and leadership development, mentoring and coaching, developing cadets through coaching, identifying barriers to learning, addressing cadets’ personal concerns and aiding in the resolution of rudimentary interand intra-personal conflicts.
(Officers from the field have identified) the need for more training in the areas of youth development and leadership. In addition to the training officers will receive when they join the CIC, another course is currently being developed to prepare them for the increased responsibilities they will have on promotion to captain or lieutenant (navy) and entry into Developmental Period (DP) 2. This training will take the skills and knowledge gained during DP 1 to an even higher level. Job-specific training to be delivered when personnel require it is also being developed. For instance, when you are appointed training officer you will take your training officer course, or when you are appointed platoon commander at a cadet summer training centre, you will take your platoon commander course. This method of qualifying officers when they actually require it—not years before—will ensure they receive the most up-to-date information. This in itself will make them more professional members of the branch. Keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground for updates on the new CIC training program. Maj Dubé is the staff officer responsible for CIC professional development at Directorate Cadets
26
CADENCE
Issue 17, Fall 2005