Every army has one
Barrack Lawyer— the Canadian equivalent of the barrack room lawyer
Same breed as the British version — the member who quotes QR&Os chapter and verse to make your life difficult or protect their own. In the CAF, also used ironically about anyone who knows their rights and isn't afraid to use them.
The CAF has the AJAG (Assistant Judge Advocate General) system for legal advice, but most members first go to the unit's barrack lawyer for informal guidance. DAOD and QR&O are publicly available and memorised by veterans who've been burned.
18 core terms · Canadian military
BMQUS: BCT
Basic Military Qualification — your basic training. The filter.
OFPUS: Cleared for duty / SQI complete
Operationally Functional Point — the milestone when you're considered fully trained in your MOC and postable to an operational unit.
Posting cycleUS: PCS cycle
CAF posts members in a structured annual cycle — postings generally effective April or June. You get "Posting Season" rumours starting January.
PMQUS: On-post family housing
Private Married Quarters (now officially RHU). Government housing on or near base. Waitlist is frequently years long.
IR
Imposed Restriction — status when you're posted somewhere but your family can't follow (no PMQ, no affordable civilian housing). Extra allowance but brutal on families.
SISIP
Service Income Security Insurance Plan — the CAF's insurance/financial counselling system. Handles long-term disability claims. Important to understand before a medical issue hits.
BGRS
The relocation services contractor (formerly Brookfield). Handles your move. "BGRS ate my claim" is a familiar complaint.
SCAN
Second Career Assistance Network — now called "My Transition." Pre-release career counselling program. Take the seminar early.
CANFORGEN
Canadian Forces General Order — the official policy/announcement vehicle. Published by NDHQ. If it's in a CANFORGEN it's official.
R22eRUS: 82nd Airborne equivalent in cultural prestige
Royal 22e Régiment — the "Van Doos." Quebec regiment. Symbol of francophone military culture in the CAF.
PPCLI
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry — one of three regular infantry regiments. Based in Edmonton and Shilo.
1 RCR / 2 RCR / 3 RCR
Royal Canadian Regiment battalions — the other regular infantry regiment, based in Petawawa and Gagetown.
Pillar Five
Release item 5(b) — voluntary release. The CAF's way of saying "you quit."
MOC transferUS: MOS reclassification
Changing your military job. Requires CO endorsement, DND approval, and retraining. Not quick.
The bilingual wallCareer risk
The promotion ceiling for anglophones who don't have a French language profile. Gets you at WO/MWO/Lt Col level. A documented career-ender.
FORCE Evaluation
Fitness for Operational Requirements of CAF Employment — the annual fitness test. Replaced the outdated EXPRES test in 2013. Failure = career consequences.
QR&O
Queen's/King's Regulations and Orders — the CAF's governing rules. Public document. Know your rights.
DAOD
Defence Administrative Orders and Directives — the policy layer below QR&O. Where the actual admin rules live.