The Personnel Selection Branch (PSEL; ) is a

personnel branch Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any oth ...

of the

Canadian Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...

(CF). The PSEL was created in the Canadian Army on 18 September 1941. Later on the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

and

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...

followed suit. Officers of the PSEL provide behavioural science services to enable the Canadian Forces (CF) to effectively assess, acquire, integrate, and maintain personnel for operational and support roles.

Mission

The primary tasks of a personnel selection officer (PSO) require the application of professional behavioural science knowledge and procedures in the assessment of people and human factors that affect working relationships. Through interviews, psychological testing, and other sources of information, PSOs assess the suitability of individuals for military service and recommend subsequent assignment to an appropriate military occupation for training. They also assess and recommend the suitability of military personnel for special training or employment.

Personnel selection officers

PSOs assist CF members with their professional development, accreditation and transition to civilian life, and provide second-career assistance in the form of workshops and counselling to CF members transitioning to a second career. To enable the CF to meet its training and personnel requirements, PSOs provide professional advice to military commanders at all levels and conduct personnel applied and advanced behavioural research at the Director General Military Personnel Research Analysis (DGMPRA) at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). They conduct occupational analyses at the Director Personnel Generation Policy at NDHQ. PSOs also teach military leadership, management and behavioural sciences at the

Royal Military College of Canada The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...

(RMC) and at the Canadian Forces Management Development School (CFMDS). They train and monitor PSOs and military career counsellors (MCCs) in the use of interview, personnel assessment and counselling techniques, either at a base or in recruiting centres. They manage and administer military personnel resettlement programs such as the Second Career Assistance Network (SCAN) at NDHQ, command headquarters (CHQs), formations and bases. On 5 November 2007, the chief of military personnel announced that the PSEL was to merge with the

Training Development Branch The Training Development Branch () is a personnel branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). It primarily deals in training and development of both new recruits and experienced officers, airmen and -women, sailors and soldiers of the CAF. Train ...

along with some unspecified elements of the

Logistics Branch The Royal Canadian Logistics Service (RCLS, ) is a personnel branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). In April 1997, the CF Armed Forces Council decided to incorporate the Personnel Administration Branch into the Logistics Branch. From 1968 t ...

to form a new

human resources Human resources (HR) is the set of people who make up the workforce of an organization, business sector, industry, or economy. A narrower concept is human capital, the knowledge and skills which the individuals command. Similar terms include ' ...

branch. This proposed plan was ultimately abandoned with both branches remaining their own autonomous entities.

References

External links

Canadian Forces RecruitingCanadian Forces and Department of National DefenceCanadian Forces BMQ (Basic Military Qualification)
Canadian Armed Forces personnel branches Canadian Armed Forces Military history of Canada {{canada-mil-stub