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Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces

OaSIS code 40042.00

Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces plan, organize, command, direct, control and evaluate, the operations of their organization in relation to established objectives. Senior commissioned officers formulate military and strategic policies which establish the direction to be taken by the Canadian Forces. All ranks of commissioned officers in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Navy are included in this unit group.

Overview

Also known as

  • Admiral
  • Artillery officer
  • Brigadier general
  • Colonel
  • Commodore
  • Lieutenant commander
  • Major
  • Naval cadet
  • Officer cadet
  • Search and rescue captain

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Allocate material, human and financial resources to implement military policies and programs, establish administrative controls, and approve overall personnel planning
  • Plan, organize and command the activities of the Canadian Armed Forces combat units and military strategic units in the Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Navy at home and when deployed overseas during operations in conflict territory
  • Plan, organize and command units engaged in non-military disaster relief, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations at the national and international level
  • Set objectives of the organization in accordance with legislation and government policy, formulate or approve and evaluate programs and procedures, alone or in collaboration with senior government committees
  • Coordinate the work of various military strategic units employing appropriate levels of military force for specific tasks
  • Develop and implement military procedures and policies that are geared to the capabilities and performance of each unit.

Additional information

  • Senior commissioned officers are classified according to their military rank.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (43204)
  • Primary combat members of the Canadian Armed Forces (44200)
  • Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces (42102)

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Assisting and Caring for Others
5 - Highest Level
Coaching and Developing Others
5 - Highest Level
Communicating with Coworkers
5 - Highest Level
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
5 - Highest Level
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
5 - Highest Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
4 - High amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
5 - Extremely important
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day

Workplaces/employers

  • Armed forces

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
5 - Highest Level
Explosive Strength
5 - Highest Level
Multitasking
5 - Highest Level
Pattern Identification
5 - Highest Level
Deductive Reasoning
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Coordinating
5 - Highest Level
Decision Making
5 - Highest Level
Management of Material Resources
5 - Highest Level
Management of Personnel Resources
5 - Highest Level
Monitoring
5 - Highest Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Analytical Thinking
5 - Extremely important
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Leadership
5 - Extremely important
Stress Tolerance
5 - Extremely important
Active Learning
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: ECI

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • A university degree is usually required.
  • Completion of military training is required.
  • Experience as a non-commissioned member of the armed forces and demonstrated leadership ability may substitute for a university degree.
  • Senior ranks, such as colonel, require several years of experience.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Clerical
3 - Advanced Level
Languages
3 - Advanced Level
Logistics
3 - Advanced Level
Business Management
2 - Intermediate Level
Human Resources and Labour relations
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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