BRIGADE
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
GENERAL
1. It is of great importance that members who are appointed as Non-Commissioned
Officers (NCOs) are of good character, knowledgeable of Brigade practices and procedures,
and possess leadership ability.
2. The Brigade recognizes the following NCO positions:
a. Sergeant-Major
b. Staff Sergeant
c. Sergeant
d. Corporal
3. The position of Cadet Leader ranks above that of Cadet (Youth) NCO but is not an
Officer appointment.
QUALIFICATIONS
4. All Brigade NCOs must meet the requirements of basic membership (see StJCI
2-3-1) prior to appointment. These requirements will vary depending on the membership type
of the Brigade Unit to which they are attached.
5. Length of Brigade service alone is not to be utilized as a deciding factor in the
recommendation process for NCOs.
6. Youth members must be at least 16 years old before being appointed to the position
of Cadet Leader. The Cadet Leader is responsible to their Divisional Superintendent and/or
other adult Youth Leader (see StJCI 2-3-4, paragraphs 20 and 21).
7. Sergeants may be appointed to the position of Staff Sergeant provided they have
demonstrated diligent performance of their duties, as a Sergeant, during the preceding
five years.
APPOINTMENTS
8. All NCO appointments are subject to approval by the National Commissioner, who
may delegate some or all of this authority to one or more Provincial/Territorial
Commissioners. This delegation of authority will be automatic unless otherwise stated.
9. Upon a member’s first appointment as a NCO, they must undergo the screening
process (see StJCI 2-9-2).
10. There is no specific compliment for the joint appointment of youth NCOs and adult
NCOs within the same Brigade Unit. Appointments must be based upon membership and
organizational needs within each of the age categories.
11. NCOs will be appointed in a probationary capacity for the first year of their
initial NCO appointment. NCOs holding probationary status wear the uniform and the
appointment designation, carry out the required duties, and have the same privileges and
precedence as if their appointment was confirmed. During this one-year period, the
probationary NCO will be assessed by their Officer(s) as to their suitability for the
recommended appointment. Such assessments will be formally conducted and documented a
minimum of twice during the probationary year. Probationary NCOs who are not successful at
meeting the required standards will be provided with remedial learning opportunities prior
to their final assessment.
12. At the end of the probationary year, NCO appointments will either be confirmed by
the National Commissioner or relinquished. Confirmed appointments will be documented
showing the date of appointment as the first day of the probationary appointment.
13. Dual NCO appointments are not permitted. Upon being promoted or transferred NCOs
automatically vacate the appointment previously held.
RESPONSIBILITY
14. Superintendents with one or more NCOs attached to their Unit are responsible
for informing the NCO of their duties. The NCO is responsible for seeking direction from
their Superintendent.
RELINQUISHING APPOINTMENT
15. There is no specific chronological term for NCO appointments. Such a provision
may, however, be mutually agreed upon prior to the appointment of a NCO if the appointment
is to meet the requirement(s) of time-specific projects, or if the NCO being appointed
requests it.
16. Cadet (Youth) NCOs, on becoming Crusaders (age 16), but who remain with their
original Brigade Unit, retain their NCO appointment. Such appointments are, however,
relinquished when the youth member:
a. reaches their 21st birthday, or
b. transfers to another Brigade Unit.
17. NCOs must request their appointment be relinquished if:
a. they can no longer fulfill the obligations required by their appointment, or
b. they can no longer fulfill the obligations of basic Brigade membership.
18. Requests for relinquishment of appointment must be made in writing outlining the
reason(s) and forwarded to the Provincial/Territorial Commissioner through normal
communication channels. All such requests must be dealt with as priority items and must
not be unduly delayed.
19. NCOs who have requested permission to relinquish their appointment are expected to
remain in that appointment until such a request is approved.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS
20. Every NCO will undergo, as a minimum, an annual performance appraisal. This
process will utilize an approved performance appraisal instrument and will provide
opportunity for individual remedial action designed to permit the NCO to improve their
performance. The performance appraisal will be conducted and documented by the
Officer-in-Charge of the NCO’s Brigade Unit and will be treated with confidentiality.
