Paige LeClairThe holidays are quickly approaching, but it’s never too early to start thinking about holiday plans. Why not apply for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Christmas Flight Program.
The purpose of the program is to provide Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel and their immediate family the opportunity to be reunited with their family over the holiday period.
“The holiday flight program helps Canadian Armed Forces members and their families reunite with loved ones at this special time of year. The demands of CAF service schedules on members often restricts the flexibility to take trips for family reunification purposes, and this program helps fill this void. The emotional health and well-being of our members remains paramount to the CAF,” says, Colonel Telah Morrison, Director Military Family Services.
The program will have flights in various locations across the country beginning December 13, 2019, through January 8, 2020.
Category one applications, CAF, NATO, U.S., and Commonwealth Forces that are married or in a common-law partnership and are separated from spouses and dependants due to service and are not entitled to duty travel, or single members on exchange with the CAF travelling to visit next of kin. Members who are eligible for Category one can start applying October 15 at 1 p.m., through November 28 at 1 p.m.
Category two applications, all other CAF military personnel and eligible dependants who are entitled to leave travel on non-duty or space-available basis, and do not already hold a confirmed Category one seat, and can start applying October 30, 2019. Category two will begin receiving confirmation for their seats beginning November 15, 2019.
Applications for the 2019 Flight Program must be submitted using the Leave/Travel form on the National Passenger Service Center (NPSC) Defence Information Network (DIN).
Flight schedules are available for viewing to any civilian or military member with access to the Defence Wide Area Network (DWAN). http://intranet.mil.ca/EN/ORGANIZATIONS/SJS/LP-STRAT-J4-TRANSPORTATION.PAGE
Flights can be changed, delayed, or cancelled with short notice. If this occurs, it is the responsibility of the member to make their own travel arrangements.
