Deployment Support
Make a Difference without joining the Canadian Armed Forces and Experience the Rewards of Deployment
Join us for an incredible opportunity to work abroad in beautiful Latvia or aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ships(HMCS) for 6 months supporting Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. You do not become part of the CAF and you do not need CAF experience to apply.
As a civilian (non-military) employee of CFMWS, you will play a key role in ensuring the morale and welfare of those who serve, making a meaningful impact in their lives and the mission. If you're passionate about making a difference, we want you on our team!
Why What We Do Matters: The Impact of CFMWS
Our mission is to make our members stronger; to become healthier people, contributing to stronger communities, and a better Canada. Our role in a deployed setting is to work closely with the CAF and allies to ensure they are ready to successfully accomplish any task or exercise in support of the mission.
We achieve this by providing our deployed CAF members with essential morale and welfare services including:
- Travel assistance and claims administration;
- Retail outlets;
- Fitness and rehabilitation services;
- Sports and recreation programs;
- Barbering and hairstyling services;
- Warehousing, storage and logistics; and
- Financial management and accounting services.
These services reinforce the strength of our troops, allowing them to focus on their vital work while also creating opportunities away from their work to decompress and recharge. The friendly face of a Canadian civilian goes a long way in supporting troops that are away from home.
Discover Why Deployment Matters and the Benefits
Deployment offers an unforgettable, uniquely rewarding experience. As part of our team, you will:
- Embark on a Global Adventure: Experience the thrill of living and working abroad, all while supporting Canada's mission on a global scale. It’s an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and immerse yourself in diverse cultures and breathtaking locations.
- Make a Meaningful Impact: Directly support the well-being of Canadian Armed Forces members as they serve on critical missions. Your contributions will boost morale, ease stress, and enhance their ability to stay focused on their mission.
- Experience Professional and Personal Growth: Receive top-tier training and mentorship that not only equips you for your deployment but also enhances your skills and confidence for future opportunities. This is your chance to learn, grow, and develop in a meaningful, hands-on environment.
- Get Paid to Serve and Explore: This is NOT volunteer work—it’s a fully paid opportunity. You’ll be compensated and rewarded for your time, energy, and dedication while gaining valuable experience and making a difference.
- Build Lifelong Connections: On Deployment, you will forge strong relationships with civilian teammates and military personnel from across the world. The shared experience of serving on deployment cultivates friendships and networking opportunities that last well beyond your time abroad.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Embrace the chance to enhance your career while experiencing the thrill of deployment. Whether you're looking to expand your skills, make lifelong connections, or contribute to a worthy mission, this is your moment.
How To Apply:
We recruit for deployment support opportunities twice a year, typically in January and May. You can explore current deployment opportunities and submit your application through our careers page at www.cfmws.ca/careers.
Have more questions?
Check out the Application Process below, read our Testimonials or contact us at careers@cfmws.com.
The Process
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Step 1: The Roles
We typically recruit for the following positions. Click on each role to view the job description and qualifications needed.
- Senior Manager, Morale and Welfare Operations
- Fitness, Sports, and Recreation Coordinator/Supervisor
- Travel and Recreation Coordinator/Supervisor
- Recreation Coordinator
- Retail Supervisor
- Retail Attendant
- Barber/Stylist
- Accounting Coordinator
- Physical Rehabilitation Specialist
- Manager, Morale and Welfare Operations
- Warehouse Manager – Deployed Operations
- Shipping and Receiving Coordinator
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Step 2: Self-Assessment – Is deploying suitable for you?
Working and living conditions on a deployment vary from one location to another. Depending on the circumstances, Deployment Support staff may work without many of the comforts, support network, and normal Canadian infrastructure. The following questions may not apply for every mission, but act as a guide to help in assessing if deploying is suitable for you. Reflect upon these questions and your answers to decide if this is the right opportunity for you, or the right time in your life.
Things to consider
Ask yourself
Friends and family
Deploying with CFMWS means you will be away from friends and family for extended periods.Can you put life in Canada on hold for six (6) months to work overseas?
Are you prepared to be apart from my loved ones for six (6) months?
Would your family and/or friends support your decision? If there are concerns, how would their reaction impact you?
Is your motivation for working overseas healthy and authentic? You should not pursue this opportunity to avoid issues at home.
Do you have any dependents that need your support during a six (6) month period?
Health and wellness
The environments of a deployment are often demanding and can be stressful.Do you have excellent mental and physical resiliency to stand the rigors of a highly stressful environment and possible challenging living conditions?
Do you practice self-discipline with eating, exercise, and sleep?
Do you have a strong ability to cope with stress? Do you use healthy means to deal with stress?
Do you have an optimistic, healthy self-esteem and solid sense of yourself?
Living situation
Living conditions vary depending on the mission. You might find yourself in isolated accommodations or living in close quarters with a number of other people. You may be without the comforts to which you are used to. Security restrictions may limit where you can go off camp, what you can do, and when you can do it.Are you comfortable living in isolated surroundings?
Can you live in shared accommodations in close quarters with others?
Are you willing to follow strict security rules and regulations in both your work and personal time?
Can you adapt your daily routines to situations where your movement is restricted?
Professional and Career
Consider the professional impact of a deployment.Have you spoken to your employer about this employment opportunity?
Would your employer at home support your decision and possibly support with short notice?
Does your employer understand when you would return to work?
If self-employed, are you willing and able to risk losing business clients due to your absence or are there other contingency plans you must put into place?
Work context
Our main goal is to support the military. Our staff will work and live with Canadian Armed Forces members, civilian staff and international military members. Our team must respect and adapt to different cultures and work styles. There is a requirement to work all days of the week (including weekends) and up to 56 hours per week.Do you thrive when working in a multi-cultural environment and accept the challenge of adapting to different cultures and work styles?
Can you work/live with people whose heritage, values, beliefs etc. are different from yours?
Do you set realistic goals? Can you handle adversity and embrace change?
Are you able to focus on the task at hand when faced with a high work volume and multiple challenges?
Are you self-motivated?
Do you work well on a team? Can you respect the role of every other member and work cooperatively?
Do you have the ability to work 56 hours per week, including weekends?
Are you able to adapt quickly to fast-paced, changing environments?
Working for CFMWS Deployment Support
The main goals are to:- Enhance the morale and well-being; and
- Contribute to the operational readiness and effectiveness of our Canadian Armed Forces abroad.
Staff must understand that our mission is to contribute directly to the Forces' philosophy “people first, mission always”. We do this by providing a full range of services such as fitness, sports and recreation, retail and Home Leave Travel Assistance (HLTA), and barbering.
Would you find the work rewarding?
Do you understand you will “serve those who serve?”
Could you find joy in organizing activities in your off-hours as a way to boost overall morale?
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Step 3: Who Can Apply
Deployment support opportunities are open to Canadian citizens that reside in Canada.
You do not need previous DND or military experience to apply.
You can apply if you currently work in any private or public organization. During your employment with CFMWS you will need to request a leave of absence from your current employment.
Deployment with CFMWS is not considered military leave and CFMWS cannot provide a letter stating that it is military leave.
You can apply if you are currently a reservist.
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Step 4: Search for Employment Opportunities and Apply
Next application period: Summer 2025
Ways to stay informed of job opportunities:
Set up a career alert on our career site – you can set up a career alert to notify you when the opportunities are posted.
To create the career alert:
Step 1 – under Province select “Ontario” (select Ontario regardless of where you live).
Step 2 – under City select “Overseas – 6 months”.
Step 3 - Click on “Search”.
Step 4 - Click on “Create job alert for this search”.
Step 5 – Enter your email address, select the frequently you want to receive notifications and for what period of time.When the jobs are advertised – apply online
- Apply on our career site. You will see the same job advertised multiple times. This is to ensure applicants across the country are aware. You only need to apply to one advertisement to be considered.
- When submitting your application, ensure all instructions on the job advertisement are followed. Otherwise, your application will not be considered for employment.
- You will receive an automated email confirmation after you apply
Other places the job opportunities will be advertised
- The job opportunities will be advertised on external job boards like Indeed, Jobillico and LinkedIn. You can apply from those job boards. You will receive an automated email confirmation after you apply.
- The job opportunities may be advertised on social media like Facebook - CFMWS
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Step 5: Interview Process
After receiving your application, it will be reviewed and assessed. Only suitable candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. The interview will be conducted virtually.
Professional references will be requested.
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Step 6: Training and Selection Course
If you are successful with the interview process, you will be invited to the Deployment Support Operation Training and Selection Course.
This paid course will take place in person. Travel, meals, and accommodations are provided.
You will learn about the day-to-day expectations, receive technical work-related training, take part in team-building activities, and gain a basic understanding of military practices and procedures.
The training and selection course will provide you the opportunity to learn more about our organization. You will also get to interact with like-minded people whom you may deploy with.
If successful on the course, it is valid for two years. This means an offer could come at any point in the two years following the course.
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Step 7: Conditional Letter of Offer and Pre-Deployment
If you are selected for deployment, you will be contacted with potential deployment dates, mission, and location. As much notice as possible will be given and can vary based on operational needs. You will receive a conditional letter of offer with the following pre-requirements:
- Completion of health, dental, and psychosocial assessment;
- Enhanced Reliability (background check);
- Current CPR and basic First Aid qualifications;
- Canadian citizenship;
- Must have a valid Canadian passport; and
- Have a valid Canadian driver’s license.
You will get a pre-deployment checklist to complete before you are authorized to deploy. The checklist contains:
- Online training;
- Administrative documents;
- Medical dental and psychosocial assessment;
- Verification of required immunizations; and
- Receipt/purchase of uniforms.
All transportation expenses for pre-deployment assessments are reimbursed. You will receive an allowance for uniform items not provided (ex: pants, safety footwear).
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Step 8: Deployment
If you successfully complete the pre-deployment process, you will be provided with your employment contract.
Transportation is provided to the deployment location. Accommodations and meals are provided for the duration of your deployment.
During your deployment you will earn “vacation days” and, at the discretion of the Task Force Commander, you may be approved to participate in the mission’s Home Leave Travel Assistance (HLTA) Program.
The HLTA Program offers deployed individuals funded options for a break away from the work area. Individuals can travel home for their time off, at no cost, or they may take advantage of a fixed travel allowance and apply that funding amount to subsidize transportation expenses for themselves and an eligible family member for travel to a third location destination. -
Step 9: Post Deployment
Transportation will be provided on your return trip. HR will contact you to provide a post-deployment checklist which includes medical and social work appointments. The post-deployment checklist is a mandatory requirement as part of the post-deployment process.
