HALIFAX - The Canadian Forces is in a domestic "war for talent'' as it attempts to boost its ranks, Canada's top general said Friday.
In an address to the Nova Scotia legislature, Gen. Rick Hillier said the military is competing to attract a shrinking demographic of "select young people'' between the ages of 18 and 29.
"We're meeting our objectives, but this is one in which we can't let up because we need to grow the Canadian Forces,'' Hillier told the audience of politicians and military officers.
The chief of defence staff conceded that while recruiting is a challenge, the Forces is meeting its goal of getting 7,000 people into regular units this year, with a goal in 2009 of more than 8,000.
He said while plenty of potential recruits are coming forward, the military has to find ways to train them quickly enough so they can be deployed to ships, and air and army units.
Hillier said there has been a problem finding enough competent recruits to work in a small number of advanced technical trades in the navy and air force.
He said 40 positions needed to be filled in the last year but only 20 suitable candidates were found.
"The numbers are tiny but they are significant in their impact,'' Hillier told reporters later. "So we are working hard ... to get out to technical colleges and get a greater profile there.''
Briefing materials obtained by The Canadian Press last month showed that attrition levels for the military, particularly for the army, are on the rise as people choose to retire or not renew their contracts.
The attrition rate for the army is 13 per cent, or nearly double the average for all three branches of the Forces.
Hillier said the military is keenly aware of the problem.
"A larger percentage of the Canadian Forces are coming to retirement age because we didn't recruit during the late '90s. ... We've got a variety of measures to keep people for as long as we can or as long as they want to stay,'' said Hillier.
Those measures in the past have included incentives such as bonuses for re-signing.
Hillier said those efforts have helped keep the overall attrition rate at around eight per cent, something he maintains is "the envy of every single military force in the western world.''
The general, who is due to retire in July, said he remains optimistic the Canadian military will meet its goals as long as recruiters have the resources to do their jobs. He said it was a matter of keeping a higher profile, or "shine,'' on the military.
"Keeping the Canadian Forces visible to Canadians and connected ... will enable us to recruit young Canadians,'' he said.
