Canadian Forces had to rely on food donations during cyber training

Canadian Forces personnel sent to Ottawa for specialized cyber training had to rely on food donations because of the lack of support from the military and the high cost of living in the city.

At one point, Willis College staff had to create a “food cupboard” for the cash-strapped soldiers so they wouldn’t go hungry.

In other cases, soldiers went months without being reimbursed by National Defence for their expenses, creating even more financial hardship, according to military personnel who contacted Postmedia News with their concerns.

The recruits were not initially eligible for any housing allowance while in Ottawa.

In addition, some soldiers who finished cyber specialist training are still delayed in advancing to the next phase because they have had to wait between 18 months and two years for security background checks.

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, who has said that the welfare of military members is one of his priorities, did not respond to a request for comment.

But National Defence spokesperson Andrée-anne Poulin acknowledged the ongoing issues faced by the cyber trainees who travel to Ottawa for instruction at Willis College.

“We take this matter very seriously, and we recognize the significant financial pressures new CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) members have faced in Ottawa, where the cost of living is high and the CAF has limited base support services,” Poulin said in an email.

The department also acknowledged that following the resumption of training in the Ottawa area after the pandemic, there was a large volume of expenses submitted by military personnel that had to be processed.

Poulin said the financial claims “initiated by the military personnel on the Willis course were given a higher priority as Canadian Forces Support Group (Ottawa-gatineau) recognized their special challenges.”

The Canadian Forces first sent personnel to Willis College in 2020 for a course that lasted longer than a year. The military announced on Sept. 7, 2021, that the first 11 Canadian Forces personnel who had been instructed at Willis College had become fully trained as cyber operators.

Poulin said the Forces responded to the housing and financial issues for the students but not until January 2023.