No blame game

Form forbids online criticism

Wounded vets are being asked to sign a form saying they won’t criticize the military on social media, writes David Pugliese.

The Canadian Forces is requiring physically and mentally wounded soldiers to sign a form acknowledging they won’t criticize senior officers or discourage others in uniform with their comments on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The form, given to military personnel who are transferred to the Joint Personnel Support Unit, was sent to the Citizen by military members upset with what they see as a threat to their right to speak out about the failure of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces to take care of the wounded.

The Joint Personnel Support Unit, or JPSU, was created to help the wounded and it oversees support centres across the country. But in August the Citizen revealed that the organization is rife with problems, with soldiers and staff speaking out about the lack of resources and concerns that some of the support centres are dysfunctional.

Some of the wounded and their families have also spoken out publicly about the failure of the military and government leadership to help those injured in the service of their country.

In addition, veterans are becoming more vocal in online chat rooms about their treatment.

‘The criticism about the leadership’s failure to take care of the wounded is obviously hitting home.’

MICHEL DRAPEAU

Lawyer, former military officer

In an email to the Citizen, the JPSU denied that the creation of the policy and document was designed to stifle criticism of politicians and senior military staff. It was created “in an effort to educate our members and personnel on what constitutes the appropriate and inappropriate use of social media and the possible ramifications for a CAF member,” the email added.

The JPSU “policy on proper comments on social media” repeats well-known military directions not to post secret information on websites and other forums. It also tells military personnel not to make disparaging comments about senior officers or fellow personnel.

But military personnel in JPSU are also told not to “write anything that might discourage others or make them dissatisfied with their conditions or their employment.”

In addition, those in JPSU were told not to disclose “your views on any military subject.”

The form, introduced in March, notes military personnel in JPSU will be held responsible for not only the content they post on social media outlets but also the content of friends they have “tagged” on various sites.

Although the Canadian Forces has produced a policy providing guidance for military members on the use of social media, military personnel interviewed by the Citizen say they have never been required to sign a form such as the one JPSU personnel are given.

Retired air force officer Sean Bruyea said the Canadian Forces is right to have a policy on how its personnel should behave on social media forums, but thinks the JPSU initiative goes far beyond what is normal.

“This is right out of something you would see during the Soviet era,” said Bruyea, who deals with post-traumatic stress issues and is a highprofile critic of how the military and government treats wounded veterans. “This is way over the top.”

Bruyea said wounded personnel use social media not only to communicate with each other but to raise issues that affect them. “The public deserves to know how these people are being mistreated and about the failure of the senior leadership to take care of them,” he explained. “This is just an attempt to shut them up.”

The email sent to the Citizen by JPSU noted that “it is important for all CAF members to understand and follow the policies, rules, regulations and standards of conduct that apply to members of the CAF, including the policy on the use of social media.”

That includes but is not limited to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs.

The email, transmitted by a public affairs officer, Navy Lt. Michèle Tremblay, stated that the policy is issued to all new members joining the Joint Personnel Support Unit.

It stated that JPSU did not have any specific examples of improper use of social media by unit members. It also noted that members of the Canadian military “are encouraged to communicate publicly about their own experiences and expertise, in accordance with the Government of Canada and DND/ CAF policy.”

Various units have different means of raising awareness about the military’s social media protocols, the email noted. “The difference being that the JPSU is asking members to indicate that they have read and understood the policy by signing the form,” it added.

If military personnel refuse to sign, a JPSU staff member will indicate on the document the individual has been briefed about the unit’s social media policy.

Ottawa lawyer and former military officer Michel Drapeau said the form is an obvious attempt to intimidate those who were injured and prevent them from speaking out about ill treatment.

“It’s not illegal but it’s obviously a threat,” said Drapeau, who has represented injured soldiers as they try to get benefits from the federal government. “The criticism about the leadership’s failure to take care of the wounded is obviously hitting home.”

He said while military personnel don’t have to sign such a document, most would feel compelled to do so.

But if they step out of line and make controversial comments on social media about how they have been treated by the Canadian Forces, the signed form would be among the first items introduced at their court martial, Drapeau said.