Police Selection Criteria and Process

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Serving on a mission is an exciting opportunity for police personnel to travel and work internationally in support of peace and security. The RCMP’s International Peace Operations Branch (IPOB) collaborates with the Force’s regional human resources team and partner police services to coordinate all aspects of the process for participating in peace operations overseas.

The following is an overview of the selection criteria and processes a candidate will go through when applying to participate in an international peace operation through the RCMP. 

Recruiting and selection

• Candidates must meet selection criteria set by the UN or other participating multilateral organizations, as well as the RCMP and their own police service.
• The RCMP’s regional HR advisors and participating police services are responsible for recruiting candidates and making the initial selection based on the criteria provided.
• IPOB’s Mission Selection team is responsible for making the final selection of candidates based on the entire process.
• The Mission Selection team can assist and advise participating services throughout the process.

General selection criteria

• Minimum of five years of operational civilian policing service
• Have strong interpersonal, organizational, leadership, coaching and team skills
• Demonstrate flexibility and innovation
• Be computer literate, with knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Have excellent oral and written communications skills
• Have experience with standard shift 4x4 motor vehicles
• Be prepared to work and live in a difficult environment
• Meet medical and psychological requirements as determined by IPOB Health Services
• Possess current certification in first aid/CPR
• Possess current qualifications for mandatory police training (firearms, baton, pepper spray, etc.)
• Successfully complete the RCMP’s Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) in four minutes or less prior to applying for a mission.

Medical

• Determination of medical fitness for mission duty is based on the completion of medical assessments involving laboratory and other specialized tests and immunizations and a full psychological evaluation.
• Candidates must have no ailment or condition that would require medical/psychological consultation or monitoring while in mission. Potential applicants taking medications may not be eligible for missions. Candidates who think they may not be deemed fit are advised to consult with IPOB Health Services before applying.
• IPOB Health Services maintains relationships with its counterparts in RCMP divisions and within partner police services to keep them informed of a candidate’s pre- and post-mission medical requirements.

On-line training (UN missions)

• All candidates selected to go on a UN mission must complete four on-line modules as well as a short research assignment on the mission country prior to attending pre-deployment training in Ottawa.
• The modules and assignment are intended to better prepare the candidate for working and living in the mission country.
• Candidates must achieve an 80% minimum mark as a pre-requisite to attending training in Ottawa. Participants will receive a certificate for each module, which will then be included in their mission application package. RCMP members will receive a HRMIS credit for the course.

Preliminary and Joining instructions

Approximately three months before pre-deployment training, candidates who have passed the initial selection process will receive the “Preliminary Instructions” package which contains forms to complete and information on the health evaluation process.

Two weeks later, candidates will receive the “Joining Instructions”, with additional instructions on preparations for mission, including training dates and location, insurance, travel, mission-related expense claims and benefits, etc.

Pre-deployment training

Prior to departing for mission, candidates attend pre-deployment training in Ottawa to prepare for working and living in an international mission. Training typically lasts one to two weeks for most missions, but three weeks for those deploying to Afghanistan. Candidates usually deploy from Ottawa shortly after training.

The session is divided into five sections, with content tailored to requirements of each mission:

• Operations (mandatory skills training, e.g. firearms, self-defence, use of force)
• Health briefing (health hazards and medication required for a given mission)
• Administrative briefings (travel allowances, Canada Labour Code, DFAIT/CIDA briefings)
• Cultural awareness briefings (social and cultural norms of the country of posting, how to work with various international partners);
• Specialized training (specific to each mission; can include human rights and international law, the structure of the UN, the role of UN Police, mine awareness, map reading, etc.).

Special Considerations/Personal Suitability

• Before applying, candidates must consider that they will be separated from their family for 12 months. They must also consider that the living conditions, climate, culture, food, accommodation, and medical facilities may be significantly different from what is available in Canada.
• If a candidate or his/her dependents are experiencing significant personal, medical or financial problems, he/she should not volunteer for a civilian police mission.
• A tour of duty is normally twelve months. The host agency determines the mission mandate, duration and any extensions.
• A request for an additional tour of duty will normally be considered only after the member has returned to Canada for 12 months or more. Three tours of duty are normally allowed. In exceptional cases, a member who served in three previous missions may be selected.
• The member serves under the authority of the host agency and must abide by its rules, regulations and policies, e.g. scheduling, time off and allowances.
• The member must agree to serve in areas where he/she may be exposed to open hostilities in a theatre of war and areas that pose problems related to health and personal safety.
• In considering releasibility, the member must be free of any commitments, disciplinary actions and any internal matters which may affect the member's ability to complete the tour of duty. A candidate’s releasibility is determined by his or her staffing officer/police service. The RCMP’s International Peace Operations Branch has no influence on the process. There may be additional mission-specific job requirements depending on the mandate of the mission.