Overview
- The internal CFLRS evaluation dated Jan. 27, leaked in late April and verified by defence officials, found the 2025 pass rate fell to 77% and repeat attempts rose to 14.89%.
- Military leaders say recruiting hit a three-decade high, helped by roughly 1,400 permanent residents, and they now aim to keep permanent residents to 25–30% of each training platoon.
- The report flags a sharp rise in serious mental-health needs among recruits, with 92 sent to outside providers on multiple occasions and the local suicide crisis centre often at capacity.
- Platoons with many newly arrived permanent residents faced culture shock and cohesion strains, including one French-language unit that graduated 48% of recruits and saw reports of infighting.
- Lt.-Col. Marc Kieley urges a 20–25% cap on permanent residents per platoon and a reset to match recruiting policy with training capacity as instructors report too little time to coach struggling candidates.