RMC failing at providing leadership training, costs double of other institutions: Auditor General

David Pugliese

Published on: November 21, 2017

Auditor General Michael Ferguson’s latest report raises questions about the value of the Royal Military College. The audit focused on whether the Royal Military College of Canada produced the quality of officers that the Canadian Armed Forces needed at a reasonable cost. The audit also focused on whether National Defence ensured the proper conduct of Officer Cadets and staff at the Royal Military College of Canada. The answer in both cases was no.

Some highlights published in the report:

-We concluded that the Royal Military College of Canada could not demonstrate that it produced officers at a reasonable cost, and we concluded that there were weaknesses in military training. In addition, for most of their careers, there was no significant difference in career progression between graduates of the Royal Military College of Canada and officers who entered the Canadian Armed Forces through other entry plans. The Royal Military College of Canada emphasized academic education over military training, and the academic environment did not consistently support military training objectives. While the quality of its academic programs was good, the cost per student was significantly higher than other universities and other officer entry plans.

– Overall, we found that the Royal Military College of Canada emphasized academic education over military training and that there were weaknesses in military training. Recommendations from previous reviews of the Royal Military College of Canada to enhance military training did not result in fundamental changes. We also found that there was no clear measurable standard for leadership qualities and ethical military behaviour that graduates were required to demonstrate before receiving their commissions.

– Overall, we found that the operating cost per student to provide education at the Royal Military College of Canada was about twice as much as at other universities. We also found that the cost of educating and preparing Officer Cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada was almost twice as high as using other officer entry plans. The higher costs were partly attributed to the higher standards that the Royal Military College of Canada set for its graduates. However, National Defence could not demonstrate that these standards resulted in more effective military officers.


-Overall, we found that the Royal Military College of Canada did not provide Officer Cadets with adequate training in leadership and in the proper conduct expected of future officers. While the Royal Military College of Canada took action when incidents were reported, we found that the number of misconduct incidents that involved senior Officer Cadets showed that the Royal Military College of Canada had not prepared them to serve as role models for their peers.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/rmc-failing-at-providing-leadership-training-costs-double-of-other-institutions-auditor-general