We are currently in the first phase of the review, but we have made some preliminary observations.
We have already notified both departments, the Department of National Defence and the Department of Veterans Affairs, of our findings so far in order to facilitate ongoing improvements. I mentioned a few things in my opening remarks. Certainly, something that's quite significant is the fact that the language used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to talk about transition is completely different from that used by the Department of National Defence. I think that, at the very least, it would be important to make sure that they use the same terminology.
One of the best examples of confusing terminology for veterans is the term case manager. At the Department of National Defence, case managers are health professional experts who handle the medical aspect of the transition process. At the Department of Veterans Affairs, however, case managers deal with the psychosocial dimension of the transition process for veterans. So it leads to confusion among veterans, and that's a serious issue.
Something else that other witnesses and committee members alike have brought up is the fact that the Department of Veterans Affairs should enter into the transition process much earlier than it does right now. In your discussions with the previous group of witnesses, it was even suggested that transition planning be incorporated into a member's initial career training, that the member learn about the programs and benefits available to veterans.