|
Click here to read the latest update from the NFF team.
Highlights include:
- A summary of NFF activities in 2011
- Detailed information on the Naval Service Tranche 2 Redundancies
- Financial Top Tips
- The Annington Challenge: which gives 14-18 year-olds living in Service communities the chance to go on an adventure holiday this summer
- The ‘Boost for the Boys’ Campaign which is connecting Service families across the world
- Changes to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- ‘ A Question of Stress’ DVD
- Details of the Friends & Families of Deployed Units social group
The e-update is issued every other month - the next will be sent out in March 2012.
To join the mailing list e-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Employment Fair - Portsmouth
Service Leavers are invited to attend an Employment Fair on Thursday 16 February 2012, in The Victory Club, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth Naval Base.
There will be a wide range of employers represented, who will have both local and national opportunities available. There will also be a number of support organisations available to offer advice and assistance, as well as information on self-employment. Exhibitors will be giving presentations throughout the day.
The event will run from 10:00 –15:00 and will provide an opportunity for Service Leavers to consider future career options, discuss relevant training, and network with potential employers.
Further details are available here: www.ctp.org.uk. For enquiries, and to register for a place, telephone: 02392 723165/ 24595/ Mil :9380 23165 / 24595, or email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
. The event is being run by the Career Transition Partnership, Hampshire County Council and de&s.
Service Children’s Additional Needs & Disability Holidays
The Service charity SSAFA Forces Help are running free, short breaks in the UK and Germany this summer for children with additional needs or a disability, who have a serving parent or carer (Regular and Reserve). Separate breaks will be run for the young carers and siblings of disabled children. All short breaks are adventure activity based and aim to give children the opportunity to have a holiday from their families and to have fun. Click here for further details.
Help with the Costs of Studying Away from Home: An Armed Forces Families Special Exemption
The Residential Support Scheme (RSS) provides help with the accommodation costs of learners aged 16 and over, who need to live away from home to study because their course is not available locally. An amendment has been made to overcome disadvantage to Service families. The Scheme applies to all eligible dependants of accompanied Service personnel, although this article explains specific changes that apply to those posted to, or recently returned from, an overseas location. Click here for further details.
Naval Service Redundancy Programme – Tranche 2
The Royal Navy has announced details of its second round of redundancies. Just under 300 redundancies are required. Personnel who fall within the redundancy fields will be invited to apply to be considered for compulsory redundancy.
The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) requires a significant reduction in the number of people in the Naval Service. This is to be achieved using a combination of normal manpower controls (e.g. regulate recruitment numbers and those leaving the Service) and a compulsory redundancy programme. During the planning phase of the redundancy programme in 2010, many assumptions had to be made about the future effectiveness of Naval Service manpower controls when setting the number of people required for compulsory redundancy. A recent review has revealed that the manpower controls have been more effective than originally expected, and so the need for further compulsory redundancies has been greatly reduced. Therefore, not only is Tranche 2 significantly smaller than Tranche 1, it is also the last full round of compulsory redundancies.
Key dates for Tranche 2 are as follows:
28 February 2012 - Closure date for applications for redundancy
March 2012 - Selection Boards consider applicants and non-applicants for Tranche 2
12 June 2012 - Notification date - Personnel selected for redundancy in Tranche 2 to be notified
11 December 2012 - Applicants selected for redundancy in Tranche 2 to have left the Service
11 June 2013 - Non-applicants selected for redundancy in Tranche 2 to have left the Service
Personnel selected for redundancy can leave before these dates with the agreement of their Career Manager, but they must note that all applications for early release will be considered in the light of the needs of the Service.
For full details personnel should see 2012DIN01-020 on the Defence Intranet. This DIN covers the Naval Service redundancy programme for the second Tranche (T2) only. It covers eligibility, the process, compensation/entitlements and resettlement. A separate DIN was published for Tranche 1(2011DIN01-100). Families can access further information on the Royal Navy Community website (need to register for a free account).
If personnel have queries not answered by these sources, they are encouraged to contact their Divisional Officer/Line Manager. If questions remain unresolved personnel should contact the Fleet Redundancy Cell. If family members have any queries they can contact the NFF.
Fleet Redundancy Cell (FRC):
Room G43, West Battery, Whale Island, Portsmouth, Hants, PO2 8DX
Mil: 93832 8987 Civ: +44 (0) 2392 628987
DII: FLEET-REDUNDANCY CELL MAILBOX
Internet:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Click here for detailed information on the Tranche 2 redundancies.
The appendices to the above information are available here:
Annex A
Annex E
Annex F
Useful Links:
Click here to read an article on the MOD website.
Armed Forces Redundancy Schemes 2006 and 2010.
Armed Forces Redundancy Calculator.
Comment from NFF Chair, Kim Richardson:
The announcement today provides an answer for personnel and their families who have wondered what the last full round of redundancies will really mean to them. Now we know. The numbers are smaller than were first suggested, less than 300, but for all the people in those cadres the sense of uncertainty continues until 12th June when they find out if they have been selected or not? I sense there will be some in depth discussions taking place with families. Plans that had been made on the strength of a longer term career in the Service may now be called into question. For some 2012 is going to be tough as people transition from a familiar lifestyle into civvy street. What we, the NFF, would now like to see is the Royal Navy and Royal Marines left alone to get on with the tremendous job they are currently doing. The pound of flesh has been taken; it has been felt by all, but the Naval Service are doing some fantastic work world wide and will continue to do so, ably supported by their families.
If families have any queries or questions that they are not getting answers to please get in touch with us. We will do our best to help.
NFF on BFBS Radio
Click here to listen to a short interview with NFF Chair, Kim Richardson, on British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) Radio discussing Tranche 2.
The Annington ChallengeThe Outward Bound Trust and the Annington Trust have teamed up to give 14-18 year-olds of Armed Forces families the chance to experience action and adventure on an Eight day Outward Bound Serious Adventure Course in summer 2012 The Annington Trust will sponsor 30 places on the Challenge. Participants will learn to rock climb, navigate through hills, scramble up gorges and paddle across stunning waters before embarking on a two-night camping expedition. Learning from adventure and the challenges of the great outdoors will help them gain confidence and develop key life skills, including leadership, problem solving, teamwork and communication. Any 14-18 year-olds of Armed Forces families who live in Service communities and wish to be considered for a place simply needs to fill out an application form. For detailed information on the application criteria and to complete the form go to: www.anningtontrust.orgThe Annington Trust was established in 1996 when Annington purchased the Married Quarters Estate. Keen to demonstrate their commitment to families living in Service accommodation a capital sum of £500,000 was contributed by those involved in the purchase and the Trust was set up to support activities and projects ‘on the patch’. The Outward Bound Trust provides exciting, outdoor adventure and learning courses in some of the most breathtakingly beautiful wilderness environments in the UK from their centres in the Lake District, Scottish Highlands and Snowdonia. To find out more go to: www.outwardbound.org.uk
The Royal Navy Gets A Good Rating
Click here to read an article on Director, a well respected website for senior management throughout industry, which commends the work of the Royal Navy and the professionalism of its people. After spending a day at sea on board HMS KENT the Editor of the website was impressed by personnel at all levels, and described the crew as “a collection of highly trained teams” each with a clear understanding of the overall terms of engagement and their specific part within in it. The Editor goes on to say that in the wake of the redundancies “private sector, business leaders would be wise to consider employing them”.
F amilies of the Fallen
Families of the Fallen is a new charity set up to concentrate on delivering extra financial help to the families of British servicemen and servicewomen killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. Their motto is “One life lost in action does not mean a whole family falls”. They work closely with other charities across all three services and raise money through money through concerts and other special events. For more information visit their website.
“Boost for the Boys” Campaign Connects Forces Families
The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) has introduced a new way for Service families to keep in touch. It has teamed up with The Sun newspaper and Audioboo to launch “Boost for the Boys”.
On the “Boost for the Boys” webpage you can record and upload audio messages for family and friends wherever they are in the Armed Forces world. The service is free and simple to use. For smartphone users, leaving a message is even easier thanks to the new BFBS app, which can be downloaded from the iTunes store or the Android Market for free.
All of the recorded messages are played on BFBS Radio to forces listeners around the world, and in the UK on DAB Digital Radio. The messages are also uploaded onto the “Boost for the Boys” webpage on Audioboo, meaning you can listen again to your message if you miss it on BFBS. www.bfbs.com
Operation Commando
Operation Commando is an action-packed adventure weekend, designed to give civilians a taste of life in the Armed Forces. Organised by serving and former Royal Marines, this fun weekend provides an authentic Royal Marines experience, designed to test your physical endurance, mental ability and leadership skills to the max.
The event will take place at Bluestone National Park in Wales, from 2-4 March 2012. Run by The Royal Marines Association it will help raise funds for wounded Royal Marines. So round up your comrades and take part in a range of action-packed activities which will put you through your paces. The entry fee starts from £149, plus a requested fundraising amount for the Royal Marines Association of £200 per person. For more information visit: www.operationcommando.co.uk
Financial Top Tips for Personnel
A series of top tips offering Service personnel practical advice on financial issues has been produced by the Government and representative bodies from the financial sector.
Personal finances are an individual responsibility, however, Service personnel can experience difficulty in accessing commercial products and services due in part to the mobility of Service life and time spent outside the UK on overseas postings. As part of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, the MOD is working with several organisations to improve access to a wider range of commercial products and financial services for personnel, and to lessen the associated difficulties that are often experienced because of their unique lifestyle. The top tips offer advice on applying for secured (mortgages) and unsecured loans (mobile phone contracts, motor finance, credit cards). Click here for further information.
Changes to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
To ensure that the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) continues to provide comprehensive and fair financial compensation, routine legislative amendments were laid in Parliament and came into force on 17 November 2011.
Amendments include:
- A provision to enable a bereavement grant to be paid to eligible children where there is no surviving eligible partner. Quite exceptionally, and to ensure fairness, the MOD shall be paying ex-gratia compensation to all eligible children who would have previously benefitted from this provision;
- Clarification that injuries sustained when a Service person is travelling both to and from an emergency are covered by the Scheme; and
- The insertion of new descriptors into the AFCS medical tariff where injuries have arisen since the last round of legislative amendment and are therefore not currently adequately catered for in the Scheme (including musculoskeletal disorders and shoulder injuries).
Click here for further information.
Latest Offers from Tickets For Troops
This charity gives away free tickets to eligible serving personnel and their families for top music, sporting and cultural events around the country. Latest offers include tickets to the new Steven Spielberg film ‘War Horse’, Strictly Come Dancing and upcoming England football matches against Holland and Belgium. Tickets are available to troops who are currently serving, or who have been medically discharged since 2001. To apply for tickets go to: www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk.
Royal Naval Benevolent Trust: Trustees Wanted
The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (RNBT) is looking for five new Trustees. The charity supports those who are serving or have served as Warrant Officers and below, and their dependents, who find themselves in need.
A founding principle of the Trust is that it is predominantly run by serving and retired Naval Service personnel. Accordingly 11 of the 17 trustees in the governing body are drawn from serving and retired Royal Navy ratings and Royal Marines.
The new Trustees will start from 1 April 2012, as part of the RNBT’s routine governance ‘refreshment’ programme. The election of volunteers to fill these positions, including those who are standing down but may wish to stand for re-election, will take place in the first week of March. Are you interested; can you contribute; do you want to find out more? If so contact the RNBT’s Portsmouth based Head Office on: 02392 690112 or apply on-line for an Application Pack to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
. For further details visit: www.rnbt.org.uk
Military Wives Choir
A new choir has been started in the Fareham and Gosport area for the wives of serving members of the Armed Forces. Currently there are two practice sessions per week, one on Tuesday evenings at 7:45pm and a Tuesday daytime session at 10:00am for those who have young children. Anyone who enjoys singing is invited to join and no previous singing experience is necessary. For further information and details of venues please contact Kim on: 07856 813789 or email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Armed Forces Covenant Interim Report 2011
The Government has published the Armed Forces Covenant Interim Annual Report. The report (published December 2011) considers the effects of membership of the Services in the 15 areas within the scope of the Covenant (the Armed Forces Covenant was published in May 2011) including housing, education, healthcare, family life, transition and support after Service. It also considers whether Service personnel are disadvantaged in their ability to access public services, or whether in any areas there is a case that special treatment is justified.
The Report has been compiled in consultation with the Covenant Reference Group, which brings together officials from across Government with Service charities and the Families Federations.
Click here for further information, including a link to the full report.
The Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Military Casualties
The Defence Committee has published (15 December 2011) its report entitled: ‘The Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 1: Military Casualties’. The Report, gives praise to the first class medical treatment provided for the Armed Forces, but questions whether the support for injured personnel will be sustainable over the long term.
Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot says, “We, as a Committee, have seen how determined our injured servicemen and women are to achieve the fullest possible recovery from their injuries. They see it as duty to get better and to return to their units if at all possible. And we have been impressed by the brave and skilful personnel, both military and civilian, who are providing the medical care that our Armed Forces need. But we need to have the confidence that such specific treatment, for injuries hardly ever seen in the general NHS experience, will continue long after an individual’s retirement and into old age.”
The Report notes that the charities and Families Federations are making a significant contribution to the support of injured Armed Forces personnel and veterans and their families but fear that their contribution may be constrained if the level of charitable donations reduces substantially. The Committee urges the charities and the MOD to work even more closely together and explore ways of ensuring that new capital projects provided by charities can be sustained into an era when current levels of donations may no longer be relied upon. Click here to read the full report.
Operation OLYMPICS
In support of the Home Office and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Ministry of Defence will be making a significant contribution to the security and ceremony of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Security for the Games remains a Police-led operation. Defence will act in support of the Police. Work continues on precise details and numbers. However the MOD expects to provide a range of military support in London, on the Thames, in Weymouth Bay and across the UK. In providing this support, Defence will contribute up to 13,500 military personnel at times of peak demand.
In their joint message to Defence personnel, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, and the Permanent Secretary, Ursula Brennan, said:
“The Olympic Games 2012 is a once in a generation event that will, we have no doubt, be a source of great pride to the UK. The Armed Forces and their civilian colleagues in the Ministry of Defence will be making a significant contribution to its success.”
All questions related to Op OLYMPICS should be addressed through the chain of command. Personnel should read the Defence Internal Brief 2011DIB/103 on the Defence Intranet for further details.
Torch Bearer Nominations - Olympics and Paralympics 2012
Members of the general public have now received initial confirmation if they have been selected as Torch Bearers for the Olympics and Paralympics Torch Relays. This will be a prestigious event and provides the Naval Service with a good opportunity to promote itself and its personnel.
Personnel participating in Olympic related events must be acquainted with the requirements of 2008DIN03-020: Contact with the Media and Communicating in Public (available on the Defence Intranet). Any contact with the media regarding personal participation in the Torch Relay must be authorised by Fleet Media. Although personnel taking part in the Torch Relay will be acting in a civilian capacity, they remain subject to service law.
Review of British Base Sovereign Areas in Cyprus
It has been announced (15 December 2011) that the Cyprus Review on the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus has been completed. The Government accepts the Review’s recommendations and confirms Her Majesty’s Government’s enduring commitment to the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. Personnel should read the Defence Internal Brief 2011DIB/104 on the Defence Intranet for further details.
Transforming Defence
Two documents have been released on Transforming Defence. For details, personnel should read the following Defence Internal Briefs on the Defence Intranet:
- Transforming Defence: Defence Reform Blueprint for the Future Department –2011DIB/107
- Transforming Defence: Defence Reform Head Office Senior Structures–2011DIB/108
NFF on BFBS Radio
Click on the links below to listen to a radio interview with NFF Chair, Kim Richardson, on British Forces Radio.
In Part 1, Kim discusses the NFF’s recent visit to Shape, Brussels. The purpose of the two day visit was to find out how families live out there, and to ask what the unique issues affecting them are. Kim offers advice for those moving out there following on from points raised during the visit.
Part 2 sees Kim discuss her recent meeting with the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP. Kim briefed the Minister at the Families Forum in London on the issues affecting Naval Service families today.
Part 3 addresses the future of Armed Forces pension schemes, and the Community Covenant in Wales.
Women Allowed to Serve on Submarines
The Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, has announced (8 December 2011) that women are to be allowed to serve on submarines for the first time in the Royal Navy's history.
The decision comes following an 18-month review conducted by the Royal Navy, looking at the legal, operational, health, social, technical and financial issues of allowing women to serve on submarines. Women had previously been excluded from submariner roles due to concerns about higher levels of carbon dioxide in a submarine atmosphere being a risk to female health. But recent research by the Institute of Naval Medicine showed that these risks were unfounded and that there were no medical reasons for excluding women from service on submarines.
The first female submariners are expected to take up their posts towards the end of 2013. Click here for further information.
Public Sector Pay Awards
• As part of the Autumn Statement on 29 November, the Chancellor announced that public sector pay awards, including those for members of the Armed Forces, will average at 1% for the two years following the public sector pay freeze.
• The Government has confirmed that the public sector pay freeze will end in March 2013, but given the wider pressures on the public finances, there is a need for a further period of pay restraint.
• Incremental progression will continue for eligible Service personnel.
• The Armed Forces will not be asked to consider options for more localised pay.
For further information serving personnel should see DIB 2011DIB/100 on the Defence Intranet.
Click here to read an article on the Public Sector Pay Awards in the Daily Mail, with a comment from NFF Chair Kim Richardson.
The Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) was published in May 2011. The tri-Service Covenant sets the tone for Government policy aimed at improving the support available for the Armed Forces community. The Covenant outlines the Government’s aspiration that the community should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services, and that where appropriate they receive special treatment.
The Chain of Command is keen for families and personnel to understand the Covenant and what it means for them. Click here to read a summary of the Covenant and its progress so far.
A Question of Stress DVD
 The DVD, “A Question of Stress” is a short film aimed at answering family’s queries relating to questions of traumatic stress. The film falls into three distinct areas and touches on a wide range of stress issues.
The film is divided into three sections. The first addresses ‘Trauma issues that may arise prior to personnel returning from operations’, the second deals with ‘Issues that may arise whilst personnel are engaged on Post Operation Leave’, the final part deals with the questions of: ‘What strategies help? And, where can I get support’? This is good viewing for both families and Service persons alike.
The film’s format is a question and answers session. The NFF were involved in the production of the DVD and the questions are asked by Emma Prince and Alison Wright from the Federation. The answers are supplied by Lt Cdr Ian Kennedy RN, QARNNS Senior Nursing Officer Royal Navy Mental Health, and Major Cameron March MBE RM of the Navy Command Head Quarters Operational Stress Management Team.
Click here to view the DVD on the Stress Management page of the Royal Navy website. This page provides information on stress management with links to the Stress Management Society, NHS Choices, the Naval Personal Family Service, Royal Marines Welfare and the Counselling Directory website. Please e-mail the TRIM (Trauma Risk Management) group mailbox:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
for a copy of the DVD .
Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme
- On 2 November 2011 the Government published a paper called ‘Public Service Pensions: good pensions that will last’, which sets out its preferred design for future public service pensions.
- Proposals for a new Armed Forces Pension Scheme - which will replace the existing schemes – will be developed within this overall framework. Agreement on an initial scheme design is not expected until early next year, later than the other major public service schemes.
- Accrued rights will be protected until change is implemented. On top of this the Government has proposed additional protection for those within 10 years of their Normal Pension Age, meaning they will be unaffected by the changes.
- Armed Forces personnel will be formally consulted on the details of the new scheme in early 2012.
- For further details personnel should read the Defence Instructions and Notices 2011DIN01-226 on the Defence Intranet.
Package of Support for the Armed Forces Community in Wales
The Minister with responsibility for the Armed Forces in Wales, Carl Sargeant, has announced the range of measures set out for the community by the Welsh Government. Click here to read the document on the Welsh Government’s website.
Carl Sargeant said:
"The Welsh Government is committed to increasing the support we provide to the Armed Forces community in Wales. This document sets out how we are supporting the Armed Forces in Wales, their families and veterans in key areas that are devolved such as healthcare, housing and education.
"In Wales there are estimated to be at least a quarter of a million members of the Armed Forces Community, which includes serving personnel, reservists and cadets as well as their families and ex-service personnel. As a Government we want to ensure that they suffer no disadvantage.
"I hope the support outlined in this document, which will be revised as and when new initiatives are agreed, will go a long way in achieving this."
NFF Speaks to the Minister at the Families Forum
On 1 November 2011 NFF Chair, Kim Richardson OBE, briefed the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP, on the issues affecting Naval Service families today. Click here to read the brief Kim gave at the Families Forum and the matters she highlighted on your behalf
|
