Changes to Rest and Recuperation (R&R) Policy -
Taken from the MOD’s Defence Internal Brief – 22 July 2010

Secretary of State, Dr Liam Fox, has announced changes to theTri-Service policy governing Rest and Recuperation (R&R) for Service Personnel deployed on operations. The Coalition Programme for Government laid out the Government’s intention to rebuild the military covenant, including optimising R&R for those deployed. The changes are summarised here:

• Personnel deploying for six months will remain eligible for one period of 14 days’ R&R. With immediate effect personnel who lose out on R&R, whether as a result of operations or as a result of disruptions to the airbridge, will be granted additional Post Operational Leave (POL) in lieu to compensate.
• In order to increase the resilience of the airbridge, from 1 January 2011, personnel deploying for short tours will be posted for less than four months so that they no longer qualify for R&R. This policy will reduce passenger traffic over the airbridge by 11%. Personnel who are currently deployed on operations or Service Personnel who have already received Final Assignment Orders to deploy on operations, are therefore not affected and continue to be eligible for R&R.

The guidance contained in the Joint Service Publication 760 on R&R has been amended to reflect these changes. For further information refer to this document or speak to your DO.

Tickets for Troops - Tickets For Troops is a charity dedicated to offering free tickets for big events to Service personnel and their families. They have recently announced a bumper giveaway of free tickets to major sporting events, theatre performances, music concerts, theme parks and cultural attractions throughout the country.  All serving military personnel, as well as any veterans who have been medically discharged through injury since 2001, qualify for tickets.  Visit: www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk to find out what’s on and to register.

FAFDU – Families and Friends of Deployed Units
If they are away for more than a day ……..come and join us!

The next FAFDU event is ‘FUN IN THE SUN’ on Saturday 14th August 15:00-20:00 at Phoenix Community Resource Centre,  Salerno Rd, Hilsea, Portsmouth.
 
This is a social get-together for families and friends of deployed units, with a children’s entertainer, a disco in the marquee, bouncy castle (weather permitting), a raffle and a free BBQ. The bar will also be open.
 
If there is enough interest, transport can be arranged from around the base port area such as Rowner, Peak Lane, Daedalus, Paulsgrove and Eastney. Please call Lynda Pearson, Community Worker, on: 023 92524 511 with your details.

Children’s Drawing Competition: Win a Family Trip to London - Victory Services Club and HMForces.co.uk are running a children’s drawing competition, offering an all expenses paid trip to London for the family. The prize includes accommodation in the Victory Services Club, located in the heart of London’s West End, with fabulous days out and transport. 

The competition is open to children of all ages to draw their experience of what life is like in the Armed Forces community - a great opportunity for you to see life through their eyes! The prize is for up to 6 family members and the deadline for submissions is 30 September. For more information and entry details please visit: www.vsc.co.uk/family. Good luck!

National Express Offer Half-Price Coach Travel for Service Personnel - The coach firm National Express is offering half-price fares for all serving personnel. The scheme is backed by the MOD and allows Reserve Forces and cadets to benefit from the discount. Service personnel can register for the discount through the National Express website. There is no requirement to purchase a card; simply show your Military ID to validate the booking. National Express operates services to more than 1,000 destinations nationwide, including Portsmouth and Plymouth.Inter Services

Half Price Tickets to Hampshire Attractions - Hampshire County Council is giving a salute to members of the Armed Forces with cheap tickets to country parks and museums. The 50% discount card is available to Service personnel and their families; contact your local HIVE to claim your card.

Changes to Dependents ID Cards (Form S.1511) - In line with Government policy, Dependents ID Cards are now required to carry an expiry date. A rolling process is already in place whereby new/replacement cards will include this information and a target date of 05 Nov 2010 has now been set to complete this work. Until 05 Nov cards with or without an expiry date are both valid. If you require a replacement ID card contact the Unit Personnel Office (UPO). NB: The expiry date is based on the length of the serving members draft/appointment, but with a maximum validity of 3 years from the date of issue.

Free and Independent Legal Advice for Bereaved Service Families - The Royal British Legion and Ministry of Defence have announced a new joint initiative to help families who have lost loved ones in the Armed Forces by providing free and independent legal advice.

Advisers can provide information and guidance, in particular about the inquest process, to ensure that families are fully prepared.  This initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to support service personnel and their families as laid out in the Service Personnel Command Paper, published in July 2008. Click here for further information on the scheme.

New Armed Forces Community Welfare Project - On 5 November 2009 the MOD and Kent County Council joined forces to launch the Armed Forces Community Welfare Pathway. This project is designed to enable serving personnel, their families and veterans to receive the help, advice and support they need from the people best placed to provide it.  Enquirers now have a single point of contact and will be directed to the right people to help and advise them. Click here for further details, or click here for more information on the MOD website.

Veterans Outreach Support Portsmouth – On the first Wednesday of each month, Veterans Outreach Support are running a drop in centre offering advice and assistance to veterans and their family. The centre is based at the Royal Maritime Club in Queen Street, Portsmouth and is open from 15:00 – 20:00. There will be representatives from various Ex-Service agencies including: the Royal British Legion, Combat Stress and the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA). This drop in centre provides veterans with the chance to seek advice and also to meet and chat to other Veterans. If you would like to discuss your situation over the telephone you can call Dr Morgan O’Connell, a former consultant psychiatrist at Combat Stress, on: 01329 834512.

NSPCC Guide: Home Alone - Click here to read a useful booklet produced by the NSPCC about the difficult decision to leave your child home alone. It contains advice from professionals and tips from parents, including guidance on how to choose an appropriate childminder and how to keep your child safe online.

Private Fostering – If you are due to deploy and are organising childcare arrangements with a relative or close friend, please check the regulations regarding private fostering. If an individual is looking after someone else’s child for more than 28 days they must notify their local council - failure to do so is a criminal offence. Click here for further details.

Next of Kin to recieve the Elizabeth Cross - On the 1st of July 2009 the Secretary of State for Defence announced in Parliament Her Majesty The Queen’s introduction of a new form of recognition, called the Elizabeth Cross, and a Memorial Scroll, for the families of Service Personnel who die on operations or as a result of terrorist action. This is not a posthumous medal for the fallen, but is tangible national recognition for their families in recognition of their tragic loss and sacrifice. The Elizabeth Cross and a Memorial Scroll will be presented to the deceased’s Next of Kin and will be issued from the 1st of August, recognising deaths in qualifying circumstances dating back to the 1st of January 1948.

Douneside House - Douneside is a beautiful holiday country house situated thirty miles west of Aberdeen. The house is available at various times throughout the year for holidays to serving and retired officers and their accompanying family and friends. Registered charity, The MacRobert Trust, supports Douneside as a charitable undertaking, thus enabling the provision of high standards of accommodation at subsidised rates. Click here for contact details and to find out about its extensive facilities.

New Pregnancy Grant - April 2009 - HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are introducing a new benefit for pregnant women, called the Health in Pregnancy Grant. From April 2009 women who are at least 25 weeks pregnant and have received the appropriate health advice will be eligible to apply for the single payment; initially set at £190.

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MOD website notice -TV Licensing - MOD bases and accommodation are not exempt from TV Licensing laws and personnel must have a valid licence to watch or record television programmes as they are being broadcast, irrespective of how programmes are received.  If you watch TV without a licence you risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000; TV Licensing enquiry officers pay visits to MOD bases, especially to those where records show an absence of valid licences at the address.

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MOD Civilian Staff Internal Recruitment: Priority given to Service Family Members - In line with the principles of the Service Personnel Command Paper, the MOD is implementing changes to award priority consideration to Service spouses and family members who are searching for employment in the public sector following relocation. These changes are part of the civilian staff Internal Recruitment “Deep Dive” project and Service family members who already work for the Department in a permanent post will be offered priority consideration through the Redeployment Pool (RDP). For more details please click here.