Stresses and Strains of an RAF Family

This week the Armed Forces Covenant External Reference Group visited RAF Benson to gain a better understanding of RAF life. The Group included very senior officials from the Cabinet Office, MoD, Other Government Departments and representatives from the Devolved Administrations. In her speech, Chairman of the RAF FF, Dawn McCafferty gave a 'tell-it-like-it-is' view of RAF family life in this unrelenting climate of challenge and change. (Her presentation was based on the evidence provided by RAF family members over the last few years). Dawn said: "The first point I would make is that, for operational effectiveness reasons, there is a genuine need to recognise and deal with the expectations and needs of RAF families across a wide range of issues. If the RAF is to recruit and retain sufficient high calibre personnel and deliver an effective workforce to the front-line, wherever that may be, they need to ensure that their uniformed personnel are free from worries about the family members they have left behind...More information »