Update from 83 Expeditionary Air Group in the Middle East

83 EAG, based in the Middle East, is responsible for the strategic delivery of RAF air power in support of UK and coalition operations in an 8 million square mile joint operating area, including Afghanistan and the broader... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Working to reduce the effect of white light dazzle on pilots

The MoD has teamed up with Qioptiq an Excelitas Technologies company to develop techniques to protect against dazzle caused by ‘white light’ sources such as sunlight or headlamps, and lasers. Traditional laser protection techniques do not... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Too cold for Armed Forces to train - The MoD refutes the claim

The Daily Star and The Mail Online have today published a story claiming that UK Armed Forces personnel have been banned from training in extreme temperatures because of... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Changes to Disturbance Allowance and Storage regs

There have been a series of enhancements to the Relocation Allowance regulations, specifically Disturbance Expenses and Movement and Storage of Personal Effects. Many of the changes have been to simplify and enhance the existing policy. Full details can be found... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Changes to Other Ranks laundry allowances

Laundry allowance claims from Other Ranks and Ratings have changed. There is now a new annual flat rate expense allowance for laundering uniforms as agreed by HM Revenue & Customs and the MoD. The following annual Flat Rate Expense Allowance (FREA) is due for... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF's Sqn Ldr Claire Collis is Combined Services Ladies Snowboarding Champion

Sqn Ldr Claire Collis, CO of No. 3 Mobile Catering Sqn at RAF Wittering has won first place in the women’s Combined Services Winter Sports Association snowboarding... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Celebrating the history of UK Reserves

The history of UK reserves has been showcased in an exhibition at London's Victoria railway station. The stories of Nobel Prize winner Alexander Fleming and former British Prime Minister Edward Heath, who both served as reservists, were among those featured in the exhibition... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF to host as last two flying Lancasters fly together this summer

The last two Lancaster bombers still flying in the world will come together in a series of events this summer, in a meeting unlikely to happen ever again. The Canadian Lancaster will join the only other airworthy Lancaster in the world... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Change of rule benefits service couples

Personal Status Category 1s (PStatCat 1s) & 5s (PStatCat 5s) personnel - Single Living Accommodation (SLA)/Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) entitlements. JSP 464,The Tri Service Accommodation Regulations and JSP 754 (Tri Service Regulations for Pay & Charges) have been amended to give the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

MoD offers funding for Armed Forces Day celebrations

Cities, communities and local organisations across the UK are being asked to host an Armed Forces Day event this summer to show their support for our servicemen and women, past and present, with funding available to support the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Armed Forces flying the flag for equality

The UK armed forces have come second in the first league table of the most gay-friendly militaries in the world. The new index has come from the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and ranks the armed forces of 100 countries by their inclusion of... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

The Forces Help to Buy scheme for those in Tranche 4

Joint Service Publication (JSP) 464 containing the full rules for the general ‘Forces Help to Buy’ (FHTB) scheme as well as the new FHTB scheme which relates specifically to Service Personnel leaving as part of Tranche 4 redundancies (FHTB T4) was published on... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Next head of the British Army

The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed the appointment of Lieutenant General Sir Nicholas Carter as the next Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army. Lieutenant General Carter will succeed... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Red Arrows unveil new tail fin livery to celebrate 50 years

The makeover is the most significant change to the look of the Team's famous aircraft in its history. In the shape of a Union flag, the striking new tail design reflects the Best of British and emphasises the Red Arrows' role as... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Personnel dig deep to fill and deliver sandbags

Service personnel are digging deep to produce thousands of sandbags for residents in flood hit areas of southern England. Airmen and soldiers are working side-by-side at a number of depots packing and shipping sandbags for distribution to... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Association appoints new Secretary General

The Royal Air Forces Association has appointed Nicholas Bunting as its new Secretary General. Chairman of Trustees, Air Vice Marshal Nigel Bairsto said: “We are delighted to welcome Nick to the Association in this important role. He has a wealth of skills and... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Armed forces personnel to be flood defence assessors

Service personnel will assist the Environment Agency in inspecting flood defences across England. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced that more than 200 personnel from the RAF, Royal Navy and Army and... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Introducing the Forces Help to Buy Scheme

The new ‘’ scheme looks to support first-time buyers and those who have to move home because they are assigned elsewhere. Also, where personnel have a change in their family circumstances, for instance, they need another bedroom because a... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Further eyes in the sky provided by the RAF

The RAF has provided further high-tech support to the relief efforts in flood-affected parts of the UK, sending up the sophisticated Sentinel R1 surveillance aircraft to create a unique picture of the situation on the ground. The aircraft, operated by... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Red Flag continues apace for the RAF

IX (Bomber) Tornado GR4 Sqn from RAF Marham and No 6 and 1Typhoon Sqn from RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth continue their efforts on Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The RAF fast jet Sqns are among... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF train US Marine Corps to control air traffic in Afghanistan

RAF air traffic controllers from 903 Expeditionary Air Wing are ensuring the US Marine Corps can run the busy airspace of Camp Bastion Airfield side-by-side with their British coalition... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF GR4 assists flood relief from the air

The RAF has launched a Tornado GR4s to capture a highly detailed aerial picture of the areas affected by the floods, after a request by Gold commanders in the Thames Valley. The deployment of the Tornado GR4 from... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF personnel transit to help flood victims

233 airmen and women travelled 120 miles from their home base at RAF Honington to Berkshire in a convoy of 40 vehicles to carry out the task. Staying in temporary accommodation at Combermere Barracks, Windsor, home to the Household Cavalry, personnel from... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

CAS takes over as Director of the European Air Group

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford has taken over Directorship of the European Air Group from Général d'armée aérienne Denis Mercier, French Air Force, at a Handover Ceremony held at the European Air Group HQ at... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Letter bombs received at two Armed Forces Careers Offices

Suspect packages have been received at two Armed Forces Careers Offices (AFCOs) one in Reading and the other at Chatham. MoD Bomb Disposal Unit were called to the scenes and a Counter Terrorism... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF, RN and Army personnel step up flood relief work

These past few weeks have seen heavy rainfall and widespread flooding cause major disruption across the UK, and as the wet weather is set to continue, more than 2,000 military personnel have been called on to provide flood relief. Personnel from the Royal Air Force... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Voyager fleet temporarily grounded

The MoD’s has taken the decision to temporarily ground the RAF Voyager fleet after an incident on 9 Feb 14. In a statement the MoD told BFBS: "The MoD can confirm that a Voyager aircraft suffered an... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

F-35 "The plane that doesn't work properly..."

BBC Two Newsnight, with Jeremy Paxman last night reviewed the F-35 Lightning II and concluded that it 'costs too much and doesn't work properly...' More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

The Secretary of State on why the Afghan mission matters

Philip Hammond made the latest quarterly statement on Afghanistan at the House of Commons. The Secretary of State started his statement by paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Successes at Meribel 2014

The Forces Winter Sports Championships in the French Alpine resort of Meribel have drawn to a close. In a closely fought competition the RAF showed outstanding successes in... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

"The armed forces are a remarkable engine of social mobility"

The report that examines the transition of service personnel into civilian life has been published by Lord Ashcroft today. The Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Veterans’ Transition, Lord Ashcroft has published his findings following his examination of the transition of... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Cosford Airshow - Attendance this year is capped

Tickets for this year’s RAF Cosford Air Show have only been on sale for a few days but are already selling fast; this year ticket numbers are capped so those wishing to attend should consider making the purchase in advance. Air Show spokesman Amanda Butcher said: “Last year saw... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

More Armed Forces brought in to help with flood relief

As the floods continue to cause disruption across the UK, personnel from the Royal Marines, Royal Navy and Army Reserve have been working hard to provide flood relief assistance. Yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron visited Chesil Beach in Portland to see the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF FAMILIES SURVEY - What and Why?

The RAF Families Survey is a questionnaire issued to several thousand families each year since 1995. Why is the RAF Families Survey issued? In order to best support Service family life at the same time promoting military readiness, it is essential that the views of RAF families are... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Top Gear in Afghan

7 million viewers turned in last night to watch James May visits Camp Bastion to see the efforts behind the military’s largest vehicle redeployment since the Second World War. The Top Gear team deployed last... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Armed Forces going for Gold in Sochi

The UK armed forces are well represented at the 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, which start today. In fact, half of the Team GB bobsleigh team is made up of people from the services. The bobsleigh, which sees a fibreglass sled hurtling... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Extra money helps ex-armed forces personnel in need of housing

Defence Minister Anna Soubry has announced that ex-armed forces personnel in need of housing will be able to benefit from funding for life-changing accommodation initiatives across the country. The new funding, guaranteed through... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Royal Marines drafted in to help with flood relief

This morning 7 Feb 14, 40 members of 40 Commando Royal Marines from Norton Manor Camp,Taunton were deployed to the Somerset Levels to assist the local civilian services in the flood relief effort. The assistance will support tasks... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

The Duchess of Cambridge writes of her experience as a RAF wife

The Duchess of Cambridge has written the foreword for 'Living in the Slipstream' a collection of stories told by wives of those in the RAF. Kate, uses her experience during the couples time at RAF Valley and writes: “I loved my time in Anglesey.... But I can’t pretend I... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF 617 Sqn 'The Dambusters' are home

After flying their final mission in Afghanistan, 71 years after carrying out one of the most daring raids of World War II, the RAF 'Dambusters’ Sqn has returned to RAF Lossiemouth. Flt Lt Mo Abdallah said: “It's great to be home, the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

British unmanned Taranis surpasses all expectations

The most advanced aircraft ever built by British engineers made its maiden flight at an undisclosed test range under the command of BAE Systems test pilot Bob Fraser. MoD and BAE Systems say the Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle surpassed all expectations. MoD has said the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Matt Damon, Hugh Bonneville and George Clooney on set at Duxford

Hollywood film The Monuments Men, part of which was filmed on location at IWM Duxford, opens to UK audiences on Friday 14 February. The Monuments Men. Director George Clooney is joined on screen by an... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

In 2014, the RAF FF is running consultations on future policy issues and development

Have you experienced difficulties taking your child out of school during periods of PODL? 

In September 13 the rules changed and parents are no longer able to take their child(ren) out of school during term-time. If they do they are now liable to be fined. Prior to this, under the heading of 'exceptional circumstances' Ofsted allowed Service parents to take their children out of school during periods of PODL - Post Operational Deployment Leave. 

Under the new rules there is still a case for 'exceptional circumstances' the provision for Service parents does not seem to be in place. Or if it is it is not consistently applied. 

There are 6 questions in the survey which we would ask you to complete... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Her Majesty the Queen visits RAF Marham

Yesterday RAF Marham were honoured to welcome Her Majesty the Queen to the Station in her capacity as Honorary Air Commodore. The Queen met very many service personnel from around the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

"The experience of the RAF will benefit the French Air Force"

The head of the French Air Force joined the RAF’s training chief to view world-leading technology that is helping to shape the fighter pilots of the future. General Denis Mercier, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force, has joined... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Icemen selected for 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

AFTER a nail biting end to the qualifying season, Team GB Bobsleigh has qualified two teams to represent Great Britain at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi; and two of those going are serving RAF airmen. The GB1 4-man team, which includes... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

'Blizzard' at Bastion

BRITISH troops used to reaching for sunscreen in Camp Bastion have braced themselves against the base’s first proper snowfall. There have been small flurries before but a rare weather pattern yesterday led to the first... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Explore the build up to D-Day this half term at Duxford

Exploring the build up to D-Day this half term at Duxford.  February half term at IWM Duxford tell the story of Big Week, the bombing campaign which paved the way for the D-Day invasion. 70 years ago, military... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

II (AC) Sqn takes over from 617 “Dambusters” in Afghanistan

The RAF’s II (Army Cooperation) Sqn have taken over from 617 “The Dambusters” Sqn to provide Tornado GR4 fast jet air power as part of 83 Expeditionary Air Group support to Coalition Forces in... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF aid will protect South Sudan’s refugees

The RAF has delivered its first tranche of military aid to UN troops monitoring South Sudan’s fragile ceasefire. A C17 Globemaster heavy-lift aircraft touched down in the war-torn country’s capital Juba on... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link