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Monday 31 March 2014

Head of the Royal Norwegian Air Force over to view RAF advanced jet trainer

The head of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) has joined the RAF’s training chief at RAF Valley to view the world-leading technology that is helping to shape the fighter pilots... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Farewell to RAF's 12 (B) Sqn and 617 Sqn

The RAF’s Number 12 (Bomber) Squadron and 617 Squadron (the Dambusters) have bid farewell to active service with a disbandment parade at RAF Lossiemouth, performing their final salute in front of His Royal Highness... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Friday 28 March 2014

Multi-national forces will be training off Scotland this weekend as part of Europe's largest military exercise. Exercise Joint Warrior will be hosted in the UK and incorporate all 3 UK armed services. The exercise engages more than... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Mothering Sunday and Mothers-in-Law

This weekend is of course Mothering Sunday when we show our appreciation for that special person in our lives, our Mum’s. However, that relationship can sometimes be strained, especially when it comes to Mothers-in-Law. Cat Williams is a... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Job Vacancy EVIDENCE ASSISTANT RAF Families Federation, Wittering

Following an internal reorganisation, we now wish to recruit a full-time Evidence Assistant, located at... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Plans to increase the number of NHS staff in the Reserves

Plans to expand the number of NHS staff who train as reservists for the armed forces have been explored in a major reservist summit. Leaders and representatives from key organisations across the health... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Programme of RAF Interest "MayDay - The Passenger who landed a plane"

It’s early evening in Oct 13. 77 year old great-grandfather John Wildey is the only passenger flying home with his pilot friend after a day out in North Lincolnshire.  The pilot suddenly starts to complain of feeling unwell.  Ten minutes later... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

On the airwaves for personnel in Canada

BFBS Radio Canada has a talented new Breakfast Show presenter to entertain troops and families based at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS). 30-year-old Aimee Dewitt, who... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

BFBS Brize Norton about to launch On Air

Brize Norton is set to be the first RAF station in the UK to have its very own British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) radio station. From Mon 3 Mar 14 BFBS Brize Norton will be... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Defence Select Committee report into remotely piloted aircraft

A Defence Select Committee report published today says remotely piloted aircraft are an important military capability for the future. The rapid development of remotely piloted air systems by the UK armed forces over the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Tristar retires after 30 years Service with the RAF

The Lockheed TriStar has flown its last operational mission, bringing to an end 30 years of service, which saw the aircraft at the heart of operations around the world. Two TriStar’s of 216 Sqn based at Brize Norton flew an... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Grit - The morning after the Great Escape

The 'Great Escape' from Second World War prisoner-of-war camp Stalag Luft III took place last night 70 years ago. Although 200 airmen had planned to escape through man-made tunnels, only 76 managed to taste freedom and 73 were later... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Monday 24 March 2014

Inter Services Cricket at Lords - Tickets for June

Inter Services Twenty20 Tournament is to be held at Lords on Tue 3 Jun 14. A special offer is available on tickets in this 5 teams, 4 matches, 1 day tournament... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Friday 21 March 2014

Programme of RAF Interest "MayDay - The Passenger who landed a plane"

BBC RADIO 4 THIS SAT 22 MARCH ON “SATURDAY LIVE” 0900 & CHANNEL 4 THURSDAY 27 MARCH 2100. It’s early evening in Oct 13. 77 year old great-grandfather John Wildey is the only passenger flying home with his pilot friend after a day out in North Lincolnshire.  The pilot suddenly starts to complain of... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

The Spring issue of Envoy is available online

Included in this issue: In NORWAY, Sharing faith, Kicking Off in Bastion, The Two Worlds of Charlie F, Mum of two ‘Mans up’, and much, much more… Click here to read the magazine.

RAF Operational Honours and Awards

38 RAF personnel have been honoured in the latest Armed Forces Operational Awards and Joint Commanders Commendations for their bravery and service. Flt Lt Lockyear, who landed his Chinook under fire from... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Super Hornet to create Airshow Buzz

Boeing has announced that it will be displaying its powerful Super Hornet on the Saturday and Sunday of the Royal International Air Tattoo 12-13 Jul 14. Air Tattoo spokesman Richard Arquati said: "The multi-role fighter, originally... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Thursday 20 March 2014

RAF Reservists are braving sub-zero temperatures in the Norwegian mountains in an exercise designed to expose them to harsh and unforgiving nature of near arctic conditions. Exercise Wintermarch has seen forty-eight reservists from across the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Soldier Magazine bans advert highlighting plight of Service Widows if they remarry

A story in today's Times claims the Army is censoring an advertisement that highlights the plight of widows who lose the rights to claim their spouse's pension if they remarry... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Muslim chaplain to the UK armed forces receives OBE for his services to defence

The Muslim chaplain to the UK armed forces has been presented with an OBE for his services to defence. Imam Asim Hafiz, Islamic religious advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff and... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

UK Armed Forces stand ready to help find Malaysian Flight MH370

The Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken to Najib Razak in Malaysia and offered UK assistance with finding the missing Malaysian Airways aircraft. Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 Mar 14 enroute from Kuala Lumpur to... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Additional Needs and Disability Conference - open to all

SSAFAs Families Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF) Conference takes place on Monday 19th May 2014 at MoD Main Building, Central London. Topics include: Children's education; Changes to welfare benefits for disabled people and... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Tuesday 18 March 2014

RAF Mountain Rescue called to Avalanche

RAF search and rescue were scrambled last Tuesday, when a call came in for their assistance to search for a missing person caught in an avalanche on... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Ed Sheeran wows Camp Bastion

Ed Sheeran has performed two special concerts for hundreds of UK troops in Afghanistan. The singer-songwriter, accompanied by comedian Craig Campbell, travelled with the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF in Musical Salute to the Red Arrows

Tickets for a concert tour celebrating 50 glorious years of the RAF Red Arrows go on sale at box offices around the country next week. The 15-date RAF in Concert Tour starts at the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Monday 17 March 2014

1% Pay Rise

Last week the Government announced that the Armed Forces would receive a 1% pay rise with effect from 1 Apr 14. This award was in line with the Armed Forces Pay Review Recommendation (AFPRB). We would be interested to hear your views... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Friday 14 March 2014

Service Complaints Commission to be given more Powers

The independent commissioner whose role it is to ensure armed forces complaints are fairly and properly dealt with is to receive new powers. Although many service complaints are considered to be handled well, too many are... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Armed Forces receive 1% Pay Rise

The Government has accepted the AFPRB recommendations in full: Recommendations - a 1% increase in basic pay; a 1% increase in all levels of Longer Separation Allowance (LSA) with the addition of two extra levels at the top... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Thursday 13 March 2014

RAF intelligence analysts pull out of Bastion

RAF intelligence analysts have moved out of Camp Bastion after more than six years continuous service supporting operations. Personnel from V (AC) Sqn, who... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Your experience of Insurance

The Armed Forces Covenant Team is running a series of short surveys to understand the ways in which the Armed Forces community face disadvantage in the provision of public and... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Storms unearth 19th century remains on MoD's Rat Island

The storms and flooding have revealed human remains thought to date from the 19th century on the disused MoD island of Barrow (also know as Rat Island) in Portsmouth Harbour. Sand on the beach and foreshore of... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

83 Expeditionary Air Group Middle East update

83 Expeditionary Air Group (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... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Queueing in the streets as 614 (County of Glamorgan) RAuxAF Sqn opens its doors

On a bright sunny morning in central Cardiff, and 57 years to the day after it stood down, 614 (County of Glamorgan) Royal Auxiliary Air Force Sqn opened its doors to... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF contribute to patrolling of Balkan airspace

E-3D Sentry aircraft from RAF Waddington are contributing to the NATO patrolling of Balkan airspace in the continuing crisis... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Introducing SFA Patch Managers - On hand to help

It has been announced that the final aspect of the implementation of the DIO Accommodation Service Delivery Improvement Plan - the introduction of Patch Managers - should now begin to become... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Showcasing RAF careers in the North West

The interactive skills fair in Manchester is aimed at 15 to 24 year olds and is the largest event showcasing careers, jobs and skills to the next generation... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Ed Miliband in Afghanistan

Ed Miliband talks to BFBS's Cassandra Allwood in Afghanistan. He said: "The military operation may be drawing to an end but the job here is not yet... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Celebrating the role of women in our Armed Forces



In celebration of International Women’s Day one women in the Afghanistan has been speaking of their service as a reservist. Captain Lisa Irwin joined the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

MoD's preferred bidder to help run the entire defence estate

The MoD is a step closer to bringing in a strategic business partner to help improve the running of the 230,000-hectare defence estate. The Ministry of Defence has announced Capita, working in conjunction with URS and PA Consulting, as its preferred... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Monday 10 March 2014

Apprenticeships available within the MoD

The Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force combined are the biggest providers of apprenticeships in the UK. Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois went to meet some of those on the scheme. Mark Francois spoke to young... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

The RAF Flying on Ice

The RAF rose above the rest at the 2014 Inter-Services Winter Ice Sports Championships, flying into first place in the Bobsleigh and Skeleton events and taking second in the Luge race. The Inter-Services Ice Sports Championships 2014  was held at... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Friday 7 March 2014

RAF pilot makes first V STOL in F 35B Lightning II

RAF pilot Sqn Ldr Hugh Nichols has become the first UK instructor pilot to undertake a short take-off and vertical landing in a F-35B Lightning II fighter jet. One of three UK pilots based at... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

First look at RAF Red Arrows 2014 over Scampton on Tue

Footage from the Red Arrows over Scampton this week give a First Look at The Red Arrows 2014... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF GR4's scrambled from Kandahar

Two GR4's from II(AC) Sqn have been scrambled from Kandahar airfield when Coalition forces came under fire north of Shindand in Herat Province, in the west of the country. Over the target area the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Army pilots begin live-flying of Watchkeeper

Approval has been given for the Army’s own pilots to begin live-flying the unarmed Watchkeeper from Boscombe Down; up until now it has been only been trialled by industry. Gathering crucial information from... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Lost First World War practice battlefield found by accident

A practice battlefield, complete with two opposing trench systems and 'No Man’s Land', where thousands of troops practised before embarking for the trenches of Europe, has been discovered by chance on... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Thursday 6 March 2014

Mirage jets join the RAF in the skies over Norfolk

RAF Marham played host last week to visiting Air Crew from France as they take part in a bilateral agreement training detachment. The two Mirage aircraft from... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Wednesday 5 March 2014

New Service Accommodation welcome pack


This new pack is designed to provide service families with useful information when they move into their service family... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Monday 3 March 2014

Halton trainees provide a proper send off for RAF rear gunner hero Walter

A Second World War rear gunner, whose funeral was set to be a quiet affair with only a few mourners, has now had a send off more fitting of a RAF hero’s, thanks to the Halton trainees of Logistics and Supply Training Sqn. Walter Edwards... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link