The next SDSR

The House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) has published its first report that looks towards the next Defence and Security Review. The report argues that the National Security... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Revision of some Allowances

On 20 Jun 11 an announcement was made detailing changes to Armed Forces allowances required to deliver the SDSR savings. These changes were implemented in two stages on 1 May 11 and 1 Apr 12 and are not part of the New Employment Model (NEM) programme. Since then... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

CEA Regulations have changed

The aim of Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) is to assist Service Personnel achieve continuity of education for their children that would otherwise be denied in the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

MP's Concern at Maritime Surveillance 'Capability Gap'

A Defence Committee Report has expressed serious concern at the MoD’s capacity to manage the capability gap in maritime surveillance. The Chairman, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot, said: "We are unconvinced that the MoD has the capacity to respond to any escalation in the risks that may appear beyond UK’s shores...The MoD must explain why it is satisfactory to wait until 2015 or beyond before deciding how to close the...More information »

RAF FF's first 2012 survey is Published - Your views in black and white...

The Federation has now published the findings of the first 2012 survey, 'The Nations Support to the RAF'. We asked RAF serving personnel and their family members to answer questions and make comments to establish the continuing impact of the SDSR and to measure levels of awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant. The report is full of your comments so do take a moment to have a read. You said: "Given the latest cuts to people and equipment I couldn't feel any more de-motivated with morale in general lower than I've ever seen..." "No idea what the Covenant promises. It seems to promise to make things better, but doesn't say how." "Smoke and mirrors...More information »

The Federation's Latest Quarterly Report

Key activity this quarter has been the launch of our survey, aimed at gathering further evidence on the impact of the SDSR and the AF Covenant. Chairman of the RAF FF Dawn McCafferty said: The emerging theme is one of a lack of confidence in the post SDSR RAF, and a woeful lack of awareness of some of the key family-related Covenant commitments. Work is now focused on our survey – 'Pay, Pensions and Other Stuff'. Having trialled it with a lively audience of SWOs we are hopeful of a strong online response. In the midst of this work, we have continued to respond to calls for help and advice. Many are associated with the DIO Transformation and the difficulties SFA occupants experienced trying to access the new HASC...More information »

Please Spare 10 Minutes

The RAF FF survey on the fallout of the SDSR and your thoughts on the Armed Forces Covenant will close on Monday (30 Apr). If you are serving in the RAF or are a family member of someone who is and haven't completed the questionnaire could we ask you to... The Federation is being asked more and more questions by senior RAF, MoD staffs and Ministers what RAF personnel and families think and one of the best ways of gathering your thoughts is via the internet. The survey is straight forward and anonymous and gives plenty of space for you to make additional comments should you wish to. Don't worry if you know nothing, or little, about these subjects - we are interested in your answers anyway... Please click on the 'For Survey Click here' button to participate...More information »

The RAF - Does the Nation Really Care?

The SDSR resulted in the grounding of the much-loved Nimrod R1 and Harrier, the future closure of RAF Kinloss and Leuchars, a cut in allowances and a 2-Phase redundancy programme to reduce the RAF to its lowest level ever. At the same time, the Government published the first Armed Forces Covenant, enshrined in law, and promising to deliver enhanced support to serving personnel and their families. The Covenant made over 100 commitments to identify and address disadvantage arising from service in the Armed Forces. As part of our remit to represent the RAF family view, the Federation is running a survey to inform future policy development on these important issues. It is live during April (only). It asks whether or not you consider the Nation to be behind its RAF and seeks your views on the impact of the SDSR and your understanding and expectations of the Covenant. Click on the survey icon above to go straight to the survey...More information »

The RAF FF's Annual Report for 2011

2011 RAF Families Federation Annual Report has now been published. Last year was a challenging one for RAF personnel and their families and the Federation team has been kept extremely busy with the many issues family members bring to our attention. Gathering the evidence and presenting it all in the hope of influencing change for the better. Our report for 2011 focuses on the post Strategic Defence & Security Review era and the impact some of those decisions is beginning to have. We comment on the launch of the Armed Forces Covenant, acutely aware of the dichotomy posed by a Government that is seeking to simultaneously reduce its Armed Forces whilst demonstrating how much it recognises the unique nature of military life and values the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces community. The report details the core themes...More information »

Philip Hammond: "We have No Choice"

On the Armed Forces redundancies being announced today Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Difficult decisions had to be taken in the SDSR to deal with the vast black hole in the MoD budget. The size of the fiscal deficit we inherited left us no choice but to reduce the size of the Armed Forces". He also went on to say, "The redundancy programme will not impact adversely on current operations...More information »

"Defence is a Very Human Endeavour"

Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, has given a speech at the Royal United Services Institute restating the need for reform in Defence. He began by saying the SDSR was 'long overdue, and undeniably necessary'. He spoke on Afghanistan, Libya and the need for a firm foundation but concluding that he had quickly come to understand that Defence is a very human endeavour...More information »

Air Command too are feeling the Pinch

Defence is engaged in a wide-ranging transformation programme that will impact on every aspect of Air and Space capability. Significant changes have already taken place following SDSR but more changes are required. HQ Air Command at High Wycombe must deliver £40M in savings by end of Financial Year 14/15 and part of the restructuring will see the exit from the Service of 11 air rank officers...More information »

The Federation is Voicing Your Opinions

The Federation is your voice - so what has it been saying of late? In this latest Federation update we report on the high level activity of: the continuing fall-out from the SDSR; A 'Where are we Now?' on the Armed Forces Covenant and what the Federation is contributing; Our views on the review of CEA and where it is heading; Our input into the Future Accommodation Project Team; The conferences, meetings, briefings we have attended and the units we have visited. We also report on subjects being reported to us and what we are doing with the information and we give an update on our Communications strategy. It is worth having a quick scan and perhaps you too can add to our evidence by giving your opinion, as it all adds weight to the arguments we are putting forward on your behalf.  Those at the top don't want our views, they want yours...More information »

Meeting with the Minister

This week Chairman of the RAF Families Federation, together with the other her opposite numbers in the Army and Naval FFs, met with Andrew Robathan MP, Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans and took full advantage of the opportunity to ensure he fully appreciated the family perspective on military life. During the meeting Dawn brought up the subjects of Pay and Allowances; the impact of SDSR; MoD Accommodation and the Armed Forces Covenant. Also discussed were the New Employment Model and resettlement. Dawn's full notes on the meeting are included here. If you would like your views to be represented at the next Family Forum with the Minister, tell us what you think...See full details

The RAF is NOT Closed -'The Sky is Still the Limit...'

Following SDSR and the need for the RAF is to reduce in size to a force of 33,500 by 2015, it is assumed by many that recruiting would stop but "Nothing could be further from the truth!" says Gp Capt Ian Tolfts, Head of Recruiting. "Despite the drawdown, the RAF is still looking to recruit some 2,000 people this year across trades and branches from ICT technicians to medics and suppliers. Please help us spread the word......More information »

Allowances - Chances are we will know by the Weekend

The Allowance Package is being overhauled as part of the SDSR cutbacks. Preliminary announcements on CEA(Board) have already been made and it is expected that the details of the cuts and changes to all other allowances will be announced imminently. These changes will effect everyone serving. As soon as we have the details we will make them available on the site...More information »

Allowances Review - Be Prepared

Since the SDSR announcement we have known there is to be a 'significant reduction in the future personal allowances package'. It was expected the detail would be released before Christmas however it was delayed with only the changes to CEA(Board) made known. It is now expected that the review of the more far-reaching allowances will be made before the end of January...More information »

CDS Talks of 'Decisions Made'

Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, has given a speech focusing his words on the SDSR and decisions made. "You must see the SDSR not as an end state but as a stage in the evolving role of our Armed Forces..." He also spoke of the decision to decommission the Harrier fleet and retain the Tornados. He said, "Our finances required us to remove a complete fast jet type...More information »

We Stand by the SDSR Decisions

A letter written by the Chiefs of Staff has been published in the Times. In it they stand by the decisions of the SDSR. 'No-one would pretend that the SDSR has been painless...It has led to decisions that we would not have otherwise chosen to make...the decision to withdraw Harrier and to retain a Tornado force had to balance our needs in Afghanistan with the intent to rationalise our fast jet fleets....  More information »

The SDSR in Print

There are now two Government Documents on SDSR in the public domain. 'A Strong Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The National Security Strategy' which sets out how the government will deliver the priorities identified in the National Security Strategy and 'Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review' which describes how the government will equip the UK forces to tackle the threats...

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