Universal Credit is to be introduced as a single payment for people who
are looking for work or on a low income. The system will be rolled out
nationally in Oct 13 but will go live in the Greater Manchester and
Cheshire regions in Apr 13. Universal Credit looks to simplify the... More information
Typhoon pilot Flt Lt Jamie Norris has received his Public Display
Authorisation for the 2013 RAF Typhoon Display. The Public Display
Authorisation is the formal sign-off, completed by AOC No 1 Gp, AVMl
Stuart Atha. In order to achieve PDA the pilot has to satisfy the AOC
that he can deliver a flying... More information
As well as all the emergency work being done by RAF SAR a Chinook has
also been called in to help - this time to drop fodder for sheep farmers
unable to help their own flocks because of the appalling weather. A RAF
Chinook arrives at Flying Stn Aldergrove, to be loaded with animal feed
for distribution to farms inaccessible by road. Working alongside the
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to identify... More information
The Housing Allocations Service Centre
(HASC) will close its telephone lines at 12 noon on Thu 28 Mar 13
reopening at 0830hrs on Tue 2 Apr 13. The online application system will
continue to be available throughout the Easter period. The maintenance
Helpdesks will also remain open during the Easter period for... More information
The Department for Transport has announced that the Bristow Group will
take over search and rescue from the RAF replacing the Sea King with the
more modern Sikorsky S-92, ending 70 years of military search and
rescue.The ten year contract, is estimated to be worth £1.6bn. It is
understood Bristows, which until 1996 was a British company, will
operate two aircraft from 10 sites around the UK with all operating
bases providing... More information
The UK's Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft is to be based at RAF
Marham. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond made the announcement in a move
to secure the future of the base. The decision will mean new investment
and infrastructure to make RAF Marham the Main Operating Base for the
aircraft. Lightning II will be jointly operated by the Royal Air Force
and... More information
RAF teach language and aviation to Afghan Airforce. Flt Lt Oliver
Burrell, a future RAF Chinook pilot, is a Thunder Lab Mentor conducting
vital language and aviation training to aspiring Afghan pilots. He
starts teaching the fledgling flyers once they have achieved a 80% pass
on their critical English Language exams. Oli, from Pease Pottage, near
Gatwick, is providing... More information
Easter tours for Children at IWM Duxford. From the team at IWM Duxford: There's
an exciting Easter ahead at IWM Duxford. Our Easter holiday activities
take you back in time to a wartime childhood, or you can revisit your
own childhood with our Airfix Make and Paint activities. Our new permanent exhibition, Historic Duxford, opens to... More information
Today marks the 100 day countdown to Armed Forces Day 2013 – a chance for the nation to show their support for the Armed Forces for their outstanding contribution to the country. The national event will be held on Sat 29 Jun in Nottingham and will provide a focus for the country’s celebrations, alongside hundreds of local events held up and down the UK. As well as showing... More information
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has provided to the RAF Families Federation £235,000 to support the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant. The money comes from the £35million of fines paid by banks after some employees were found to have attempted to... More information
Honours and awards that recognise service in Afghanistan and national operations for the period 1 Apr - 30 Sep 12 have been announced. Afghanistan: Appointment to the Military Division of the Most... More information
SFA benefits from a comprehensive repair and maintenance service that includes regular safety checks that are free to occupants – checking gas appliances is an example. The MoD has a legal obligation to carry out these inspections and under the Licence to... More information
Following the financial crisis in Cyprus HQ British Forces Cyprus are
advising personnel to confirm with their chain of command that their
salary payment for March will go into a UK bank account. The deadline
for doing this is Midday Fri 22 Mar 13. Commander British Forces Cyprus,
Major General Richard Cripwell, had this advice... More information
Red Flag is the largest air combat exercise of the year. Taking place in
the US it was the Typhoon's first foray. Coningsby based XI(F) Sqn
joined Tornado GR4s from Lossiemouth’s 12(B) Sqn. The RAF Det Cdr, Gp
Capt Johnny Stringer said: "Red Flag is... More information
Historian and television presenter Dan Snow has unveiled the tail art
painted on to a 617 Sqn Tornado to commemorate the 70th anniversary of
the formation the Dambuster Sqn on this day 70 years ago. The unveiling
took place at RAF Coningsby where the squadron was based in 1943 rather
than at RAF... More information
The first solo flight of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) by a UK
operational pilot has taken place at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Sqn
Ldr Frankie Buchler piloted the fifth-generation multi-role stealth
aircraft for the first time. The RAF pilot has been stationed at the
Florida base since November undergoing intensive training in the sim on
the JSF which will equip both RAF and RN squadrons in the future.
Speaking after his flight Sqn Ldr Buchler said... More information
This is potentially a life-changing opportunity. By the end of the
project as well as performing in front of a live audience, these young
people will have created rousing pieces of music, achieved an Arts
Award, recorded interviews for oral history use in the future, created
banners for display across Hampshire and, most importantly, made some
friends for life. The EDGE Project, an initiative of Hampshire Museums
& Galleries Trust and the Winchester based, Discarded Nut Theatre
Company are offering young people from Armed Forces families... More information
The Chancellor, George Osborne, in his budget speech, has announced that
Service personnel are to be awarded a pay rise of of 1.5%. This is the
1% already announced and half of one per cent in X-factor which until
now had been... More information
The Government is proposing a new Childcare Voucher Scheme. It is
receiving a lot of positive press but if only one parent is working you
will not qualify... More information
The RAF, yesterday evening, flew an aircraft to Cyprus carrying one
million euros to help service personnel and their families in the midst
of the financial crisis on the island. The MoD said the cash was to
provide emergency loans in an attempt to lessen the impact of the bank
closures on service personnel. The MoD is also asking personnel if they
would prefer... More information
Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of General Sir
Nicholas Houghton GCB CBE ADC Gen to take over from General Sir David
Richards GCB CBE DSO ADC Gen as the next Chief of the Defence Staff in
July 2013. Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Defence, said... More information
There are approximately 3,000 service personnel in Cyprus who could to
be affected by the bank levy situation. It is understood that the
renegotiation talks will take place today (Tue 19 Mar 13). The
Government has already said it would compensate for losses suffered by
service personnel however... More information
The exhibition and National Science and Engineering Week, (15-24 Mar
13), are shining the spotlight on how science, technology, engineering
and maths relate to our everyday lives. On the stand selling military
engineering is the Bloodhound supersonic car project. The groundbreaking
UK project which aims to design and build a car capable of... More information
In an unfolding crisis in the Eurozone, Cyprus has been issued terms of a
bailout. As part of these terms individuals, including any Service
personnel with accounts in Cyprus, with less than 100,000 euros in their
accounts would have to pay a one off tax of 6.75%. Those with amounts
over this are required... More information
The Formation of Squadron X. It was on 17 March 1943 that Wg Cdr Guy
Gibson at the age of 24 was told to form Squadron X later to become 617
Sqn. Read the story of the Dambusters at it unfolds month by month
between now and the night of 16-17 May. Here the first two... More information
Comic Cold baked beans not a Relief!. Sgt Jason Woollett and Cpl Rhys
Holt, chefs from the Catering Squadron at RAF Marham, took a bath in
cold baked beans for Comic Relief. Customers to the Junior Ranks Mess at
lunchtime paid £1 for a cup of cold beans, which they then poured over
the heads of the waiting chefs. The record for the day was the £12
donation for the 12 cups made by Sgt Woollett’s fiancée! The pair
have... More information
A report in the medical journal The Lancet suggests those who have served in the Armed Forces are more likely to commit violent crime than anyone else. In response a spokesman for the MoD said: "The results of a new study funded by MoD which investigated the risk of violent offending among UK military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have been... More information
"It has been reported that the Ministry of Defence has not accepted the recommendation of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body (AFPRB) for a 0.5% increase in the X-Factor, a supplement added to Forces wages to reflect the hardships and uncertainties of military life. "MoD has accepted... More information
The media is reporting that the head of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body has been 'sacked' for recommending pay rises for the Armed Forces... More information
The 2013 report of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB) has made it recommendations in its report to the Government. The Government has not accepted the recommendation to raise X-Factor by 0.5%. All other recommendations put forward by the AFPRB have been accepted and will take effect from 1 Apr 13. The AFPRB Recommendations were: A 1% increase... More information
A new Duxford permanent exhibition has been under development for almost two decades, with the creation and delivery taking three years to complete. Steve Woolford, Head of Interpretation and Collections, said "IWM Duxford is famously known for its air shows and... More information
The BFBS Op Ice Cream will be whipping up morale at stations and
garrisons throughout 2013 as it gets back on the road for the fourth
year running. Any unit can call on the desert-camouflaged van to hand
out free cones at events for service families, but those with troops
deployed on Op Herrick take top... More information
The MoD, in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP),
will introduce a new benefit called the Armed Forces Independence
Payment (AFIP) on Mon 8 Apr 13. AFIP is a simplification of the
financial support available for members of the Armed Forces who have
been seriously injured as a result of military service since 6 Apri 05.
AFIP will provide... More information
'Bedroom tax' or 'spare room subsidy' is to be levied on those who live
in social housing but do not fully occupy all the bedrooms. Work and
Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith said the tax was absolutely vital
as too many people were living in social accommodation which they did
not fully occupy while millions of others were living in overcrowded
spaces or sitting on waiting lists for extended periods. Students
were...More information
The Armed Forces Covenant is all about removing disadvantage for
those who serve in the Armed Forces. The Government acknowleges that
there is indeed disadvantages when it comes to everyday issues like
health housing and education. When the Covenant was launched in May 11, it stated... More information
Tickets have gone
on sale for a national concert tour by the RAF that salutes the
indomitable spirit embodied by men and women from the ‘Dambusters
Generation’ which helped inspire the famous Second World War operation
70 years ago. Called Encore! A Salute to the Dambusters Generation,
the concert tour by the Bands of the Royal Air Force will feature a
stirring musical programme reflecting the camaraderie and fortitude from ... More information
Personnel at RAF Shawbury can now spend more time with their families
with the opening of two new Contact Flats.The flats were officially
opened Air Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE RAF, Deputy Commander
Capability and Air Member for Personnel and Capability during his visit
to the Station to meet personnel and... More information
RAF Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton are celebrating remarkable results,
after all three RAF Ice Sports teams took victory in the Inter-Service
Championships. First blood went to the RAF’s long-dominant Skeleton team,
with SAC Reece Thornbury taking victory in the Men’s by an
incredible... More information
The Spring 13 issue of Envoy is available online. Articles include
Afghanistan Revealed, Sitting Ducks, Our daughter's turn to Go and the
RAF Dambuster mentality - then and now. Don't miss out... Click Here
The Mail on Sunday reported over the weekend that RAF Waddington is
being used by the US to wage 'drone warfare' on parts of Africa. In
response the MoD said: "This report has no factual basis whatsoever.
Whilst it is the case that RAF Waddington will employ some US
personnel...More information
Gp Capt Sara Mackmin assumes command of RAF SAR. On International Women’s Day one of the Armed Forces’ top female aviators has taken command of the RAF’s Search and Rescue Force. Gp Capt Sara Mackmin, will oversee all RAF search and rescue operations across the UK and the Falkland Islands.The appointment is Gp Capt Mackmin’s latest move in a career that has seen her achieve a number of firsts in the RAF. She also a volunteer with the...More information
Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the UK is to provide
'non-lethal' equipment to opposition forces in Syria. In this is
included the provision of non-combat armoured vehicles, body armour,
search and rescue and communications equipment and training...More information
The Annington Trust is again offering to sponsor forty-three 14-18yr
olds from Service families across the UK on an 8-day Outward Bound
adventure courses at Ullswater, Loch Eil and Aberdovey. The closing date for applications for the Annington Challenge is Sun 31 Mar 13. For only £50 as a contribution for the week its too good an opportunity to miss...More information
Yesterday in The House the Defence Secretary set out the plan for Army
rebasing, the withdrawal of troops from Germany and the concentration of
Army units around 7 main locations in the UK...More information
On Wed 6 Mar 13, tickets for this summer's RAF Cosford Air Show go on
sale. The airshow is one of only three official RAF airshows in the UK
and takes place on Sun 9 Jun 13.
The announcement follows confirmation that RAF Cosford has been nominated to include in its 2013 display the Red Arrows. Last
year more than 38,000 people attended the air show and organisers are
anticipating another bumper turn-out at the West Midlands’ largest ...More information
RAF pilots and ground crew who will operate the A400M Atlas aircraft are
to benefit from state of the art training facilities thanks to a new
multi million pound contract.The MoD is investing £226 million on a
specialist training school at RAF Brize Norton where the fleet of
transport aircraft will be based. It will house two full flight
simulators to train RAF pilots, a specialist workstation to train
loadmasters, a cockpit simulator to train engineers and a suite of
computer-based training equipment. The facility will allow all
personnel...More information
Rebasing shake-up to be announced today. The Defence Secretary is
expected announce today how rebasing will look in the future. It is
thought the MoD is to spend £1.8 billion in a move to build 1,900 SFA
and 7,800 SLA. The 2010 SDSR announced the complete withdrawal of troops
from Germany and it expected the majority will be back on UK soil by
2016 and the remainder by 2019. The MoD are saying this will pump £240
million a year back into the UK economy...More information
The Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond has been speaking out about the
effect of any more cuts on the future capabilities of the UKs Armed
Forces. He suggested further cuts would leave the Armed Forces with a
hughly reduced capability and that George Osboune should look to other
Governement departments for any further saving citing the welfare budget
as possible area where money could be saved...More information
The Spring 13 issue of Envoy is available online. Articles include
Afghanistan Revealed, Sitting Ducks, Our daughter's turn to Go and the
RAF Dambuster mentality - then and now. Don't miss out... Click Here
