NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2007 23
The Royal Navy writes on the issues affecting you
Tax rebate
for troops
on ops
Time to take stock –
ARMED Forces personnel
deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
will benefit from a tax-free rebate
on the cost of council tax in new
measures announced by Defence
one year on…
Secretary Des Browne.
Troops who pay council tax for
a UK property will receive support
ONE year in is a good time to reflect
through a flat-rate rebate payment on the progress of an initiative – and
over a six-month tour of £140 – 25
Transformation has been under way
per cent of the average bill.
The rebate will be added to the
for a year now. ● Denise Mitchell in her new
Operational Allowance (OA) paid
Why was there a need to transform?
‘office’
at the end of an operational tour
Following the merger of CINCFLEET and They meet regularly to make sure front-line monitor this?
in Afghanistan or Iraq.
2SL in April 2006, it became obvious that (user) experience and knowledge is taken into How will you encourage staff to have a marina
The measures were introduced
whilst two TLBs had combined, there was still account when considering the management sensible work/life balance? HIVE base
last month and first payments will
a need to ensure the enterprise was as effective and development of capabilities across Fleet; The Transformation team can help run these
be made from April 1 2008.
and efficient as it could be, with the ability to The Resources and Plans (RP) system has events – call Caroline McTavish (93832 5259).marina
Des Browne said: “We intend
adapt to an increasing pace of change. been significantly improved. Despite much activity across the TLB over
opens in
to extend this payment to all those
There were five key reasons for change: The baptism of fire of this spending round the past year, there is still some way to go.
deployed overseas on operations
Fleet processes lacked agility and has proved the new arrangements that have The targets remain challenging, but this marina
next year.”
responsiveness, with “push” capability (“this seen experts being embedded in the RP is a process of continuous improvement over
The tax-free OA is currently
is what we have”), rather than enabling organisation to provide impartial, informed time rather than a single ‘big bang’ change
Yeovilton
worth £2,320 over a six-month
commanders to “pull” capability to meet needs. opinions and to help the new “choices” process – which is why the Navy Board has signed up
FOR the past 11 years Service
tour in Iraq or Afghanistan.
More agile force generation was required; look at areas of expenditure before considering to Transformation for five years.
personnel, their families and
The new rebate will only be
It was also clear there was a need to change these choices at decision conferences and Transformation has already yielded key marina
dependants and MOD civilians
available to troops who pay council
the way of working to ensure the focus was on gaining endorsement by the CINCs. benefits – and will continue to do so as
based at RNAS Yeovilton, have
tax for a UK property – those living
“command pull” – understanding the demand As a result, there is a more coherent package continuous improvement becomes embedded
had access to the tri-Service HIVE
in single living accommodation
from front-line commanders and from higher of measures that have been widely discussed as part of the Fleet way of life.
Information Service through a
do not pay any accommodation
command across Defence was key to ensuring and understood in submissions to
centre situated in the Tall Trees
charges, including council tax,
the right organisation to support them existed; the Centre.
Community Centre in nearby
while deployed on operations.
There was a need to be more responsive to Career managers and branch marinamarina
Ilchester.
better cope with reducing budgets and to make managers are being collocated to
In September Denise Mitchell,
Brighter new
more effective choices about where money was deliver a strong link from policy to
HIVE Information Officer since
spent – the old “salami slicing” approach was the individual it affects. This is a two-
1999, opened a new centre ‘behind
inefficient and triggered protectionism. way system; front-line experience
the wire’, on the base itself.
Lighthouse
Fleet was not communicating with the rest and demands are reflected in new marina
This puts personnel on the base
of Defence with a single, coherent voice, policy as it is developed.
within easy reach of the extensive
bringing the risk of diminishing influence; In addition, the ‘Hub and Spoke’
range of information offered on
THE Cyber-Cafe at RNAS There was a need to be able to take account
system which manages the careers
marina
relocation, the local unit and
Culdrose has re-opened after an of changes going on across Defence.
of junior rates at the waterfront
civilian facilities, places of interest,
extensive upgrade. Many might consider Transformation to be
was due to stand up as Navy News
local information, schools and
Part of the Culdrose another threat to be resisted at all costs.
went to press;
further education, housing and
Chaplaincy’s Lighthouse Project, However, the work offers opportunities to all
marina Naval legal processes have been
healthcare facilities, and because
the Cyber-Cafe provides a venue to make life easier and reduce duplication.
improved, enabling a potential
for all ages, but primarily young It means the new organisation is:
reduction in the average time taken
the centre will still be situated at
people, to relax away from the busy Improving the way in which command
for a case to come to court from
the community centre as well, the
marina
life of the Cornish air station. structure is organised and the Fleet is managed
273 days to 175 days.
whole Service community benefits.
Various activities and visits are and supported;
Measures are now being put in
The Yeovilton centre can be
organised through the Lighthouse Creating a culture of continuous
place to help this improvement,
contacted on 01935 840333 or
marina
Project, including paintballing, improvement that allows the organisation to
which should be noticeable within
military ext 5855, at yeovilton@
go-karting, trips abroad, use of a be self-critical and to adapt to new challenges;
12 months;
hivegb.co.uk or VL HIVE (on
giant TV screen for major sporting Becoming more agile and flexible in the
The burden of reporting from
the intranet), on the website www.
marina
marina
events, and access to the internet. way in which forces are generated, with more
the front line has been examined,
hive.mod.uk or by calling in.
Lighthouse Project manager efficient management processes that better
revealing evidence of duplication
● Is the all-action life of 148 Cdo Forward Observation
Steve Curtis said everything take into account the needs of the front line;
and unnecessary paperwork.
Battery RA for you?
except the internet was free, and Tightening up business and reducing
The performance management
We are
marina
encouraged everyone to make full duplication at a critical moment of change;
team are now working on a
use of the improved facilities. Increasing its influence and authority within
simpler system to elicit the same
marina
Thanks to the support of the Defence and beyond.
information, without the overlaps,
Door opens to
waiting…
Royal Sailors Rest, they will be This leads to objectives which should
with new arrangements due to be
NAVY News relies heavily on
available seven days a week. cover the opportunities described earlier:
in place within six months.
you, the serving people, to send
The re-opening was performed Through process improvement, to have a
So where next?
marina us stories, news, and letters for
by NA Sam Rickwood (17), the good look at work undertaken as a TLB, and
The organisation is halfway into all-action career
publication – without you there
youngest Culdrose rating. ascertain how it can be done more efficiently
the first look across all areas, and
would be no publication.
and effectively – LEAN ‘conversion’;
over the next four years the search
NEW regulations mean one of the most action-packed
Although we are part of Fleet we
RNPT tour dates
To embed a culture of continuous
for improvements will continue.
careers in the RN is open to more sailors.
marina have some editorial independence,
improvement, where the TLB can run LEAN
As teams stand up in their new
148 Commando Forward Observation Battery Royal
and, as one of the main sources of
DATES and details of the RN
events itself and where the workforce is routinely
forms, work is needed to get them
Artillery are spotters for the guns of the Fleet and 29
RN internal communication, Navy
Presentation Team’s events for the
ready to question working procedures and
to be effective and fully understand
Commando Regiment RA. They also link ground forces and
News is the ideal way to bring the
coming months are:
propose better methods – LEAN ‘sustainment’;
their raison d’être, their remit and
close air support.
rest of the RN’s attention to what
what role each person has.
The battery is around 50 men strong, made up of sailors,
marina you are doing.
marinaTues Nov 27: The Guildhall,
To remove TLB shore-side military posts so
Market Place, Salisbury;
that shore demand declines more in line with
It is recommended that Royal Marines and, chiefly, gunners.
You don’t need formal permission
facilitated “breakthrough events” Non-Royals complete the All Arms Commando Course
to send us news – all that is required
marina Weds Nov 28: Center Parcs,
the declining front-line requirement. Civilian
Longleat Forest, Warminster;
posts will be rationalised and incumbents
are organised to help team-building and train as military parachutists – observers may be dropped
is local clearance from within your
Tues Dec 4: Nottingham
redeployed to more business-critical areas.
and enable new teams to consider from the sky on missions.
chain of command.
marina
Gateway Hotel, Nuthall Rd,
Some think this is merely a cuts exercise
the following: Once they’ve earned their coveted green berets, extensive
So if you want to advertise
Nottingham;
wrapped up in glitzy fashion to try to hide the
Does everyone understand team training as observation post assistants, naval gunfire marina
good causes, or what you or your
Weds Dec 5: Chesterfield
real intent. That is simply not the case.
outputs? assistants and inflatable raiding craft operators is provided.
unit has been doing lately, please
marina
Hotel, Malkin St, Chesterfield.
Some areas need uplifts – FOST, Commitments
Do all team members have up-marina It takes around 12 months to qualify.
contact us at 023 9272 4163
Anyone wanting to book a place
and the Battlestaffs – and hard work is being
to-date Terms of Reference? The six-man fire support teams are expected to operate in
(mil 9380 24163), email edit@
at a presentation should contact
done to ensure posts transfer to them.
Have objectives been set for all marina the Arctic, in the jungle, in the desert and elsewhere, often
navynews.co.uk, or call in at
the RNPT on 020 8833 8020 or
Areas that have undergone Transformation
team members? behind enemy lines, and the battery is at constant readiness
Leviathan Block, HMS Nelson.
email rnpt@gtnet.gov.uk
events have seen clear improvements in
How is the team going to marina to move on operations.
their business processes:
communicate internally? Recent operations have included Kosovo, Sierra Leone,
To achieve ‘command pull’, the Commander
How will you prioritise team marina
and Iraq, with training in Norway, Singapore and the USA.marina
It’s your 2-6
Maritime Operations (COMOPS) organisation
and individual tasking?
The RN contingent in the battery, based at RM Poole,
has been strengthened with 14 more posts in
Are strategies in place to ensure marina
has traditionally drawn on Communication Information NEED to get your message
Leach Building and Northwood to make sure
everyone feels encouraged to
Specialists, but now they can also call upon warfare branch across to the rest of the RN?
Fleet fully engages with PJHQ and MOD, and
contribute ideas to improve the team
ratings (see BR1984 Para 0104 Change 2). To feature in 2-6 contact Lt
more effectively programmes Fleet assets;
and decision-making processes?
They are looking for high-calibre, physically fit, self- Cdr Gregor Birse at Fleet Media
The newly-formed Fleet Capability
How will you recognise and marina
disciplined and motivated volunteers, who will face rigorous, Ops on 93832 8809 or Lt Cdr marina
Integration Groups (FCIGs) are teams led by
value staff contributions and what
arduous training. Call CPO Ronnie Knight (93884 2276) or Harvey Burwin at DPR(N) on
a DACOS with representatives from all areas.
measures do you have in place to
PO Harper (93884 2243). 9621 85984.
Maori icon is moved
ONE of the RN Trophy Store’s carved by Rotohiko Haupapa
more unusual items is to move and/or Wihau Te Raihi for the
from its Whale Island home occasion, and there is reputed
Trophy No 21782 is a Maori to be no other such pouihi in
Ballantynes of Walkerburn sculpt and manufacture a wide range
pouihi – similar to a totem existence today.
of Royal Navy Presentation Items which are ideal to commemorate
pole. In its native New Zealand It was presented to HMS
a deployment, promotion, posting or retirement.
it would have marked a tribal Excellent in July 1922.
boundary, though it was also Exposure to the elements
We offer Messes and Ships a substantial trade and bulk buy discount on all orders
used to fly tribal banners. over 80 years has led to
and our fully secure retail website can be viewed at: www.bofw.co.uk
The pouihi was erected in some deterioration, and it is
All our products can be shipped world wide as we have a BFPO trading contract
Rotorua to celebrate the visit to be moved to Cambridge and we also offer VAT free sales where applicable. Our products can be engraved
of the Prince of Wales in HMS University for conservation which is a service we offer in-house.
Renown in April 1922. work – though it remains on
It is believed to have been the RN Trophy Store’s books.
Our Catalogues can be viewed on our website and if you would like a hard copy
please ring us on 01896 870697 or Email: sales@bofw.co.uk
Commissions Accepted
Ballantynes Of Walkerburn Ltd , Units 1-4 Tweedvale Mills East, Jubilee Rd, Walkerburn
Border Region, Scotland. Eh43 6ab
0022-023_NN_Nov.indd 222-023_NN_Nov.indd 2 119/10/07 15:59:119/10/07 15:59:11
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48