NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2008 35
News and information for serving personnel
Pay rise
boosted
by bigger
X-Factor
Make
your
THE Government has accepted
the recommendations of the
independent Armed Forces’ Pay
Review Body and will implement
views
them in full from April 1.
All Servicemen and women will
see their basic pay rise by 2.6 per
known
cent.
There is also an increase in
X-Factor (an adjustment to
HAVE you used the Key Workers
military pay in recognition of the
Scheme to buy your own home?
conditions of service experienced
Have you had a good or bad
by members of the Armed Forces
experience of obtaining access
compared to those in the civilian
to a school place of your choice
sector, including exposure to
or to a GP/or dentist following
danger, separation from family,
posting?
and discipline) by one per cent to
Have you made use of the
14 per cent.
Mental Health Community Pilot
The amount of X-Factor paid
scheme or spoken to your GP
to officers at the equivalent of Lt
about the priority healthcare
Col, Col and Brig ranks has also
scheme for veterans?
been restructured for the first time
If so, the Service Personnel
since 1974.
Command Paper team are keen
This reflects that officers of
to hear from you about the issues
these ranks now experience
that are currently affecting you as
conditions and frequency of tours
a member of the Armed Forces,
similar to more junior officers.
serving, reservist or veteran, or
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock
● Members of Mortar Troop, 40 Cdo RM, deployed to FOB Gibraltar in Northern Helmand for six months, pass their spare time with a game a family member (be it parent,
Stirrup, Chief of Defence Staff,
of cricket. Such opportunities to maintain morale are vital in such a harsh environment
Picture: LA(Phot) AJ Macleod (40 Cdo RM)
partner, spouse or child).
said: “This pay increase is good In particular, the team are keen
news for the Armed Forces at to hear of your experiences of the
a time when their dedication, delivery of services such as health,
determination and courage housing, childcare and education.
continue to be tested. The Service Personnel
“It reflects the outstanding Command Paper, announced by
contributions our people and their the Defence Secretary late last
families are making to the defence year, will set out the first cross-
of our nation. Morale victories Government strategy for support
“It is also a tangible to the Service and ex-Service
demonstration of the high regard community.
in which our people are held by
WELFARE support is
marina Operational Fitness
the Government and the nation.” about strengthening and
“The moral is to the physical as three is to one”
Equipment (OFE)
The Command Paper will
The Longer Separation
sustaining the morale of
Napoleon
Fitness equipment will be
set out Government plans for
Allowance will increase by 2.6
updated and replaced in a rolling
accommodation and home
per cent, giving troops deployed
personnel, contributing to programme. Any ship requiring
ownership; access to education
operational capability.
deployments overseas, outside
overseas at least £1,100 over a
Entertainment service, repair or replacement of
and health provision of Service
It encompasses the provision
north-west Europe, which are
six-month tour.
Newspapers/magazines equipment should contact Maj
personnel and their families; the
marina
expected to last for two months or
The rates of Specialist Pay of a range of welfare enablers,
Pers Ops at Fleet HQ will arrange Mark Freeman RM at HMS
transition to civilian life; care for
more, by formed and non-formed
(including Flying Pay, Submarine
Temeraire, on 9380 24193.
the medically discharged; veteran
and should be viewed as a
for units to receive newspapers and
units under the operational
Pay, Diving Pay and Hydrographic
magazines through BFPO.
natural extension rather than a
Support
and widow welfare; support to
command of NATO, PJHQ or the
families of those killed or injured;
Pay) will also increase by 2.6 per
An e-newspaper service is also
Laundry
single-service Commands.
marina
and issues affecting Gurkhas
cent.
substitute for good leadership.
available, allowing platforms to
There are two laundry
The Fleet Pers Ops team will
and Commonwealth Service
A new category of specialist
The Deployed Welfare Package
receive a text-only news and sports
allowances applicable to Service
conduct a brief to all eligible
personnel.
pay is also being introduced for
(Overseas) or DWP(O) seeks to
service.
personnel on seagoing platforms:
platforms prior to their deployment
Armed Forces Minister Bob
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
achieve four effects:
SSBNs receive a generous
Major warships have a main
and arrange all elements of the
Ainsworth said: “The provision
personnel.
Communication, enabling marina
allowance to buy magazines and laundry with a contracted
DWP package.
of support to our Service
Manning in the Armed Forces
deployed personnel to retain
DVDs, electronic games and CDs laundryman permanently
community has progressed
remains “challenging”, and
contact with family and friends;
Communication: prior to deployment.
embarked. Personnel have an
significantly since SDR, but we
the department is responding
Entertainment, providing for marina
Telephone: Paradigm marina BFBS TV and radio servicesmarina
allowance of £35 per month, which
by introducing new Financial
leisure and relaxation needs;
Services Fleet’s TV policy is to provide
increases to £60 when the platform
are not complacent and realise
there is much more to be done.
Retention Initiatives for nuclear
Support, providing for marina
Personnel in receipt of DWP(O) recreational TV and deliver live
becomes eligible for DWP(O).
submarine watchkeepers, Army
physiological needs;
will receive 30 minutes per person round-the-clock news.
Minor war vessels and
“The Service Personnel
Command Paper provides us with
vehicle mechanics, the Royal
Connection, providing support marina
per week during the deployment. Major RN Milsat-fitted
submarines that do not have a
Artillery, the RAF Regiment and
for families of deployed personnel
Individuals can also make platforms receive TV Over Military
dedicated laundry facility and do
an unparalleled opportunity to
firefighters.
and facilitating the person’s privately-financed calls, and
Satellite (TOMS) produced by not carry a contracted laundryman
ensure a comprehensive approach
The pay award will mean
reintegration into the family unit. credits may be bought and added
BFBS, a single radio and bespoke will be in receipt of a laundry
is taken in Government to the
around £282 million more will be
DWP(O) is based on the art of to Paradigm account cards using
TV channel drawn from the six allowance of £1.25 per person per
provision of these services.”
spent on Armed Forces pay.
the possible and some elements credit cards; this facility is also
BFBS Eutelsat W3a channels. week, rising by a further £2 per
If you would like to
For more information about the
of the Services – including available to families at home.
A similar service was achieved person per month when deployed
make a contribution to the
pay rise, see www.mod.uk
deployed SSBNs, Special Forces Disposable £10 cards are also
for non-Milsat units using and in receipt of DWP(O).
Command Paper consultation,
and Royal Marines units – are available in ships’ NAAFIs.
commercial stabilised satellite
Connection
please send them to www.
Poseidon advent
restricted in their ability to use the The SSBN community receive
systems and BFBS decoders; the
mod.uk/DefenceInternet/
Family Welfare Grant
‘communication’ enabler due to
marina
180 mins of call time for the two majority of Fleet platforms can
ContactUs/OtherContactForm/
The opportunity for families
the nature of current operations. weeks preceding and following
now receive live BFBS TV and
ServicePersonnelCommand
THE NEW Poseidon 2087
to support each other during
The only restriction to access their deployments.
radio at sea and in port.
Paper.htm or via post to Service
Emulator has been officially
a deployment is also a part of
to DWP(O) for all deployed Email/Internet
The six current BFBS channels
Personnel Command Paper,
marina
opened at the Maritime Warfare
DWP(O).
personnel is ‘what is possible’ All Fleet personnel have access
are BFBS 1 (all-round family
Zone M, 7th Floor, MOD Main
School at HMS Collingwood.
The Family Welfare Grant assists
– every effort is made to support to daily email facilities, and access
channel), BFBS 2 (a more adult-
Building, Whitehall, London
From the introduction of
home units in providing welfare
these elements as much as the to Internet services is improving
themed channel), The Hits (a 24-
SW1A 2HB.
Sonar 2087 in 2004, when the
support to families of personnel
strategic situation allows. as modern technology advances.
hour music channel), Sky Sports
Further information can
equipment first went to sea, until
deployed on operations.
Most of the Naval Service BFPO
1 and 2 and Sky News.
be found at: www.mod.uk/
marina
the opening of Poseidon, operator
COs can claim £1 per week for
have seen a radical and positive Efficient mail delivery is one of
BFBS hope to add a movie
each of their deployed personnel
DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/
training was carried out at Thales
improvement in deployed welfare the most important aspects of the
channel, a documentary channel,
in receipt of DWP(O), and can
WhatWeDo/Personnel/Welfare/
Underwater Solutions at Cheadle support in recent years. DWP(O).
repeat peak-time broadcasts and
claim for Operational Casualties
ServicePersonnelCommand
in Stockport. Platforms/personnel are eligible Letters and packets up to 2kg
reschedule some timings to suit
who are hospitalised outside
Paper.htm
But the new facility is a key if they are on: may be sent from families or friends
Afghanistan and the Middle East.
operational theatres.
enhancement to the preparation of marina Operations overseas, expected to personnel, or vice versa, at the
There are also two BFBS radio
Christmas initiatives include
Aviation lead
marina
students and command teams as to last for two months or more; Forces Concessionary Parcel Rate,
stations.
free Christmas boxes, a free mail
it allows operators to realistically Maritime deployment outside and personnel can send and receive
RN Film Library (RNFL) And
LAST month saw the arrival at
marina
marina
service, and an additional 30
train on an accurate emulation of UK home waters, expected to last Free Forces Air Letters (FFALs or
Cinema Projection Equipment
minutes of telephone call time.
Fleet HQ of the new Chief of Staff
the real equipment, as carried by for two months or more; blueys) during the deployment, as
Deploying platforms can receive
Early Entry Forces (EEF)
(Aviation), Rear Admiral Simon
marina
Type 23 frigates. Operations, exercises and can their families and friends. BFBS DVDs, containing UK TV
Charlier, who is responsible for the
marina
Following 3 Cdo Bde’s
programmes and radio CDs. interventions in Afghanistan
generation of aviation capability
Top award for Raleigh centre
Ships’ Film Officers can contact and Iraq, Fleet have pioneered
and is the Fleet lead on the future
the RN Film Library in Portsmouth the development of Early Entry
aircraft carrier project.
prior to deployment and collect Packs (EEP), each supporting 120
At the same time, the post
A FACILITY at HMS Raleigh which gives military Royal Marines establishments across England and loan DVDs, and cinema projection personnel to be used during the
of Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm
personnel, civilian staff and their families the chance Scotland. kits is issued to all platforms. initial phases of an operation.
transferred from Second Sea Lord
to improve their qualifications online has picked up Judging was based on the targets set, the quality of Live entertainment
Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns to
marina
Key elements include a 30-
an award as the best-performing Royal Navy and support to learners and the management of facilities. Every effort is made to stage minute telephone call per
Rear Admiral Charlier.
Royal Marines Learndirect Centre for 2007. The Raleigh centre is managed by John Raphael Combined Services Entertainment week, short wave radio, DVD/
The Torpoint centre has signed up more than 100 and Linda Hampson, who work for Flagship Training (CSE) shows, and units will VCR player, projector, speaker
learners to study for around 500 courses in a range of Ltd, a commercial company that has a partnering normally only be eligible to bid and screen, lightweight fitness
subjects, including Skills for Life, National Vocational arrangement with the Royal Navy to provide a range once they have been deployed equipment and free blueys.
Qualifications, computer skills and leadership and of services. from the UK in excess of four Full details of DWP(O) can be
management studies. The facility opened in January 2006, and is one of months with no crew rotation. found in RNTM 153/07 (Surface
To win the award, the centre’s performance was around 120 centres at Armed Forces establishments Shows are usually co-ordinated Ships including SSN) and RNTM
compared with similar facilities at Royal Naval and through the UK and abroad. with a port visit on the way home. 026/07 (SSBNs).
News and information for serving personnel
0034-035_NN_mar.indd 234-035_NN_mar.indd 2 119/2/08 18:42:299/2/08 18:42:29
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  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52