NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008 37
News and information for serving personnel
Defence
Academy
Champions step up
links with
Institute
MILITARY personnel to find the answers
Have your
shout on
going through the UK
Defence Academy can now
gain nationally-recognised A TROUBLESHOOTER fine should have gone.
If a query or problem is getting
Pay Allowances Casework and personnel
management qualifications
and a team of champions
This was picked up by the
bogged down, they will take
Complaints Cell (PACCC).
through a new partnership with system, but it demonstrates how
the matter up on behalf of the
If you are experiencing any JPA-
the Chartered Management
have been appointed to
important it is to input the correct
individual – which will avoid the
related problems you must in the
Institute.
break the ‘circle of death’
information.
matters
scenarios which saw combatants
first instance contact your unit
The alliance means that which has frustrated users Another, specific to the
on the front line in Afghanistan
HR, who will either resolve the
ARE you up to date with the latest
students on the Advanced
of the Armed Forces’ pay
RN, concerns overpayment to
using up precious phone-calls to
issue or advise you to contact
personnel policy initiatives?
Command Staff Course Reservists, and in part appears to
sort out pay queries or placate
the JPAC Enquiry Centre on
Have you heard about Project
(ACSC) achieve recognition
and personnel system.
be down to multiple inputting of
bank managers.
freephone 0800 085 3600 (mil
Fisher, the Key Worker Living
for management and leadership
JPA – Joint Personnel
attendance claims in error.
The JPA system also now
94560 3600).
Programme (KWLP), Post
skills through qualifications
Administration – had the tough
But Col Taylor agreed that
has an online BAG (Business
When you have exhausted all
Operational Stress Management
accepted by civilian and military job of replacing dozens of those who got stuck in the
Administration Guide) which
the avenues above, and if your
(POSM), the introduction of
employers. legacy systems, many of them JPA’s version of the dockyard
means that many queries about
issue has not been resolved to your
Recovery Cells, RN Fitness Test
The affiliation will benefit up
bespoke and some on their last
runaround – bounced between
allowances can be sorted with just
satisfaction, then you may wish
Reminder Cards, the replacement
to 330 ACSC students annually.
legs, to bring harmonisation
their unit administrators and the
four clicks of the mouse.
to submit a formal complaint in
of the Naval Discipline Act by the
As part of the alliance, JPA enquiry centre (JPAC) – were
Primarily for the use of unit
writing to the address below.
Armed Forces Act 2006?
candidates on the ACSC will
and equality to pay, allowances
getting a rough deal.
administrators and career
The following information must
If not then you have probably
graduate with an Executive
and personnel practices across
Horror stories of people going
managers, the BAG is a single
be included:
not attended one of the Divisional
Diploma in Management,
the three Services.
without pay for months, or having
source of up-to-date JPA
Number, rank, name and marina
Regimental Support Team
recognising their ability to
The £250 million system has
allowances clawed back, hit the
information and advice.
Service,
manage performance as well
been deemed an overall success
(DRST) presentations or seen any
headlines.
And if all else fails, at the end of
Your contact details (including marina
as lead people and address
by managers, and is now throwing
of the Personnel Support Briefs
Until now there was nowhere to
the line is a new JPA ‘ombudsman’
telephone number and email
challenges.
up fewer problems than its
(PSB) that are produced on a
go beyond the JPAC – with some
who will handle any formal
address),
The partnership also gives
predecessors.
termly basis and distributed inside
turning to Forces publications or
complaints from individuals who
Your unit HR contact details; marina
many of the individuals
There were problems with the
the cover of the 2-6 DVD.
Internet message boards to vent are unhappy with the way they
Service Request or I-support
the opportunity to secure
first roll-out, with the RAF then
You can also access a soft copy
their frustration. have been treated by JPA.
number(s) and dates raised,
the Institute’s higher-level
the RN, partly because there was
through the RNWeb intranet and
But now Col Taylor said that The Complaints Cell will not
A summary of your complaint with marina
Executive Diploma in Strategic
a decision to avoid overloading
via RNCom and Naval Families
two more elements had been only deal with problems, but will
full supporting documentation.
Management.
JPA with data from the existing
Federation websites on the
added to the process, providing a be in a good position to spot
The mail address is SPVA JPA
As a result of the collaboration,
systems.
Internet.
safety net through which no one trends and allow managers to
Complaints, MP 600, Kentigern
ACSC students will also
Detailed information is
The DRST work from Fleet
should now fall. tweak JPA as necessary, whether
House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow
have access to a wide range
becoming easier to extract,
HQ and have been busy since
First is the Service Requirement by means of training, software
G2 8EX; by email to SPVA-JPA-
of resources designed to help
according to Col Jeremy Taylor,
their formation in December 2005
Management Group (SRMG), adjustments or information.
Complaints (jpa-complaints@
develop their management and
Assistant Director Military
visiting approximately 200 units
which will act as a ‘champion of SPVA JPA service complaints
spva.mod.uk); or by fax to 94561
leadership skills.
Services at the Service Personnel
and establishments where RN
the people.’ are now dealt with by the SPVA
2605 (0141 224 2605).
Lt Col Dominic Evans,
and Veterans Agency (SPVA).
and RM personnel are serving to
co-ordinator of ACSC, said:
“Bringing all the systems
bring them up to date with the
“The Joint Staff College strives
together, we have one version of
latest information on personnel
to provide employees with
the truth,” said Col Taylor.
initiatives and more importantly
development opportunities that “There is one single source of
receive feedback on your views on
will have mutual benefit. data, and we can identify how
personnel matters.
“So while the management skills many people are in an area at a
Visits start with a half-hour
on the ACSC improve processes certain time, or how many – and
Personnel Update presentation,
and procedures in the military, who – are on a ship.
followed by discussions in peer
they also allow the individual “We can track individuals –
groups (officers, SRs, JRs)
to progress more quickly and there is much greater visibility.
facilitated by a team member where
confidently in their career path.” “There is also one set of training
you have an opportunity to express
The 46-week ACSC at the needed across the Services.”
your opinions on what you like or
Joint Services Command and
dislike in the personnel field.
One problem which
Staff College at Shrivenham
The discussion periods also
persists with JPA is not
is designed for UK and
provide an opportunity for the
the hardware but the
international military officers as
team to explain some of the detail
information which is being
well as civil servants.
and rationale of the initiatives
added – there is a greatly-
being implemented.
RN keen
increased responsibility on
Your feedback forms part of the
individuals to handle their
evidence that is used to influence
own matters through the
current and future personnel
for uniform
‘self-service’ element.
policy and to inform senior
“If the right data does not go in
officers (the Navy Board, 2SL,
then we cannot crank the handle
CINCFleet, Heads of Fighting
to be seen
and get someone’s pay in Euros
Arms) of the current perception of
in Germany, for example,” said
Naval Service personnel.
Col Taylor.
As an example of the
INCIDENTS of abuse in Some personnel have found
effectiveness of such feedback,
Peterborough resulted in Service themselves losing allowances once
concerns regarding JPA in its early
personnel at RAF Wittering JPA went live, and this is in part
days were fed back and recognised
being banned from wearing their down to the fact that there is less
at the highest level which resulted
uniform off-base – but the Royal room for interpretation – JPA is
in the formation of the JPA Support
Navy is still keen to see sailors “ruthless” in applying the relevant
Team to troubleshoot, providing
wearing uniform ashore. rules, according to Col Taylor.
extra training and guidance to
Airmen had reported being “By and large we have sorted
administration staff and personnel
verbally abused and taunted out most of the gremlins in the
managers as well as giving support
by civilians in the nearby city, system,” he said.
Moving visit for civic party
to individuals by dealing directly
believed to be as a protest at UK
“Most of the problems are now
with the JPAC Enquiry Centre
involvement in the Middle East.
down to human error or inputting SMART suits and gold chains are perhaps not the Phoenix Building and the Fire Fighting Training Unit.
(see main story, left).
Strong moves have been made,
error.” normal rig in the Damage Repair Instructional Unit The civic VIPs saw a practical demonstration on
In addition to going on the
championed by the National
One example was the soldier (DRIU) at HMS Excellent, but then lord mayors are board a moving ship simulator at the DRIU (above).
road, the Command WOs often
Recognition Study, to raise the
who, as a result of a minor not usually members of damage control parties. Lt Greg Callis, RN Damage Control Officer, said:
accompany their respective head of
profile of the Armed Forces
misdemeanour, was handed down The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Mike Blake, “The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress got to witness
fighting arm or other members of
by creating greater visibility of
a military fine in excess of £24 and Lady Mayoress Mrs Susie Sanderson paid an an element of the Sea Survival course in which
the Navy Board on visits to units
Service personnel in uniform.
million – a clerical error by his official visit to Whale Island, where they were given damage control was carried out.
and establishments, so look out for
The Naval Secretary, in
unit meant the offender’s eight- a tour of the training establishment, viewed the state “This course encourages teamwork, which is
them – they are influential people
support of this study, is leading
figure Service number had been gun carriage, and toured the facilities. important when dealing with incidents such as ships
and are always delighted to talk.
on tri-Service work to define the
entered into the field where the They were shown new accommodation blocks, taking damage.”
If you have any queries regarding
circumstances in which uniform
personnel or executive issues and
should be worn, is encouraged to
Painting depicts gallant Glowworm
are not sure who to talk to then
be worn, and may or may not be
contact a member of the team
worn in public.
– contact details are in all editions
The overall drive remains to
of the PSB – who will at least be
strive for greater visibility of RN
TROPHY number 26066 depicts one of the Admiral Hipper was badly damaged by the able to put you in contact with
people in the public eye.
most stirring actions by a Royal Navy ship Glowworm, putting her out of the war for the relevant person if they cannot
The key message from the in wartime – the ramming of German cruiser several months.
answer the question themselves.
office of the Naval Secretary is: Admiral Hipper by destroyer HMS Glowworm Despite this her CO, Kapitän zur See
The DRST is also more than
“Whatever the outcome of the on April 8 1940. Hellmuth Heye, was impressed by the British
happy to present to family groups
RAF Wittering issue, you are The encounter was by chance – Glowworm spirit and spent an hour rescuing more than 30
and hear their feedback – contact
encouraged to continue the drive was part of a substantial force, but had turned sailors who had survived the sinking of their
the team on 02392 625933 to
for higher visibility and to wear back to search for a man overboard. destroyer, and ensuring they were well-treated.
arrange a visit.
uniform in public.” On spotting the Hipper, Lt Cdr Gerald Heye’s respect for Roope’s gallantry went
Prime Minister Gordon Roope, the CO of Glowworm, made an further – he sent a message via the Red Cross
Brown condemned the abuse, unsuccessful torpedo attack. recommending Roope for a decoration, and
adding that personnel “should be With his ship severely damaged and little left the British officer was posthumously awarded
encouraged to wear their uniform in the weapons locker, Roope decided to use the Victoria Cross – the first occasion the
in public, they should be free to his ship as a weapon, ramming the German highest British military honour was awarded
do so and the public will want to cruiser, as shown in the print (right) which is on the evidence and recommendation of the
show their respect and gratitude.”
on the books of the RN Trophy Store. enemy. ● HMS Glowworm rams the Admiral Hipper
News and information for serving personnel
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