NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2008 35
News and information for serving personnel
Charity
champions
to aid donor
initiative
Grand
CHARITY champions, each
SLAM
representing a ship, squadron,
unit or establishment, will be the
focal points for a new Royal Navy awards
donation from pay scheme.
The Sports, Amenities and
A PARTNERSHIP between the
Benevolence Scheme (SABS)
MOD and Interserve has won two
is the first such scheme in the
awards at a ceremony in London.
Royal Navy that encompasses all
The project, which is
the major charitable outputs as
delivering the Project Armada
outlined in the title.
accommodation at Devonport
SABS started a pilot roll-out
Naval Base, took the Partners
programme in October 2007 and
in PFI/PPP and Overall prizes
was formally launched by the
at the Premises and Facilities
Second Sea Lord in March.
Management (PFM) Awards
● A UK reservist dives into the pool for the water obstacle course
SABS is the RN and RM’s
2008.
first fully-integrated Charity
Project Armada is a £460
Payroll Giving Scheme (CPGS)
UK has
million 25-year contract that
and there are strong pragmatic
involves the rebuild, new build
reasons for taking this step.
and refurbishment of 100,000
Firstly, SABS will roll up
square metres of single-living
accommodation for 1,553 military
previous schemes – the Voluntary
personnel.
Sports Subscription Scheme
It also involves a range of services
(VSSS) and Voluntary Donations
such as estate management,
from Pay (VDP) – for those now
plenty in
catering and hotel services,
joining the Naval Service.
maintenance, cleaning, laundry,
Secondly the name explicitly
reactive and planned works,
addresses the thorny question of
car park security and childcare
‘What is in it for me?’
services.
And finally, from a
The Interserve-MOD
management perspective, it
partnership also scored highly
also allows the trustees of the
in health and safety, winning a
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
reserve
RoSPA Gold Award in 2007,
Charity (RNRMC) – who
and in sustainability, delivering
manage the scheme on behalf
improved recycling and reuse of
of the Navy Board – in the
materials that not only reduced
event of a catastrophic incident,
emissions but also cut costs by
to determine the priority for
£150,000.
expending funds.
The PFM judges said of Project
As a balance to this, a critical
Armada: “This partnership is
success factor for the new scheme
among the best these awards have
will be to publicise at the end of
HEARTS raced and lungs aid and the law of armed conflict.
ever seen in their 15 years of
each year exactly where the funds fought for more air as
However, that basic principle
operation.
have been spent. competitors pushed their
survives,” he said.
“It is delivering first-class
It is important to note that bodies to the limit – crossing
The Milcomp typically attracts
facilities for the Navy, which
SABS is a donation and not a
the finish line covered in sweat,
about 200 competitors from close
are well-managed and with a
subscription-based scheme, and
bodies tortured, writes S/Lt
to 20 nations.
co-operative and pro-active
is predicated on a suggested
This year’s event saw 49 teams
Laura Harrison RNR, HMS
approach that makes a significant
contribution of £1 (gross pay)
of three compete in novice,
Wildfire.
difference to the Navy personnel
per week for all personnel.
experienced, veteran, female and
But they had survived.
and helps to recognise the high
This has been chosen in
international categories.
The scene was repeated again
value this country places on its
preference to the ‘half-a-day’s-
Maj Webster says Milcomp is
and again as teams of reservists
Armed Forces.”
pay’ model because the key
the oldest military competition of
from 17 countries raced against
audience is new recruits, and
its type, and has endured because
time to finish a NATO standard
the modelling suggests that
of its relevance and fairness.
obstacle course, part of the three-
Training
maximum income will be
The scoring of the competition
day Interallied Confederation
achieved by a minimum entry
places emphasis on shooting, then
of Reserve Officers Military
level that applies to all.
navigation and finally the obstacle
Competition (CIOR Milcomp)
takes flight
Donors may opt to give more –
runs.
that took place in Istanbul in the
The competition tests all of
DEFENCE and support services
which more senior personnel will
summer.
the key elements of fitness and
company VT Group has signed a
be encouraged to do.
The CIOR Milcomp was
After risk-analysis work, it was
military skills. £160 million contract to provide
established in 1957 as an
decided that the present VSSS
“Those who reach the top are initial flying training for the three
internationally-recognised event
and VDP schemes will continue
the best,” said Maj Webster, “and, Armed Forces.
that tests a range of military skills
to run for current subscribers
for that reason, every competitor The new ten-year contract,
such as pistol and rifle shooting,
but will not be open to new
respects those who achieve under VT Support Services,
land and water obstacle courses,
subscribers.
victory, and aspires to match their
distance judging, grenade throwing
extends and expands the scope
SABS will be marketed to new
standard.
and orienteering, and provides an
of VT’s aircraft maintenance,
entry personnel and to those who
“If I was ever mobilised with
opportunity to develop advanced
logistics and provision of assets
have so far chosen not to support
one of my foreign allies who had
leadership, courage and physical
for flying training.
competed in Milcomp, I would
VSSS or VDP. fitness.
VT will deliver up to 57,000
feel immediately confident because
It is important to stress that Besides training combat
hours of flying each year through the
I would know that his or her
● British reservists climb the obstacle course’s fi ve-metre ladder
SABS will not encroach on the effectiveness, Milcomp also
provision of aircraft and associated
standards of fitness and military
excellent results achieved by incorporates the benefits of
International team. competition in Sofia, Bulgaria, has
skills were second to none.
support, including instructors.
the Sports Lottery or the Royal intercultural experience and
We also came second overall, already begun in Aldershot.
“That confidence and trust is
The augmented University Air
Marines, who support the Corps friendship amongst the reserve
first and second in both the If you are a member of the
priceless.”
Squadrons (UAS) and Elementary
Fund by donations from pay. forces of NATO and its partners.
experienced and novice categories, RNR or RMR (any rank/rate)
Flying Training (EFT) service will
Professional fundraising Current Milcomp Chair Major
The UK squad took the lion’s first in the female category, and would like to know more
start from April next year.
expertise and promotion will be
Ian Webster RE, involved for 17
share of the medals and saw third in the veterans, and we about participation, contact the
undertaken by Seafarers UK as
years as UK coach, team manager,
success in every event. won the obstacle course and the UK Reserve Forces Association
an integral part of the Charities
international secretary and
Maj Andy Mason RMR orienteering competitions. for further information www.
Sustainable
team; the SABS manager is Mrs
chairman, remembered his first
represented the UK in the winning Training for the 2009 ukrfa.org/
Julie Behan who can be contacted
competition with fondness. commitment
at julie.behan@seafarers-uk.
“It was an incredible experience
and a challenge,” said Maj
THE MINISTRY of Defence has
org or on 023 9281 6508.
Webster.
taken another major step towards
In order to flourish the scheme
“It was my first contact with
becoming a more sustainable
will have to become part of
foreign forces, and a very steep
department when Defence
naval culture, which requires the
learning curve as I watched a
Secretary John Hutton, along
support of COs and of the charity
Norwegian team shoot, run, swim
with some key industry partners,
champions, ensuring support for
and navigate faster than I thought
signed a sustainable procurement
SABS cascades down the chain of
possible.”
charter.
command from the Navy Board.
Although the Milcomp has
The voluntary charter commits
The Divisional system will
developed over the years, Maj
the MOD and its suppliers to work
also be crucial, as will retired
Webster feels it has changed
together to achieve sustainable
personnel.
little in principle – bringing allies
development goals through
Just over 1,100 personnel have
together to test a range of military
educating the supply chain,
been enrolled since the scheme’s
skills in a competitive and fair
developing performance measures
inception, with a target set of
environment.
and sharing best practice.
5,000 by March of next year.
“The weapons and practices
Units which have not yet
may have changed; courses
nominated a Champion should
may have been standardised,
do so immediately, forwarding
competitors may be tested on first
details to the Fleet Charities
Officer at susie.norbury813@ ● A UK competitor scrambles
mod.uk or on 93832 5247 (023 under the wire on the land
9262 5247). obstacle course
News and information for serving personnel
034-035_NN_dec.indd 2 20/11/08 08:50:05
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