NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2009 33
News and information for serving personnel
Homes truths
from the NFF
Changes to
SINCE our last item in NNaavy vy NewsNews DRST visits
the Naval Families FFederation tion
staff have been out attending tending
THE AIM of the Divisional
a variety of family eveents,nts,
and Regimental Support
and as always the he
Team (DRST) is to support
infi nite diversity of of
unit divisional and regimental
topics for discussion
organisations by providing a two-
surrounding life in
way information fl ow on personnel
the Royal Navy and
issues to all those serving in the
Royal Marines forms
Royal Navy and Royal Marines,
the basis of our focus
including the families and civilian/
on modern families s
other Service line managers of
and the lifestyles of our r
RN/RM personnel.
community.
In addition to conveying key IC
Here is a taster of some ome
messages on personnel policy and
of things we talked about and ut and
obtaining feedback on personnel
also a couple of things wwe would ould
issues through presentations and
like your feedback on.
discussion groups, the team also
deployment?
get loftget loft
conducts an informal divisional/
■ Are you away on deployment?
Are you awaiting the returreturn of a n of a
insulainsulation into SFA rolled out
regimental health check.
loved one from theatre?
across the countracross the country.
A DRST visit will therefore
A guide designed to assist all
The plan is to upgrade around
contribute to existing unit lines
family members, both serving and
3,800 SFA across England and
of communication and provide
non-serving, called Coming Home
Wales on a rolling programme. For
the Command Team with a wider
is available through the TRiM
those living in SFA, notification
perspective on unit and Service
team.
will be given by letter about any
personnel issues.
● 2-6 TV’s new intrepid reporter Kate McIntyre on the raft is pushed across the harbour by her team to
Additionally, RNCom have a
intended dates. Please keep us
rescue the instructor at Pier Cellars
Following a review of the current
Pictures: LA(Phot) Dave Hillhouse
downloadable version and NPFS
posted with your comments
DRST visit routine, a revised visit
provide guides for separation
procedure will be adopted this
■ JCCC Joint Casualty
and reunions, together with a
Compassionate Centre: If
deployment toolkit for families on
circumstances should arise whilst
RNCom website.
a serving member of the family
is away overseas on a posting,
■ What information can I get
hold of, now that my son is deploying
at sea or on deployment, that
for the first time?
make it necessary for the family
2-6 ups
autumn.
It aims to achieve greater
engagement of the Command
Warrant Officers (CWOs) with
units in their respective Fighting
Arm and, in recognition of
The excitement of taking on a
to apply for his/her return on
the increasing utility of Navy
new career and learning the skills
compassionate grounds (such as
Command Communications Hub,
to be able to perform your new
a death in the immediate family,
to integrate the Fleet IC Warrant
job well can be so all-consuming
serious illness or serious family
that new recruits can sometimes
crisis) then please make sure that
overlook passing on a few details
you have a JCCC cream credit-
to mum and dad that are vital
card-sized contact card. Service
for their peace of mind, so don’t
personnel can obtain these cards
forget to make sure that your
via the UPO.
the pace
Officer (WO1 Baz Cooke) as an
integral part of the DRST visit
process.
A full DRST visit will remain
for specific units using the existing
format; these will include the lead
pre-deployment pack is organised
training and large establishments,
■ Housing, housing, housing...
and a few phone numbers are on
When calling Modern Housing
capital ships, foreign units, RNR
a ‘fridge list’.
Solutions to book work on your
TURNING up on your TV screens just about HMS Raleigh by taking part in the grueling outdoor
and small isolated units who will
SFA we recommend that you
■ Do you listen to BFBS?
now (and also on the web for techie types)
activities at Pier Cellars.
be informed by a calling letter in
Since their new launch at
always keep a pen and notepad by
is the latest edition of the RN’s ‘magazine’
She comes to 2-6 as an RN novice, so what has
the normal manner.
Easter on DAB digital radio and
the side of the phone and jot down
But for the remainder the
show.
she learned so far? “Sailors are a smart, witty, fun
television, the opportunity for
any recommendations that MHS
respective ‘Fighting Arm CWOs’
And regular viewers of 2-6 might notice that it’s
bunch,” she says (news to me – Ed). “What’s been
them to feature more Royal Navy
may offer, together with a note of
(accompanied as required by Fleet
been tweaked quite a bit.
great is how welcoming everyone has been and Mez
and Royal Marines families and
the job reference number and the
XO or Fleet XO (Air)) will visit
The programme, which features a mixture of
and Andy are great to work with.
events has rocketed.
appointment date and time given.
surface ships, submarines, FAA
internal comms messages and a round-up of what’s
“It’s important that rather than just be a presenter
One of the weekend slots is
It is also worthwhile noting the
squadrons and Royal Marine units
going on in the Senior Service, has been running
talking to people, I get stuck in – they’ve already lined
dedicated to families to send
time and date you make the call
individually, three to six weeks
for three years – long enough for bosses to give it a
the DRIU up for me.”
messages to deployed loved ones;
into the helpdesk.
after an earlier visit having taken
makeover.
Another important change is getting sailors
BFBS will be attending more Navy
MHS record incoming calls,
place by the Fleet IC WO.
And the first thing you’ll probably notice is a
involved in the making of the programme; the July
families days with their outside
so if you do need to follow
This DRST visit will be much
sparky blonde presenter (matelots tend to notice
edition features a leading hand quizzing Second Sea
broadcast equipment.
up a conversation or pursue a
reduced in time and it is envisaged
these things…) replacing the old voiceovers.
Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey about personnel
So have your message ready
complaint, the ability for the
will only require a sample of the
You might recognise Kate McIntyre’s face – or
issues.
and get onto the airwaves.
helpdesk to review a previous call
unit’s manpower to engage the
should enable them to bring things
voice as she also provides the commentary for
“The feedback we had from the first programme
team, therefore significantly
■ Overnight childcare... As part
documentaries – from a string of programmes on
was good,” says Mez. “It’s much more upbeat, much
of the commitment to your job do
to a swift conclusion.
reducing the impact to busy ships’
BBC1, ITV and Channel 5, anything from Real Story
more professional, more of what the lads and lasses
you need to have overnight childcare
Thank you to everyone who
programmes whilst alongside.
and DIY SOS to Animal Planet.
want.”
in place?
have been in touch with us to
She’s joined by two stalwarts of the RN
Which is exactly what the producers wanted.
We really would like to know
provide comment and feedback
photographic branch – CPO Andy Gedge and PO
“Sailors said the original version of 2-6 was a bit
what elements of getting this
on family issues, please keep it
Housing trial
Mez Merrill – who shoot much of the footage for the
‘top down’ and needed a bit of energy,” explains
arranged are straight forward and
coming.
programme (aided by the combat camera teams who
Rebecca Denholm, the programme’s producer.
what frustrations occur.
NFF can be contacted via
for single
Admin@NFF.org.uk or 02392
provide some of the front-line images).
“The items are shorter and pacier – it’s important
■ Insulation: It’s summer, but
Sadly, you won’t catch Andy and Mez on the
that we get the message across, but in a way that’s
that does not stop the plans to
654374.
programme (although the feedback from the first
fresh and relevant.
Service leavers
new-look edition, broadcast back in April, was that
“I think it’s very important that we use naval
HAIG Housing Trust is trialling a
Trophy lives
sailors wanted to see more of Mez; there are rumours,
photographers for most of the footage – that makes it
eight-bedroom scheme in London
however, that the suggestion came from photographic
much more authentic.”
which will provide secure, low-
branch colleagues…).
Anyone wanting to watch the programme can see
cost, transitional accommodation
But you will see quite a lot of Kate – she’s promised
it at twosix.tv, although you will need Flash installed
for single Service leavers to help
to get stuck in, rather than be simply a face in front
on your computer. You can also leave feedback and
them fi nd employment and
of the camera. She made good on that promise at
suggestions for future editions.
establish themselves in civilian
life.
Project Tassle is being piloted in
two four-bedroom flats in secure
student-type accommodation
in Hackney. Each resident will
have their own en-suite bedroom,
with a communal kitchen. If the
scheme is well subscribed, Haig
will consider opening up similar
schemes across the country.
Project Tassle will give
successful applicants an address
and firm base for up to a year
while they seek employment
during their transition into civilian
Trophy no 3112 is a set of three Russion gold icons entitled The
life. It will be a condition of the
Virgin Mary, The Enthroned Saviour and John the Baptist, and
licence that people actively seek
are believed to have been made in Moscow towards the end
employment before moving on.
of the 18th century by Ivan Leontiev Lakomkin. This set was
The rent of £120 per week is
presented to the cruiser HMS Caradoc in September 1919 by the
inclusive of all utility, service and
Town and Garrison of Yalta. At that time Caradoc was in the 3rd
management charges.
Light Cruiser Squadron operating in the Black Sea in support of
For an application pack, call
the White Russians. The fortunes of the White Russians ebbed
Haig on 020 8685 5777 or email
and flowed; at one stage they succeeded in capturing significant
rory.im@haighousingtrust.org.
parts of the Black Sea coastline but were unable to hold on
uk.
to these gains, all of which were subsequently lost. Although
there is now no documentary evidence to explain precisely why
HMS Caradoc was given the set of icons it is believed that they
were given by the White Russians as a token of appreciation for
assistance rendered to them during the Bolshevik Revolution.
● 2-6 TV’s Kate McIntyre in her polished presenter mode interviews a trainee during a Distex
News and information for serving personnel
032-033_NN_aug09 2-6.indd 2 21/7/09 14:44:06
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