NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009 35
News and information for serving personnel
A thirst for firsts
At the
THERE’S been an impressive
crop of top class degrees
heart of
with Naval folk excelling in
all areas.
This year’s batch of Upper
Yardmen has garnered an
outstanding collection from the
service life
University of Portsmouth – nine
out of nine achieving First-class
BUSINESS is brisk, and the
honours for the Mechanical
opportunity to meet and talk
Engineers, and three out of eight
to families and serving
for the Electronic Engineers
personnel always brings
(the other five scored more than
forward subjects
respectable Seconds).
close to the hearts
Lt Cdr Kath Hutton, the
of everyone in the
students’ Divisional Officer, said:
Royal Naval and
“They’ve done exceptionally well.
Royal Marines
“This year with 17 people we’ve
communities.
had the highest course numbers
The variety of topics
so far. And for this next year, we
under discussion brings
have 24 just joined Portsmouth
some new areas of focus
University.”
together with updates on
One of the senior rates even
key issues:
walked away with the Institution
You may or may not be
specific
of Mechanical Engineers Project
aware that the Naval Families
control of
Prize for a piece of work entitled
Federation (NFF) attends a
BFPO, so no
‘The analytical study of pressure
formal evidence session with the
timescale can be put on the
vessels under external hydrostatic
Armed Forces Pay Review Body
outcome.
pressure’ (we have no idea what
(AFPRB).
For those families who are
it means, but it must be good
This meeting is our opportunity
affected by this please be assured
– Ed).
to register an independent family-
that the BFPO team are working
Any Engineering Technician
focused view on Naval Service
hard to bring this to a timely
(ET) who is interested in the
life today and also to respond to
● Degree of success: celebrating are POET(WE) Charlotte Thomas, Acting POET(ME) Lee Arnold, conclusion.
Upper Yardmen route should
POAET Matthew Wakefi eld, Acting CPOET(WE) Gareth Williams, Acting CPOET(ME) Terry ‘Spud’
questions from the AFPRB on any
The application form for Service
talk to their Divisional Officer
Whittaker, CPOET(MESM) Samuel Gill, POAET Keith Adams, CPOET(WESM) Tim Bateson, Acting
subject they choose, including pay
Families Accommodation (1132)
about raising their Commissioned
CPOET(WESM) Chris Balls, POAET Ryan Gregg, CPOET(WE) James Wagstaffe, CPOET(WE) Richard
and allowances.
has taken on a new look and, from
Warrant papers for Upper
Gray, POAET Douglas Styles and POET(ME) Nick Cowling
We look forward to hearing
December 1, the applications can
Yardmen Engineer.
about the recommendations for
be submitted on-line.
RN – and it’s all advertised in its kind for the Royal Navy. He “The Learning at Work staff
If successful, Upper Yardmen
2010 and as always we are keen
The correct form for submission
have a 14-month shore draft while
DINs.” achieved credits towards his degree supported me every step of the
to hear from anyone who has
is accessible via Defence Estates’
full-time at the university – Lt Cdr
To find out more about the through his training at BRNC way and are used to dealing with
something to say that they think
website or via the Housing
Hutton said: “They get 14 months
scheme, see RNTM 143/09: and subsequent Initial Warfare the Royal Navy and the changing would inform that discussion.
Information Centre (HIC), and
to manage their own lives at the
Engineering Branch Upper Officers course. pressures this puts on our free Harriet Harman, Deputy Leader
from December 2009, this will be
university.
Yardmen and Senior Upper
He then completed his degree time.” of the Labour Party, Leader of the only application form the HIC
“The university like them – they
Yardmen Scheme.
through work-based learning, all The hope is that Matt’s example the House of Commons and can accept.
join in the final year but hit the
accredited by the university. will encourage other officers to
Minister for Women and
The new look form features
■ ANOTHER student who
ground running, and normally get has come top of the class at
Matt said: “The degree has convert their training to a full
Equality invited all three Families
pop-up menus and compulsory
good results. the University of Portsmouth is
opened doors for me both in the degree.
Federations to join her on a fact-
field entries – the idea is to
“The university is keen to S/Lt Matt Lane, based at HMS
Navy and academically. If you are interested in finding out
finding tour of RAF Wittering a
reduce the volume of returned
continue the relationship. It’s one Excellent, who has been awarded
“I was able to get an academic more about these degree courses,
few weeks ago.
applications for completion and to
aspect of a broad educational and a First-class BSc in Maritime qualification through my normal please contact the university direct
The minister was particularly
allow senders to attach a delivery
personal development relationship Studies. day job and getting recognition for at learningatwork@port.ac.uk or
interested in how Service
receipt as confirmation that the
between the university and the Matt’s degree is the first of prior learning. visit www.port.ac.uk.
family members secure jobs
application has arrived at its
and childcare when moving
correct destination.
Fledgling officers take to the sea
location.
The new format additionally
Following the visit the minister
allows for appropriate attachments
made the following comments
and supporting comments to be
in a Daily Telegraph interview:
included.
“Employers have to realise that
The regeneration plans
THE fi rst batch of sailors to receive new-look upon finishing their time ten weeks at sea, excitement of a Joint Warrior exercise off the if someone has a CV where they for some Service Families
offi cer training are being put through their before returning to Dartmouth for four more Scottish coast. change jobs every two years, Accommodation in Rowner are
paces on three capital ships. weeks of training. “We’re quite lucky,” admits OC Neil it’s not because of their level of in the final stages of preparation
Forty cadets from Dartmouth have joined Condensing 18 weeks at sea into ten hasn’t Carpenter, a trainee logistics officer. “We’re commitment to their work, it’s before the project starts.
HM Ships Ark Royal, Albion and Illustrious been universally popular, but among the not just going to sea, we are going to sea because they have a commitment The new eco-friendly houses
for their first sustained taste of life at sea as benefits of the new training system is that and experiencing what the Navy does best. to their husband.” will see some 94 houses replace
part of the biggest shake-up of officer training pilots and observers will receive a much more We’ve seen different navies, so many different She added: “We need to raise the 85 set for demolition.
in a decade comprehensive introduction into life in the embarked aircraft.” employers’ awareness of this, so The aim is to give families more
The old package of Initial Sea Time and Fleet than previously. OC Joshua Albon, who hopes to become a they realise it’s not that someone energy-efficient, better-looking
Common Fleet Time – 18 weeks in all – has Aboard Ark, CPO ‘Dutchie’ van der Vliet Jungly Sea King pilot, adds: “We are worked in that situation is an unreliable and modern housing.
been merged into a single ten-week spell of what is one of a three-strong team sent by Britannia really hard. We don’t feel we’re being let off person.” The project planned timescale
is now known as Initial Fleet Time (IFT). Royal Naval College to help train the rookie anything. Irrespective of the branch we go The message is: please keep for completion is 18 months; this
Officer cadets spend the first half of the officers. through the same training.” your experiences and comments is however a planned timescale set
training period living and working with ratings “I think IFT is fantastic, it provides the Illustrious is hosting both ‘old school’ trainee coming in as they are actively against the known challenges of
before being introduced to wardroom life. cadets with a real sense of achievement and officers and the new cadets. “The other YOs being sought by the people who the development, so there may be
Throughout they are expected to get involved now they receive intensive training when they point to their thicker task books and the pilots may be formulating future plans some as yet unknown surprises!
in every aspect of life and activity aboard. need it most. Too often training received is say they really don’t fancy the extra work,” said for us all. The project team are looking
But under the new system, trainee officers forgotten, then re-learned. OC Carpenter. BFPO Closures – We promised to include design comments
will experience only life aboard capital ships – “With IFT, each cadet will pass out of When the cadets finish their IFT in late to keep concerned families up from families living in Rowner,
Ark , Illustrious, Ocean, Albion and Bulwark – Dartmouth significantly more prepared for the November, they return to BRNC for their to date regarding the Planning they would particularly like any
rather than destroyer/frigate fleet and larger. next phase of their training.” last spell of education and training there Round 09 measure to withdraw interested individuals to come
The revamped training also means the Cadets aboard Albion and Ark are which culminates with the final leadership the BFPO support to NATO forward. For further information
trainees sit their Fleet Board exams – the make experiencing their ships going through work-up assessment, the Maritime Leadership Exercise HQs informed of any progress please contact the NFF.
-or-break test which determines whether they following fairly lengthy spells of maintenance. (MARL) which tests all they have learned in made. The Chair of NFF, Kim
will become commissioned officers or not – Those in Illustrious have been treated to the their first 28 weeks in the Senior Service. Representatives from the Richardson, has been invited
three Families Federations were
to become a member of the
invited to BFPO HQ, together
Independent Scrutiny Group of
with appropriate representatives
Armed Forces Compensation
Trophy 19,186 will be of some
from the MOD, which gave us
Scheme Review.
interest to members of the
the platform needed for open
The exact details of the role and
Logistics branch.
discussions and an opportunity to
remit are yet to be confirmed, but
According to The Royal
highlight the concerns raised by
the NFF are delighted to be able
Navy Day by Day, November
families (see opposite page).
to contribute to this important
25 saw the introduction of There are Purser but
The area of the Deputy Chief
piece of work on behalf of the
the first instruction book for details of the sales of the
of Staff (Personnel) undertook to
three Families Federations.
Paymasters. accounts to same and any
look at these issues and where
The Christmas closure dates
However this publication be kept, how income from
possible how they might be
for Housing Information Centres
was predated by at least provisions the sale of
mitigated.
(HICs) are now posted onto our
28 years by the particular are to be a deceased
A Defence Internal Brief
website.
trophy, which is the 1824 surveyed to man’s kit.
(DIB) was issued on October
The Naval Families Federation
edition of the Regulations and establish their Present-
6 (2009DIB/37) detailing the
is contactable via www.nff.org.
Instructions for the Pursers suitability for day logistics
outcome.
uk, 023 9265 4374, or:
of His Majesty’s Ships and consumption officers and
Additionally the BFPO HQ
NFF,
Vessels. and the their staffs
is working hard to resolve the
Castaway House,
The contents of this allowances will not be
problem many organisations have
311 Twyford Avenue,
volume are almost exclusively of food, beer, surprised to
(such as commercial companies)
Portsmouth,
concerned with the victualling rum, tobacco learn that the
with not recognising BFPO
PO2 8RN.
of the Navy; it includes and soap per man per day. accounts were kept in triplicate –
do not appear to be any numbers.
chapters on the receipt and The issue of clothing is no word processors, computers
guidelines on the physical task At the centre of this lies the
custody of provisions and also recorded in the chapters or even carbon paper – and that
of storing ship, but it can be Royal Mail Postal Address File,
victualling stores, and on the dedicated to the ‘slop accounts’, ‘monthly books’ were in force
presumed that any fresh meat and it is within this that BFPO are
custody, issues and returns of including not only a record of by 1824.
would have made its own way seeking a solution.
the same. all clothing purchased by the Somewhat surprisingly there
onboard... This is, however, outside the
News and information for serving personnel
034-035_NN_nov09 2-6.indd 2 20/10/09 16:48:31
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