36 NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2009
News and information for serving personnel
Get the
big picture
IT HAS been a very busy year for the Naval within the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme,
Families Federation, and we would like to thank
you may like to look into it further as it encompasses
everyone for their contributions and comments
a wide criteria for claims including injury, illness or
over the last 12 months, writes Jane Williams of
death in Service.
● Logs Joanne Cox and her simian companion outside one of the
the NFF.
Detailed information is contained in JSP 765.
new accommodation blocks at HMS Raleigh Picture: Dave Sherfield
Without the invaluable contact from Royal Navy
■ Schools admissions
and Royal Marines families the people who need to
As part of any move, finding a school place
hear about your experiences only get part of
is vitally important and the Children’s Advisory
Raleigh goes
the picture of how life within the Naval
Education Service (CEAS) is the first point
community really is.
of call for expert information; however,
Some of the current timely
feedback on where the system could
For those
topics that are under discussion:
be improved is needed.
During a recent meeting
corporate
■ Voting from around the
world
looking at potential
left behind
In order to make sure that
improvements to the
THERE’S a submariner, a chef, common rooms (with obligatory
you have your say in the
admissions system, the
a Jack Dusty and a seaman very large TV and games
next round of elections it
desire to hear from families
specialist. machine), a galley/laundry and
THE ROYAL Navy and Royal
is important to make sure
about their experiences
No, we’ve not gone all stand- smarter communal heads.
Marines Widows’ Association
that you don’t miss your
and suggestions was clearly
up comedian on you, rather we’re More than give the lads and
was formed in 2008 by a group
opportunity to cast your vote
highlighted, so whatever
summing up quite simply the new lasses a nicer place to live, the
of volunteers, most of whom
and are registered to make
comments you have we would
accommodation at HMS Raleigh. main aim of the new blocks, says
are themselves widowed, who
your ballot count.
like to hear them.
Two blocks – Corporate Lt Cdr Martin, is “to create a
felt there was a need for an
For more information go to
■ SFA under the
Squadron – have opened for mess ethos, living in a constrained
organisation that could represent
http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/
microscope
junior ratings at the Torpoint environment, getting into the
and support widows or widowers
register_to_vote/armed_forces.
The findings of the House
establishment, marking a shift in routine of life on a ship, such as
and recognised partners of serving
aspx
of Commons Public Accounts
Committee Report (PACR) on Service
the way trainees live at Raleigh. pegging in and out.
personnel in today’s Royal Navy
■ Housing Information Centres For years, sailors undergoing “We also found that the
and Royal Marines.
HICs now have access to the JPA main computer
Families Accommodation has been released.
their ‘Phase 2’ training – routines of different branches
The Royal Air Force and
system and are able to identify all Service personnel
Here are some of the headlines following the NAO
turning basic trainees into their varied slightly, such as how the
the Army have had widows’
currently occupying Service Families Accommodation
survey of 12,427 Armed Forces families
specialist roles such as seamen, duty watch worked.”
associations representing their
(SFA); including those who have applied for discharge
● Almost a third of families describe the condition
Bosses turned down a cleaning
needs for some years.
and those who have received posting notices.
of their house as “poor”.
submariners, stores and personnel
administrators, chefs and stewards, contract as part of the construction
In the current present
HIC staff are therefore fully aware of who is
● Over a third were dissatisfied with the cleanliness
programme, deciding it was better
operational climate an increasing
entitled to a quarter, when and where, and this is
of their property on moving in.
sorry logisticians (catering services
(preparation/delivery)) – have for the sailors that they cleaned
helping with supply and demand.
● Nearly a quarter of families consider their
properties to be poorly maintained.
lived in 24-man messes. their own mess – as they do on
number of wives and partners are
■ The Welfare Pathway And on top of that, loggies a ship.
losing their spouses.
The Welfare Pathway gives further support to
● The department’s entitlement system is complex,
“The old system put up
However, the association’s
the Armed Forces community by offering a point
and Service personnel have limited ability to request
have shared messes only with
barriers between branches,” says
members have lost their
of contact and advice to unlock information on
a property outside their strict entitlement.
loggies, submariners with fellow
deeps, seamen – yep you get the submariner WO Mark Harris.
husbands/partners in a variety of
the welfare and support available to them – both
● Families receive very limited information about
“This one tears them down.”
tragic circumstances; membership
statutory and from the third sector (charities).
their property when allocated.
picture…
Which isn’t especially realistic The first sailors to move into
is not confined to those bereaved
The Armed Forces community will be able to get
● The department needs to develop better
the new blocks concur. They’re
due to operations.
advice on such things as priority healthcare, housing
mechanisms for communicating with occupants.
when it comes to life at sea; there
part-way through the training, so
The Royal Navy and Royal
and education as well as link in with Service and
We attend a number of meetings with ministers,
aren’t too many ‘single branch’
they also experienced the old-style
Marines Widows’ Association has
veterans charities and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Defence Estates and Modern Housing Solutions on
messes in the submarine/surface
‘separatist’ accommodation.
three main aims.
The pathway was launched in a ceremony attended
your behalf.
fleets.
“We’re sailors first, members of
Firstly, to offer comfort,
by Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
Housing is our biggest issue – 38 per cent of all
Hence the decision to put
a branch second,” says Logs(Pers)
support and friendship to those
for Veterans Kevan Jones and senior representatives
enquiries centre on housing. Considering the small
everyone in the same pot at Raleigh.
Ben White.
who have been bereaved and to
of Kent County Council. Kent County Council is the
proportion of our families living in Service Families
At the same time the two new
Chef Matthew Ward adds: “It’s
assist in any way it can.
first local authority to pilot the Welfare Pathway.
Accommodation that does not sit comfortably in the
blocks (keeping up the Operation
NFF office.
Corporate theme, they’re named a big step forward from what it
Secondly, to liaise with
Members of the Armed Forces community will
There is definitely a willingness to do more and
Antelope and Ardent after two was before. But you also make
relevant Royal Navy and Royal
be able to access advice on their entitlements by
improve the state of ‘the estate’.
of the ships lost in the Falklands sure that your space, your kitchen
Marines organisations, such as
visiting the council’s Gateway centres across Kent,
What’s the answer? Well in a nutshell, more
campaign) also feature much is clean.
Navy Welfare, Naval Families
which are partnerships between county and district
investment in Service Families Accommodation
improved accommodation. “You don’t want to leave it
Federation and other Naval
councils that include the National Health Service and
combined with more accessible and affordable home
The aim is to create a corporate dirty – you certainly don’t want to
charities.
voluntary and community organisations.
purchase schemes would seem to be a good start!
identity (boom boom – Ed) let your mess down.”
Thirdly, it aims to represent
A national helpline for Armed Forces personnel
What do you think? Comments please...
without mollycoddling matelots For submariner AB(CIS(SM))
the interests of widows in relevant
to get advice and direction on how best to access the with single en-suite cabins. Shaun Gamble moving in with
forums within the Ministry of
■ Winter heating
help and welfare support due to them is also available
A message from MHS – Modern Housing Solutions
“Single cabins give the wrong skimmers has been useful for a
Defence, such as at the Defence
on 08000 223366.
is pleased to advise that its helpdesk will continue to
impression of life in a boat or ship. much wider understanding of the
Widows Working Party meetings.
Service.
■ Retrospective recovery of charges
Until recently Royal Navy
be open 24/7 throughout the festive holiday period.
This accommodation is much
JPA have identified what they believe to be a vast
We do encourage occupants with repairs to report to
better than before, but it’s not “You need to realise that
and Royal Marines widows were
number of loss and damage charges, which have not
do so well in advance of the holiday period however.
the Ritz or Hilton,” explains Lt you’re part of a big Royal Navy
noticeable by their absence at
been debited from some people’s pay accounts.
We would also like to take this opportunity to
Cdr Ant Martin, Raleigh’s First family. You see people from other
these various important meetings
Some of these charges date back as far as early
remind occupants who are going away to leave their
Lieutenant. branches, it’s interesting to see
to the surprise of their Army and
2007 and have been incurred for things such as
heating switched on to the normal timed setting.
Now the trainees share eight- how they’re getting on, and how
Royal Air Force counterparts.
railcards, cash clothing and loss of stores charges.
Where possible, loft access hatches should also be
man/woman messes, enjoy you can help each other.”
In the short time that it has
been active as an association,
SPVA intended to debit these charges in October’s
left open.
the members have represented
pay. All personnel are advised to check their pay
These measures provide frost protection to the
widows at a variety of events,
statement carefully and if you are debited for a
heating system and hot and cold water pipe-work
from ceremonial remembrance
cost which you believe you have previously paid,
throughout the property, ensuring it is less likely that
Focus on JPA
services to meetings with
contact your UPO Administrator for advice on the
pipes will freeze or burst.
government ministers in
reimbursement procedure.
The staff at the NFF wish everyone a peaceful
THE latest news from the JPA had not set their memorable data
Westminster, which have been on
■ RNCOM
Christmas and New Year, and look forward to hearing
For details of community events throughout the
from families members on any topics affecting family
Information Forum: on the JPA system had it set by
a diverse range of issues, and also
UK and details of recording a message for broadcast
life in 2010.
■ Understanding your Pay default to their NI number.
with the bereavement charities
on BFBS to deployed loved ones during the Christmas
The Naval Families Federation is contactable via
Statement (PS) From November 16 (JPA
Cruse and the War Widows
period, then take a look at the RNCOM website: www.nff.org.uk, 02392 654374 or: NFF, Castaway
There is an explanation of the release 11) this default has been
Association and the service
rncom.mod.uk House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, PO2
entries that appear in PSs in the removed and those affected will
charity SSAFA. Self Service User Guide which can now be required to set their own
Everyone has a different story
■ Armed Forces Compensation Scheme 8RN. Additional links to other useful websites can be
If you don’t know about the provisions made found via the NFF Homepage.
be found at the JPA Portal under memorable data from the list
to tell but there is a common the Library link (click ‘Library’, available (favourite sports team,
bond and members tell the ‘Self Service user Guide’, then mother’s maiden name etc).
association that having suffered
the trauma of berea From grey ships to greyhounds
‘Pay Statement’). This change will not affect
vement they A further glossary of terms (ie those individuals who have
felt, after a period of time, the an explanation of each acronym already selected their NI as their
need to contact others within the
THE new Greyhound bus service Services people up to a limit of but the real benefit of the £7 fixed
used) can be found by clicking memorable data.
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
from Portsmouth to London two adults and three children. fare is when they need to travel
the link to the ‘JPA Desk Manual ■ Qualification Point bars (QP
community who had been
has introduced a special rate for Alex Warner, Managing Director without much warning.”
User Guide’ at the bottom of bars)
through a similar experience.
sailors. of Greyhound UK, explained: He added: “In addition
the PS page and scrolling to the You can check to see if you are
If you would like more details
All serving RN men and women “Since launching our high-quality naval staff will benefit from our
bottom. on a QP bar by checking your
on the Royal Navy and Royal
will be able to travel direct to services in September, we have exceptional customer service and
■ Use of I-Supports for pay Increment Level on your Pay
Marines Widows’ Association
London for a maximum of £7 noticed that Portsmouth-London outstanding features such as free
queries Statement.
please phone 023 9265 4374, or
each way when they buy a ticket services have been particularly Wifi, plug sockets, complimentary
As well as contacting the JPAC If is it followed by the nota-
email rnrmwidowsassociation@
on the day and produce their ID popular with sailors and other newspapers and 20 per cent
by telephone, individuals can tion (B) then you are subject to
hotmail.com or visit
cards. naval staff. legroom compared to other
submit their queries by using the a QP bar and cannot progress to
the website on www.
The cheapest Greyhound fares “In order to attract more navy coaches - £7 for a 70-miles trip
I-Support facility. the next IL until you achieve a
rnrmwidowsassociation.org. are only £1, but these need to be personnel on to Greyhound we in a luxurious coach represents All self-service users have this required competence.
booked in advance. Passengers have introduced a special deal. excellent value for money.”
facility and it enables you to check If you believe you should not
turning up on the day without a Around 20 per cent of seats are The deal also applies to the
the status of the query at any be on a QP bar then you should
booking can pay up to £10, but in sold at £1. However the later Greyhound service between
time and follow it through to take this up with the UPO in the
that instance naval personnel will you book, the more expensive the Southampton and London.
resolution. first instance. A list of the QP Bar
only pay £7. service will be. For more information and to
■ National Insurance (NI) number competences for individual RN
In addition, the £7 fare applies “Of course navy staff will be book online go to http://www.
as Memorable Data Default branches is at JSP 754 Chapter 3
to family members travelling with free to secure our cheaper fares, firstgroup.com
Until recently, personnel who Section 4 Annex A.
News and information for serving personnel
034-036_NN_Dec09 2-6.indd 3 19/11/09 16:38:41
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