Contact
Telephone: 01780 781650, email:
enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk or via the
websitewww.raf-ff.org.uk
A Qu a r t e r l y Ma g a z i n e f o r R A F P e r s o n n e l a n d t h e i r F ami l i e s Contents
Editor’s words/From the Chairman/The RAF Families Federation Foreword by the Chief of the Air Staff’s Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Gary Wilcox
Cover Photograph – Courtesy of RAF Honington.
Envoy – The magazine of the RAF Families Federation, published 4 times a year.
Editor: Ann Dewar RAF Families Federation, 13-15 St Georges Road, Wittering, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE8 6DL 01780 781650
Chairman: Dawn McCafferty Business Manager: Chris Taylor Communications Manager: Ann Dewar Evidence Manager: Jenny Ward Evidence Co-ordinator: Colin Jones Evidence Assistant: Jenny Scott Communications Assistant: Nick Crouch Admin Co-ordinator: Julie Goodson
Published quarterly by Method Publishing, a division of Scottish Provincial Press Limited, on behalf of Envoy
Design and Typography: © Method Publishing 2010 Editorial Matter and Illustrations: © Envoy Printed in Great Britain by: Warners Midlands plc
Advertisement Office (UK): Method Publishing, Sutherland Press House, Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6RA Tel: 01408 633871 Fax: 01408 633876 Advertisement Manager:
Jeanne Alker:
j.alker@
methodpublishing.co.uk
Views expressed in Envoy, unless stated otherwise, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of Envoy, the RAF or the Ministry of Defence.
No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in Envoy can be accepted by the Publishers or Printers and advertisements are accepted on the express condition that the advertiser warrants that they in no way contravene the provisions of The Trades Descriptions Act 1968 nor any other prevailing legislation in the United Kingdom.
The Publishers reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any advertisement without stating a reason.
The RAF Families Federation is an independent
organisation parented by The RAF Association.
Patron: Her Majesty the Queen
Registered Charity Number 226686
Scottish Charity Number SCO37673
Emerging Issues
Late Start for the Reds ........................................................................................................................................6 Your Say on Blue Badges! ...................................................................................................................................6 Service Family Members Seeking Jobs .................................................................................................................6 The ‘Affordable Housing’ Option ..........................................................................................................................6 Maintenance Should now take Less Time! ...........................................................................................................6 Sesame Street – Do We Need Something Similar? ...............................................................................................6 Look Out for Our Stories in RAF News .................................................................................................................6 Envoy delivered FREE to your Home ....................................................................................................................6 The Federation’s Annual Report ...........................................................................................................................6 Half Price Coach Travel ........................................................................................................................................7 NI Credits for Spouses Overseas ..........................................................................................................................7 Quarter Pre-payment Cleaning Scheme – Good or Bad? .......................................................................................7 Improper Treatment Must be Sorted Out ..............................................................................................................7 Changes for Foreign and Commonwealth Citizens Serving in the UK Armed Forces ...............................................7 Families Change Shape .......................................................................................................................................7 Launch of Armed Forces Day 2010 ......................................................................................................................7 FREE Adventures for Young People this Summer ..................................................................................................7 Happy Holidays for Children with Additional Needs .............................................................................................8 Read to Your Child Every Night while You are Away ............................................................................................8 The Evidence You Gave Us ..................................................................................................................................8 New Man Heads up Customer Services at MHS ...................................................................................................8 This Year’s Big Lunch ..........................................................................................................................................8
Features
A View from Kabul ...........................................................................................................................................11 The Day We Met ..............................................................................................................................................12 Culture Shock ...................................................................................................................................................14 A Man Speaks! The Truth is We Feel Guilty ........................................................................................................17 Outburst from Mrs H, Can you hear me dear?....................................................................................................18
REGULARS Federation News
Our Workshop Programme for this Season.........................................................................................................20 Where We Will Be in 2010 ..............................................................................................................................21 New Government – New Goals ........................................................................................................................22
Readers Offers Win A Pair of Tickets to the Royal International Air Tattoo ..................................................................................24
Education A Pioneering Spirit ............................................................................................................................................26
Your Health Eyes are Precious ..............................................................................................................................................29
Housing Coming Soon to a Computer Terminal Near You – The e-1132 SFA Application Form ...........................................30 Your Money
Being in Debt is not a Crime .............................................................................................................................31 State Pension Changes made in April that will probably Affect You! ...................................................................32 The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme ..........................................................................................................33 Money Worries over Divorce and Separation .....................................................................................................36
In The Workplace A Day in the Life of a Desk Officer ......................................................................................................................38 You And The RAF
Bring on the Diggers .........................................................................................................................................39 With Attitude!...................................................................................................................................................40 RAF Presentation Team ......................................................................................................................................42
Community
Miles More Minutes ..........................................................................................................................................45 JobCentres are not What they Were! .................................................................................................................46 RAF Youth Support Programme Rolls On ............................................................................................................47
www.raf-ff.org.uk Summer 2010 3
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