F e d e r a t i o n N e w s


Owning Your Own Home “I am a single home owner and struggle immensely to pay my mortgage. On periods of detachments I have to pay for food even though it is not my choice to be detached. I appreciate this is part of the wider credit crunch, however I believe if the RAF was able to help first time buyers with a deposit I would not have been so stretched that my mortgage payments amount to over 60% of my monthly income.” (SAC)


Service Accommodation “The level of support provided for occupants of SF


A is terrible. There are too many agencies not


working together to provide a suitable service. I rent my house – I expect my landlord to resolve issues” (Flt Lt)


Influences on Your Decision to Stay or Go


Amount of pay “I feel that the annual pay award should reflect the retail price index (RPI) as it seems to be a fairer gauge of inflation. The Armed Forces award appears to be used as an example to other public sectors in a bid to reduce inflation rather than providing Servicemen and women with a pay rise to match the changes in the cost of living” (Chf T


ech) “W orking on a 1st line squadron which employs


civilian engineers to work alongside RAF engineers it disgusts me to find that the junior civvie engineers earn £10,000 P


A more than


me. The engineering trades (trade groups 1 & 2) are long overdue a proper pay review – hence why so many are leaving and walking in to higher paid jobs with far less responsibility and risk.” (Cpl)


Amount of Allowances “Having to account and keep every receipt for daily Subsistence for 2 years is a nightmare. W


are not choosing to go on detachment, we are being SENT


out of a shop as part of my lunch do I have to keep that crisp receipt for 2 years? MP's get £250 a day UNACCOUNT


ABLE expenses. Just


give us the old daily rate without the hours of paperwork and JP


A!” (Sgt) “What about the female clothing grant? W e


used to get a meagre £22 (approx) a year for the purchase of tights and stockings, now we get a one off payment of £45! Did a man think of that one?” (Sgt)


“I have been with my long term partner for over 8 years, because I have no inclination to get married again, (first marriage broke down


www.raf-families-federation.org.uk e , so why when I buy a bag of crisps


after numerous detachments, culminating in 9 months a year away) I feel that my partner and I are being discriminated by the system of ‘Victorian principles’. As we are not entitled to married personnel entitlements, my partner might just as well be invisible in the MOD’s eyes.” (Cpl)


Pension Benefits “On the pension front, the value of the package is a strong retention factor up until the point your partner has earned it; thereafter


, it's a


strong push factor as the call of a reasonably well-paid civilian career to combine with a pension is very strong.” (Wg Cdr)


“I have served for 17 years and am now in the pension trap. I have no intention of remaining in the Service beyond 22 yrs, regardless of whether I attain the rank of Sgt. I have a young family and the commitments of the Service are now impacting on family harmony OOA


. Frequent ’s, guard duties and un-established


commitments, coupled with the inconsistent housing situation, loss of family support facilities such as crèches and mothers groups and the ever


-diminishing list of stations to serve at all


have a detrimental affect on family life. The financial benefits of remaining in the Service are not at sufficient levels to persuade my wife and I to make future sacrifices. I will therefore collect my pension at 22 yrs and embark on a second career as civilian to provide the stability and quality of life my family craves.” (Cpl)


Financial Retention Incentives eg. commitment bonus “I find it strange that the RAF offers it’s younger


,


less experienced personnel financial retention bonuses, yet us old sweats are given no such bonus. I understand that it is difficult to recruit and retain in the current climate, but please spare a thought for us old boys who always seem to be forgotten about. How about retention bonus at the 22 year point if promoted to Sgt and signing on to L


OS30, likewise if


promoted to FS a retention bonus to sign on to age 55, or maybe a retention bonus at the 25 year point.” (Sgt)


General Comments: “I have had no help throughout my career with regards to house purchase but felt it necessary to make that provision for my family


. T oo many


personnel today want everything and then expect others to assist them to provide a house when they leave. Life is what you make it, be grateful for the lifestyle and opportunities the RAF still provides, I did and I wouldn't change a thing.” (WO/M Acr)


“The level of pay for an SAC gunner is unacceptable; probationary policemen receive a far higher wage than any SAC gunner even when LSSA, L


OA etc are added. W


e are asking


our troops to work in appalling conditions, with inadequate equipment and be separated from their friends and families for extended periods of time and we reward them by paying them peanuts... I fully understand that the lads joined to become involved in operations but it does not give the Government the right to underpay them, abuse their commitment to the State by not providing the correct equipment to do their job, house them in conditions unacceptable for prisoners, not properly compensate them for their sacrifices (time, separation, alienation by the general public, blood and lives). It’s simple, if you want to interest and retain personnel you must pay


in a 21st century way


, house, feed and compensate them . Gone are the days when


troops would stay in the forces because they are proud. The troops are proud men and they will not stay around to be treated like animals. (Flt Lt)


Star Comment The Federation wishes they knew who this comment was from..


“My disposable income is less now than 3yrs ago and that's not because I have kids, its because the Government are giving with one hand and taking back with anything they can use to grab. How many times do we have to pay tax on things? W


later so she can add her two pence worth (which will be taxed more than likely (SAC)


.I will pass this link onto my missus .)”


ay


Chairman’s Note: Since producing this report the FF have contacted the RAF P


staffs for clarification of pay/policy ‘myths and misconceptions’ and we will carry an article on this in the next issue.


Winter 2008 17


e not only get taxed on the


money we earn, but the money we spend as well. So monetarily we are pretty much screwed over


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