The RAF Way of Life
To date, this survey has been completed by 630 personnel, although many more visited the website only to opt out of completing the survey for some reason. These casual visits or incomplete surveys were not recorded as part of the total.
The breakdown of serving versus non-serving family members was 86% serving and 14% non-serving, a higher proportion of non-serving than we have achieved before. The gender breakdown was 71% male and 29% female, which is perhaps not surprising, given that the more than a third of the votes were gathered during interactive workshops held on stations such as RAF Honington, where personnel are predominantly male.
In terms of their relationship to the serving person, 23% of participants classed themselves as serving and single, 49% were serving with a non-serving partner and 12% were serving with a partner also serving in the Armed Forces. 13% were non-serving spouses and 1% said they were non-serving partners, ie. unmarried. The remaining 2% were either parents, siblings or children of serving personnel.
Votes came from across the rank structure, with every rank represented apart from Master Aircrew. The most represented ranks were AC- Cpl, Sgt, Flt Lt and Sqn Ldr. The split between commissioned and non- commissioned voters was 27% commissioned and 73% non-commissioned.
Voters ranged in age from under 21 to over 56, with the majority of votes (34%) coming from the 21-30 year olds, with a further 32% aged 31-40 and 28% aged 41-55. The higher proportion of younger respondents reflects the audience dynamic, particularly at RAF Honington, where this particular workshop was run with several squadrons.
In terms of personal status, respondents classified themselves as follows: 12% single with no current partner; 16% single but in a long-term relationship; 56% married or in a civil partnership for the first time; 10% married or in a civil partnership for a second or subsequent time and the remainder were either separated, divorced or widowed. These figures reflect the ratios from previous survey activity and we believe they represent a fair breakdown of marital status, albeit we suspect the proportion of divorced personnel is distorted by those now considering themselves as in an alternative category.
Finally, of our respondents, 43% stated they lived for the majority of the week in Service Family Accommodation (SFA), with 3% in Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA); 29% lived in Single Living Accommodation (SLA), with 1% in Substitute Single Living Accommodation (SSLA); 19% lived in their own home and 4% lived in privately rented accommodation. The remaining voters either lived with their parents, in housing association properties or in other type of accommodation.
Pay and Pensions
As anticipated, voters told us that the Government- imposed two year pay freeze has had a definite impact upon their family income. When this is combined with increases in SFA charges, utility bills, food prices, petrol and the general cost of living, many felt that they had in fact taken a pay cut.
Perhaps not surprisingly, when asked whether the government was right to impose a pay freeze on the Armed Forces, only 36% felt that they should take their
share of public sector pay restraint.
With regards to levels of satisfaction with basic pay, 50% of voters told us that they were ‘fairly satisfied’, whilst a quarter were dissatisfied.
This contrasts sharply with the responses given when asked about the benefits (allowances) package currently available, which drew many negative comments when it was announced earlier this year.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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