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P ADERBORN , SENNELA GER & DETMOLD 2012 Resettlement: Sorting Fact from Fiction
So what’s it all about? Well resettlement is the kind of thing people talk a lot about, but, usually from limited experience. If you believe the rumours, you’d think it was some sort of weird ritual; something vaguely New Age. Well there could be an element of truth in that but like some of the other stories about resettlement it’s a mixture of myth, legend and sheer fantasy. Not surprising really, because for most of us it always seems a long way off; or we believe that if you start making plans too early the message gets out that you’re thinking of signing off and that could cause complications.
But listen: the fact is that no matter what rank you make or how long you serve, everybody leaves. For us, resettlement is a fact of life. It’s inevitable; just like death and taxation. It’s not so much a case of IF we leave the Army, more WHEN. So that means you’ve got to be best prepared to start a new career that will probably last longer than your Army days – whenever it happens.
It’s the planning that’s important. The resettlement process really starts from the time you join. Every course you take should have a civilian qualification attached; such as an NVQ and you ought to make sure you take advantage of what’s on offer. If it seems that there’s nothing out there, then come and talk to me; your friendly neighbourhood Individual Education and Resettlement Officer (IERO), about courses you can take which will be useful when you leave. It’s called Personal Development and you may be able to claim up to £2,000 a year to help you achieve what you want.
But Let’s look at some of the facts regarding Resettlement: What is resettlement? Resettlement advice is part of the process of helping Service Leavers (those in the Resettlement process) make “…a smooth and seamless transition from military to civilian life.” Or, to put it another way, trying to make sure you go from your present position into something that gives you job satisfaction, a reasonable salary and a decent quality of life.
Who gets resettlement advice? All serving military personnel are entitled to receive resettlement advice at any stage of their Service careers. They are entitled to Resettlement Training, according to their length of service and the circumstances under which they are leaving the Army. If you want the details, look in the Tri-Service Resettlement Manual JSP 534 which your Regimental Admin Office holds.
What happens? On signing off, or on reaching the 2 year point prior to completion of your 22 years, everybody gets an initial briefing with their Unit Resettlement Officer (URO). The URO will outline the way the Resettlement system works and tell you about your entitlements. You then get passed on to me, the IERO at 41 or 44 AEC, for your Resettlement Advice Briefing (RAB). This, I have to say, is not an optional move. The RAB is mandatory for Warrant Officers, NCOs and soldiers and is strongly advised for all Officers.
When does this happen? Ideally, you should have your RAB within 28 days of signing off or upon reaching the 2 year point before completion of your full 22 years. There are exceptions, of course – like when you’re on an op tour – but take this 28 day period as your target time to schedule your RAB.
What happens at the RAB? This is your opportunity to explore your options. We will talk about your personal circumstances and what you’ve got in mind for the future. We’ll talk about jobs and look at the realities of life, like the prospects of council housing or buying your own home in the area you’ve chosen to live in. We’ll check
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