FOREWORD
FOREWORD BY AIR COMMODORE
I
t is a privilege to be invited to write the foreword to this edition of Envoy. Throughout my Royal Air Force career, I have been continually impressed by the enormity of what our Service – with the
vital and ever-present support of our families – has achieved in the defence of our Nation and her interests overseas. So, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to communicate directly with members of the wider RAF family through the pages of Envoy.
Recently appointed as the Head of RAF Media and Communications, I have a wide remit encompassing all external and internal communications. Now some four months into post, it is proving to be a demanding but very rewarding job. And it is clear to me that communication with our families must be of equal importance as communication with our external audiences (be they politicians or members of the public) and our internal audiences (be they RAF Servicemen and women or our Civil Service colleagues and our contractors).
Of course, the primary means of communication with our families is through the serving family member passing on what they are briefed in the workplace by his or her chain of command, though I know many readers will attest that these communications channels may, from time to time in our busy lives, become a little blocked or messages seem delayed. But in these days of mass communications and with the immense popularity of social media, it is also right that all audiences – including our RAF family members – should have a choice of communications channels through which they may keep up to date with important announcements.
So we have been making great efforts to improve our online media presence, and you can now find information about the RAF on Facebook, Twitter, RAF Airspace (exclusive to RAF personnel and their families) and the RAF and MoD internet sites, complemented by the RAF Community Support website (formerly known as RAFCOM) and, of course, the Families Federation website: I commend to you RAF Airspace in particular as a direct feed of official information. And, of course, there are also Station websites and other thriving online communities from which information may be drawn.
The RAF senior leadership is always very interested in the impact of decisions and outcomes upon our people and their families, not least during difficult financial times such as these when there is much change going on throughout the Service. Feedback
www.raf-ff.org.uk
‘HARRY’ ATKINSON CBE Head of RAF Media and Comms
from our personnel and their families is of considerable importance, whether it be through the chain of command or through other bodies such as the RAF Families Federation.
Of course, in challenging economic times, some very difficult decisions have had to be made in order to balance the books and to provide the best possible military capability for the available budget. This, of course, has a knock on effect for our families who will be all too well aware of the pressures of day to day living which are being felt across large parts of society at present. There has rarely been a time when communication has been so important, as the best decisions are made when the decision- makers are in receipt of the full facts, including the views of our personnel and families.
That said, as the Chief of the Air Staff recently briefed all personnel, we are now likely heading towards a more stable footing in terms of where we are based, with a smaller number of larger bases. We also know that, other than for some group captains and above, that the latest tranche of redundancies is the last, when originally we feared there might be three tranches. And we are working towards Future Force 2020 where much of our equipment will be new or refurbished, and with the real prospect – now that the MoD’s ‘books are balanced’ that future equipment programmes are less likely to be cancelled because of affordability issues. If you wish to know more about CAS’ message, you will find it on Airspace or you might ask your serving partner to keep you updated; we are extremely keen on openness all the way through the wider RAF family.
The RAF continues to make a real difference and there remains much to be proud of – just look at the widespread public support for our Service during the recent celebrations to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the support our Service, alongside the Royal Navy and Army is providing to the London Olympics 2012. It is undoubtedly a busy year on operations at home and overseas, whilst we support Her Majesty in Her 60th year of reign and support the Nation in hosting the Games; it is certainly a year our Service may remember with pride. Finally, thank you for your continued support; our Servicemen and women are nothing without the continuing commitment of their families.
Envoy Summer 2012 5
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