COMMUNITY
WO Colin Foot
have more greying hair (Yvonne at RAF Brize Norton, you are not included, but the frothing at the mouth is something of a give-away!).
While the inception of the HASC will undoubtedly improve the future allocation of the SFA housing stock, the move from seven regional to two more centralised locations has meant that the SCSOs have had to re-establish their relationships with staff regarding their respective estates. This has led to frustrations on all parts as something that was once easy but has now become somewhat cumbersome to resolve.
Without fear of contradiction, the most important, and unwritten work, the SCSOs have to do is to manage peoples’ expectations. Just because you had a three bedroomed semi-detached house with garage on a relatively new-build estate, with all the community services you could wish for, at your last Unit, you cannot expect that at each subsequent Unit. The housing stock varies greatly and consequently families can only have what is available at the time of allocation. As such I would advise you to:
• Contact your Unit SCSO at an early stage, and ask for the contact details of the SCSO at your new Unit. They may just be able to alleviate your concerns before they become major issues.
• Contact the HASC, make them aware of your situation, use the electronic F1132, e-mail, or the phone, and above all else, advise them as soon as you receive an Assignment Order. The Assignment order will begin the chain of events that will affect you at your current Unit, your future Unit and an individual in the chain
www.raf-ff.org.uk
WO Yvonne Conway
elsewhere who will eventually occupy your current SFA when you move-out and onward.
Communication is paramount. Understandably, if you believe you have been badly treated, then complain. Conversely, if you have received a good service from the HASC, tell someone. As a customer-focused nation a ‘thank you’ means a great deal, but the understanding and acknowledgement of the frustration felt by an individual or Agency who is trying to help you also goes a long way. HQ Air Command, DIO, the HASC and SCSOs are all working towards the same end – to assist you to live in a property that is within your entitlement and appropriate to your needs.
All SCSOs serve on Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS) terms, and bring a variety of Service and more importantly, personal and life experience to the job. They work for you in concert with other SCSOs and, HQ Air Command Community Support staffs who provide the conduit that we need to deliver a similar service on each Station. We are in continual contact with the RAF Families Federation and use their many networking contacts to ensure you receive the best service possible. Don’t forget to complete their surveys, which formulate discussion points that are taken to higher authorities as they work for you!
I make no apologies for concentrating a lot of my words on SFA, but rest assured that SCSOs are involved elsewhere on your Unit. For instance, Flight Sergeant Marty
FS Bob Greenfield
Latham, the SCSO at RAF Lossiemouth, is keen to point out that his role focuses, not on DIO housing, but more on the Community Support. Marty sits on a number of committees. He is secretary of the SSAFA Volunteers Community, he chairs the committee for the Station Contact Facility and is also a RAF Association Liaison Officer. Marty facilitates and delivers the Station’s Deployment Support Programme, which includes managing the Families Welfare Grant and works closely with both HIVE Information Officers (there are two at Lossiemouth). He delivers the Community Support presentation at the Station’s monthly arrival brief, acts as a focal point for all Junior Ranks on the Unit and oversees the Station’s mentoring scheme for first tourists.
In sum: Go and seek out the SCSO. To use a well-worn adage “If they don’t know the answer they will know a man (or woman) who does”.
Envoy Autumn 2012 43
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