Contact
Telephone: 01780 781650, email:
enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk or via the website
www.raf-ff.org.uk
A Quarterly Magazine for RAF Personnel and their Families Contents
Editor’s Words From the Director Why Should YOU Contact the Federation? Foreword by Anna Soubry, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans 6 easy ways to get the latest news from your Federation
Cover Photograph – STAR TREK VOYAGER Steve Lympany’s stunning entry for the 2013 RAF Photographic Competition, see page 8.
Envoy – The magazine of the RAF Families Federation, published 4 times a year.
Editor: Ann Dewar RAF Families Federation, 13-15 St Georges Road, Wittering, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE8 6DL 01780 781650
Director: Bill Mahon
Communications Manager: Ann Dewar Communications Assistant: Nick Crouch Evidence Manager: Colin Jones Evidence Assistant: Ruth McClelland Evidence Assistant (Housing): Stan Brathwaite Office Manager: Julie Goodson
Published quarterly by Method Publishing, a division of Scottish Provincial Press Limited, on behalf of Envoy
Design and Typography: © Method Publishing 2013 Editorial Matter and Illustrations: © Envoy Printed in Great Britain by: Warners Midlands plc
Advertisement Office (UK): Method Publishing, Sutherland Press House, Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6RA Tel: 01408 633871 Fax: 01408 633876 Advertisement Manager:
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Views expressed in Envoy, unless stated otherwise, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of Envoy, the RAF or the Ministry of Defence.
No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in Envoy can be accepted by the Publishers or Printers and advertisements are accepted on the express condition that the advertiser warrants that they in no way contravene the provisions of The Trades Descriptions Act 1968 nor any other prevailing legislation in the United Kingdom.
The Publishers reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any advertisement without stating a reason.
The RAF Families Federation is an independent organisation parented by The RAF Association.
Patron: Her Majesty the Queen
Registered Charity Number 226686
Scottish Charity Number SCO37673
16 Photographs courtesy of the MoD (unless otherwise stated).
www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Winter 2013 3 21
Emerging Issues ...........................................................................................................6 Features
Enchanting! ...............................................................................................................10 Run Fast Keep Low .....................................................................................................12 Buddy, Buddy.............................................................................................................14 Herc Men ...................................................................................................................16 The changing face of Helmand ...................................................................................18 Light in the Darkness ..................................................................................................20 Take it to the Top! ......................................................................................................21
REGULARS You and the RAF
Top Level Messages ...................................................................................................22 Accommodation, Education and Welfare in focus ........................................................24 Recovery Road ...........................................................................................................26
Covenant 50 sign up to the Corporate Covenant ........................................................................28
Education Weekends full of Fun ..................................................................................................31 My Vision ..................................................................................................................32
Housing
Those Barrack Damages .............................................................................................33 The Social Housing Option..........................................................................................34 Because Housing Matters ...........................................................................................37
Lifestyle Be a Military Mumpreneur ..........................................................................................38 Money
The Impact of a Split Service Pension ..........................................................................40 Don’t throw (or give) your pension away.....................................................................42
Community
uk4u takes on its first employee! .................................................................................43 From London to Brighton ............................................................................................44 Engineering students show off ....................................................................................46 Priceless expressions of Love ......................................................................................49
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