I was a serving officer but left the RAF on 1 Apr 16 as the Service does not recognise my partner (unmarried parents but both serving and very much in a stable relationship) and now we have a child I no longer wish to deploy and risk my partner being deployed at the same time. It very nearly happened on my return from Maternity Leave in Jun 14 - I am not proud of myself but I got myself medically downgraded as they were trying to deploy me on a 4-week overseas exercise whilst my partner was undertaking his Out of Area prep. There was no other childcare available and at the mention of Social Services and Fostering I ran to the Medical Centre as quick as I could.
I have had to leave job as qualified midwife on two occasions to cover child care when he was deployed. This has had detrimental effect on my own promotion and my pension contributions.
Childcare is the only reason the non-serving parent does not work. Cost and lack of flexibility make being a stay at home parent the better option.
Having just started a new job I’ve already had to ask for flexibility in the first 8 weeks to cover last minute changes/deployments. I’m on a 12 week probation period and this reflects badly on my reliability.
Having to leave employment due to deployments means future employers have a negative view of military spouses as they don’t like employing us knowing we may have to quit at short notice. It makes gaining employment even harder than it already is as a military spouse.
Both parents are serving and we try and work it so we are not deployed at the same time. I am serving and my husband not, his employer was very understanding of my commitment to deployment and were extremely supportive of my husband and son.
My postings always have an impact on my spouse’s career. Thankfully they have a very good employer (not the military!) During my last deployment of 6 months their employer organised for them to work from home. The military would never look after its people like this. The military couldn’t even be bothered to check that my family were doing ok while I was away. The military really doesn’t look after its people anymore.
The Government/Military/RAF should give additional financial/welfare support when the spouse is deployed overseas on operations.
Whilst my wife was deployed I was protected from a DWR but not exercises. As a result my children had to live with a grandparent for 4 months and it felt like I was an absent parent arranging for visiting rights to my own children.
wwww.raf-ff.org.uk ww.raf-ff.org.uk
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