I was mobilised Jan 2015 for 4 months to backfill a post for a Regular mobilised for Op Kipon. My paperwork arrived at my Employer HR Dept only 2 weeks before my mobilisation date. The paperwork had not been proof read or amended prior to being sent to reflect my mobilisation. It made reference to a 6 month call-up, pre-deployment training and PODL, all of which I had to assure my employer were incorrect.
I have volunteered for deployment 3 times (in support of exercises in Jordan and Kenya and for Op TORAL). Each time I have experienced difficulties unique to Reservists that have resulted in the deployment being cancelled. I have had the dates extended at very short notice (I was due to take unpaid leave from work and extending the dates made it financially unviable for me to do this); after signing onto the new terms and conditions that enable me to be mobilised in support of exercises a dispute between JHC and the Sqn over whether I would be paid my civilian wage or my Reservist wage resulted in the Sqn pulling me from the exercise; my Op TORAL deployment dropped off without any notification. I have now been informed that I will be mobilised end of 2016; however my previous experiences have led me to treat this with some degree of scepticism.
Lack of opportunities for short term mobilisation, for example to provide cover for exercises.
My employer is now asking questions about my obligation - and we collectively of RAF Reserves Manning, Unit and self-need to ensure employers see the benefit through how the RAF protects the UK’s commercial interests. Preparation for mobilisation is a curate’s egg. A lot of time wasted as Preparatory Instructions change, ARTS testing facilities fail, medical centres fail to prepare themselves ahead of reservists taking precious time to visit them
One of the benefits of “Intelligent Mobilization” has been the amount of notice that I have received of my call-up. It generally works out to be approximately 12 months’ notice, which means I am able to give my employer plenty of advanced notice of my departure on mobilisation, which allows them/me to plan ahead and ensure that my absence causes minimal disruption to the routine running of the business. One of the disadvantages of “Intelligent Mobilization” is that having been given lots of advanced notice of the intention to mobilize me, the initiation of the mobilization process was overlooked…the actual mobilisation and deployment was conducted in a rushed panic at the last minute meaning that I had no opportunity to spend a final few days with my family on leave before I was hastily bundled off to Afghanistan.
Initially so proud and so pleased to be back in full time. Quickly changed to the most frustrating and demoralising period of my 33 years in uniform.
It takes forever to issue mobilisation papers even though the Squadron were able to tell me about it months ago and issue me a letter confirming, most people don’t get their actual papers until a few weeks before their mob date.
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www.raf-ff.org.uk ww.raf-ff.org.uk
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