Non-Serving Family Responses


Retention For the 17% who would prefer their spouse/partner to leave before their engagement period is up we asked them why:


“He currently lives 200 miles away and I would like to live with him while also not having to sacrifice my successful career. He is stressed and overworked and the benefits of RAF life aren’t available to dispersed families or worth putting up with the separation for.”


“My partner is fed up of trying to squeeze more and more out of less and less. Both he and his colleagues are tired, fed up and frustrated. Their many years of loyalty is no longer being acknowledged or rewarded. Currently the only thing keeping him in is CEA and the commitment to our son who loves his school. Thankfully we have less than two years to wait now.”


“He’s being actively recruited by business partners of the RAF. It’s very attractive. The infrastructure on stations is utterly desperate. It’s embarrassing and absolutely heart breaking. There is nil money or investment. Something is very very wrong.”


What’s the main impact of life with the RAF on you and your family? The condition and/or availability of Service accommodation


14%


Short notice changes at work that change your own plans/arrange Inability to choose where you serve


Turbulence caused by frequent RAF assignments Inflexible RAF working arrangements


Long working hours and time spent away for the serving person Impact of operational deployments on you and/or the children


8% 6% 20% 17%


Short Notice Changes to Plans Of the many pages of comments we received on the above question alone, well over half of them mentioned the effect that short notice changes and the lack of being able to plan any sort of family life was having on families. Ever changing work plans alongside long working hours and time spent away from the family for some are having a significant detrimental effect on both children and relationships, again increasing the feeling of loneliness and isolation for the non-serving family members.


22% 13%


20


raf-ff.org.uk


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