Image: ©MOD Crown Copyright 2018


Non-Serving Family Responses


“Often plans are altered last minute and I don’t drive yet I can’t do things on my own and have cancelled and rescheduled appointments for hospitals and dentists etc to suit the work arrangements.”


“Constant changes to roster and the working pattern means that my husband only has approximately one whole weekend off in every 12 weekends this means we can never do anything as a family because the children are at school and I am at work during the week when he might be on days off.”


“We live our lives in a constant limbo, unable to plan for our future. I don’t want to leave it too long and have our relationship fail as a result of his career.”


“It used to be a positive thing and our children and I were quite proud and pleased to support the RAF, but a run of bad luck on the housing website (i.e. being allocated houses we couldn’t fit into) coupled with increasingly long working days, overseas detachments and effectively a drop in disposable income, despite a promotion, means that the impact of RAF Service is now negative.”


“My husband is in a command post. His phone ‘pings’ 24/7. I’ve learnt to sleep through it but it has affected our health, and not for the better. It’s hard to plan family and social events as work emergencies are frequent due to poor condition of old aircraft and manning issues.”


38% 33%


How easily can the serving family member take leave from the RAF at a time to suit you and your family?


18% 6% 4% 1% Very easily Easily It’s difficult


It’s very difficult


I don’t know


Does not apply


“Even on days off and leave he gets phone calls/text messages/emails from work. Ok if it was serious but it is always things that can wait. Calls/texts continue until he responds. It’s now a running joke for myself. Not good when you are trying to enjoy family time and still work can’t leave you alone.”


“Two other people, a corporal and a sergeant have to be in for my husband to get leave in. Same goes for the other corporal and sergeant.”


“Deployed so often never gets to use leave entitlement for the year.” raf-ff.org.uk


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