East Anglia Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

Better benefits, more security, and more support for Reservists and their employers are key pillars of the Reserves White Paper, unveiled today by the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.

The new relationship set out in the White Paper ‘Reserves in the Future Force 2020’ marks a significant step forward as we create a new, fully integrated Reserve Force that is well trained, well equipped and well funded. The raft of measures revealed today will help grow the UK’s Reserves to around 35,000 across all three Services and will give crucial support and incentives to Reservists, their families and employers.

The Territorial Army will change its name to the Army Reserve to better reflect its enhanced role and its full integration into the whole force. £80 million will be invested in the Army Reserve estate to accommodate the larger numbers, with £110 million invested across the tri-service Reserve estate.

For Reservists, the measures unveiled today include:
• The introduction of paid annual leave when training as well as when on operations;
• For the first time, generous Armed Forces pension entitlements when training and on operations under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme is to be introduced in April 2015;
• Better training and access to the equipment used by their regular counterparts;
• Access to key defence health services when training and on operations;
• Transferable skills and academic qualifications;
• An Army Reserve training commitment of around 40 days per year, up from a current average of 35; and
• Legislation to ensure access to Employment Tribunals in unfair dismissal cases against Reservists, without a qualifying employment period.  

Employers will also benefit from today’s announcement. There will be:
• £500 per month, per Reservist, financial award to small and medium enterprises on top of the allowances that are already available when their Reservists employees are mobilised; 
• More notice so employers are able to plan for the absences of their Reservist employees;
• Greater recognition for leading supportive employers; and
• A national relationship management scheme to strengthen our relationships with larger employers.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

“We are revitalising our Reserve Forces, reversing the decline of the recent past, growing their trained strength and investing an additional £1.8 billion over 10 years to do this. This marks a significant step forward as we change our relationship with Reservists, their families and employers; dramatically improving what we offer them. Amongst the new measures , individuals will no longer feel penalised for being a Reservist and small companies will get financial help if they employ and support a Reservist. 

“These changes are going to help us build a new relationship with society and with this new relationship I am confident that we are going to be able to grow and sustain our Reserves so that we have the future Reserve Forces the nation requires.”

Alongside the wide reaching changes set out in the White Paper, the Army has separately published details of the future structures and basing for the Army Reserve. These changes will bring the Army Reserve into the 21st century, streamlining it and aligning it more closely with its Regular counterpart as part of an integrated whole force. It will help us sustain a capable Army Reserve in the future, provide clarity on the future purpose, roles and location of Army Reserve units, and generate the level of certainty over their future to support the major recruiting drive we are undertaking to expand the Army Reserve.

The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, said:

“Today’s White Paper gives the Army important clarity on how it will generate an integrated Army of Regulars and Reserves. The Army Reserve will be more highly trained, better equipped, and better paid. It has a key role to play in our Nation’s security and it will offer its soldiers plenty of challenge and adventure.”

3rd July 2013

 

A cloudy and windy day saw a group of employers gather on Horse Guards Parade to watch the Trooping of the Colour on the Queen’s Birthday Parade.  We were not disappointed as we were treated to an excellent spectacle of the British Army in all its splendid glory, paying respect to our Monarch.

After the Parade it was onto the East India Club for a reception on our own private balcony to watch the Flypast culminating with the World famous Red Arrows.

A superb luncheon followed at the conclusion of which LCpl Turner-Dockery of 6 Army Air Corps gave a presentation on her recent tour of Afghanistan and how she used skills gained from both her civilian and military employer to the mutual benefit of each.

A short tour of the East India Club where our guests were regaled with the history of the Club not least of all being the place where in 1815, the Prince Regent was presented, by Major Henry Percy, aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington, four captured French eagles and Wellington’s  victory dispatch.

27th June 2013

The Annual Hertfordshire County Show was held this weekend on 25th – 26th May. The Show boasts a huge variety of different events over the weekend including children’s entertainment, motorbike shows and dog events, helping to showcase the wide variety of the Hertfordshire community. This year 100 Regt RA, 254 Med Regt and Beds and Herts Army Cadet Force attended the show to represent the military community.

The TA units showed the public their role in the Army with artillery displays and a field hospital and military ambulance at their respective stands. Lord Lieutenant Certificates were also presented to cadets and adult volunteers on the Saturday.

The Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate is given to those who have demonstrated exceptional service in the Territorial Army, The Royal Auxiliary Air Force and Pre-Service Reserve and Cadet Forces. In fact, it is intended for those who could expect recognition in one of the half yearly honours lists. The two successful candidates for the award this year were Flight Lieutenant Simon Cooper and Staff Sergeant John Fry.

Flt Lt Simon Cooper joined the ATC as a cadet in 1984 and stayed on as an adult in 1993.  Whilst at WGC Sqn he was instrumental in doubling the numbers to over 50 cadets and took on the responsibility of the Wings Adventurous Training activities.  Simon shows commitment, leadership, dedication and enthusiasm, hence this award.

S/Sgt John Fry joined the ACF in 2006; he is currently the RQMS for his Coy, which requires a degree of intelligence, flexibility, tact and co-operation that can be matched by few. He has a ready sense of humour which, allied to the respect in which he is held by all ranks has done much to maintain the morale and professional ethos of the ACF.  He spends many weekends organising and taking cadets around the country to engage in sporting/ Adventurous Training activities, it is only right that he be recognised by this award.

Cadet Flight Sergeant Clare Scoot was also awarded the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet. This award is granted by the Lord Lieutenant when a cadet has excelled and reached a certain rank and age.  They are to have shown an interest in local community projects, have an appropriate bearing and turnout, and be well disciplined.

Cadet Flt Sgt Clare Scoot has shown commitment and loyalty since joining the ATC.  She has recently been selected to attend the 2013 International Air Cadet Exchange and will go to New Zealand in August this year.  She is a keen sportswoman and has been the captain of both football and netball teams.  In October 2012 she undertook her Gold DoE award in the Lake District – without doubt a star to watch for the future.

Click here to visit the Hertfordshire County Show website.

28th May 2013

Ian Twinley, Chairman of the Regional Employer Support Group for East Anglia, is aiming to help raise money for injured service men and women at the end of this month by rowing across the English Channel. The challenge for the 16 people taking part should take approximately 6 hours to row the 21 miles, weather permitting.

You may have seen that on Prince Harry’s recent trip to America that he attended the Paralympics Warrior Games. These games are for injured service men and women and it is seen as an important element of the rehabilitation process for many of them. Prince Harry has announced that he hopes to bring the Warrior Games to the UK as he believes it would be a great sporting spectacle. A team of 35 from across the UK competed this year thanks to donations from organisations including Help for Heroes. For more information, please see this BBC article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22491487

Ian Twinley explained his motivation for wanting to raise the money: “We are hugely indebted to the military personnel who put their lives on the line for this country and this is a way of showing our gratitude to them by helping those who are injured and showing Prince Harry that there is public support for the Warrior Games in the UK.

“I was fortunate enough to travel to Afghanistan in 2008 and witness the fantastic work going on by our reservists and regular armed forces but I can tell you that the most humbling moment was when I visited the Camp Bastian field hospital.”

If you would like to make a donation then please visit www.justgiving.com/ian-Twinley

20th May 2013