Against the odds
ARMY wife and mum-of-two Jacqui Ponde was a primary school teacher but nine years ago whilst on a posting in Bovington, her life changed dramatically.
“On the 8 August 2009 I fell down the stairs, breaking my...
Turning passion into profit
Running your own business is hard work, time-consuming and sometimes risky, but it can also give you flexibility, fulfilment and independence. So how do you create a company and how do you make it pay? We spoke...
The cost of serving
Foreign & Commonwealth soldiers must earn a specific amount of money before they can bring their family to the UK – families must then apply to remain here permanently. Understanding these requirements and ...
It pays to talk
Money can’t buy you happiness, but when the sums don’t add up it can make you miserable. From tackling debt to planning for life after the Army, talking about your finances can reap rewards. Jill Misson reports...
Lyla’s journey
Army life can be tough at the best of times, but how do you cope as a family if your child is sick with a serious illness? Soldier Paul O’Donovan and his wife Kirsty are doing just that with their five-year-old...
Jewels on the move
Army wife Fiona Dowling believes you can make jewellery anywhere as long as you have the tools and materials. In fact, she started her business, Jewellery Moves, in Cyprus by running workshops on the beach. She...
The F-word
If you had to pick one word to describe your soldier’s job, it probably wouldn’t be “flexible”. Families fit around an unpredictable schedule with early starts and late nights, lost weekends and long spells of ...
Striking a balance
When Regimental Medical Officer Maj Mike Claydon heard about the Flexible Duties Trial, he felt it would be an ideal solution to ease the pressure of Army life on his young family. The trial is the forerunner t...
Next stop: Civvy street
YOUR soldier’s final day in uniform is life-changing for the whole family. With a deadline to find a new job, home and school on civvy street, it pays not to leave your planning until the last minute, writes Ji...
Toddlers on their travels
Being posted overseas with young children can be a great adventure, but it can also have its drawbacks. Childcare provision and facilities for under-fives varies from location-to-location, so the key thing is t...