AFF’s support extends not just to family members but to the service person as well. Jill Misson meets the personnel who may sometimes go unnoticed…
Although an Army household might still consist of a male soldier with his wife and children, that is not always the case. In reality, there is much more diversity within today’s serving population, including servicewomen, dual-serving couples, single serving parents, and people in long-term relationships.
Other minority groups who may be overlooked include Reservists and soldiers from non-UK backgrounds.
“As part of our business objectives for the future we are aiming to enhance and extend our engagement by focusing on harder to reach groups,” says AFF Communications Manager Alison Grover.
In recent years the charity has broadened its support to include the service person to bring it in line with the RAF and Naval Families Federations.
Changing relationships
In the latest AFCAS survey 47 per cent of the 9,360 respondents were married and 27 per cent in long-term relationships.
Historically, there was no eligibility for unmarried couples to live in Service Family Accommodation (SFA), But serving personnel in a registered established long-term relationship (LTRE) are now able to apply for available surplus housing in the UK, with further entitlement in some areas during pilots which have now been completed.
“Unsurprisingly these pilots were welcomed by the LTRE cohort as it gave them access to subsidised accommodation,” says AFF Housing Specialist Cat Calder.
“The overseas pilot has been extended to March 2027, but the current issue is that there is no protection for these families returning to the UK and access to SFA is being looked at on a case-by-case basis.”
The MOD is planning to introduce an interim rental scheme to support eligible families to rent privately where SFA is unavailable at their duty station. This will help couples in long-term relationships as well as parents with non-resident children.
Planning is key
In dual-serving Army families it takes careful planning to manage both careers. One spouse or civil partner is designated as PStat Cat 1s and acts as the licensee for SFA.
They can be allocated a family home at their duty station or at a midway point if the couple are stationed within 100 miles of each other. If a nanny or au pair is needed for childcare to enable both to fulfil their military duties, they can apply for an SFA with a spare bedroom.
Simone Redfern and her husband Alec, pictured above, who were both serving until his medical discharge, live with their son Arthur. They have had positive experiences on the whole.
She says: “We used the shared maternity leave which allowed me to go back to work at four months and knowing our baby was at home with his dad and not with a childminder made the transition so much easier.”
One of the few challenges they faced was when Simone was posted and Alec stayed in the family home as the main carer.
She explains: “His unit at first found it very strange that Arthur wasn’t in a quarter with me and questioned why, which was a bit archaic for modern parenting.”
Realising that they would struggle to maintain two demanding jobs that could deploy, Alec applied for a period of restricted separation.
Simone says: “We have seen lots of changes over recent years which have been fantastic for dual-serving families including Flexible Service and the Wraparound Childcare Scheme.”
Servicewomen at every rank
Women remain a minority group in the Army, although 11 per cent of serving personnel are female and there is now a servicewoman at every rank for the first time in history.
On International Women’s Day in March, General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff, said: “This is a significant milestone – achieved without fanfare, but with profound significance – and one that would not have been possible without the quiet professionalism, determination and commitment to service shown by generations of women.”
Lt Col Samantha Dodge feels the Army has changed beyond recognition in the 26 years she has served and that more is now being done to consider the needs of servicewomen.
“There are simple things like being able to wear your hair in different styles as opposed to tied back in a bun and being allowed to wear make-up, but also policy changes such as the introduction of Flexible Service which allows all service personnel to adjust their working hours to accommodate caring responsibilities.
“The Army’s maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave packages are outstanding. There has also been transformational change in organisational culture and behaviour that prioritises inclusive teams which has significantly benefitted servicewomen. There is still work to do but we are absolutely on the right trajectory.”
Sam is Co-Chair of the Army Servicewomen’s Network (ASN) which provides informal support outside of the chain of command, through social media and webinars alongside events and an annual conference.
She says: “It is important to have a safe space to ask questions and share ideas and the ASN provides a forum for servicewomen to discuss work and careers, but also to share concerns about personal relationships and domestic issues as these can have an impact on our professional lives.”
In future, Sam is keen to see more consideration for equipment and technology that accommodates servicewomen and better support for women’s health including menopause.
The MOD publishes The Servicewoman’s Health Handbook which features advice for female serving personnel, but it is also intended to inform commanders, line managers and colleagues of any gender. It includes information on menstruation, contraception, pregnancy and menopause.
Reserve service
It might surprise you to know that Reservists make up 24 per cent of the Army with 25,770 currently serving. They have a variety of civilian careers and are required to complete 27 days a year.
Lt Col Georgina Symonds transitioned from a Regular to a Reservist in 2019. She is the current lead for the Chief of the General Staff’s Briefing Team and her role is to ensure that senior leaders hear the Reserve voice.
Georgie says: “The largest challenge a Reservist will experience compared to Regular personnel is time, and getting support from their civilian employers and families to complete Reserve activity.
“I manage my own consultancy which enables me to balance both careers and my family commitments. At times it can be challenging but I am proud of serving my country and it is important for me to be able to help others and develop soldiers.”
Veteran Mark Hill launched The Reservist magazine because he felt there was a clear need for a publication for this community to reflect their lived experience of service.
Mark says: “I think many Reservists do feel a strong sense of pride, purpose and belonging, but there is always more that can be done to reinforce inclusion. “Reservists make a vital contribution to defence, and they should feel fully recognised as an integral part of the Armed Forces.
“My hope is that The Reservist will continue to inform, encourage and connect Reservists, while also supporting the wider defence agenda by giving greater visibility to Reserve service.”
Moving from Regular service into the Reserves can be a significant change, and not everyone fully understands what remains available to them.
Mark explains: “There can be a sense of not always knowing where to turn, what applies to them, or what they are still eligible for. That is why clear communication, better signposting and practical information matter, not just from the chain of command, but also through trusted channels that help people navigate the system with confidence.”
You can access the magazine on the Defence Gateway, or it is available to read free online.
Overcoming challenges
For serving personnel from a non-UK background there are specific challenges when managing their careers and life outside of their native country. The language barrier is often the first hurdle.
But AFF Foreign & Commonwealth Specialist Katherine Houlston is contacted about a range of issues, including understanding visa requirements under Armed Forces rules, extra costs of visas both to enter and remain, and difficulties proving rights to be able to use NHS services or access further education.
The NRPF Network website explains rights to spouses with no recourse to public funds. Non-UK spouses can find it difficult to get their qualifications recognised for employment.
The careers platform Forces Families Jobs is a great place to start looking for work with a jobs board, training opportunities, and links to organisations who can offer support.
Family members can always reach out to AFF by phone or email, but the team is also on hand to support the serving person. Alison Grover says: “Our evidence shows that the number of service personnel contacting us has remained steady over the past three years at just under half of our total enquiries.”
Whatever is worrying you, AFF’s specialists provide a signposting service to help you find the right person to speak to.