Unit admin teams within the Adjutant General’s Corps Staff and Personnel Support branch AGC(SPS) are the backbone of the British Army’s administrative operations.
Their primary role is to provide comprehensive personnel and administrative support to all ranks. This includes managing essential documentation, maintaining personnel records and ensuring compliance with military regulations and policies. The teams are adept at managing a wide range of administrative tasks, from routine paperwork to complex personnel management issues.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Their key duties include:
- Personnel administration: maintaining accurate records of service personnel, including personal details, assignments and service history.
- Pay and allowances: managing payroll and ensuring that all personnel receive their correct entitlements, allowances and benefits.
- Leave and travel: co-ordinating leave applications and travel arrangements, ensuring compliance with army policies.
- Welfare support: helping with welfare-related issues, providing information on support services available to service personnel and their families.
- Documentation management: overseeing the processing of important documents such as identity cards, passports and certificates.
- Career management: supporting career development initiatives, including promotion boards and training course applications.
WHAT THEY CAN HELP WITH
Unit admin teams are a vital resource for service personnel, offering guidance and support. They are the first point of contact for administrative queries and can provide valuable assistance in navigating the complexities of military bureaucracy.
By ensuring that all administrative processes run smoothly, unit admin teams help personnel focus on their primary duties without worrying about administrative hurdles.
Cpl Williams-Dowers says: “As administrators, our primary objective is to support service personnel, whether they are on camp or deployed.”
Whether it’s explaining how to apply for a new allowance, helping with travel arrangements for a family emergency, or providing advice on leave entitlements, unit admin teams are there to help. They also play a critical role in ensuring that personnel records are accurate and up to date, which is essential for career progression and accessing benefits.
Sgt Broughan adds: “One of the key tenets of an administrator is our emotional intelligence. Not all cases are the same and shouldn’t be treated as such. We endeavour to support personnel with advice or guidance without bias or judgement. It is our responsibility to act in the best interests of the individual.”
WHAT THEY CAN’T HELP WITH
While unit admin teams are highly skilled and knowledgeable, there are certain areas where they can’t provide direct advice, particularly those requiring specialist knowledge. For example, they are not authorised to offer specific tax or regulated financial advice. In such cases, they will signpost you to the appropriate external experts, such as financial advisors or tax consultants, ensuring that you get the best guidance from qualified professionals.
By taking care of the details, unit admin teams enable service personnel to focus on their mission, confident in the knowledge that they have a sound support system behind them.
Main photo: L: Cpl Williams-Dowers and R: Sgt Broughan