The vital work carried out by the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) highlights the need for service personnel to keep their JPA records up to date.
It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with the help of the Defence Support Chain Operations and Movements (DSCOM) Comp Cell, and transports compassionate cases around the world.
That can mean bringing someone back to the UK because of injury or because they have a family emergency at home while serving overseas.
As soon as JCCC verifies a case with the medical authorities and entitlement to travel at public expense is granted, work behind the scenes begins to transport them to where they need to be.
A soldier who was brought back during Op Corded in a Zambian national park was notified their mother had been taken into hospital after her cancer had become terminal.
“JCCC called my commanding officer and within 72 hours I had gone from being in the middle of nowhere to walking through my front door in the UK. The battalion gave me six weeks to care for my mum and spend those precious final weeks with her before she died. Without JCCC and my commanding officer, I never would have had that time.”
The Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre is for every member of the armed forces, regardless of rank. But personnel should make sure their records are current, with next of kin listed. They should make a will and say where it is located. Family members need a copy of the JPA P001 card or they can download the JCCC app and personnel should carry the contact number with them at all times.