Ilimo – aka Rav (serving), Sila and Jaden
How long have you been an army family?
Just over 16 years and we’ve been really fortunate to have had five overseas assignments – Cyprus, Germany, Belgium, Turkey and now Norway.
Time in your overseas location?
We moved here in August 2024.
How many other military families live there?
There are more than 30 families from the three services here.
What’s your quarter like?
We live in a perfect location where everything is walking distance – from the office, the supermarkets, train stations right down to beautiful fjords and walking paths. The quarters are very modern and well-maintained. The best bit is having a log burner that makes it very cosy during the colder months.
Are there any employment/ training opportunities?
I’ve been fortunate to have always worked remotely even before coming overseas and this has continued throughout our time away from the UK. There are work opportunities as well on site for spouses. There are online courses and workshops for professional development available to everyone too.
What about schools/childcare?
The children of school age go to two local schools and the younger ones have the option of going to local nurseries. Because of our overseas assignments our son Jaden has been in boarding school in England for the last two years.
Where do army families get together and who supports you?
There’s a UK National Support Element, in that team we have Dave Marple who deals with housing and Claire Monk our community liaison officer who organises all our events and community get-togethers. They’ve both been fantastic in keeping us updated.
How do you find the cost of living out there?
This is the most expensive overseas assignment location we’ve had. It took a bit of an adjustment, but the quality of service, goods and life in general is very impressive and well worth every penny.
What is the best thing about living there?
Our experience of living here has been nothing but the best. Norway is a beautiful country that is ahead with so many things. We love that every 30 minutes to an hour drive exposes us to picture-perfect scenery.
Want to share your experiences of army family life? Get in touch by emailing editor@aff.org.uk