Living apart-financial assistance for travelling? Right of appeal on postings?

blondebairn_2

Very new to the Army life as my husband (of only 6months) has only just become an officer. He is abroad at the moment on exercise. The day before he left we found out his first posting will be over 200miles away from London, where I live and work. For financial reasons it is not possible for me to leave my job and join him, therefore we are facing 14months living apart.

Two questions:
1. Is he eligible for any financial assistance for travelling to see me in London every weekend? The train fare is looking like it will cost us over £240 a month even with an HM Forces Railcard.

2. Is there any right of appeal for postings or do you just have to lump it? There was a posting near London that would have been commutable for me, which went to an unmarried female officer who started at the same time as my husband. This was despite my husband making it clear in his preferences as to why he needed to be posted near to London. He also said it was only for this first posting that he had a strong need to be in a particular location, as once we start a family in a couple of years I will move with him.

All in all, I'm not feeling much love for the Army right now.

Thank you for any advice you can give me.

1012donna

My husband is ithe RAF and generally we have found you never ever get the posting you desire. We certainly haven't!!!!! Your husband should be able to claim some sort of get you home at weekends rates but I'm not sure exactly what. He should go and speak to his admin dept and they will advise accordingly.

fb1969

Your husband needs to speak to his RAO/HR Admin about Get You Home Mileage (GYH(M)) allowance.

This would give him a payment in his monthly salary of a daily allowance based on the distance between where you live and where he is. As long as his duties permit him to get home at weekends he should be able to receive this allowance.

The rate for 200 miles is over £7 a day. He must provide proof of property ownership/rental (legal letters, bills etc). Once he is doing it on a regular basis he should be able to save money by booking the train, or even flights, in advance - the allowance rate won't change regardless of the amount he actually pays.