RAF - Getting Posted = Trapped!

ruthem215

My husband has been based down at RAF Lyneham for 7 years now and has enjoyed his time here and met so many great people. But after 7 years he's become a bit bored, and fancies a move, I've been living here with him in MQ for 2 and a half years, and I'm also ready for a move so god knows how he feels! We are originally from Yorkshire, so of course for our 15 month old to see more of his grandparents back home would be lovely, but of course it doesn't always work like that. My husband noticed at work on JPA they were asking for his trade at Waddington, which is about 1 hr from family so that would be perfect location wise.

He applied for this posting and spoke to his boss about it. However his boss wasn't so positive about it and suggested it would be better for him to stay where he is as he’s a valuable member of the team, one of the few engine runners, has done the most courses, most experience, etc. He’s seen so many of his friends start and leave and there’s not many like him who have been there that long etc. His boss has also put his name forward for a supervisory role but for the same pay and same rank (but more responsibility), so he wasn't happy about this suggestion. He was rather downhearted about this and as he hasn’t been promoted at all since being at Lyneham, still SAC, he says he feels that he has done everything he can possibly do here, he’s up to date on everything etc.

Anyway his boss has sent the email across to Waddington but has told my husband that he hasn't sent an outstanding/or particularly positive one across for the reasons I stated above. We think this is really really unfair, and hubby has started to get quite depressed at work, he has just signed on to do 12 years. He says he feels like he's in a prison and he just wants to try something new but so frustrated. To be fair we'd go anywhere, but it seems fairly difficult for us to get anywhere, he’s changed his posting preferences too. We've been south for a while so would like to be north if possible. It seems that work are making it very difficult for us.

We are currently living in MQ at Lyneham which is very cheap housing I must admit, but we have chosen this way of living as a way of being together as much as possible, and a way of paying off some large debts which we have. Our base is closing next year, and his squadron will be moved to Brize Norton by July next year supposedly, and although my husband wouldn't mind being at Brize, its a bit of a joke with the move as there are no available quarters for everyone. A friend of his has been posted to Brize now, and as there are no MQ available they have been put into civvy rented housing and are now asking them to pay £350 a month (I know still so so so cheap in the real world compared to what others pay for rent and mortgages) instead of the £70 a month they were paying here.

We are starting to get a little nervous about the move as we know if we were posted into civvy housing we know we wouldn’t be able to afford to live (we will be debt FREE in 3 years!). Hence why we would like to start the wheels in motion for a move somewhere else. It doesn’t seem easy though and we feel really trapped, where do we turn? Sorry I know this isn’t money saving I just wanted some advice. I’m really hoping something comes up soon, as hubby goes on tour end of oct, would be nice to have something to look forward to for when he comes back. Has anyone else had problems getting posted? And anyone have any ideas of how to get posted somewhere quickly? We would even go as far as Scotland we had fam member in the raf there who loved it, we went to stay a few times. It's so frustrating as so many of our friends/collegues have been posted recently just like that with no fuss, thanks so much for reading xx

R0bert_Sterling

What is it you do??

What I mean is, how long will it take you to find a job once you move??

martinbuckley

I suggest that if your husband's boss is not being very supportive, then he approaches your Unit Career Advisor and asks him/her to contact his Career Manager to ascertain what positions are available within Lincolnshire.

The UCA will be impartial, so your husband will get an unbiased reply.

Andy_L

ruthem215 wrote: »

A friend of his has been posted to Brize now, and as there are no MQ available they have been put into civvy rented housing and are now asking them to pay £350 a month (I know still so so so cheap in the real world compared to what others pay for rent and mortgages) instead of the £70 a month they were paying here.

I though substitute accommodation (SSFA) was charged at the same rate as normal service accomodation. Is the increase down to, e.g, moving from cramped, scummy accommodation to a nice new bigger house with a garage?

TBH a move is likely to be good for his career as it does seem to have stalled at the moment - the services do seem to still be wedded to the idea that regular moves are a sign of a dynamic go-getter & thus necessary for promotion

Alias_Omega

Ruth,

Your reply has taken me a good 5-6 attempts.

If the application is unsucessful your husband wont receive a reply, nor will he receive an reply telling him that his application has been received. He justs needs to annotate on JPA that he wishes 'Waddington' and the 'Aircraft Type', then to sit back and wait.

Its one of the most popular postings that is up there at the minute. Though there are other Lincolnshire (begining with C and not Cranwell) based TG1 postings advertised. I wont mention them here, but they are always advertised.

Your husband has one of the better postings around at the minute. I would advise him to sit tight if unsuccessful in the move to Waddington, and keep his head high even though i might be hard. If he takes the role as A/Cpl Unpaid then its good for his assessments which in the end may lead to promotion.

If you are really really desperate to move, then you certainly have a good change of an exchange posting or to even submit an enviromental.

But, at the minute I feel that if you dont get the posting, your husband is better off remaining in post until promotion arises. The evaluating where to go from there,


Andy,

No doubt the accomodation at Lyneham will be Grade 4, with the accomodation at Brize would be classed as Grade 1. Therefore the increase in accomodation costs.


Regards,


Alias

peteuk

Seven years in the same post? or has he had internal postings (something that is stopping), some trades post into the same position on promotion (I know that doesnt count here).

If he has had seven years in the same post, then he is entitled to a posting, as he has had no joy with his boss take it higher. Equally what is his posting prefence on JPA. If Witlshire is number one then he aint going anywhere. Get him to double check it.

It is always difficult for wifes/husband/partners on posting, often to other counties. One my last posting my wife left work a few weeks early to help with the house, she went through the process of applying for Job seekers allowance (a whole £50 something a week) only then to go throught the same process some weeks later at the new address). Thankfully she found work with in a month.

As for being debt free, are you on a repayment plan? If you are and you move into a different quater then your OH wage will be slightly different, so therefor the plan will need reviewing and hopefull that will help (might meen a few extra payments). However if that be to Brize (on closure of Lyneham) or to RAF where ever you will still get the move paid for, and disturbance allowance. Your rent will go up (albeit obviously Brize SSFA will cost more) so be prepared for that.

Good luck with what ever happens, and keep us posted.

dunloadin

He can always put in for an enviromental posting to another area/type. Sounds like his boss has been a bit naughty trying to scupper his chances with a bad word to Waddo...if true and evidence exists then he can always get the k**b redressed.

Bigun28

If he's TG1 and applying for Waddo at the moment, he will probably be one of many such applicants in the pipeline.

peteuk

Alias_Omega wrote: »

No doubt the accomodation at Lyneham will be Grade 4, with the accomodation at Brize would be classed as Grade 1. Therefore the increase in accomodation costs.
Regards,
Alias

Obviously hasnt seen the quarters at Brize, some boarded up, some awaiting demolition, some just plain ugly....

Brize had a review of the quaters last year and some have been downgraded to Grade 3....still as ugly as there are it would seem the are in sort supply.

Alias_Omega

peteuk wrote: »

Obviously hasnt seen the quarters at Brize, some boarded up, some awaiting demolition, some just plain ugly....

Brize had a review of the quaters last year and some have been downgraded to Grade 3....still as ugly as there are it would seem the are in sort supply.

Grade 1 Accomodation as the Airman would not be living on camp, but instead locally in a forces funded house. I was saying that usually these houses are Grade 1/2 and accomodation charges reflect this.

ruthem215 wrote: »

Our base is closing next year, and his squadron will be moved to Brize Norton by July next year supposedly, and although my husband wouldn't mind being at Brize, its a bit of a joke with the move as there are no available quarters for everyone. A friend of his has been posted to Brize now, and as there are no MQ available they have been put into civvy rented housing and are now asking them to pay £350 a month (I know still so so so cheap in the real world compared to what others pay for rent and mortgages) instead of the £70 a month they were paying here.

EmmEve

Can't hel much i'm afraid but wherever you get posted stands a good chance of you having to pay more than £70 in accomodation charges.