AFF responds to claims that CEA will be cut

AFF_company_representative

Today’s Daily Telegraph carries an article which implies that Continuity of Education Allowance will be cut. AFF will continue to demonstrate to command and the MOD that the ability to claim CEA is vital. AFF, understands as do senior commanders, that families have made long-term life-style choices which allow the soldier to stay in the Army based on the ability to claim CEA.

A recent survey by AFF demonstrated that 75% of Army families regard the ability to claim CEA now and in the future as very important. AFF strongly believe that the removal of CEA would result in families feeling betrayed and that many would leave the army to secure a stable second income and education.

Catherine Spencer, Director of Communications stated, ‘AFF understand that families have tolerated years of frequent deployment, poor housing, short notice assignment orders and many other unpleasant aspects of being an Army family on the understanding that their loyalty will be recognised and that the Continuity of Education Allowance will allow their children the right to a stable education. AFF will continue to communicate with command to ensure that the importance of retaining this allowance is recognised. Cuts and saving measures are nothing new to Army families as they have endured years of underfunding, but have continued to support their soldier, despite living in poor quality housing and knowing that, when deployed, their soldier’s life is constantly under threat. The removal of this benefit would be seen as the ultimate betrayal and would result in many experienced soldiers leaving to find other employment. This could spell disaster for current operations’

Click here to read the article on the Telegraph website.

Please contact [EMAIL="cea@aff.org.uk"]cea@aff.org.uk[/EMAIL] to tell us your views on CEA.