Disgusting.
What covenant
Well, if these folk have been overpaid, I would expect that under the covenant they would be treated like any other public servant that has been overpaid.
For most of the Armed Forces Community, the
Covenant is about removing disadvantage so
that you get the same outcome as the civilian
community. It’s not about getting special
treatment that ordinary citizens wouldn’t
receive, or getting a better result.
https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...yth_Buster.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/the-armed-forces-covenant
I suggest that rather than using the covenant as some miraculous multi faceted get out clause, in this case as an excuse to keep money that you possibly weren't entitled to, you read what it is really about and stop devaluing it.
Introduction to your Pay Statement
101: If you have a problem with a pay issue, talk to your Paymaster
102: Don't go spending any money that you think may have been overpaid.
103: If you think you have been overpaid, tuck that money away somewhere just incase.
104: Communicate by recordable means. This makes your case stronger, when they ask for it back. (ref 101)
Here's one from 2006;
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...ble-ahead.html
7 years of warning of possible over payment!!!