Advice On Last Tour Sought

[beefybayonet]

With 2 1/2 years to run until my 16/38 point, my thoughts are concentrating on my final tour and how I might exit the Service (RAF) from the geographical location of my choice, not the RAF's.

I'm currently 9 months into my current tour, enjoying the job and the location (SE Scotland). My wife has a very good job in the local area and we intend to settle in the area in the longer-term. Although I'm within the bracket for promotion, promotion itself for me and my wife would be financial suicide as we would have to move and she would have to give up her job.

Therefore, I'd like like to stay on in my current post and see the remaining 2 1/2 years out. However, I'm a member of a branch that is extremely undermanned at Flt Lt level and my current post, to quote my Desk Officer, is not a STC priority. That said, the Service seems content to leave me in post for now.

My concern is that I will be 'told' to move sometime within the next year or so, and it is highly likely that I will be unable to stay within my chosen geographical area.

Given that officers do not have access to a preferential last tour as other ranks do, what are the options?

Do I write a carefully worded letter when the time comes to PMA saying 'had a great time, time to go, please can I stay here'. Is there a more formal process available?

My bottom line is that having given 17 years service so far, I should be able to expect a last tour in an geographical area that suits me. However, I'm a realist and I suspect the Service will want it's pound of flesh right up to the last safe moment, so I'm taking nothing for granted.

Your thoughts appreciated.

[Wyler]

Write a formal letter through your local command chain. Get the CO on side and just spell out the personal circumstances and financial penalty of moving. Others may know more clever ways. Dealing direct with PMA does not always work. You need bigger guns that know the system of have more clout.
On the other hand, if you are staying long term you will be buying a house or may already have one. In which case, the mother of all commutes may be on the cards.
Good luck.

[Melchett01]

If you did get posted away from your current unit, what are the regs regarding travel claims/allowances/messing charges etc? If it turns out that moving you away from your unit leads to you sticking in a huge 1771, in these cash strapped times they may think twice about it.

The whole cost argument was one that I had with my branch sponsor many moons ago over a fairly trifling issue in comparison with yours; but he did back down when I pointed out the costs associated with his line of thought compared to mine. If you have no other alternative and you have researched what claims you could make, you could try this one and see if it has any effect.

[hobie]

my thoughts are concentrating on my final tour and how I might exit the Service (RAF) from the geographical location of my choice, not the RAF's.

Sure hope you do better than my father ..... after flying 'Spits" for a living during WW2 followed by a more peacefull RAF career thereafter, he was shipped out to Aden (Mad Mitch days etc) on a 12 months unacompanied tour, just before his retirement ...... :{

...... I always remember he would write to my Mother a couple of times a week and enclose a dozen loose Duty Free cigg'ys with each letter ...... every now and then her Majestys 'Customs and Excise' would open an envelope and mark it for payment of the most amazing amount of 'Duty' ....... upon delivery by the Postman with a request for Duty payment, my Mother would simply write across the envelope 'return to sender' and the letter would fly Post Haste back to Aden ...... :p

[nutcracker43]

Had similar reasons as do you; wife in good job, etc.

I simply wrote to my boss explaining that I should like to stay in post for my final tour emphasising the benefits to the service. I spent the last two years on the squadron I had been serving on for the previous 2.5 years.

Left the RAF on an extremely happy note and enjoyed my whole period in the service. PAAd.

NC43

[D-IFF_ident]

Along the lines of leaving, since it looks like everyone is....

I joined at 21 yrs old, on a PC, so I'm in til 38, which is 17 years service. I'm due to finish my current tour 14 months before my IPP and I took the FRI. Does anyone know the Regs regarding leaving before 38 yrs old, but after 16 years service, within the last year of service?

Or, I could also try to extend my current tour, until it's time to leave - perhaps the 'last tour' question is case specific and there are no regs?

[Wyler]

I'd be very careful about bugging out before your 38 point. Its 16 years OR until you are 38. Check out he financial implications, they could be severe.
You can get a one off readout from the pensions people. Talk to your PSF types before you do anything else.

[LFFC]

Given that officers do not have access to a preferential last tour as other ranks do,
Wrong! Checkout the Air Sec's Personnel Staff Instructions (available on the intranet) Vol 1, Part 2, Chap 4 - "Last Tour of Duty - Appointment/Posting". It also applies to officers on a PC due to leave at their 38/16 point.

But the usual caveat applies to everyone "as long as it is not contrary to the Service interest".

[Harry P]

I have just left. About 3 yrs prior to leaving I was sent a "last tour of duty request form", not sure of its real title, which I filled in and returned to PMA. Not sure if it affected anything, however I did stay at my requested unit until starting my terminal leave.
Have a chat with your desk officer, or his pa.
However, I was totally upfront with my desk officer about the fact that I would be leaving at my my 16/38 point, so it could have been that he just wasn't arsed about posting me.

[The Maintainer]

D-IFF_ident

Assuming you're still in the 'old' pension scheme, you need to serve to age 38 or 16 years, whichever is the longer, in order to qualify for an immediate pension. In your case, you need to serve to 38 or you won't get a pension when you leave, just preserved rights to claim one later in life. I'm sure that's not what you're after... :uhoh:

[Safeware]

D_IFF Ident / The Maintainer,In your case, you need to serve to 38 or you won't get a pension when you leave

Not true. You qualify for an immediate pension after 16 years, but if you leave before your 38/16 then this will be by PVR, with the resultant 'penalty' applied to your immediate pension.

sw

[Brain Potter]

D_IFF,

You'll have to pay the FRI back if you don't give them the 5 years return of service. For FRI1 that means your 38th Birthday.

Bet you've spent it :ok: