Changes to CEA
STH,
Don't follow your comment that:
"pers posted to MOD may not have the opportunity to be 'accompanied'".
I fully agree that the invol sep rule change for MB will drive people to require non-existant FQs in the London area, but as this is an entitlement, surely SSFA will have to be paid to find hirings on the local market?
As long as they are willing to follow the flag (and if not then they shouldn't be getting CEA anyway), I don't understand why you say they "may not have the opportunity"?
Don't follow your comment that:
"pers posted to MOD may not have the opportunity to be 'accompanied'".
I fully agree that the invol sep rule change for MB will drive people to require non-existant FQs in the London area, but as this is an entitlement, surely SSFA will have to be paid to find hirings on the local market?
As long as they are willing to follow the flag (and if not then they shouldn't be getting CEA anyway), I don't understand why you say they "may not have the opportunity"?
My understanding of the letter and the DIN is that the system knows that many have, due to the reduction in allowances, suddenly found themselves questioning the affordability of the CEA.
I for one have had to rehash my finances to take into account the 30% reduction in LOA and the 100% reduction in spousal income!!! Maybe its not all about those working in 'Town'!!
I for one have had to rehash my finances to take into account the 30% reduction in LOA and the 100% reduction in spousal income!!! Maybe its not all about those working in 'Town'!!
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MOD was one of the examples given when my OF5 briefed the SDSR Allowances changes, and it was met with a general question about what the MOD was going to do about the lack of FQs in London - I think those with an interest could see that the whole thing would fall apart if all those entitled to FQs in the London area demanded them. The only reason the entitlement hadn't been squeezed previously was that the status quo suited all concerned - the cost of additional FQs (or more likely SSFA) would/will be far in excess of the likely savings in CEA.
STH
MOD was one of the examples given when my OF5 briefed the SDSR Allowances changes, and it was met with a general question about what the MOD was going to do about the lack of FQs in London - I think those with an interest could see that the whole thing would fall apart if all those entitled to FQs in the London area demanded them. The only reason the entitlement hadn't been squeezed previously was that the status quo suited all concerned - the cost of additional FQs (or more likely SSFA) would/will be far in excess of the likely savings in CEA.
STH
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Simple question regarding London and MB:-
Does the FQ/SSFA/hiring bill for all the Service personnel posted to MOD come to more than the cost of CEA for those who were entitled to claim as INVOLSEP?
If it does then there is simple solution - keep INVOLSEP status or provide more cost-effective FQ within the London area.
Does the FQ/SSFA/hiring bill for all the Service personnel posted to MOD come to more than the cost of CEA for those who were entitled to claim as INVOLSEP?
If it does then there is simple solution - keep INVOLSEP status or provide more cost-effective FQ within the London area.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Nomorefreetime, your not a separated dark blue Cdr are you? I believe he may have a chauffer driven car for a little while.
I keep hearing that the system is considering further changes to the CEA; can anyone expand on this?
Also, as I do not have relatives or a suitable guardian capable of transporting my children to an airhead, I pay the school to escort them. Obviously the school do not do this for free and charge me a small fee for the service. However, I have been informed that as well as my personnel contribution to the transport of the children increasing (50 - 100miles), I can't claim the fee charged by the school. Has anyone else encountered this or know of ways legitimately around this rule? There also seems to be some confusion by my PSF as to whether or not I pay the contribution for each child or in total? They are particularly unhelpful and I seem to get the clks interpretation of the rules as opposed to a definitive. What do others do?
It certainly appears that the system is trying to make this process as difficult as possible, to ensure indiviuals just give up and stop claiming.
Also, as I do not have relatives or a suitable guardian capable of transporting my children to an airhead, I pay the school to escort them. Obviously the school do not do this for free and charge me a small fee for the service. However, I have been informed that as well as my personnel contribution to the transport of the children increasing (50 - 100miles), I can't claim the fee charged by the school. Has anyone else encountered this or know of ways legitimately around this rule? There also seems to be some confusion by my PSF as to whether or not I pay the contribution for each child or in total? They are particularly unhelpful and I seem to get the clks interpretation of the rules as opposed to a definitive. What do others do?
It certainly appears that the system is trying to make this process as difficult as possible, to ensure indiviuals just give up and stop claiming.
I believe the changes to CEA are due to be announced soon, no doubt published in some obscure DIN that you have to go hunting for...
I seem to remember reading 12 July as a publication date, but my memory, like most of my body (and spelling) is deteriorating with age, and since I no longer claim CEA, my child having finished full time education, I no longer have any personal interest in the world of CEA to focus the attention - sorry!!
I seem to remember reading 12 July as a publication date, but my memory, like most of my body (and spelling) is deteriorating with age, and since I no longer claim CEA, my child having finished full time education, I no longer have any personal interest in the world of CEA to focus the attention - sorry!!
Latest RAF IBN today details Project SIRIUS - the officers career stream. What does it mean?
Officers at Sqn Ldr and above will elligible for selection to the "Executive Stream" (ES) if they are to attend Advanced Staff College (ASC) from Sep 11. If they have attended ASC in the past and are 0-5yrs senior in rank they will automatically chop to the ES and if they have 5-9yrs they will be reviewed on a case by case basis. For the rest of the Sqn Ldr+ "has beens" they join the "Main Stream" (MS).
ES will get tours of 3years or less and MS will get 3years+ tours.
So why post this on a CEA thread? Well, how are manning going to state that a MS officer is 50% likely to posted within 4 years, when under these rules they will not? QED - effectively, immobile and then not entitled to CEA...more money saved.
To spell it out - only those Sqn Ldrs and above that have attended Advanced Staff College will be likely to get CEA from 1 Sep 11 under Project SIRIUS.
This is just one of the reasons why I will be submitting my resignation of my regular commission with an application for Early Termination in the next fortnight (also a lack of suitable SFA in the London area is another reason).
Who knows, maybe this is what they want? But I doubt that the ES officers that came up with this plan are that intelligent!
LJ
Officers at Sqn Ldr and above will elligible for selection to the "Executive Stream" (ES) if they are to attend Advanced Staff College (ASC) from Sep 11. If they have attended ASC in the past and are 0-5yrs senior in rank they will automatically chop to the ES and if they have 5-9yrs they will be reviewed on a case by case basis. For the rest of the Sqn Ldr+ "has beens" they join the "Main Stream" (MS).
ES will get tours of 3years or less and MS will get 3years+ tours.
So why post this on a CEA thread? Well, how are manning going to state that a MS officer is 50% likely to posted within 4 years, when under these rules they will not? QED - effectively, immobile and then not entitled to CEA...more money saved.
To spell it out - only those Sqn Ldrs and above that have attended Advanced Staff College will be likely to get CEA from 1 Sep 11 under Project SIRIUS.
This is just one of the reasons why I will be submitting my resignation of my regular commission with an application for Early Termination in the next fortnight (also a lack of suitable SFA in the London area is another reason).
Who knows, maybe this is what they want? But I doubt that the ES officers that came up with this plan are that intelligent!
LJ
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
nomorefreetime, you missed the irony. In yesterday's Torygraph was then news of an RN Commander being court martialed for claiming £75,000 for CEA to which he was not eligible.
He separated and did not have responsibility for his children but continued to claim for 13 term's worth of fees.
He separated and did not have responsibility for his children but continued to claim for 13 term's worth of fees.
Thread Starter
Has anyone seen the 'report on CEA' that was due to be released on 12 July?
I am connected to the UK by a damp piece of string and we are often overlooked when DINs, IBNs etc are distributed.
Note to self: Must investigfate how to have my son educated at Eton gratis, as per the 'article' in the Sun last week. Or perhaps the Army have different CEA rules..........
I am connected to the UK by a damp piece of string and we are often overlooked when DINs, IBNs etc are distributed.
Note to self: Must investigfate how to have my son educated at Eton gratis, as per the 'article' in the Sun last week. Or perhaps the Army have different CEA rules..........
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 13th Jul 2011 at 14:11.
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Whenur,
I was told yesterday that this was a "no than earlier" date for the announcement. I believe (from other sources) that CEA is remaining for the timebeing; check your PMs for details.
I was told yesterday that this was a "no than earlier" date for the announcement. I believe (from other sources) that CEA is remaining for the timebeing; check your PMs for details.
Note to self: Must investigfate how to have my son educated at Eton gratis, as per the 'article' in the Sun last week. Or perhaps the Army have different CEA rules..........
In reality, it seems the scheme is being 'exploited' by middle-ranking officers, WOs and senior NCOs who are typically in the 30-45 year age range and tend to be more mobile in their postings. I can't think why, can you?
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This sirius thing... one point i am sure the blunty bean counters havent missed. A non executive stream sqn ldr will now potentially face a 20% pay cut in one of their 4+ year uber tours from year 3 onwards.
Are they frikking insane? Do they really expect an aircrew mate to put themselves forward for a 20 % pay cut together with writing annuals and all the other bollocks that goes with promotion?
The lunatics are surely running the asylum.
Are they frikking insane? Do they really expect an aircrew mate to put themselves forward for a 20 % pay cut together with writing annuals and all the other bollocks that goes with promotion?
The lunatics are surely running the asylum.
Thread Starter
CEA Report to PArliament
The Armed Forces Minister has just released the report on CEA. A bit of a damp squib - no real changes - esxcept that you can't enrol your kids just for the 6 Form now...
Here's the MOD link.
Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Defence Policy and Business | Review of Continuity of Education Allowance concludes
Here's the MOD link.
Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Defence Policy and Business | Review of Continuity of Education Allowance concludes
Not such a damp squib...
I left the RAF today over this. I had put my daughter through prep school for the past 5 years expecting CEA to kick in for her next 8 years following a year of full time boarding funded by me.
But no, having lived in my house for just 4 years I need to move house. The OMQ they offer me are 15 mins further away in commute time (door to door) than where I currently live ( 1hr 10mins), but I have to move to be entitled. So a new OMQ will cost me £9k to realise £12k in CEA and a commute 15 minutes further for a high end posting in MOD - where's the sense in that? Hence I PVR'd and I retire today with a gratuity that will pay for my sibling's schooling until University - madness!
Thank goodness my Boss is a fantastic bloke who may be able to influrence this madness in 5 years time when he is a 2 star!
Better than the Sqn Ldr air trafficker that I spoke to tonight that is in position to influence VSO opinion and has no idea about what the RAF needs and what Airpower is all about - no wonder we're f*cked when non-operators are put in positions of influence!
LJ
Per Adua - let's hope so
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I left the RAF today over this. I had put my daughter through prep school for the past 5 years expecting CEA to kick in for her next 8 years following a year of full time boarding funded by me.
But no, having lived in my house for just 4 years I need to move house. The OMQ they offer me are 15 mins further away in commute time (door to door) than where I currently live ( 1hr 10mins), but I have to move to be entitled. So a new OMQ will cost me £9k to realise £12k in CEA and a commute 15 minutes further for a high end posting in MOD - where's the sense in that? Hence I PVR'd and I retire today with a gratuity that will pay for my sibling's schooling until University - madness!
Thank goodness my Boss is a fantastic bloke who may be able to influrence this madness in 5 years time when he is a 2 star!
Better than the Sqn Ldr air trafficker that I spoke to tonight that is in position to influence VSO opinion and has no idea about what the RAF needs and what Airpower is all about - no wonder we're f*cked when non-operators are put in positions of influence!
LJ
Per Adua - let's hope so
Sent on my iPhone
Last edited by Lima Juliet; 15th Oct 2011 at 14:10.
PS. Happy to have a flat iNVOLSEP in London or an OMQ closer to MOD than I currently live. The system could offer me neither. So I would either lose CEA, drop my kiddy out of school, move to further away or pay for her with my pension - no brainer really, I just pity those less fortunate than I that can't!
LJ
LJ
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Absolutely crazy situation Leon.
Were you, perhaps, quite happy to go anyway? I mean was there no chance of an alternate posting elsewhere for example?
Just playing Devils Advocate, I'm curious.
Were you, perhaps, quite happy to go anyway? I mean was there no chance of an alternate posting elsewhere for example?
Just playing Devils Advocate, I'm curious.