You couldn't write the script
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You couldn't write the script
Having just taken away a large wedge of our allowances for serving overseas it would seem that our lords and masters are now concerned that they will not get enough volunteers to fill the relatively few overseas postings that we have left. So, down comes the edict from high and we have been tasked to come up with ideas to make overseas postings "more attractive!" You just couldn't write this stuff in a script could you? Or is it just me? 
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Just finished 3 consecutive overseas tours and witnessed the erosion of "benefits" over 4+ years. I should point out that I am already £1500 out of pocket after DA for my last move back to the UK; not a whine but a statement to highlight the financial penalties of a "sunshine" tour prior to the forthcoming reductions.
In my humble opinion, LOA was only just covering the extra costs of living in most areas but not all. The rationale that the cost of living in the UK had risen and therefore the disparity had reduced (as stated in the allowances brief) conveniently ignored the "global financial crisis" that has seen increases everywhere around the globe. With the cuts in LOA, I believe that all personnel will be taking a financial penalty and/or reduced quality of life on all overseas tours, added to the fact that spouse employment is very hard to find in most overseas areas and impossible in a few.
As long as people are aware of that and the fact that an overseas tour can still offer a great personal and cultural experience, there will still be people who volunteer. However, I suspect the pool of volunteers has recently reduced?.....
In my humble opinion, LOA was only just covering the extra costs of living in most areas but not all. The rationale that the cost of living in the UK had risen and therefore the disparity had reduced (as stated in the allowances brief) conveniently ignored the "global financial crisis" that has seen increases everywhere around the globe. With the cuts in LOA, I believe that all personnel will be taking a financial penalty and/or reduced quality of life on all overseas tours, added to the fact that spouse employment is very hard to find in most overseas areas and impossible in a few.
As long as people are aware of that and the fact that an overseas tour can still offer a great personal and cultural experience, there will still be people who volunteer. However, I suspect the pool of volunteers has recently reduced?.....
Some Top Tips...
TWON,
You have clearly been hacking my 'drafts' box! I second everything that you say. As a family we have enjoyed our previous overseas tours but in our current one, we are struggling financially, especially with a child in a UK boarding school by necessity, and having to pay for representational duties out of our pockets, inter alia.
DG(Pol) need to argue:
WP
You have clearly been hacking my 'drafts' box! I second everything that you say. As a family we have enjoyed our previous overseas tours but in our current one, we are struggling financially, especially with a child in a UK boarding school by necessity, and having to pay for representational duties out of our pockets, inter alia.
DG(Pol) need to argue:
- Spousal incomes have to be recompensed where there are no pospects of local employment (as with FCO, SOCA and DFiD).
- LOA must be linked to independent global shopping basket surveys (as also used by FCO and DFiD, as well as multinationals).
- Linking LOA to the expenditure patterns of a Cpl on a Garrison and then upscaling this to senior officers is clearly bonkers and completely unrepresentative.
- Shipping of personal effects have to recognise modern lifestyles and not be arbitrarily limited to very small volumes (try and squeeze a family of 4 into the allowance given for UB if you are not moving your furniture - ie to a location where furnished hirings are provided - only!).
- Furnishing scales should include whitegoods - or UB allowances increased to accommodate them, or financial recompense provided.
- Petty local bureaucracy (eg BFG, UKNSU Naples etc) needs to be done away with. The DA community used to be very well served by a small team of MOD CS (with military lead) in SAAS/Def Dip/ISS. Perhaps a model to follow? And there is the Global RAO/HMS Nelson/RAF High Wycombe teams set up to look after 'orphans'.
- Overseas tours are career enhancers and not to be consigned to the box of Protestant Envy/Catholic Guilt/There, there, here's thanks for all your hard work by the Manning staffs.
- Don't send people on last or next-to-last tours to foreign staff colleges!!!!!
- Reporting Chains need to be, by necessity, cross Government and not focussed on seeking the single Service 2nd RO who might reside in another country, or indeed, another continent.
WP
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 1st Mar 2011 at 06:49.
Canadian Break - is there greater granularity on this? Is DG Pol looking for submissions?
Biggus - I can assure you that promotion makes absolutely no difference - typically, bigger expenditure, older kids etc etc. Basically, it is nigh on unaffordable at many overseas locations now.
Biggus - I can assure you that promotion makes absolutely no difference - typically, bigger expenditure, older kids etc etc. Basically, it is nigh on unaffordable at many overseas locations now.
Champagne anyone...?
is there greater granularity on this?
Just needed saying that's all. Back to the topic in hand then......
You made my day...
StopStart - I edited my posting to include granularity, knowing that it would engender opprobrium. Clever things, these dictionaries....
Anyway, the Ambassador was my 1st RO and worked with him every day; I had met my (RAF) 2nd RO once, and he saw none of my work.
Anyway, the Ambassador was my 1st RO and worked with him every day; I had met my (RAF) 2nd RO once, and he saw none of my work.
Champagne anyone...?
Have I succumbed to an elaborate pescatorial peregrination?! Or does Sir's obfuscation reveal his dawning cognition of the asininity of such Senior Officer argot? I fancy the latter. 
Clever things these Junior Officers....
Clever things these Junior Officers....
Gentleman Aviator
Make me a Wg Cdr or Gp Capt and I'll go.......
The bad news: to be Air Attache Tripoli ........
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Whenur: Spousal incomes have to be recompensed where there are no pospects of local employment (as with FCO, SOCA and DFiD).
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The DA community used to be very well served by a small team of MOD CS (with military lead) in SAAS/Def Dip/ISS. Perhaps a model to follow?
Quote:
Make me a Wg Cdr or Gp Capt and I'll go.......
The good news: You're promoted
The bad news: to be Air Attache Tripoli ........
Make me a Wg Cdr or Gp Capt and I'll go.......
The good news: You're promoted
The bad news: to be Air Attache Tripoli ........
DA Tour?
Lord Melchett,
Could you afford to do a DA tour these days? Expect to fund much of your 'outreach and engagement' activities out of your own pocket!
Bob on the Ground
Thought you were taking the Sipp, then I realised I was mildly dislexic (or just getting old)! Great bunch of people in IPP support. Infinitely more efficient that the usual 'Gen Office' setup.
Not seen this letter addressed to SNRs...strange realy, for I is one! Task for monday, I fear.
Could you afford to do a DA tour these days? Expect to fund much of your 'outreach and engagement' activities out of your own pocket!
Bob on the Ground
Thought you were taking the Sipp, then I realised I was mildly dislexic (or just getting old)! Great bunch of people in IPP support. Infinitely more efficient that the usual 'Gen Office' setup.
Not seen this letter addressed to SNRs...strange realy, for I is one! Task for monday, I fear.
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Granularity Please
Whenur....
I'm not entirely indisposed to the thrust of your arguments, but I fear you are verging on hyperbole. In particular, I'm intrigued about these "representational duties you have to pay out of your own pocket", of which you speak (regularly).
What are you talking about exactly? How much do you spend each year on them? What is that as a proportion of your LOA?
Are you being ordered to do them - if so by whom (I'm not sure you can be ordered to spend your own money)? Or are you actually choosing to do them, because you think they ought to be done (and probably have been in the past)?
If the latter, may I suggest you just not do them - and report upwards that the UK/Service has lost credibility/traction/influence as a result of the funding withdrawal.
If this COA is too distasteful, or if you actually enjoy going to these events, perhaps you should just suck it up.
FP
I'm not entirely indisposed to the thrust of your arguments, but I fear you are verging on hyperbole. In particular, I'm intrigued about these "representational duties you have to pay out of your own pocket", of which you speak (regularly).
What are you talking about exactly? How much do you spend each year on them? What is that as a proportion of your LOA?
Are you being ordered to do them - if so by whom (I'm not sure you can be ordered to spend your own money)? Or are you actually choosing to do them, because you think they ought to be done (and probably have been in the past)?
If the latter, may I suggest you just not do them - and report upwards that the UK/Service has lost credibility/traction/influence as a result of the funding withdrawal.
If this COA is too distasteful, or if you actually enjoy going to these events, perhaps you should just suck it up.
FP