LOA Cut Again
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LOA Cut Again
I've just been informed that my LOA has been cut again.
Less of a cut this time, so clearly that is just fine.
The point I am making is this. If you are offered an overseas 'sunshine tour', do your maths very carefully. With the combined effect of selling cars at a loss before I had any intention of doing so, my wife not working, increased cost of living, insurance costs with no no-claims, loss of credit rating, cost of flights back home to see our son and many other factors, we have spent all our buffer zone money and a great deal more by year 2 of a 3 year tour.
My posting has cost me an awful lot of money and I am not alone. Be advised.
Less of a cut this time, so clearly that is just fine.
The point I am making is this. If you are offered an overseas 'sunshine tour', do your maths very carefully. With the combined effect of selling cars at a loss before I had any intention of doing so, my wife not working, increased cost of living, insurance costs with no no-claims, loss of credit rating, cost of flights back home to see our son and many other factors, we have spent all our buffer zone money and a great deal more by year 2 of a 3 year tour.
My posting has cost me an awful lot of money and I am not alone. Be advised.
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I've just been informed that my LOA has been cut again.
Less of a cut this time, so clearly that is just fine.
The point I am making is this. If you are offered an overseas 'sunshine tour', do your maths very carefully. With the combined effect of selling cars at a loss before I had any intention of doing so, my wife not working, increased cost of living, insurance costs with no no-claims, loss of credit rating, cost of flights back home to see our son and many other factors, we have spent all our buffer zone money and a great deal more by year 2 of a 3 year tour.
My posting has cost me an awful lot of money and I am not alone. Be advised.
Less of a cut this time, so clearly that is just fine.
The point I am making is this. If you are offered an overseas 'sunshine tour', do your maths very carefully. With the combined effect of selling cars at a loss before I had any intention of doing so, my wife not working, increased cost of living, insurance costs with no no-claims, loss of credit rating, cost of flights back home to see our son and many other factors, we have spent all our buffer zone money and a great deal more by year 2 of a 3 year tour.
My posting has cost me an awful lot of money and I am not alone. Be advised.
Last edited by Seldomfitforpurpose; 3rd Mar 2012 at 22:00.
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Scuttled,
I am afraid that you have made an excellent point to some less than excellent people.
Had you brought up any one of the various ways that we are now worse off, be it lack of pay increase, PAYD, pension reform, flying pay lost at PVR then you would have attracted no end of support.
Sadly you mentioned LOA, an allowance designed to offset the recognised expense of both moving and living abroad. Designed to do so then cut dramatically. Sadly there are those in the military who will have read LO and decided you are over privileged, before they read A. Which is fair given how it's written. These people have a vandal's mentality. They are merely extensions of the 'he has a nice car, therefore I'll scratch it, which won't get me a nice car, but it'll make his worse' bunch.
Overseas jobs can be a great deal. But you shouldn't pay to do them.
Now, you probably moved abroad because you or your family wanted an experience or maybe because it was a good job, or even your career would have been adversely affected had you not. Those aren't reasons to be out of pocket.
I personally think you have a great point. I think that if the military make it financially challenging to move abroad then fewer people will want to go. This might have a couple of impacts. One of which is that the good lads, the ones that we actually want to serve with our allies (I'm assuming you're one of these) might decide against it. The upside of this is that small minded idiots (see above) will get their chance to go instead.
The truth of the matter is that foreign posts are viewed as being such a good deal that not only can the MoD can 'take the piss' with LOA but also you will get slammed for bringing it up.
Good point and hard luck for the other replies.
I am afraid that you have made an excellent point to some less than excellent people.
Had you brought up any one of the various ways that we are now worse off, be it lack of pay increase, PAYD, pension reform, flying pay lost at PVR then you would have attracted no end of support.
Sadly you mentioned LOA, an allowance designed to offset the recognised expense of both moving and living abroad. Designed to do so then cut dramatically. Sadly there are those in the military who will have read LO and decided you are over privileged, before they read A. Which is fair given how it's written. These people have a vandal's mentality. They are merely extensions of the 'he has a nice car, therefore I'll scratch it, which won't get me a nice car, but it'll make his worse' bunch.
Overseas jobs can be a great deal. But you shouldn't pay to do them.
Now, you probably moved abroad because you or your family wanted an experience or maybe because it was a good job, or even your career would have been adversely affected had you not. Those aren't reasons to be out of pocket.
I personally think you have a great point. I think that if the military make it financially challenging to move abroad then fewer people will want to go. This might have a couple of impacts. One of which is that the good lads, the ones that we actually want to serve with our allies (I'm assuming you're one of these) might decide against it. The upside of this is that small minded idiots (see above) will get their chance to go instead.
The truth of the matter is that foreign posts are viewed as being such a good deal that not only can the MoD can 'take the piss' with LOA but also you will get slammed for bringing it up.
Good point and hard luck for the other replies.
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It hurts!
Bless you, giving up sooo much for sooo little, I do feel you `NOT'
I have just RTB after another det in support of our massive push to re-rule the world & was amazed at ur shout of 'guidance'’ pray tell what is your trade??????
Love always
“A balanced man”
I have just RTB after another det in support of our massive push to re-rule the world & was amazed at ur shout of 'guidance'’ pray tell what is your trade??????
Love always
“A balanced man”
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Thanks Orca and yes to all your points.
To the rest, well, quite unbelievable. Or sadly believable. A Typical nasty, schadenfreude attitude - common to many Brits.
Yes, it is interesting to move overseas, no denial. But the reality of doing your sums on personal expenditure based on loa which is then chopped by £400 per month very quickly is awful.
I was trying to make a point for anybody contemplating such a move. I am, financially, as a 20 year man in a far worse financial situation than I was 18 months ago.
No different from a cut in basic pay back home. Clearly there is still a completely fictitious perception of what an exchange tour actually is today.
To the rest, well, quite unbelievable. Or sadly believable. A Typical nasty, schadenfreude attitude - common to many Brits.
Yes, it is interesting to move overseas, no denial. But the reality of doing your sums on personal expenditure based on loa which is then chopped by £400 per month very quickly is awful.
I was trying to make a point for anybody contemplating such a move. I am, financially, as a 20 year man in a far worse financial situation than I was 18 months ago.
No different from a cut in basic pay back home. Clearly there is still a completely fictitious perception of what an exchange tour actually is today.
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Equilibrium.
Bloody hell.
Aircrew, with 11 ooas of various length in the sand since 2001 (not 2002, but 2001)
Have I justified myself? Jeez. Angry, bitter people........
Bloody hell.
Aircrew, with 11 ooas of various length in the sand since 2001 (not 2002, but 2001)
Have I justified myself? Jeez. Angry, bitter people........
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I bet most ofthose whingers on here havent even bothered to applyfor a loan or exchange tour. Either that or bitter they didnt get one.
You are right, a cut to allowances is no different than a cut to basic if you are eligible to claim a the time. How would some on here like to have their basic adjusted after a financial decision has been made with the best information available at the time.
I think it pathetic that many on here attack an individual for pointing this out. Or have we forgotten that many overseas brethen face a det burden far in excess of many of us serving in the UK?
You are right, a cut to allowances is no different than a cut to basic if you are eligible to claim a the time. How would some on here like to have their basic adjusted after a financial decision has been made with the best information available at the time.
I think it pathetic that many on here attack an individual for pointing this out. Or have we forgotten that many overseas brethen face a det burden far in excess of many of us serving in the UK?
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Now imagine you have been posted to Valley, then imagine the financial fecking whammy that goes with that and no LOA to compensate.
Or imagine a posting to Aldergrove for a couple of years and the hit you take when your other half, who is incredibly lucky to get one has to make do with a part time job.
I did my Jag course in 80/81 and there weren't many service wives making a killing in those days either, my brother was an engineer at Kinloss and his wife had to give up her well paid job to move north and join him.
Any berk coming in here and complaining that having VOLUNTEERED for a sunshine tour he/she "suddenly" discovers that the LOA is not enough to cover all the "incedentals" deserves no sympathy at all and any muppet thinking the OP has a point has obviously never left home either
Edited to add 2 overseas tours completed and not sure in either case we actually made on the deal as we were to busy having fun
Or imagine a posting to Aldergrove for a couple of years and the hit you take when your other half, who is incredibly lucky to get one has to make do with a part time job.
I did my Jag course in 80/81 and there weren't many service wives making a killing in those days either, my brother was an engineer at Kinloss and his wife had to give up her well paid job to move north and join him.
Any berk coming in here and complaining that having VOLUNTEERED for a sunshine tour he/she "suddenly" discovers that the LOA is not enough to cover all the "incedentals" deserves no sympathy at all and any muppet thinking the OP has a point has obviously never left home either
Edited to add 2 overseas tours completed and not sure in either case we actually made on the deal as we were to busy having fun
Last edited by Seldomfitforpurpose; 3rd Mar 2012 at 23:38.
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Wouldn't the irony be painful if one of the mud slingers had started their own thread about something like imprests and rates...or some other whinge about it being hard to get and keep the correct amount of money these days!
What? No! Really? Incredible.
What? No! Really? Incredible.
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Time Away: How many?
Dear Scuttled,
After joining 'the joke' as aircrew in 1983 I will give you a massive 'palms up;
I just find it really frustrating that we bitch about this subject when the Sqn i'm doin the job for 'r' in & out doin the business & you find it hard to go overseas!!!
PS 11 OAS whatever keep counting my son
PS love always
After joining 'the joke' as aircrew in 1983 I will give you a massive 'palms up;
I just find it really frustrating that we bitch about this subject when the Sqn i'm doin the job for 'r' in & out doin the business & you find it hard to go overseas!!!
PS 11 OAS whatever keep counting my son
PS love always
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Sorry - immediate re-attack. I don't have to imagine being posted to Valley. I can remember it perfectly well thank you. Although I think technically I was appointed.
I'm pretty sure though that my car made it there without having to be sold and my wife still managed to commute to London for her job. These things were tough but we managed to over come them. I'm not sure we'd have managed either from, say, Canada.
I have no way of proving it to you but I can tell you that I currrently get about £18 a day LSA - which (I think) means I have been away from home 'once or twice'.
We must find some way of proving what we are without revealing who we are such that self appointed deities of the internet can at least have a vague idea over whom they are casting aspersions.
I simply don't understand the resentment. You shouldn't be out of pocket because you got a job others wanted. I can't remember feeling any bitterness to those on LOSLOA, LSA, SSSA or even the dole when I last got back from ops...why would I?
I'm pretty sure though that my car made it there without having to be sold and my wife still managed to commute to London for her job. These things were tough but we managed to over come them. I'm not sure we'd have managed either from, say, Canada.
I have no way of proving it to you but I can tell you that I currrently get about £18 a day LSA - which (I think) means I have been away from home 'once or twice'.
We must find some way of proving what we are without revealing who we are such that self appointed deities of the internet can at least have a vague idea over whom they are casting aspersions.
I simply don't understand the resentment. You shouldn't be out of pocket because you got a job others wanted. I can't remember feeling any bitterness to those on LOSLOA, LSA, SSSA or even the dole when I last got back from ops...why would I?
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Valley from Jan 87 till mid 89, Aldergrove for a couple of years in the 90's plus 2 Germany tours and in each and every case we accepted that some days you fish and some days you mend the nets because that's what service life is all about
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My Hero
Hey; Scuttled
You done 11 Aircrew, "with 11 ooas of various length in the sand since 2001 (not 2002, but 2001)"
Ur amazing 'Move on buddy your our king "
LOve you man
You done 11 Aircrew, "with 11 ooas of various length in the sand since 2001 (not 2002, but 2001)"
Ur amazing 'Move on buddy
your our king "LOve you man
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SFFP,
You aren't the one displaying the resentment. You are simply being your (old) self with the 'stop whingeing' line, for which I have a degree of sympathy, but not in this case. The guy brought a valid concern to light.
You will accept that other posters have made this thread fairly vitriolic.
A point of yours with which I actually directly disagree is the notion that 'the muppet' should have done the maths before hand. He probably did then someone moved the goal posts.
I actually really enjoy locking horns with your good self. Not going to quit when you retire are you?
You aren't the one displaying the resentment. You are simply being your (old) self with the 'stop whingeing' line, for which I have a degree of sympathy, but not in this case. The guy brought a valid concern to light.
You will accept that other posters have made this thread fairly vitriolic.
A point of yours with which I actually directly disagree is the notion that 'the muppet' should have done the maths before hand. He probably did then someone moved the goal posts.
I actually really enjoy locking horns with your good self. Not going to quit when you retire are you?
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SFFP,
You aren't the one displaying the resentment. You are simply being your (old) self with the 'stop whingeing' line, for which I have a degree of sympathy, but not in this case. The guy brought a valid concern to light.
You will accept that other posters have made this thread fairly vitriolic.
A point of yours with which I actually directly disagree is the notion that 'the muppet' should have done the maths before hand. He probably did then someone moved the goal posts.
I actually really enjoy locking horns with your good self. Not going to quit when you retire are you?
You aren't the one displaying the resentment. You are simply being your (old) self with the 'stop whingeing' line, for which I have a degree of sympathy, but not in this case. The guy brought a valid concern to light.
You will accept that other posters have made this thread fairly vitriolic.
A point of yours with which I actually directly disagree is the notion that 'the muppet' should have done the maths before hand. He probably did then someone moved the goal posts.
I actually really enjoy locking horns with your good self. Not going to quit when you retire are you?
My point is that in my almost 38 years of service the "goal posts" on any matter what so ever have never ever ever been set in anything other than blancmange and any feckin idiot who does not get that deserves no sympathy at all.
The OP volunteered to go overseas and as far as I can see from his/her opening post there is nowt that shows someone being hard done by.
July 9th gone
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Bloody hell.
Leave the guy alone. He has a point.
You plan your life based on your wage level. Being overseas incurs more outgoings. The RAF has cut this guys allowances at no notice and that is unfair.
Does it matter where he is or how many out of areas he's done
You lot are ducking pathetic.
Bet you'd all be complaining if the pay review cut out flying pay and you couldn't afford your mortgage payments as would I!
Dubs
Leave the guy alone. He has a point.
You plan your life based on your wage level. Being overseas incurs more outgoings. The RAF has cut this guys allowances at no notice and that is unfair.
Does it matter where he is or how many out of areas he's done
You lot are ducking pathetic.
Bet you'd all be complaining if the pay review cut out flying pay and you couldn't afford your mortgage payments as would I!
Dubs
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Since when was LOA fixed? It is variable. Month to month. Granted, 400 quid seems a bit over the top in one month, but then if he's a field officer with 5 kids, that may well be the case.
But for Christ's sake, (an I'm an ex-soldier saying this), it's fooking embarrassing watching you crabs bitching at each other about this.
But for Christ's sake, (an I'm an ex-soldier saying this), it's fooking embarrassing watching you crabs bitching at each other about this.
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Okay.
I genuinely posted this to raise awareness. I am really shocked at the negative outpouring of some posters who are completely missing the point.
I'm fine, thanks. I didn't apply for this post at all, but accepted it on the terms it was offered after discussing the implications with my wife.
The terms changed, with a huge loss of take home pay at no notice. Our calculations on outgoings for our mortgage etc were shot to hell. I've taken a loan to see us through. My wife had an okay job, but can't work here at all. Endex.
But we are fine and will get by. Cheers mates, apart from SFFP who had his two tours when the allowances covered costs. D*ck. Made money?
My officer pay and flying pay puts me in a good position. Not the same for my troops, my responsibility. My big concern
This was advice. I worry about the future of the RAF.
I genuinely posted this to raise awareness. I am really shocked at the negative outpouring of some posters who are completely missing the point.
I'm fine, thanks. I didn't apply for this post at all, but accepted it on the terms it was offered after discussing the implications with my wife.
The terms changed, with a huge loss of take home pay at no notice. Our calculations on outgoings for our mortgage etc were shot to hell. I've taken a loan to see us through. My wife had an okay job, but can't work here at all. Endex.
But we are fine and will get by. Cheers mates, apart from SFFP who had his two tours when the allowances covered costs. D*ck. Made money?
My officer pay and flying pay puts me in a good position. Not the same for my troops, my responsibility. My big concern
This was advice. I worry about the future of the RAF.
