Announced today that the AFPRB report will be late again next year, with the Board being asked to report in May and the pay settlement thrashed out over the summer for release later in the year. But apparently they have learned lessons (that’ll be a first for the MOD) from this year and will implement accordingly.

Timing no doubt influenced by BREXIT and the need to both make sure the country hasn’t imploded by 1 Apr and that there is actually some money available to pay anybody anything at all. But still rather frustrating to hear given that we still haven’t actually received the ‘bonus’ element from this year’s round and won’t until March next year. I sense kicking the can down the road this year has set the precedent for what will be the new norm i.e. yet more administrative chaos - or as my elderly mother said when I described how this year’s pay was being implemented, ‘can’t they get anything right these days?’

As an RAF Pensioner, I have always just sat back and accepted the current kick in the testes, even when serving.. Not much a chap can do about it, really.

Write to my MP? Michael Gove has other matters on his mind!!

Half the “bonus” element is in our November pay and the remainder will be in March.

Similar processes in the 1980s and going forward, IIRC.

And that is the way I think it will be from now on to reduce the pay bill even further - delayed pay rises, at a level lower than that recommended by the Board, with the difference paid as a one of bonus over a number of months. Anything but doing the right thing by their ‘best asset’.

And this is with our current ‘simple’ pay structures. Imagine the chaos if the Chancellor has his way and regional pay scales are introduced or if the AFPRB recommend bespoke pay spines for individual cohorts.

But if it’s any consolation, JPA now has the ‘bonus’ software patch installed. So the 0.7% next year could be paid as a one’er and realistically in Oct 19. Either way, you can feel it coming!

So, what happens if one were to leave the Service between now and the second half of the payment in March?

Oh yes, hugely valued. On top of being told that RAF personnel in JFC wont be getting the 5 extra days stand down CAS has awarded to all RAF personnel in recognition of 100 years and operational commitment and success, we’re all feeling the love here this week!

I would quite happily have the same pay and benefits as the Pay Review Body...

Link

Is the 5 extra days in one lump, being used to fill the hristmas/New Year gap, or available piecemeal at Unit Cdr’s discretion, or added to Annual Leave entitlement?

Glad you piped up there. Seeing as we weren’t officially told about it, but heard on the grapevine, we weren’t told the detail. It’s almost like they hoped we wouldn’t find out!

The Crabs are alright, Jack.