RAC Resettlement Webinar – Thursday 23rd Nov 2023

On behalf of the RAC Alumni, HQ RAC is hosting the fourth in a series of Resettlement Webinars on Thu 23rd Nov 23 between 1600 – 1700hrs.

The overall aim of these webinars is ‘To better inform the RAC community of the world of opportunity outside the military’, and although these webinars were initially intended for any RAC serving officer or soldier that are considering leaving the service shortly. Any member of the RAC Alumni that are considering a career change, they are very much open to the broader non-RAC serving and ex-military audience – all very welcome.

This fourth webinar in the series will aim to provide the opportunity for the following companies/organisations to explain opportunities presented by their military-specific programmes:

  • AtkinsRéalis
  • BuildForce
  • Microsoft
  • High Ground
  • Building Heroes

For more details on each, and to register for the webinar please follow this link:

https://www.royalarmouredcorps.org.uk/Resettlement-Webinars

The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms – Appointment of Axe Keeper

The Palace is advertising for a successor to the current Axe Keeper to the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, who has responsibility for the day-to-day administration of its 28 members, the preparation and execution of all related matters, and the custody and care of associated uniforms and accoutrements. The primary location for the appointment is St. James’s Palace.

The vacancy for the appointment is now live on the Buckingham Palace website.

For ease and further reference, the Job Description is below.

The expiry date for applications is 12 Nov 23 at 2355hrs.

Axe-Keeper-Job-Description-Oct-23

WCS Group – Air, water treatment and hygiene services

WCS prides itself in delivering the best Water Treatment, Water Hygiene, Air Quality and Asbestos testing solutions across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

WCS Group is the UK’s leading water treatment, air hygiene, and asbestos specialist.

They work on the best water treatment, hygiene and asbestos jobs because we employ the best people.

Their diverse and talented team brings customers peace of mind, ensuring our commitment to compliance, sustainability, quality and excellence.

WCS Group has achieved Silver Award status with the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

As an employer, they seek to encourage new employment paths, and opportunities within our organisation for serving personnel, veterans and military family members.

They also offer an additional 5 days paid leave per year to support Reservist Training and Exercises, and 5 days paid leave for Adult Cadet Force Volunteers.

WCS Group’s current openings

Pension News Update

Know Your Military Pension Entitlement (5 to 12-year men)

The consequences of recent legislation as it affects preserved pensions is that any member of the Armed Forces who left service after 1 April 1975 and served over five years, might be entitled to a preserved pension.

If you left the Armed Forces before 1 April 1975 but had not qualified for a full pension (that is had served at least 16 years after the age of 21 as an officer, or at least 22 years after the age of 18 for a Rating/Other Rank), then you have no entitlement to a preserved pension.

The cohort that might be entitled to a preserved pension; is limited to those who left the Armed Forces after 1 April 1975. We must now address the word ‘might’, and this changes over time between 1975 and 1988. This is because pension entitlement has been progressively amended since 1975 through subsequent primary legislation or subordinate Statutory Instruments.

Point to note – all veterans need to apply for their pensions (AFPS Form 8), they are not automatic.

The form will download automatically when this link is clicked.

Should you need advice contact the Armed Forces Pensions – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Or the Forces Pension Society – Championing Armed Forces Pensions since 1946

Update on HM Forces Veterans’ Cards

We receive quite a lot of enquiries about Veterans’ Cards and are aware that our members are keen to hear about advancements in this area.

The latest news is that work is underway to develop the digital verification system required to begin the second phase of the card rollout (to those who left the Armed Forces prior to December 2018).

The Office for Veterans Affairs (OVA) has led this work through the prototype stage, and it has now passed to the MOD for development and roll-out.

The Government will begin issuing cards by the end of this year and will be engaging with veterans over the coming months to participate in the Beta testing phase.

For future updates please visit GOV.UK where the latest news on progress will be shared.

70th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice

I was very privileged to represent the Regimental Association at a memorial event in Horse Guards Parade on the 27th of July 2023 to mark the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice.

Major Tom Dudley also attended the event representing the Commanding Officer and all serving ranks. Also in attendance in a personal capacity were Capt (Retd) Barry De Morgan, Capt (Retd) James Hirst, Capt (Retd) Mark Coldrey with his mother Victoria Coldrey and his wife Caroline Coldrey.

Continue reading “70th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice”

RAC Resettlement Webinar – Thursday 27th July 2023

On behalf of the RAC Alumni, HQ RAC is hosting the third of a series of Resettlement Webinars on Thu 27th Jul 23 between 1600 – 1700hrs.

The overall aim of these webinars is ‘To better inform the RAC community of the world of opportunity outside the military’, and although these webinars were initially intended for any RAC serving officer or soldier that are considering leaving the service in the near future, and any member of the RAC Alumni that are considering a career change, they are very much open to the broader non-RAC serving and ex-military audience – all very welcome.

This third webinar in the series will aim to provide the opportunity for a deep dive into seven different business sectors as follows:

  • Teaching / Education
  • Insurance
  • Technology and Tech training
  • The Police Force
  • Management Consultancy
  • Recruitment
  • Civil Service

For more details on each deep dive, and to register for the webinar please follow this link: https://www.royalarmouredcorps.org.uk/Resettlement-Webinar

Many thanks,

Richard Watson

Lt Col (Retd) Richard Watson | RAC Corps Secretary | HQ RAC, Allenby Barracks, Bovington Camp, Wareham, DORSET, BH20 6JA