Getting your just deserts

As the country heads for recession (or downturn if political sensitivities mean that you prefer to avoid the R-word), the media focus swings towards internal misery rather than external commitments. Credit crunch, sub-prime mortgages and fuel prices replace Al Qaeda, Taliban and troop surge in the headlines, and the knife and gang culture of NEETs (no employment, education or training) is more prominent than the ongoing bravery and effectiveness of the Armed Forces on operations.

With shades of 1991, one part of the MoD is engaged in war-fighting and peace enforcement, in theatres of extreme complexity and with resources that even government sources acknowledge by default as inadequate. The other part is engaged in streamlining – savage cuts of 25% across the board to make it as ‘efficient as possible’. This left hand-right hand approach is not new. But it is perhaps about time that governments of all political persuasions realised that public commitment to a course of action needs to be matched by ministerial willingness to pay for it – and to explain to taxpayers why this is necessary.

Some results in the most recent continuous attitude survey must have made uncomfortable, if hardly unexpected, reading for MoD chiefs. General dissatisfaction with allowances and the 13% X Factor, low morale, and reluctance to recommend a military career to the next generation mirror public disquiet about such issues as the military covenant. Reports from operational theatres are, however, that most people simply want to get on with the job in hand, and the major frustrations are around lack of operational resources.

Enough of the big picture – although it is good to note that improvements promised for Service accommodation and healthcare for returning wounded appear to be being implemented – even if it is scandalous that it took public campaigns and selected references to the military covenant to achieve them. There is good news for Service leavers stemming from the recent National Audit Office Report on resettlement and from the recent Command Paper.

In a nutshell, and with a number of caveats, Service leavers have gained two sources of funding to help with their personal development and to increase their resettlement spend.

The first is the ability to use either Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) or Standard Learning Credits (SLC) (but not both) alongside their Individual Resettlement Training Costs (IRTC), provided that the rules of both schemes are obeyed. Indeed IRTC can even be used to fund the 20% personal contribution required under ELC and SLC regulations. This starts next month and, provided that the training provider and the level of learning satisfies the necessary criteria, it makes a great deal more money available to individuals who plane their resettlement well in advance.

The other development is a commitment to pay the tuition costs of a first Level 3 qualification, Foundation Degree or Undergraduate degree during the first 10 years after individuals have left the Services. If the individual has not used ELCs they will form part of the financial support; if they have and whenever the fees exceed their value, the balance will be paid by the government. This only applies to tuition fees, so that the individual will have to pay their own food and accommodation costs; but it goes some way towards the type of veterans’ benefits provided in other countries, most notably the USA.

To help with these choices, this month’s edition includes articles on such career choices for Service leavers as security, diving, and sport and fitness. Favourites they may be but nowadays, in common with most employment sectors, they demand qualifications and experience. People, particularly those with Naval or Air Force backgrounds, may find features about the Merchant Navy and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and aviation engineering of more than a little interest, while all three Services contain IT experts and increasing numbers of experienced system users. A look at building trades with considerable skills shortages and an introduction to franchising from the sector’s lead body complete the picture.

More generally, we put the focus on Scotland as a place to live, train and work, and offer some advice on getting the best possible value from what is available during the resettlement process. And, working on the principle that it is always good to read about the experience of someone who has already left the Armed Forces for a new career, we have a contribution from Stephen Armstrong-Watkins. He was an Army musician who completed 22 years and left at the age of 40. After experiencing a reality check, his new business seems to be a success; but a remarkably honest account of his ups and downs may help those facing the same situation.

As ever, we welcome feedback and your letters or e-mails are always valued. Please keep them coming.