RAFCOM can provide all RAF personnel, veterans and family members with access to FREE email accounts, forums and chat rooms. You can use these features to ask questions or create polls, to seek the opinion of your fellow RAFCOM users, get registered and start your discussion forum now! *** STOP PRESS *** Through the RAFCOM Webmaster, Formed Units can have their own forum - this can be used to make announcements for family/social events and keep those on deployment up-to-date with what's happening back home. more...

The new rates of Allowances, effective from 1 April 2009, have now been published. It should be noted, however, that Lodging Allowance rates will be amended in August 2009, and the rates for Education Allowances will be published later in the year. more...

Relate, the leading provider of relationship support can now directly help parents and parental relationships via their website. Support can be accessed instantly and free (at present) through either a Live Chat or an SMS facility. more...

The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body and basic military salary for officers and other ranks will increase by 2.8% with effect from 1 April 2009. This is the third consecutive year that the Armed Forces pay rise has been among the highest in the public sector and it recognises the hard work and sacrifices made by all our personnel. Full details of the new rates will be published as soon as we have them.

The RAF has approved the award of a grant towards the cost of the initial purchase of a mess dress for all personnel promoted to Sergeant from 1 Apr 2009 onwards. The grant will apply to Regular Service personnel only and will be set at £250. Further details are available on Internal Briefing Note 06/09.

With effect from 1 April 2009 there has been a slight increase in the amount personnel pay for their PAX Insurance Premiums. Full details are enclosed.

The Revised School Admissions Code & School Admissions Appeal Code came into effect on 10 February 2009 for all maintained schools and academies in England. Whilst the full codes are available on the attached link, the good news for children of Service personnel is that local authorities and admission authorities must now ’allocate a school place in advance, if accompanied by an official government letter (e.g. MOD, FCO or GCHQ) declaring a relocation date and intended address, if the applicant would meet the criteria on relocation.’ In addition, they must ’accept a Unit postal address, or if appropriate, a "quartering area" address in the absence of a new home postal address.’ more...

Vitalise, in partnership with the Royal British Legion, are offering free seaside holidays in their accessible centres around the UK during the Spring for Service personnel injured or disabled in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) have launched a great new scheme called Storybook Wings, where a Service person can record a story for their child(ren) to listen to whilst they are away on operations.
.

The Royal British Legion has organised a service run by ‘Kids Club Activity Holidays’ whereby isolated children of Service families will enjoy a 7-day holiday in one of several holiday centres throughout England.