Resettlement
Information
Resettlement' from the RAF is a process which you will probably experience only once and that is usually during your last two years of service - which is one of the reasons why awareness of the process is limited. Yet leaving the Royal Air Force brings about a major change in your life which is as fundamental as joining up. This outlines the current structure of resettlement, which has seen some significant changes over the last year and it may also give you a gentle nudge.
Your Responsibility
Resettlement is your personal responsibility but you do not have to tackle it on your own - information, advice, training and help in job finding are all on offer, and all free. Duty time and some financial assistance are also available. But remember that resettlement is an eligibility not an entitlement unless you have served 16 years service; the fact that most people assume the latter is a tribute to the way the RAF has done business over the years. The resettlement structure is most easily understood in terms of 'first', 'second' and 'third' line.
First Line
Typically, your first point of contact will be at unit level with the Resettlement and Education Co-ordinators (RECs), who act as focal points for all resettlement information and administration. Don't believe anything you are told elsewhere around the bazaars by well meaning colleagues until you have checked it out with the RECs and the Second Line.
Second Line
The RECs will put your in touch with the visiting Regional Resettlement Adviser (RRA). There are 11 RRAs, either RO2s or C2s, who cover the whole of the UK and visit RAF units overseas, including North West Europe, Cyprus and Naples. Each RRA looks after 3 or 4 stations and their parented units. The RRAs provide information and advice by way of regular briefings and individual interviews; they also refer those who wish (the vast majority) to the 'third line', which operates from Regional Resettlement Centres (RRCs) - 10 in number, including one each in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Germany.
Third Line
In Oct 98, the MOD contracted Right Management (not to be confused with the bankers) to provide tri-Service resettlement preparation, training and job finding assistance. Access to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), as it is known, is free to all personnel eligible for resettlement. The Officers' Association and Regular Forces Employment Association (RFEA) are now also part of the CTP. Both these organisations, which have charitable arms as well, continue to provide significant assistance with job finding through a UK-wide network of local offices.
Eligibility
Whilst both the First and Second Line are tasked to give you information and advice at any time during your service, eligibility for Third Line, plus duty time and financial assistance, does not start until you are within 2 years of a confirmed exit date. (If you are waiting to hear the outcome of an application for an extension of Service or assimilation you should assume you are leaving on your current discharge date). You qualify for the CTP's job finding service if you have been in the RAF for at least 3 years (personnel enlisted prior to 1 Sep 02) or 4 years (enlisted on or after 1 Sep 02). If you have completed more than 5 years'(if enlisted prior to 1 Sep 02 - 6 years' thearafter) service you qualify for the full transition programme (the time limits are waived for those who are made redundant or medically discharged). The CTP's job finding service is available for up to 2 years after discharge. For further information:
Website: http://www.learning-forces.org.uk/21-30/resettlement.htm
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