We won’t start the debate on being taxed on VA etc however due to the lead time of when I joined of at very least 2 years for uniform from stores, more likely 4. I went down the private purchase for all uniform. Which included used No1s, No2s No3s and No5s even by attending 3 weeks worth of camps the VA still hasn’t covered the value of purchase as the No1s and No5s needed tailoring too. Then I got the promotion after 2 years to Fg Off which meant braid tailoring on No1s and No5s along with a full rank slide purchase of approx £40 (although I did get £20 back from selling my PL Offs ones) within our wing, the max VA I can claim is 5 days per year at Flying Officer rate , presuming there are no additional costs needed, I will break even in 2026 providing I get 5 days of VA in 2025 & 26.
In one sense its a good way to get CFAV’s on camps i guess or at least doing activities out of squadron as I can justify it by the cost. I got lucky on most of it from Ebay which kept the cost down, the bill would be in the £1000’s if new.
where has this 5 days per year come from? It’s not RAFAC policy
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Yep and that’s a whole other story that’s been debated at region. What they do is restrict to 5 days and then towards the end of the year “review the pot” and if they can offer more out they will. Naturally that will likely to be more specialists such as SAAT teams etc
I’d question it - valuing our volunteers and call it out. It 100% is not RAFAC policy and should be challenged. In fact, the RAFAC policy specifically said it was not limiting days claimed and 28 was still the policy.
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Look at policy, ACP and JSP. JSP says that you can claim up to 28 days, not our issue if RAFAC doesn’t have the funds to reimburse. 
If a Region is saying 5 days, or what ever, it’s against policy.
The whole thing about VA days over budget is down to the fact that HQAC base it on every uniformed staff claiming VA, that will never happen.
The other issue here is that it is based as of 01 Apr each year, no amendments for increase/decrease of uniformed staff within the year.
Slightly off topic, but ACP 300 PI 308 makes it clear:
1. Purpose: Some volunteering with RAFAC may be remunerated; this section sets out the conditions that must be met before a CFAV is eligible to receive remuneration. HQ RAFAC, RCs and Comdt 2FTS are allocated resource from within the overall RAFAC budget from which all VA for their AOR must be accounted. Whilst there is a contingency for some limited VA additional to be drawn from the central budget the firm policy expectation is that this will only be in exceptional circumstances. Meeting the eligibility requirement in no way entitles the CFAV to receive remuneration in the form of VA.
You mean blind obedience? 
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