VA Changes Announced

But we are Cadet Forces not regulars so we can make up the rules any way we want

But VA has never been based off of level of responsibility. An OC Wing and and an OC Squadron are not ever claiming for either of those roles, as you can’t claim parade nights.

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What are the current rank rate scales?

https://rafac.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/interim/QM/Controlled%20Documents/Allowances%20Rates%20Apr%2024.docx?d=w5ab8d6d0ec984ac9950f22a054ccadeb&csf=1&web=1&e=Eao3h1

Fg Off is around £2 more than Wo.

Also, what I am getting from this thread already is that the changes here are not actually obvious. We’ve already got multiple different ‘views’ on something that should be black and white.

Why can’t our comms be clearer?!

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So if someone, a Sqn Ldr, has to attend training (first aid, CLS courses etc) it usually takes them away from their jobs therefore they lose pay.

If their real life work pay was, say, £120 a day, but now they only get Fg Off Remuneration for attending said course… can the organisation really blame them for saying “stuff that, id rather not be short on money”.

Especially considering VA arrives in the bank a few months after the event itself…

Hardly seems right.

It is, however dofferent if said person was a Plt Off/FgOff/SNCO as theres no actual loss of expected monies…

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But, why should a Sqn leader merely attending a course be paid more then the Sergeant sitting next to them, or the Flying Officer delivering the course?

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I am grateful that the number of days hasn’t been reduced.

For me that was the principal concern, as the VA is the quid pro quo at home.

Yes, I get less per day as a Flt Lt - but that is an easier sell in my circumstance.

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It very much is a thing. In fact, all regular / reserve WOs will hold acting rank from the date of their board until successful completion of HMLC and any additional promotion courses required for their profession / specialisation.

But once they have been granted Substantive WO they will rarely lose it.

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That happens, but I won’t go into detail here.

Wonder how long before someone tries to mount a legal challenge as pay is set by the MOD. Im not bothered to be honest - But I am due to on the SOC (Senior Officers Course) later in the year, which I would hope falls under the exception for VA

Seems a pragmatic viewpoint, RHQ need to harmonise so we are not in ‘postcode’ lottery.

As for substantive rank, that is generally a good idea, I would have gone with everyone is on substantive rank pay but activity commander gets additional allowance on top due to the extra responsibilities (not my idea saw it on here a while navk and seemed a reasonable method)

But then that starts to get woolly. OC Sqns will say they take on extra responsibilities, same with WSOs and OC Wings. Will be interesting to see what happens at RSO level :smirk:

Might be nice to see a list of roles where VA can be paid at acting rank (eg a Annual Camp Commandant for instance being paid Flt Lt) - so we can have some consistency and also rather than having to a write some sort of business justification.

The Armed Forces have been talking about moving away from pay being based on rank and time served for years, although this has only ever actually happened for professional aviators and medical reserves. VA seems an obvious case for getting away from being rank-based and towards an allowance to offset the cost of volunteering (so, possibly based on NGB qualifications).

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Very much a bum deal for anyone flying officer and above. The mear 1.82 difference between warrent officer and flying officer is not worth the time or hassle when you factor in that officers have to buy all thier uniform unlike a warrent officer who can get replacements as and when they need them. Yes officers are entitled to no.1 dress but how many of the post covid cadre actually have had them issued especially in SNI where there havent been any issues since before covid.

What incentive is there for a officer to take on a sqn now let alone keep the commission. I wonder if there will now be a influx of people wanting to give up their commission in exchange to becoming a FS or WO.

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See where you are coming from, i was thinking along the lines of activity commander who has taken responsibility for RAs, and out leading activity , ultimately the person who may end up in the dock to be ultimately accountable, not necessarily the one who just reads emails and says yes or no, i dont mean that as flippant as it reads. Point is many take part in activities but only a few plan, assess, take full responsibility.

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But noone gets paid for running a Squadron?

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I think we will see more activities that attrack pay at acting rank over other events. I will just use my days for those type of events over others and just not claim pay on those events in exchange for crown feeding. I will also not be taking time off work for events where I can’t claim full pay.

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