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Coping with Pre-Deployment

Introduction

These notes have been prepared to help you during the time that your serving family member is away on an operational deployment. A guide alone will never replace the vital part that your family and friends can play in supporting you through what may be a difficult and at times lonely period. Remember that RAF welfare support, in one form or another, can extend to everyone; spouse, civil partner, partner, mother, father, son or daughter, you all have someone to turn to and a list of useful phone numbers and websites is included in the guide. So read on and use what you feel you need.

This notes focuses on spouses and civil partners. However parents of single RAF personnel and single partners may also find it useful both as a reminder to put things in order before deployment and as a guide of where to turn to for help. Not all of the information here will be relevant to everybody – but keep it handy (perhaps by the phone) in case you need it later.

Start by writing down the details on of the serving person going away as you will need them nearly every time you make a phone call about them to someone in the RAF.

Before the serving person leaves you should be contacted by your nominated Unit Point of Contact who should be your first point of contact for most matters.

No one wants you to feel isolated whilst your loved one is away. Your friends and family will probably be your strongest support network, however, if you have any issues you feel unable to handle, or you just need to talk, please remember that there is always someone in the RAF or its support services you can turn to for advice and support.

Preparing for deployment

As soon as you know that the serving member of your family is going to be deployed on operations you should start making plans to help you and your family manage whilst they are away. Many areas of your life will be affected by their departure but the deployment will be a lot easier to bear if you and your family are well prepared. Some key areas you might want to think about are in this section.

Things to make a note of

Before they go away make sure you have made a note of some important details and keep them handy:

Full name __________________________________________________

Rank _________________ Service number ______________________

Home Unit _________________________________________________

Unit contact telephone number________________________________

Unit address prior to deployment_____________________________

_______________________________________________________


Unit address during deployment ______________________________

___________________________________________________________

Contact Number during deployment ___________________________

Dates to Remember (please remember these may change)

Pre-tour leave ______________________________________________
Departure date______________________________________________
Rest and Recuperation (R&R) starts ____________________________
Rest and Recuperation (R&R) ends ____________________________
End of Tour Date(!) _________________________________________
Post tour leave starts _________________________________________
Post tour leave ends ________________________________________

Useful Telephone Numbers

Your nominated Unit Officer - your first point of contact for routine enquiries _____________________________________________

Your nearest HIVE - help, information and signposting to professional support agencies. ________________________________________

[To find your nearest HIVE go to www.hive.mod.uk or phone 01722 436498]
Confidential Support Line - personal support from a confidential telephone support worker _________________________________________

Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre - Emergency casualty and compassionate support : +44 (0)1452 519951

Overseas compassionate leave/travel Card

All service personnel deploying should have been given this card for their family members. If you have not received such a card, this is a copy for your information:

Click here to view card

Pre-Deployment Check List

Probably useful to tick when complete

• Do you know who your nominated Unit POC is and how to make contact with them?
• Have you got the correct contact details including postal address and BFPO number for your service person written down?
• Do you have a ‘guest’ account for Airspace?
• Are you content that finances (Standing Orders/Direct Debits set up) are arranged during the deployment?
• Are you authorised to deal with the bank, credit card agencies and other financial organisations?
• Have you checked up on any legal matters, spoken to a solicitor (if necessary), and do you know where the Will is?
• Is the car prepared (serviced, MOT etc)? Do you know a trusted mechanic or garage?
• Have you noted down important dates for insurance renewals etc?
• Has your service person checked and arranged life insurance/SLI/PAX etc?
• Do you know where all the key documents are should you need them?
• Do you know what to do in a home emergency for your: • Water? • Gas? • Electricity?
• Are you aware of the RAF’s casualty and compassionate procedures?
• Do you know who to contact in an emergency?

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