Our membership consists of about 181 service and ex-service organisations including 65 regimental associations.

COBSEO’s membership consists of about 181 Service and ex-Service organisations including 65 regimental associations. It does not have individual members.

COBSEO Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is made up of a vice chairman (currently the CEO of St Dunstan’s Mr Robert Leader DL), and 12 COBSEO member organisations, of whom six are permanent and are represented by their Chief Executives or equivalents. The Directors of COBSEO are often asked to take the lead in major issues and projects that have been identified as needing a collective approach on behalf of the COBSEO Executive.  Within its constitution, the Executive Committee of COBSEO is empowered to co-opt specialist knowledge or opinion to further its objectives.

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AGM

COBSEO’s AGM takes place each Autumn.  All member organisations are invited as well as a guest speaker,  senior military officers and officials from the Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments.  COBSEO objectives for the current year are reported on as well as further objectives agreed for the forthcoming year.

Research

COBSEO has delivered a number of projects, research and documents, often with one charity leading on behalf of the Confederation including:

• Sir Patrick Brown’s Way Ahead study into the future of the Ex-Service Charities.
• The Unique Nature of Military Service.  Why is military service different? Led by FPS
• Code of Practice for Pensions Appeal Tribunal Appellant’s representation. Led by TRBL
• Web Based Caseworking Management System for benevolence and welfare. Led by SSAFA FH
• The Veterans Study by Michael Hockney.  Considering the size, scope and delivery of through life support.
• 2011.  The COBSEO Handbook.  A list of all COBSEO organisations and their key roles.

COBSEO Chairman

COBSEO’s Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Tony Stables, meets the Minister for Personnel, Welfare and Veterans regularly and is frequently consulted by the Ministry of Defence, other Government departments and other organisations on important issues affecting The Armed Forces Community.  [This access does not stop but complements the direct access to the Minister and his staff enjoyed by individual Chief Executives.]
The Chairman and COBSEO’s Executive also sit on the MOD Veterans Executive Steering Group which provides strategic direction to policy affecting the Armed Forces Community.

COBSEO General Secretary

COBSEO’s General Secretary Cdr Debbie Whittingham RN, is involved in a number of MOD working Groups and Committees representing the COBSEO view.   She acts as the organisation’s General Secretary and keeps all member organisations up to date with e-bulletins about matters which may be of interest to them or affect them and are delivered twice a year, or via the COBSEO website.