If you would like to show your appreciation for our Merchant Navy seafarers – past, present and future – please arrange to fly a Red Ensign ashore on Merchant Navy Day, Monday 3 September.
Now in its fourth year, Seafarers UK’s campaign to raise awareness of our island nation’s dependence on seafarers and shipping will see the British Merchant Navy’s official flag flying atop civic and historic buildings across the UK and on flagpoles in prominent public locations.
Read moreFor nearly 100 years we have assisted former officers and their families to help them in challenging personal situations.
Last year, the Benevolence team dealt with 1,107 cases, providing welfare advice, signposting to other organisations and accessing financial support. The OA awarded £1,369,000 in grants. The team authorised 3,766 financial transactions paid to beneficiaries, charities and suppliers.
Nigel Hare, OA Head of Benevolence, said: “The OA is here to support the officer community in difficult circumstances. Our team is dedicated to providing the best possible service, and we do all we can to help.”
Read moreThere are many ways to get job ready when you leave the Armed Forces, but here are three effective approaches that worked for these former officers.
A career consultation is personal, being tailored to your requirements. It can help you identify suitable job roles, and the steps needed to achieve your professional ambitions. The OA Career Consultants are former officers, and able to understand many of your transition challenges. They can also help you to identify your transferrable skills and communicate your potential commercial value to employers.
Read moreThe skills and experience required to manage a project are common within the Forces and many individuals look to transition into a new career within Project Management when they leave, but what does this look like in a civilian context?
Kindly hosted by Network Rail this event is one of a series of OA career-focused workshops delivered in conjunction with employers which explores these questions…
The workshop will begin with an overview of project management within a business setting, including a review of qualifications.
Read moreOA consultant Fiona Jackson is joined by Vix Anderton, a former RAF Intelligence Officer who left the Service in 2014.
She will be sharing key insights into her career including pros and cons of a portfolio career and lessons she has learnt along the way.
Vix now has a portfolio career, working on gender and conflict, diversity and inclusion, and mental health and wellbeing.
Read moreThis year The Royal British Legion is honoured to have been chosen as Charity of the Day and we’ll be celebrating the unique contribution of our Armed Forces community as One Legion – United by Difference.
Despite the differences between the Army and Navy so evident on match day, it is these differences that ultimately make us stronger when we stand together.
The Royal British Legion has been supporting soldiers, sailors and airmen past and present since 1921, and we’ll be here as long as they need us.
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The Service Complaints Ombudsman’s Annual Report 2017 describes the work undertaken by the Office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman (OSCO) throughout 2017 and reports on the current state of the Service complaints process.
In its second year of operation, and despite clear improvements that have been made, the Ombudsman finds that the Service complaints process is neither efficient, effective or fair at this stage.
Read moreThe service leavers guide offers information and advice prior to and after leaving regular service.
The guide contains information about armed forces pensions, resettlement, reserve liability and support from charitable organisations.
Of particular importance to service leavers is the Pen 1 form which should be completed at the 6 month point prior to your last day of service using the link on your JPA account.
Read moreAll too many veterans find leaving the Armed Forces, and returning to civvy street, a huge struggle due to physical injuries and mental health issues. This may result in homelessness, unemployment, family breakdown, and a dramatic deterioration in their well-being. The Veterans’ Foundation is a charity that was created to raise funds for military-related charities and other organisations that do excellent and effective work in helping veterans in need. This Heropreneurs Award category seeks to recognise an individual in civvy street, or a business, that has given outstanding help to such veterans.
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The Headley Court Charity was established in 1940 and in 1947 decided to acquire the estate at Headley Court in Surrey for the purpose of providing a facility for the medical rehabilitation of pilots and aircrew of the Royal Air Force. The facility opened in 1949 and the objects of the charity have since expanded to provide medical rehabilitation for all members of the armed forces.
This year the clinical facility will move to a new purpose built facility at Stanford Hall in the East Midlands and the MOD will vacate Headley Court.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
