Service personnel and their families will soon have a powerful
new independent advocate, as the recruitment campaign for
Britain's first ever Armed Forces Commissioner (AFC) is launched
today, (13 June), renewing the contract with those who serve and
underpinning the Government's Plan for Change.
The Commissioner will act as a champion for the Armed Forces,
with unmatched powers to investigate issues affecting those who
serve our country. Not only will the Commissioner subsume the
responsibilities of the Service Complaints Ombudsman, which
provides independent and impartial oversight of the Service
Complaints system for members of the UK Armed Forces, but they
will have wider powers to investigate welfare issues affecting
those that serve our Country.
The individual will be a direct point of contact for military
personnel and their families, including Reservists, to raise any
issues which impact service life. This could range from equipment
and housing to unacceptable behaviours.
With the power to visit UK Defence sites unannounced and
commission reports, the Commissioner will be an independent
appointment, reporting directly to Parliament through annual and
thematic reports to hold the Government to account, and drive
improvements to Service life.
Recognising that the strength of Defence not only lies in the
serving men and women of our Armed Forces but in the families
that support them, the unprecedented move to appoint an Armed
Forces Commissioner is a further critical step in the
Government's work to renew the contract between the nation and
those who serve.
This strengthened support comes on top of the biggest pay rise in
20 years for members of the Armed Forces and follows an
investment through the Government's Strategic Defence Review of
an extra £1.5bn focussed on tackling the poor state of forces'
family housing, spending more than £7bn overall on military
accommodation in this Parliament.
Defence Secretary MP
said:
“Our Armed Forces and the families who support them make
extraordinary sacrifices to keep us all safe every day. This
government will work tirelessly to renew the nation's contract
with those who serve.
“Today marks an important step forward in that mission as we
launch the search for the first ever Armed Forces commissioner.
“The Commissioner will be a powerful, independent voice for
personnel across all four nations of the UK, building on our
commitments to deliver an extra £1.5bn to improve forces family
housing, as we deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Personnel and their families will be able to contact the
Commissioner about issues affecting their service life. The
Commissioner can then investigate these concerns, seek relevant
information from the Ministry of Defence, and make
recommendations for improvement. No matter their rank or
location, Service personnel – including Staff Sergeant Lauren
Kelly – will be able to directly contact the independent
Commissioner to raise any issues impacting Service life.
Staff Sergeant Lauren Kelly said: “I feel that
it is very important that we have an independent champion acting
as a powerful voice for our Armed Forces community.
“Tackling issues like our accommodation standards, work-life
balance, equipment concerns, and childcare arrangements is not
only important for Armed Forces recruitment but also crucial so
that we continue to retain the best individuals.”
The appointment builds on the Government's commitment to improve
all aspects of Service life, including an above inflation pay
award this year, on top of last year's biggest pay rise in 20
years.
In a further demonstration of the UK learning from its partners
and allies, this move has been inspired and modelled on the
Commissioner for the Armed Forces in Germany, which since being
appointed, has received strong positive feedback from German
military personnel.
The Armed Forces Commissioner Bill continues to progress through
Parliament and will pave the way for a candidate to be
selected.
