UPDATE JAN 2024: The extended deadline for submissions of evidence to this inquiry has now passed. BAFF

The House of Commons Defence Committee has opened a new Inquiry into Armed Forces Readiness. The

This petition under the official UK Government and Parliament procedure is now closed, after

The Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) carries out a yearly review of armed forces pay,

UPDATE:  We tried a 'Tineye' reverse image search on the photo of a filthy refrigerator alleged to

"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your

This is a timely message from SSAFA the Armed Forces Charity:

This video message from the Commandant General Royal Marines, Lt Gen Robert Magowan, is for all

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally abandoned its long-running inquiry into

It now looks as if the Labour Party, which abstained from opposing the Overseas Operations Bill at

Update: The Public Bill Committee which has been considering the Overseas Operations etc Bill has now

We wrote in May 2020 that BAFF sometimes gets requests for help from former staff who had been

A Commonwealth citizen with leave to enter or remain in the UK, or who does not require such leave,

UPDATE (OCT 2019):  Thanks for all members' replies and for your scrutiny of the draft answers

In our 2011 article Armed Forces Trade Unions? we said, firstly, that based on many surveys and

We are very grateful to Mr Herbert Möller for some beautiful photographs taken at the candlelit

Defence is only one of the issues in the General Election on Thursday 8 June, but below are the

The Electoral Commission has been reminding UK Service personnel that they need to make sure they

Former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sir Eric Pickles MP, was asked by

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has published a new research report which shines a rare spotlight on the

The report of the Iraq Inquiry chaired by Sir John Chilcot contains a number of recommendations in

There is understandable anger over the International Criminal Court's revelation that its staff

Time is running out to register to vote ahead of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the

A recent Daily Mail story says "Army calls on foreign fighters to bolster our forces... Two

BAFF has learned that postal ballots for the EU membership referendum on 23 June are to be sent

In today's Prime Minister's Questions, the PM replied to a question about the Military Covenant

The information below is for anyone who had service administrative action taken against them as a

The coroner's inquest is under way into the tragic deaths of Cpl James Dunsby, Trooper Edward

In the latest episode of his "Unreliable Evidence" programme on Radio 4, Clive Anderson and guests

The deadlines for applying for a proxy or postal vote in the General Election have now passed. But

Like all other parties except the SNP, Plaid Cymru's General Election manifesto doesn't say

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Manifesto for the Westminster General Election 2015 supports a strong

Further to our news about SNP and Lib Dem support for armed forces personnel representation, an

For those who missed it, today's General Election Debate hosted by Forces TV and the Royal United

The Liberal Democrat Party has for some years supported the cause of representation for armed

Political support for the "right of association" for armed forces personnel has increased in the 8

Postal votes have begun to be delivered to those voters who applied for them. The paperwork is not

Update: today Tuesday 28 April is the last day for applying for a proxy vote. Visit: Apply to vote

Nobody likes to be told we can't do something. It's the same for the General Election.

Time is now running out to get your voting arrangements in place for the UK General Election on

A BBC Radio 4 investigation asks why the Ministry of Defence continues to use a drug that has been

Veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress report a 26% increase in the number of ex-Service

The Government responded on 16 March to a written question "To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent

As predicted, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) has recommended a general increase of 1% in

The Times is reporting that a member of 1 PARA who ran a gauntlet of gunfire three times as he

A transcript is now available of the evidence given to the French equivalent of the House of

A campaign has been launched to encourage more soldiers, sailors and airmen to register to vote in

The British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) welcomes news that the army is exploring ways to

The UK Parliamentary general election takes place on Thursday 7 May 2015.

This article contains

Following President Hollande's acceptance of the Pêcheur Report on the consequences of the ECHR

French soldiers' rights campaigners have welcomed President François Hollande's announcement that

The Ministry of Defence has published a tri-service review paper, led by the Chief of the General

Back in 2007 BAFF made a significant contribution to the pressure on behalf of Iraqi local staff who

The Ministry of Defence is thought likely to relax the long-standing rule preventing women serving in

BAFF welcomes the announcement that war widows covered by the 1975 armed forces pension scheme

The Government must now establish a more truly independent complaints process in the Armed

Campaigners Child Soldiers International (CSI) are taking legal action against the Ministry of

After nearly four years ex-paratrooper Tom Neathway, who lost both legs and one arm in an IED

In the same week as the Justice Secretary announces manifesto proposals to quit the European Court of

In the last party conference season before the General Election on 7 May 2015, political parties have

The Government has published the directions issued by the Treasury to the Chairman of the Armed

Following the Scottish Independence Referendum a number of video clips have been circulated which

"Strong feelings and contrasting emotions... tempered by an understanding of the feelings of

With voting now under way, we are putting back on the front page the British Armed Forces

More stories have appeared in the UK and international media about the "fury" of Scots armed

BAFF has uncovered an astonishing error in recent reporting about the Armed Forces Compensation

A prominent centre-page piece in today's Daily Telegraph declares that Scottish soldiers based at

More than four million official poll cards have been posted out to voters in Scotland this week.

Interviewed on the BBC's Good Morning Wales programme about reported delays in processing claims under

Ministry of Defence announcement:

Service personnel and their families are being encouraged to

The Scottish National Party's devolved Scottish Government published on 26 November their White

New rules come into force on 1 December 2013 affecting foreign and commonwealth personnel applying to

The House of Lords is holding a debate on Thursday, 7 November on "Protecting the armed forces

British military operations risk being undermined by human rights laws and health and safety red

British military operations risk being undermined by human rights laws and health and safety red

This is an archived page from 2013. For the April 2015 BAFF statement on the SNP manifesto pledge in

Most civilian voters can only register in the place where they are currently living. Members of

If you have a residential address in the UK, your household should have received recently, or be

The British Armed Forces Federation AGM on 28 September 2013 endorsed the Federation's published plan for

Following a change to the Referendum Bill currently being considered in the Scottish Parliament, the 16 and

Timed to coincide with the Conservative Party Conference, Mr Hammond, the Secretary of State

The House of Commons Defence Committee has just released the findings of its inquiry into the

Further to BAFF's recent good news about Lib Dem support for the right of representation for

The Liberal Democrat party at its national conference in Glasgow this week [September 2013] has

The British Army Recovery Capability (ARC) is a fantastic capability but it would appear, only

The British Army Recovery Capability (ARC) is a fantastic capability but it would appear, only

A member has asked us if we can feature this song by Mr Peter Knight of Coonabarabran, Australia. We

The Scottish National Party is to consider a proposal to grant "enhanced terms and conditions" to

In the final 'myth-busting' instalment from the NEM team, they attempt to convince us that our

Some members and supporters have informed BAFF that they did not receive the email newsletter which

Yesterday, I expressed relief that subsidised accommodation would be retained under the New

I am sure that Servicemen are relieved to hear that the MoD will continue to provide subsidised

In the second of five articles from the New Employment Model (NEM) team, Chief of Defence

Across the Services, we have witnessed what can be likened to a death of a thousand cuts in terms of

The Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference will be asked to endorse the right of representation by an

As the SCC and the MoD get stuck into negotiations as to the form of Armed Forces Ombudsman, we

With the nation's media focused on our future sovereign, could there be a better day to try to

Fear of reputational damage and political controversy gags senior officers.

The lot of our wounded, injured and sick (WIS) personnel has changed very little in the last

BAFF members attended a RUSI Members' Discussion Panel this week to discuss the security

BAFF submitted evidence to the Armed Forces Bill Committee in 2011 on a number of points,

Today’s Mail on Sunday claims that “Britain’s compensation culture” has now “infected” our armed

If you have any kind of issue with the Ministry of Defence as your current or former employer, it

The Armed Forces complaints system is still inefficient and undermines confidence in the chain of

The influential House of Commons Defence Committee has backed BAFF's call for the role and powers of

The House of Commons Defence Committee's report of its inquiry into the work of the Service

Supreme Court hearings began today (Mon 18 Feb) in three long legal battles by dead soldiers'

The Herald (Plymouth) reports that a benefits cut "that could hit the pockets of thousands of

According to the Telegraph, the Defence Secretary has been accused of "control freakery" by trying to

We are honoured to have received this thank-you message from Mrs Kim Baleiwai on behalf of the

The Home Secretary has now confirmed plans to introduce a "limited leave route" for foreign and

The House of Commons Defence Committee has now published the written evidence submitted to its

(From British ForcesNews 19.10.2012)

The Ministry of Defence has lost a legal fight to throw out a

With the approach of the nation's annual period of Remembrance, allegations are again doing the

Investigations into the deaths of Scottish military personnel killed abroad will be able to take

Following the recent Government reshuffle the Prime Minister's Office has announced changes to the

Armed forces commanders and veterans' organisations have welcomed a coordinated approach by the

BritishForcesNews report 09.08.2012. Their article is reproduced below the video:

BAFF spokespeople Weale and Young gave a number of interviews on 9 August in reaction to the

The MoD has released more details of the new service pension scheme which will operate from April

Several members have been in touch with BAFF about the case of ex-Lance Corporal Bale Baleiwai,

The House of Commons Defence Committee has announced a short inquiry into the work of the Service

Lord Coe, the chairman of the London 2012 Olympic organising committee (Locog), said today that he

G4S, the private security firm which has an estimated £284 million contract for the provision of

If Scotland became independent there could be wide ranging implications for defence.

A conference

Across BFG the countdown to drawdown has left soldiers and families facing an uncertain future, as

Personnel living in Germany are being urged to exercise caution when taking out loans with German

With the Army 2020 announcement now likely to be made in Parliament this week, what line has BAFF

Personnel who wish to appeal have 30 calendar days (not working days) from the date of their

The long-overdue memorial to the young men of the wartime Bomber Command will be dedicated and

BAFF members on and off parade enjoyed a historic Queen's Birthday Parade in Her Majesty's 60th

The speeches to the RUSI Land Warfare Conference by the Secretary of State, CGS, and the Army 2020

Two and a half years ahead of the Scottish constitutional referendum which is expected to be held in

The Coalition Government introduced a new Electoral and Administration Bill in the House of

BAFF was represented at the Presidium meeting of the European Organisation of Military

The Scottish Government's consultation on arrangements for the independence referendum closes 11

More than 8000 personnel from Commonwealth countries (other than the UK) serve in the Royal Navy,

Ex-servicemen who had been exposed to radiation in British nuclear weapons tests have lost their

As we predicted a few days ago, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body's 2012 report has now been

The British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) has responded to the UK Government Scotland Office

The Ministry of Defence has denied the report in today's Times that married soldiers living in

The Labour Party has launched a Shadow Defence Review. BritishForcesNews reports (22 Feb) that:

A story in the Guardian claims that with the MoD planning to sell off its 178-acre vehicle complex at

A Labour MP claims that the military's senior officers are being protected from the worst effects

A BFBS news report says that thousands of members of the Armed Forces could lose their chance to

The Telegraph says that "senior Army sources" have spoken of their increasing concern that the

In a scathing criticism of defence cuts the Public Account Committee said delaying the building of

According to the Army Rumour Service website 'ARRSE', there is a plan for a small expedition to

Erskine, the famous Scottish veterans' charity, is reportedly having to cut back on part of its

Dr Rhonda Cornum was one of the first generation of women to serve on the frontline in the first Gulf

Three quarters of service personnel believe that they are registered to vote but according to the

The Mirror has a story about an infantry soldier who was medically discharged from the Army for

The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, says that never again will British troops be

The latest feedback to CGS's briefing team, summarised in Soldier magazine, has highlighted

BAFF's primary interest at this stage is in ensuring the maximum participation in the referendum by those

UPDATE: The Westminster Hall debate on "Participation of Scottish armed forces personnel in a

Will there be any continuing reserve liability after redundancy?

Although this may seem a rather

Ahead of the T2 redundancy announcement, the Independent's Defence Correspondent writes that the

In yet another sign that BFG really is closing down, this year's performance of Cinderella could be

BAFF urgently seeks the views of members and supporters on Question 6 of the published Scotland

The British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) will be responding to the UK Government's consultation paper on

A Welsh Territorial Army soldier who shot dead an Afghan he believed to be in the act of laying an

According to the armed forces mental health charity Combat Stress, defence cuts could see

A soldier in Afghanistan wearing the new camouflage pattern. Picture: Corporal Barry Lloyd RLC,

Many members of the irreverent 'ARRSE' community website have been expressing their concern and

Earlier this week Forces News revealed that there has been an alarming rise in the number of

The Ministry of Defence has published the first interim report on the Military Covenant, as

The Army Welfare Service in Germany has described the number of people approaching the

Interview now available online

Logged-in members and supporters can now listen to a recent BBC

British Army morale is now claimed to be at an "unprecedented" low ebb. Soldiers interviewed by

The Ministry of Defence has announced that British troops are to get pelvic protection to protect them

The House of Commons Select Committee on Defence has just published the following report:

The Department of Work and Pensions has confirmed that the review of bereavement benefits

The Defence Secretary has confirmed, as predicted, that women will be allowed to serve aboard Royal

Dudley MP Ian Austin has backed a Parliamentary campaign against "plans to cut pay for members of the

The Chancellor, in yesterday's Autumn Budget Statement, announced that public sector pay rises

Irreverent military bullshit website, the Army Rumour Service - ARRSE for short - has now produced what

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), which was introduced and subsequently reviewed under the

The Sun reports that volunteer members of the armed forces will be working as security staff at

According to this report by the Daily Telegraph, an adviser to the Ministry of Defence has warned that

Philip Hammond gave his first newspaper interview as Defence Secretary on Friday, during a visit to

(Update 02 Nov: MoD response below). Various media have carried the story that apparently for the

UPDATE: Aasmah Mir's report, which was in many ways uplifted by the positive approach taken by

British troops serving in Afghanistan could miss out on mail from their loved ones because of the

Poles, Czechs and Slovaks fought in British skies, far from home, and helped win the Battle of

Guardian 14 Sep 2011: "A family who were repeatedly denied compensation for their internment

This year's Continuous Attitude Survey was published some days ago, but due to competing armed

On the last day for posting parcels to Camp Bastion, BritishForcesNews reports (02 Dec) that with

The British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) has been quoted again in Parliament.

The British Armed Forces Federation takes the view that the Baha Mousa Inquiry chaired by Sir

The Report of the Baha Mousa Inquiry can be accessed from the Inquiry's site at the link below,

The report of the Baha Mousa inquiry will be released later today, Thursday 08 Sep 2011. The

A survey carried out on behalf of leading charity Combat Stress has revealed that 49 per cent of

According to The Sunday Telegraph (04 Sep), Church of England Bishops are set to warn ministers

Portsmouth News reports that the ban on women serving in Royal Navy submarines is "set to be

The Chairman of the Baha Mousa Inquiry has announced that he intends to publish his report on 8

Previous studies in both the UK and US have found that, compared with regular troops, reserve

Members of the armed forces can be at a disadvantage when they need to borrow after they return from

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has just published the report of its inquiry into

It's the result of many hours of hard work and the grandest day in the Sandhurst calendar, as

The Ministry of Defence has become "more wasteful" and "worse at caring" for Armed Forces

Today's Scotsman leads with claims by former officers that the Ministry of Defence decision to move

The Ministry of Defence has apologised after thousands of recently-retired veterans were underpaid

The Library of the House of Commons has produced a timely information note for MPs which examines the

British Airways wants to hire 800 new pilots by 2016 using three combined recruitment programmes, including

A former commander of British Forces in Afghanistan has said that bringing in the Army to help

A woman is to command a frontline warship for the first time in the 500-year history of the Royal

Guardian:  "There would be political and practical difficulties in deploying the army on the

This week is the start of Ramadan, the most holy month in the Muslim calendar. Throughout the

There's been lots of debate in the media about the growing problem of alcohol abuse and the

The local staff safety issue has been coming up again lately, with new reporting by The Times's

The Telegraph reports that Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, is facing new calls to reopen the

MPs are warning that cuts to the armed forces may leave them unable to deliver what is asked of

Interviewed this morning, Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey acknowledged that defence personnel were

The cross-party House of Commons Defence Committee has issued a hard-hitting report following its inquiry

The Independent on Sunday reports that James Blunt, the award-winning singer and former Life

Parliament's Defence Select Committee has now warned that the imposition of defence cuts while

In a meticulous search after receiving information from a local, South Korean soldiers have

Amid the speculation and debate about the the findings of the Future Reserves 2020 Study (FR20), this

To what extent should human rights laws apply to British forces personnel when deployed on

Review: Sean Rayment on Losing Small Wars by Frank Ledwidge, "an account of why Britain fared so

Despite earlier complaints by Ministry of Defence media staff that speculation about closures had been

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has announced a £1.5 billion investment in UK reserve forces over the next

The Welsh Affairs Committee of the House of Commons has announced a new inquiry into support for

The full report of the Future Reserves 2020 study (FR20) is now available at the following MoD link:

A critical report by the House of Commons Defence Committee, published today (Sunday), questions the

 In the latest speculation about the imminent release of the FR20 study  (now expected on Monday)  it

'Inside Housing' reports that a local authority has pledged to give members of the armed forces

Following the 2005 General Election,  Silence in the Ranks identified "the UK's tight electoral

It is reported that Defence Secretary Liam Fox has ended speculation that the Royal Air Force

Lt Gen (retd) Sir Graeme Lamb, Former Commander of the Field Army and a key member of the team

In its final issue after 168 years, the News of the World reports that HMS Liverpool has made the

Last year we followed the story that that women might be allowed to serve aboard RN submarines for the

The Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons next

Dundee-based newspaper The Courier claims that the decision on future defence basing, which we

According to Forces News' report of the Armed Forces Bill debate in the Lords on Wednesday

To what extent does human rights law apply to British forces on operations overseas? This vexed

Based on replies by Dr Fox in today's Commons Defence Questions, BBC News says that the decision

According to the Sunday Telegraph, millions of pounds in bonus payments to military bands have

Badly wounded soldiers are subjected to a “postcode lottery” of care on the NHS when they leave

The Howard League for Penal Reform’s Inquiry into Former Armed Service Personnel in Prison

A report in the Daily Telegraph says that as part of the new military covenant, the Prime Minister is to

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, RAF chiefs fear that the “cream” of the air force is

The Armed Forces Bill has now completed its consideration in the House of Commons. It is due to be

This article from June 2011 is of renewed topical interest. An investigation by BBC News has

NATO has agreed plans for a new land, air and maritime command structure which will reduce command

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Armed Forces should recruit more part-time soldiers to help

Investigations into leaks at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are likely to result in "a number" of

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) is operating off the Libyan coast as part of

British Forces News reported in 2011 that a new gardening project has been launched at Headley

A Ministry of Defence study found that 44.9 per cent were overweight and another 12.1 per cent

The Guardian is reporting that Lord Levene's plans for root and branch reform of the military are

Armed forces veterans are being fast-tracked for council housing, according to some council

Service children who face regular moves from home and school can suffer high levels of anxiety and

In its recent evidence to the Armed Forces Bill Committee, the British Armed Forces Federation

The Bolton News reports that new research is being carried out in Bolton to find out why

A BBC Democracy Live report of Dr Fox's statement on 16 May includes video of the announcement:

The Daily Telegraph reports that servicemen who have been seriously injured while on duty will be

The Westminster Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published its report on

Sky News reports that Defence Secretary Liam Fox has set out how the Government's new military

The Evening Standard reports that the Government published its long awaited military covenant

The British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) has been quoted in several media reports about giving legal

The Ministry of Defence has announced that the "significant improvements" to the Armed Forces

The Prime Minister has announced plans to write the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant into

The Daily Telegraph reports (05 May 2011) that the presumed remains of Flight Lieutenant Desmond

Army 44 - RN 10

Royal Navy scored first in a rivetting first half at Twickenham before the Army got

The Daily Telegraph reports that the Coalition Government has delayed a vote on the Armed Forces Bill

The Sun reports that the premier rugby event of the year will take place at Twickenham this

The Sun reports that "the Royal Air Force is running a course to help staff beat their fear of

The death has been announced of Honorary Lieutenant (Queen's Gurkha Officer) Tulbahadur Pun VC.

Applying for redundancy is a difficult decision in any profession. Our advice is to do your

The Daily Mail reports on a critical soldier's letter in Soldier magazine:

Following similar initiatives in some other parts of the UK, The Scotsman reports that veterans

A joint statement by Defence and Justice Ministers has revealed the results of a DASA study into the

Following a campaign, Defence Minister Andrew Robathan MP has confirmed in a parliamentary answer

Repatriation ceremonies for those killed in operational theatres will move to RAF Brize Norton by

In order to vote in the forthcoming UK local and devolved government elections and the referendum on

The Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill has announced the publication today of its Special Report

As in last year's General Election, special arrangements will be made for postal voting from

British Forces News reports that three Appeal Court judges have ruled that forces wives who took

A story at MailOnline says that "A highly decorated former head of the SAS is quitting the Army

The Sunday Mirror has a controversial interview with a serving warrant officer who received

(BAFF comment below). Politics.co.uk reports that the government will make special provisions for

(UKPA News) The Duchess of Cornwall has met chaplains deploying to Afghanistan during a visit to

Almost the entire contingent of Britain’s 10,000 troops in Afghanistan have been told they could be

The Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, sets out in The Sunday Telegraph why he believes the Coalition is

The Guardian reports that the British Forces Broadcasting Service, for years a lifeline for

BAFF has submitted written evidence to the House of Commons Committee which is considering the

Admiral Chris Parry writes in The Daily Telegraph that:

Independent on Sunday: "A serving British soldier in Afghanistan, enraged by last week's news of

BAFF is quoted in a report by the Sunday Telegraph defence correspondent, about the Army facing

According to the Daily Telegraph, thousands of injured personnel could be forced out of the

The Sun reports that "Dozens of soldiers off to the frontline in Afghanistan have been freezing

A report in The Yorkshire Post claims that "domestic violence has soared across vast swathes of

The Belfast Telegraph reports that efforts to improve services for members of the armed forces in

The widow of a REME soldier killed in Afghanistan in 2008 has accused the Government of breaking its

A Fijian citizen who was seriously injured in Iraq in 2005, and was diagnosed with PTSD after a

Many commentators have welcomed the outcome of the House of Commons debate on 11 February 2011

According to a report in The Daily Mirror. Prime Minister David Cameron today "stands accused by

According to a report in The Guardian, the armed forces have been warned that they cannot be

(Daily Mail 09 Feb 2011).  David Cameron was accused yesterday of breaking his promise over the

Update: this has been issued by insolvency practitioners B&C Associates:

The Daily Mirror claims that the war on terror is taking its toll on the mental state of British troops

The Ministry of Defence has today announced changes to the allowances paid to Armed Forces

Twenty years on from the commencement of offensive air operations in the liberation of Kuwait,

The Daily Telegraph's Defence Correspondent writes that there are fears that the 3,500 strong MoD

One of Britain's oldest military flying units, 201 Squadron Royal Air Force, will be marching for

The report of the independent Covenant Task Force led by Professor Hew Strachan was released by

The Daily Telegraph's Defence Correspondent writes that the Army is set to lose its ability to

Children and young people's rights groups are calling for a change in the law to end the

The Ministry of Defence stands accused of "politicising" the military covenant, under plans in the

The government has released more details of the university scholarship scheme for children of

The new Armed Forces Bill has been presented in Parliament, without any debate today. It is

defencemanagement.com reports that military families are set to benefit from £10m of additional

The government is due to unveil a range of measures today to support the armed forces and their

The Sunday Telegraph's Defence and Security Correspondent writes that allowances paid to thousands of

BBC News reports (12 Nov 2010) that Downing Street has rejected calls to protect the armed forces from

The Cabinet Office today issued the list of proposed reforms to the Government's Public Bodies, or

The Daily Telegraph reports that State funding for the children of Armed Forces personnel to

This is a transcript of the 'essay' by an anonymous serving officer which was read by an actor on

An article by the BAFF Chairman appears in the Defence section of the Sep-Oct 2010 edition of

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has appointed the new Shadow defence team. Shadow Secretary of

Thousands of troops should be forced into the reserves and hundreds of weapons mothballed for

The House of Commons Library has produced a useful note on recent developments affecting inquests and

The Goverment has announced that families of servicemen and women killed on active duty will

BBC News Defence Correspondent Caroline Wyatt says that amphibious forces have played a major role

BBC News reports that new measures to help soldiers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan

As Republican senators rejected attempts to reverse the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy which

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), The Royal British Legion and Combat Stress have

As part of budget cuts the entire Ministry of Defence is to be dismantled and replaced by four

From one of our earlier articles about Manning Control, a policy used by the British Army to

A Polish pilot who led his squadron into battle from RAF Northolt has been reunited at the airbase with

After she died alone with apparently no-one to pay for her funeral, it has emerged that SOE

Following recent confirmation that an independent review will be conducted into the 1994 crash of RAF

Author Patrick Bishop, writing in The Daily Telegraph, argues that apart from the debate about

The BAFF Chairman was invited to the unveiling today of a bronze statue of Air Chief Marshal Sir

16 Sep 2010 - 100 days to go to Christmas Day! The Ministry of Defence is urging people not to

Following pledges given before the general election, the Government has confirmed that an

Rumours have been circulating that the Army would start sending out the first of a couple of

General Sir Richard Dannatt's autobiography is entitled "Leading from the Front" but it also might

The Guardian reports that an un-named former army bomb disposal expert suffering from

The Royal Navy is dangerously weak, risking the "silent principles" of the UK's national security unless

"A theorem: In matters of military contingency, the expected, precisely because it is expected, is not

In further reporting of Defence Secretary Liam Fox's speech today (13 Aug 2010), the FT says that

Sir John Chilcot, Chairman of the Iraq Inquiry, has issued an open invitation to UK military

In further reporting linked to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, The Daily Telegraph says

The Press & Journal reports (16 July 2010) on further SNP-led speculation about the future of

Elfyn Llwyd MP has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) about Veterans in the Criminal Justice System:

Servicemen and women returning from active combat abroad should have access to "decompression"

The Ministry of Defence announces (02 Jul 2010) that ten years after the ban on homosexuality in the Armed

Below is a Press Release issued by Mrs Catherine Smith's solicitors following the Supreme Court's

The courts have decreed in a number of cases, such as the Afghan detainee case only last week,

On a visit to HMS Ark Royal, Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged his support for the Armed

The Guardian reports (08 Jun 2010) that the head of the army during the invasion of Iraq, giving

According to a report in The Guardian newspaper, a spokeswoman for the English Defence League (EDL)

The German Radar Commission Report concluded that during the operation, maintenance and repair of

One test for the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government could be how it approaches the human

BAFF understands that around 760 service personnel in Afghanistan used the special Op Herrick

An electoral official who is closely involved in national arrangements for troops voting from

(6 May 2010) The Lancashire Post has a story 'Troops to have say electronically' which is widely

With polling day almost upon us, BAFF has received several enquiries about the attitude of the

A major article for BBC News (30 Apr 2010) reports that for the families of servicemen and women, the

(Apr 2010)  BAFF launched in September 2008 its ongoing campaign for statutory recognition of a

The Reading Post reports (27 Apr 2010) that Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Daisy Benson has

The Times reports (26 Apr 2010) that tens of thousands of people living overseas may have lost

"I cannot emphasise enough the importance of dealing with your postal ballot papers as soon as you

The Independent reports (09 Apr 2010) that thousands of British military personnel based in

nn

Arrangements for Personnel in Afghanistan

4. A Working Group comprising MOD, Ministry of

In a survey carried out by the Ministry of Defence after the 2005 General Election, 60% of  a

The Sunday Times reports (04 April 2010) that [name omitted] returned from Iraq with a

(31 Mar 2010) With a General Election expected to be called soon, Service Personnel are being

The Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, Michael Wills MP, had more to say in Parliament on 23

The Ministry of Defence issued the following response on 22 Mar 2010 to media articles such as

Peter Oborne writes in The Daily Mail (20 March 2010) that:

In fact, only a relatively small

(15 March 2010) On the same day as The Daily Telegraph reports that Army training exercises have

BAFF representation in Service Voting Working Group

(11 March 2010) The three Service Family

Gordon Brown has been asked in Prime Minister's Questions for assurances that service personnel

(10 March 2010) In addition to acceptance of the AFPRB recommendations, Defence Secretary Bob

Cases that drag on for months or even years can have a significantly harmful effect on the health

(BBC, 1 March 2010) The Conservative party has led a debate on the government's record on defence,

(26 February 2010)  Douglas Young, BAFF Executive Chairman and author of Silence in the Ranks, was an

(BAFF, Thursday 25 February 2010). The latest electoral registration statistics for Scotland show

The Conservative Whip and former army officer Andrew Robathan MP had a prominent role - before and

From Defence Oral Questions, House of Commons, 22 February 2010:

Andrew Rosindell (Shadow

Following the small poll which we ran on www.arrse.co.uk we have now posted a similar one-question survey on

From The Times, February 15, 2010, by Fiona Hamilton

The British National Party was last night

Adam Downey was a signaller with the Royal Corps of Signals when he was hit by a car in

BAFF Executive Douglas Young was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio Wales about an

Spending on defence over the last 12 years has not matched the demands made on our armed forces,

Iraq Inquiry: operational equipment.

British forces went into Iraq without enough body armour

BAFF has accepted that there is no practical prospect of the necessary changes to electoral

From a Times article by Professor Michael Clarke, Director of the Royal United Services Insititute:

from Martin Givens, More guile needed in the Afghan game, Sunday Times 24 January 2010:

No

UPDATE 22 February: The Government again confirmed in Defence Questions today, in answer to a

But this is not an argument that can or should be left to the military chiefs or the boffins. In

Last Friday Plymouth Sutton Linda Gilroy visited the Royal Navy's premier training establishment, HMS

Geoff Hoon 'denied Iraq soldiers equipment that could have saved lives''

Tories demand that Chilcot

Injured Armed Forces veterans will be guaranteed priority NHS care for life under new plans

NHS doctors who are members of the reserve forces are reporting difficulty obtaining time off for

It seemed unlikely that it could be happening again. But it was...

(Independent, 9 November) Ministers are accused of a "scandalous failure" to help Britain's

Electoral participation by armed forces personnel has again been raised in parliament. The Liberal

From the last page of the report of the independent review into the broader issues surrounding the

Chapter 24 of the Nimrod Review report identifies a number of current weaknesses in the area of

The Report of the Nimrod Review is now available online.

• The Nimrod Review: an independent review into the

Questions are still being asked about the treatment of Iraqi former local staff:

Scottish government news release 20/10/09: Reserve forces in the NHS

NHS employees who also serve

If not, it's time to get registered before it's too late, and it's never been easier.

The

The Electoral Commission - the independent elections watchdog - and the Ministry of Defence have

Another story about the natural concern of many military personnel for local staff who worked with

"The soldiers were always good to me, but I'm surprised at this. I had no idea it would all turn

From Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Conference:

... and let me talk today about how we will

From a Liberal Democrat press release:

MP LEADS CALL FOR A FAIR DEAL FOR OUR FORCES

12.00.00am BST

based on a September 2009 article on the NAPO website: Veterans in the CJS - NAPO

Veterans in the

Today (21 September) the Liberal Democrat Conference 2009 at Bournemouth will be debating a policy

London, 12 Sep 2009. Members of the British Armed Forces Federation met today at the Victory

BAFF representatives have met the Board of EUROMIL - the European Organisation of Military

We have previously commented on the Smith case - known as Secretary of State for Defence v R and HM

In May 2008 a new website appeared under the banner of 'The Servicemen's Union', announcing that:

The

From the News of the World, Nov 2007

DEFENCE chiefs could be SUED over the squalid homes given to

From the libertarian blog Jess The Dog, Aug 2009:

Most would agree that those who risk their lives

Householders - look out for the 'annual canvass' form which will be delivered to your household

Linda Gilroy MP today (7 Sep 2009) met with Defence Minister Kevan Jones MP, accompanied by

A Conservative Shadow Minister asked the Government if it will review the prohibition on

(Source: Lib Dem press release 22 May 2006) As the Armed Forces Bill has its final reading in the

There may well be questions to be considered in light of the ruling which was issued by the Appeal

The British Armed Forces Federation welcomed members of both Houses to a parliamentary reception on

(19 May 2009) Even before the decision in Secretary of State v R (Smith) had been issued by the

Below is the text of BAFF's evidence as submitted to the House of Commons Defence Committee

From the 7 January 2008 edition of The House parliamentary magazine

The Military Covenant is a term introduced into British public life to refer to the mutual

If you are absent from the armed forces without leave, the following links may be helpful:

Please note that this is an archived article, and that the rules about Commonwealth recruitment

Do British armed forces personnel have any human rights while on operations?

Below is an article about the BAFF member who led the successful campaign for removal of social

'Social Housing Discrimination' update 23 Jun 2010: The Housing (Scotland) Bill has passed its

VIENNA, 26 May 2008 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

From a story in the Inverness Courier, March 2008:

Inverness lawyer Douglas Young dedicated more

• 11/04/08 - Failure to equip soldiers may be breach of human rights (Telegraph)

• 01/04/08 - Day One

Feb 2008

If you're having problems with JPA, the JPAC helpline number is 0800 085 3600 or if

The British Armed Forces Federation continues to support the campaign on behalf of Iraqis who are

The federation could not strike or change the government's strategic policy. Lord Garden said: "It