The Army Families Federation (AFF) is calling for ALL armed forces personnel to make a will with proper legal advice.
The Families Federation say they are seeing an increasing number of cases where bereaved families are struggling because the military will was not detailed enough. They cite the case of the mother of the youngest soldier killed in Afghanistan. She has had her income support and housing benefits stopped after receiving her son's death-in-service and compensation payments. Watch the full report on the British Forces News website.
Serving personnel will be aware of MoD Form 106 which can be used to make a simple Will. While we cannot advise without knowing your circumstances, in most cases we would suggest using Form 106 in preference to having no Will at all, but as the Families Federation says, it is best to make a proper Will with legal advice.
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Following a campaign, Defence Minister Andrew Robathan MP has confirmed in a parliamentary answer that the MoD has now agreed to a change in policy, allowing service personnel to use their service identity card as proof of age, and has written to the relevant trade associations encouraging their members to accept it.
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A joint statement by Defence and Justice Ministers has revealed the results of a DASA study into the number of former service personnel on probation in England and Wales. DASA estimates that 3.4% (or 5,860) of those supervised by probation trusts in England and Wales, as at 30 September 2009, had previously served as regulars in the UK armed forces.
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Repatriation ceremonies for those killed in operational theatres will move to RAF Brize Norton by 1 September 2011 the Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has announced today as expected. Fuller details from the Ministry of Defence:
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In order to vote in the forthcoming UK local and devolved government elections and the referendum on changing the voting system for electing MPs to the UK Parliament (plans for the Alternative Vote system) all scheduled for 5 May 2011, you must be registered to vote.The deadline for all new registrations and changes to existing details is 14 April 2011.
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The Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill has announced the publication today of its Special Report on the Armed Forces Bill. The Committee was tasked by the House of Commons to scrutinise the Bill which makes various changes to existing Military Law.
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As in last year's General Election, special arrangements will be made for postal voting from Afghanistan in the elections and referendum on Thursday 5th May - but the Government still recommends proxy voting from overseas if at all possible. According to a report on the 'Get Hampshire' website:
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British Forces News reports that three Appeal Court judges have ruled that forces wives who took overseas jobs with the Ministry of Defence are entitled to protection against unfair dismissal:
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A story at MailOnline says that "A highly decorated former head of the SAS is quitting the Army following the Government’s decision to cut education allowances for serving soldiers."
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The Sunday Mirror has a controversial interview with a serving warrant officer who received devastating injuries on IED disposal duty in Afghanistan:
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