Soldier – August 2019

Interviews:

Sarah Goldthorpe

Pictures:

Graeme Main

Relocation relocation

We asked members of the Army

Welfare Service about the issues

faced by soldiers on the move...

Final Word

82 AUGUST 2019 http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk

A lot of life-generated

issues can come

with a move, but

unfortunately some

of these are out of

the control of welfare

agencies. There’s

a lot of self-help

involved. But our

experience is that

units have done

a really good

job of preparing

troops.

Families overseas can be used

to a lot of support whereas in

the UK they might not have

the same access. In Germany

it’s a closer community but

on home soil you may be

more spread out. There are

differences with the education

system too.

WO2 Michelle Queripel, AGC (SPS)

It can be a big

shock. In Germany

you get a plethora

of support because

there’s no NHS,

for example.

Even spouses get

treated through

the military. But in

the UK that comes

from the GP.

SSgt Anthony Thomas, AGC (SPS)

Many people’s children

have been brought up in

Germany, so the move can

be a culture shock. Getting

school places organised

might also be an issue.

WO2 Becky Sugden, AGC (SPS)

Some people worry about

the eff ect that relocation

will have on benefi ts and

allowances. There can

be stress and anxiety

associated with the

fi nancial side.

Sgt Adam Copeman, AGC (SPS)

Sometimes it’s tricky

for spouses to adjust

to a new area, fi nd new

friends and a sense of

community. I’ve just

moved from Tidworth to

York and it was great to

fi nd the city’s Mumbler

website for parents.

Sgt Claudine Pelser, AGC (SPS)

Sgt Kerry Stitt, AGC (SPS)

Provision of things

like social services

and children’s

services is very

diff erent overseas.

Whereas you might

have a family being

supported to quite a

high level in Germany,

when that’s transferred

back to the UK it may

not even meet the

threshold for a group

therapy session.

WO1 Mark Whittington, AGC (SPS)

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