Soldier – August 2019

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http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2019 13

This is good news, right?

I think so. The Armed Forces pay

review body’s recommendations

were taken in full and across the

spectrum of public sector the

Armed Forces’ rise is the highest

as well as being above infl ation.

Why was there a delay in

agreeing this rise?

The government wanted to

align all the public sector pay

announcements. It’s the same

timeline as last year but the

diff erence this time around was

that we were able to inform

people before Christmas when the

announcement would be made.

How many soldiers will

get the six per cent?

Around 3,900.

Recruitment is a big

issue so why not give new

entrants six per cent?

Our priority this year was for

newly qualifi ed soldiers’ pay to

keep pace with the national living

wage. New entrants get the 2.9 per

cent rise – and they only stay on

that salary for six months.

Will a 2.9 per cent rise

attract talent when

private sector wages are

growing faster?

I believe so. Our off er goes beyond

the pay. The wide range of benefi ts,

non-contributory pension, job

security and job satisfaction will

continue to attract good people.

We
quizzed
Army pay
colonel Col Philip
Bassingham-Searle
on the latest pay
rise...
THEYSCORE

Pay hike for new soldiers

Privates fresh out of phase two get six per cent rise to £20k

S

OON-TO-BE soldiers have

welcomed the news that around

4,000 junior troops are to receive

a six per cent pay boost – taking the

starting salary for those fresh out of

phase two training to £20,000.

The increase was announced last

month by former Defence Secretary

Penny Mordaunt, and means £1,

more per year for those in the OR 2-

pay category.

All other ranks, from recruit to

brigadier, have been given a 2.9 per

cent increase – representing hundreds

of pounds more for soldiers.

The cash will be backdated to April,

and will appear in next month’s pay.

Meghane Griffiths, a recruit at ATR

Winchester, said the news had come as

a “nice surprise” to her and others.

“The cash will definitely be good to

have,” she told Soldier. “And I think it

will make a difference to some.

“But people don’t join the Army for

the money – they do it for the job.”

Rct Thomas Branney agreed.

“The extra will obviously be nice for

new troops, and you can save quite

a bit or send it home to family,” he

added. “I suppose for some people this

money might push them more towards

the Army.”

Compensatory allowances (including

longer separation allowance) have

been increased by 2.9 per cent, as have

recruiting and retention payments and

Reserve bounties.

However, housing charges for single

living and family accommodation have

been increased – but by no more than

0.6 per cent.

And the daily food charge has gone

up by 32 pence to £5.29 per day.

X-factor rates remain unchanged.

“In order to attract and retain the

best talent, we need to make sure even

the lowest paid members of the Armed

Forces receive an acceptable salary to

live on,” Mordaunt commented.

The alterations follow

recommendations by the Armed Forces

pay review body.

For the full breakdown and further

details read ABN 78/19.

The extra

will be

nice to

have

GLANCE

PAY:AT A

Phase one recruits say

the increase might be

enjoyed, but is unlikely

to impact decisions to

join the Army

Picture: Graeme Main

Pay rise for

most soldiers

and offi cers

New salary

for privates

fresh out of

phase two

Daily food

charge

up 32p a

day to:

Pay cheque the backdated

cash and new rate will

appear in

New salary

for privates

fresh out of

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