Registration is open for partners and spouses to share their experience of the overseas assignment cycle and help improve support for families in the future.
The Valuing Forces Families Overseas programme aims to improve the overseas posting experience for families in all three services.
RAND Europe has been commissioned by AFF, in partnership with the RAF and Naval Families Federations, to gather data. The results will give an up-to-date understanding of what families experience when they consider and get ready for an overseas assignment, life during the assignment and when they return.
The study is open to the partners and spouses of current Regular and Reserve Service personnel, as well as veterans and their spouses and partners. Their experience of the overseas posting cycle needs to be within the last three years.
AFF Head of Policy Rachel Smith said: “A crucial part of the VFFO programme is capturing the lived experience of those who have either experienced or considered a posting overseas.
“It is great that our research partners have now reached the stage where they are looking to discover the experiences of serving families, so the Families Federations can embed these in the projects we are developing.
“We would like to encourage people to participate, as sharing your individual overseas journeys will really help shape the path of our support both now and in the future.”
If you’re interested in helping the Federations improve the overseas posting experience you can register to take part. Volunteers will be invited to join a focus group session online via Teams. You will also be invited to a follow-up session to help build recommendations for policy and support to families.
VFFO is a four-year programme funded by Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.