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Welcome to the J1 Community Services Gateway.
J1 Branch Mission: “J1 is to support the soldier, members of the civilian component and their families within the context of the Firm Base, in a synchronised manner, ensuring coherency and consistency across all providers measured against Community Service Strategy targets. This is to include services normally provided by a Local Authority where required.”
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New Arrangements to Passport Services For British Nationals Living Overseas
On 16th June 2011, new arrangements were underway in a phased roll out programme which will see the responsibility of printing passports be transferred to the Identity Passport Service (IPS) in the UK. This will include applications from British Military personnel serving overseas.
More.....
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BFG Fuel Coupon Comparison Guide
In an attempt to reduce Germany's carbon footprint, an additional grade of Super Fuel was introduced on 1st January 2011. Due to uncertainty caused by the new fuel 'Super E10', the initial response from motorists was poor and the introduction in large areas of North Rhine Westfalia and Lower Saxony was halted. Alomost a year later, an increase in domestic sales has meant that oil companies have decided to introduce Super E10 to outstanding areas.For further information, please click here.
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Higher Education Students
If you're going into higher education, you can apply for financial support from the Government through Student Finance England, The main sources of help available are grants and bursaries which you don't pay back and loans which you do.
For more information click here.
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Closure of Windsor School - July 2013
It has been announced that Windsor School, Rheindahlen will finally close at the end of the Summer term 2013, when HQ UKSC will have closed and the Germany Support Group will have moved to Gutersloh Garrison. Alternative schooling arrangements are being made for those day pupils from Elmpt and Monchengladbach plus the European Support Group pupils who have attended Windsor School as weekly or termly boarders.
Specific arrangements will be made to allow pupils starting 2-year GCSE or 'A' level courses in 2012 to start at their chosen alternative school in September 2012. Current and prospective parents should read the information note and the Question and Answer Pack and are strongly advised to seek early advice about the best options for their children.
For more information and the Q & A click here
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| A Helping Hand - Information Booklet |
This book is part of a broad initiative within British Forces Germany
to share our experience, and provide mutual support and assistance to each other as we cope with the effects of Cancer.
A number of different people from all sorts of backgrounds helped write this book. Some are civilian family members, some are medical staff or welfare workers, some are soldiers, some are chaplains and some are civilians working for the army. The key thing that they have in common is that they either suffer from cancer or they have cared for a member of the family with cancer. Everything in this book reflects the understanding and experiences of people who have been involved personally with cancer...
Please click the heading for the full copy of the booklet. |
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| Transition into Civilian Life - A Welfare Guide for the Service Leaver |
 This guide provides general information to people who are about to leave the services. It covers resettlement, housing, leave and pensions, as well as administrative procedures for the smooth transition to Civilian Life.
The guide tells you about the ex-Service and civilian welfare agencies, which are there to help you, if you wish, once you have left the army. It will also explain procedures for all Service Leavers.
The guide is written for those personnel returning to live in the UK. However, if you are leaving the Army in the UK and returning to your country of origin, you will need to ask about matters relating to that country. Your Unit Welfare Officer would be a good place to start seeking help and advice.
Click here to download the document |
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| Thinking of Separating? |
 Support and advice for Serving Personnel, UKBCs and their dependants is available from your Unit Welfare Officer; he/she will be able to inform you of your rights, benefits, matters concerning accommodation and travel back to UK. You can contact him/her yourself or ask for a referral from one of the welfare support agencies such as Army Welfare Service, the Padre, HIVE or RELATE. Your Unit Welfare Officer will talk to you in total confidence and is there for both Service Personnel, UKBCs and dependants alike.
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| LOA Rates Change |
Local Overseas Allowance (LOA) is a non-taxable allowance assessed separately for each overseas country. The amounts received by personnel vary according to rank and personal status category. LOA recognises the amount by which average essential expenditure on day-to-day living in a particular overseas location differs from that in the UK, taking into account the differences in the local lifestyle, and aims to contribute towards the necessary additional costs of day-to-day living when service personnel (SP) are required to serve overseas.
Click here for the latest LOA Rates |
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| Health Cover for Dependants aged between 23 - 25 years old. |
There is good news for dependants aged 23-25 years of age who have BFG Dependant Status. HQ UKSC has now secured authority to provide medical and dental provision for all eligible dependants up to the age of 25 (i.e. until their 25th Birthday).
This change becomes effective immediately for those who meet the criteria for dependants who are provided with a valid identity document by J1 HQ UKSC. (As laid down in Standing Instructions for British Army (Germany) 3217).
Dependants over the age of 23 but under the age of 25 with a 'yellow' Non-Medical Dependant ID Card, should now apply (through their respective Welfare Office) for a 'blue' Dependant ID Card which shows their entitlement to medical provision.
If you are in any doubt about your child's status as a dependant you should seek advice from either your HR Manager or Welfare Officer. |
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Need To Cancel Your Phone Contract? |
HQ UKSC has produced a form that BFG personnel can use when they need to cancel their phone contract on posting.
The form is available from your local HiVE Information Centre, the HiVE website: www.hive-europe.co.uk or below.
Although this form will make life easier communicating with your supplier when you are posted before your contract officially ends, it does not guarantee that the supplier will waive the terms of contract. It may assist if you were to include along with your notice of early termination of contract, a letter from your Unit explaining the reason in addition to a copy of your Assignment Order.
Most contracts run for a minimum of two years and thereafter renewed automatically by the supplier on a yearly basis (sometimes without prior consultation) and this may happen if you do not provide the company with the specified period of notice to terminate the contract
Most service suppliers, be it telecommunications, insurance etc, require a minimum of 3 months notice to terminate the contract. It is advisable to review your contracts well before the date at which your contract has 3 months before it is due to expire, especially if there is a likelihood that you may be assigned away from Germany. An example of charges by a well known telecommunications company; is that it will charge you 50% of your remaining monthly line rental charge if you leave within 2 years of starting your current contract. If you do not close the contract nor pay the charges the address may be blacklisted by the supplier and the next resident may have difficulty opening a line.
It is advisable to obtain an English translation of any contract before you sign especially if you do not understand the terms of the contract in German.
Click here for a copy of the form. |
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J1
deals with all manner of Community Support issues from legal
to medical, from compassionate to education with the emphasis
on SUPPORT for the Command and the Community. |
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