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Deployment
Decompression - It's the Norm!
You will probably have read the informative Decompression article in the February edition of Punchlines.
The article can also be found here, in case you'd like to refer back to it in the coming weeks.
Homecoming
We're getting close to that time now! This article has very useful information on what to expect when your soldier returns home.
Messages from Theatre
Click here to go to the messages page, where you can see if your soldier has left you a message.
CSE Forces Entertainment
CSE Forces Entertainment is the live entertainment arm of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC). CSE is dedicated to entertaining and boosting the morale of HM Armed Forces around the world, and delivers a whopping 400 show days a year.
Paderborn Garrison recently hosted a CSE Show at the Kaleidoscope Cinema on Barker Barracks. Tons of fun was had by all who came along!
Click here to find out more about CSE Forces Entertainment and the shows they've done in Afghan during the deployment.
Messages Wall in Punchlines
The central eight pages of Punchlines magazine will be dedicated to Op HERRICK 15 for the duration of the deployment. These pages will contain important information and because Punchlines will be available in theatre, one of the pages will be for messages to be sent to your loved one. If you would like to send a message via the magazine please contact Tarryn, the Community Information Co-ordinator on Tel: Mil 79 2105 or Civ 05254 982 2105, or email her by clicking here. This is a fantastic opportunity to let your soldier know that you're thinking of them and supporting them so please get involved!
Important Documents
Below are a couple of important documents that will be of use to you during your soldier's deployment. Further information and advice can be found on ArmyNET, or contact your Unit Welfare Officer with any queries you may have before, during or following the deployment.
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All deployment information and advice you need (before, during and after deployment) is available on ArmyNET, including the Deployment Guide and many more useful downloadable documents. If you don't already have an account you are strongly urged to open one as soon as possible. |
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This form allows you to nominate a Trusted Friend who can help you in an emergency, and who can be contacted by your Unit Welfare Office or your child's school to do so. |
Community Information Team
Another source of help, apart from your Unit Welfare Office, will be the Community Information Team. Please feel free to contact them on the numbers below with any query you may have.
Please be very careful when posting anything on Facebook, especially when it comes to details about your serving soldier, your whereabouts, R&R etc. Social networking sites are useful and fun, but can also provide adversaries with opportunities to harm serving personnel and their families.
Download this Online Security & Privacy document that has many useful tips to help you stay safe online.
You can also find out more about online safety on the Social Networking Sites page on this website.
Internet Access
If you do not have internet at home, you are welcome to use the computers at your local Army Library, free of charge.
The Pink Room on Normandy Barracks also has internet access available to anyone in the Garrison, as does the Löseke Community Centre in Sennelager.
E-Bluey Service
Under the British Ministry of Defence regulations family and friends ANYWHERE in the world can send e-Blueys to British Forces Personnel serving in any Operational Theatre and British Forces Personnel in Operational Theatres around the Globe can send e-Blueys to family and friends in the UK, Northern Ireland or on British Forces bases in Germany.
To send an e-Bluey users only need Internet Accesss and an e-Bluey account. Once the account is created and the necessary sender details are entered, an address book is created to store recipient information. Once stored this information enables users to log into their accounts and compose and send e-Blueys. These e-Blueys are automatically directed to the appropriate destination where they are downloaded and printed for delivery to the designated recipients. Currently, e-Blueys can be sent to Operational Theatres in Afghanistan, Belize, Bosnia, Canada, Cypress, the Falklands, Iraq, Kenya, Nepal, plus deployed British Navy Ships. The actual letters are delivered directly to the Units.
All transmitted correspondence is highly secure and complete privacy is ensured.
To find out more and open an E-bluey account to communicate with your loved during deployment, please click here to go to their website.
Fax Bluey Service
For Fax Blueys all you need to do is pick up a blank form from your HIVE or post office, then you can take it home and write your message. Once completed just pop back to the HIVE and the Information Officer will fax the bluey to the operational area where it will be delivered as normal mail.
Fax Blueys are super for kids to draw a picture for Mum or Dad, which can then be sent to them much quicker than normal post.
The service is confidential, and no one else gets to read the contents of your Bluey.
Plugs
All plug sockets in theatre are UK i.e. three pin square. Please make sure that if you are taking electrical items bought in Germany you take an adaptor.
BFG Vehicle and Insurance Issues During Deployment
Click here to download an important document from the Brigade Master Driver regarding personal BFG vehicle insurance.
Click here to download a helpful document from the Brigade Master Driver highlighting the pitfalls and common mistakes during deployment.
The BFG Vehicle Licensing Office has also put together a useful document outlining the procedure to follow when licensing your vehicle or renewing your registration. It also contains lots of other important information and it is definitely worth reading through it.
Banking
It is highly recommended that wives have their name added to their husband's bank account before he deploys.
Click here to read a message from Sabine and Oliver at Sparkasse regarding this.
Paradigm
Paradigm WelComE (Welfare Communications Everywhere)
The WelComE service is provided by Paradigm. Paradigm’s WelComE service provides all UK military personnel deployed on MoD defined “welfare-entitled” operations with 30 minutes publicly funded calls per week, internet access, voicemail and a messaging service. Download the Families’ Presentation for the full Power Point presentation.
Free Voicemail
The Paradigm voicemail service allows family and friends to leave FREE** voice messages for deployed personnel. Your friend or loved one will be able to access and retrieve your messages free** of charge.
Dial 0800 051 0737** From UK
Dial 0800 1808 977** From Germany
Dial 8009 6337** From Cyprus
You will need your loved ones Paradigm 9-digit account card number to leave a message.
**Free when calling from the UK, German or Cypriot landlines.
TextLink
If you receive an SMS on your mobile phone and it starts with username@rmparadigm.com, it means you have received a message from someone you know in-theatre using Paradigm's TextLink service.
If you want to reply to the message, select “reply” from the mobile phone you received the message on, you can send as many replies as you wish. You cannot send a text message from a phone that has not received a message from the TextLink service. When replying to a text message make sure you remove the +44, the number should begin 07.
Please check with your mobile phone provider for SMS message rate.
WCCC WelComE Customer Contact Centre
The WelComE Customer Contact Centre (WCCC) is open Monday to Friday, between 0600hrs and 2200 hrs UK Time.
Telephone 0800 4334 993*
Email customersupport@paradigmservices.com
Website www.paradigmsecure.com/welcome
*Calls to 0800 number are free from a UK landline. Mobile and international call costs may vary. You may wish to check with your mobile/service provider.
Herrick 15 Wristbands
Each family with a deploying soldier will be getting wristbands in their Welfare Support Package from their Unit Welfare Office. You might not get enough wristbands for each member of your immediate and extended family, but the official wristbands to support Herrick 15 are now available to buy at The Forces Store.
Combat Kidz
A Facebook group and a website for kids and parents to chat with other people who are in similar circumstances.
Run by two soldiers' wives who have 3 children each, they decided between them after attending tour briefings and realising there were no deployment sites aimed at British Army service children to make one of their own.
The site is there to give your children ideas of things to make and do while their parent is deployed, and to help make the time pass quicker. There are lots of ideas of things that can be made and sent out to their deployed parent and updates will be made weekly to the site.
Click here to go to the group on Facebook or click here to go to their website.
Sending Parcels to Your Loved One
Families and friends in UK and BFPOs can send packets up to 2kg in weight, free of charge, to service personnel ONLY on Op HERRICK, Op KIPION and HM Ships in Support.
Key Points
Packets are limited to 2kg in weight (shoe boxes are ideal to use).
Size limits: Minimum one surface at least 90mm x 140mm. Maximum length + depth + width = 900mm width greatest single dimension not more than 600mm.
Only relatives and friends within the UK or at BFPO addresses can send packets to named Service personnel and MOD deployed civilians ONLY, in authorised operational areas.
Items listed below should not be sent:
- Aerosols - prohibited by the BFPO mail network, e.g hairspray, deodorant etc.
- Perishable goods - foods like fruit and meat.
- Fragile Items - glass.
- Magazines containing images that might offend the cultural values of Host Nations, even if they are widely available in the UK - 'Top shelf' magazines for example.
- Any item bought in the NAAFI with your ration card, i.e. cigarettes, alcohol etc.
- Flammable items, e.g. lighters etc
The above list is not all inclusive - please see BFPO Mail Prohibitions for a complete list or contact your local Post Office.
Click here for a list of ideas of things to send to your loved one.
Addressing Your Mail
Please address any mail in the format below:
Service Number, Rank, Name
Unit/Regiment
Operation Name
BFPO number
Please be advised that Town and/or Country MUST NOT be included in the address.
If you are sending letters/parcels via means other the the Post Office e.g.
via Deutche Post; you write the address as above but add:
c/o BFPO HQ
United Kingdom
So....................................
Service Number, Rank, Name
Unit/Regiment
Operation Name
BFPO Number
c/o BFPO HQ
United Kingdom
Postal rates to the UK apply. Maximum weight 2 kgs.
Storybook Soldiers
Storybook Soldiers is a scheme which provides a link between parents who are away on operations, or a course lasting more than a couple of months, and their children. Soldiers are recorded reading a bedtime story for their children to listen to. Music and sound effects are added and the finished disk is really special - a wonderful way for soldiers to be part of their child's life while they are deployed, not just at bedtime but on car journeys and at other times of the day.
Click here for more information on how to record a story.
