  MAJ/MI - Senior Intelligence Officer
14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
Please choose from one of the below section titles or scroll through the page for information.
Description of duty position and work environment
(Information updated as of March 2007).
Organisation
14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), 14SR (EW), is the only unit of its kind in the UK Army, although Y Squadron, Royal Marines, provides a similar organic EW capability to 3 Commando Brigade. 14SR (EW) supports a wide range of operations across all scales of deployments, from parachute trained troops with manpackable EW sensors to wheeled and tracked EW sensor platforms. All of its primary EW systems are modern, state of the art sensors.
Unit Mission
14SR (EW) is to provide a robust and sustainable EW and Tactical SI capability in support of deployed commanders in order to dominate the electronic battlespace.
Duty Description
Regimental S-2 (Senior Intelligence Officer or SIO) of the British Army's only tactical electronic warfare unit. Provides operational staffing and intelligence planning to 893soldiers assigned to the Regiment. Leads and trains 1 officer, 4 warrant officers, and 4 non-commissioned officers in the Regimental intelligence section to support UK Joint Rapid Reaction Force missions with short notice deployment requirements as well as ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Principal staff advisor to the Regimental Commanding Officer for mission management of electronic warfare operations support of Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). Directly responsible for intelligence production during all unit deployments in support of United Nations, NATO, and United Kingdom operations around the world. Focal point for integrating other NATO electronic warfare units into the ARRC's intelligence and collection plans.
Duty location
14SR (EW) is the only unit located at Cawdor Barracks, in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK. Pembrokeshire is the south-western peninsula of Wales about as far west as you can travel before reaching the Irish Sea. The location is much close to Ireland than London. The base is a five or so hour drive west of London and approximately two hours west of Cardiff, the capital of Wales.
Unit address
14 Signal Regiment (EW)
Cawdor Barracks
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
SA62 6NN Wales, UK
Exchange Officer and Rating Chain
You are assigned as a key staff officer within the Regiment and should not think of the position as a Liaison Officer or Advisor. You will have much to add to the unit based upon your Intelligence experiences, schooling, and connections within the US Army. It will take some time to learn the different acronyms, staff procedures and instructions, and how things are done in the British Army. In a nutshell, the SIO is co-located in an office with the Regimental Operations Officer (OpsO) who basically performs at the regiment's S-3. In addition, the office is shared with the Senior Liaison Officer (SLO) a Ministry of Defence (MoD) civilian. An UK Army Lieutenant Colonel, the Commanding Officer (CO), commands 14SR (EW). The CO rates the SIO, intermediate rated by the 11 Signal Brigade CO (a UK Army brigadier general), and senior rated by the US Army Military Attaché at the US Embassy in London.
Physical Training (PT)
The typical duty day runs from 0800-1730. There is a large gym on base with weights, running and rowing machines, basketball and squash courts. As a member of Headquarters' Squadron, there are two PT sessions a week – both late afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. PT is done as part of the duty day and not separate in the UK Army. The Ops Block, where you work, has a separate PT session on Thursday morning for an hour. Wednesday afternoon is traditionally "Regimental Sports Day" with a variety of recreational sporting events organised by the squadrons, the staff at the gym or the Regiment’s Adventurous Training Wing. There are two flight lines on base and the coastal path is a great place to run as well. You will take the UK Army's semi-annual PT test called the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) at least twice annually; it consists of two minutes each of press ups (push ups) and sit-ups, and a one-and-a-half mile run.
Daily life in the British Army
Cawdor Barracks is still more commonly referred to, especially locally, as Brawdy from our RAF predecessors who departed the area in the mid-1990s. This is considered a remote posting by everyone in the UK; hence, the Regiment runs a four-day, Monday through Thursday, work week consisting of slightly longer working hours (0800-1730), by UK Army standards. The officers’ in station (and warrant officers/senior NCOs) retire to separate areas for daily coffee from 1030-1100. Although this appears to be just a social time, much work actually gets done here daily, and the CO can look all or just some of his officers in the eye. During the working week, most of the officers on station attend lunch in the Officers’ Mess as well. Most Fridays are off however those in leadership positions and in the Ops Block are often in for at least half a day on Fridays.
Uniforms and Clothing
The daily uniform for the UK Army is Combat 95s (or the US equivalent, BDUs/ACUs). An Army Gore-Tex jacket and inclement weather gear are absolutely essential with field time in the UK and Germany guaranteed to vary between cold, wet, and muddy. A few pairs of combat boots, including a pair of insulated winter boots, are essential. Insignia and rank for US Army uniforms are not readily available so have an extra set of nametapes, rank, branch insignia, ribbons, badges, etc. Through the US Embassy, I was also issued three complete sets of desert uniforms (DCUs) at RAF Mildenhall. Class As, Dress Blues and Mess Dress are absolutely required for various work and social functions. I have worn US Army dress uniforms almost monthly and more frequently in this assignment than in all my years in the US Army combined.
A black tuxedo is mandatory for many social functions with "hand tied" bow ties being the only accepted version – one of these ties can be purchased locally. Two or three shirts to go with a tuxedo should be sufficient with a few sets of studs, cufflinks, and a cummerbund.
During official and even social travel around the UK, normal attire consists of a coat and tie, sometimes lounge suit. I brought five with me, but recommend at least three conservative suits, a sports coat/blazer, several long sleeved shirts and a wide selection of ties.
The UK Army has no standard PT uniform, so civilian workout clothes are acceptable. I often exercise in my US Army PT uniform but having one here is not required.
Rainy weather and Britain are synonymous. Bring a selection of civilian fleeces, sweaters, and robust wet weather coats along with sturdy, waterproof hiking boots, umbrellas and extra rain gear to be kept in the car at all times. The winter months in Wales are dreary, wet, and extremely bleak – you have to live through it to really appreciate each and every sunny day. Some good advice is to plan on taking a holiday somewhere sunny and warm during the long winter months.
Adventure Training (AT) and other sports
UK Army has extensive Sports and AT program run and subsidized at unit and Army levels which is also available to exchange officers. Ask around and look at unit bulletin boards/newsletters.
You may join your command’s sports team(s) with amateur level play from football (soccer), rugby, golf, tennis, tug or war, to winter sports. Each unit and force also has championships and possibly unit sports afternoons. Unit Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) will have more details. There are also opportunities to attend courses sponsored by the Army School of Physical Training with courses on almost every sport imaginable.
UK resources and courses
UK Army runs an extensive schools program with doctrinal and professional development courses available through UK Army corps, schools and joint organisations. These vary from sports, to languages, to even university weekend courses. Ask you admin clerk or training officer for the Defence Council Instructions-Army (DCI-Army) for courses and requirements. Your unit or corps may also offer fully or partially funded battlefield tours WWII battlefields like Normandy, Anzio, the Somme, etc.
Local and Surrounding Area
The Pembrokeshire County of south-western Wales, where the regiment is located, is a bit remote (to put it mildly). Pembrokeshire is the least Welsh and most English part of Wales (dubbed Little England in Wales). English is the primary language spoken here although all children are mandated to learn Welsh in school. Pembrokeshire is a coastal, country, rural area with industry mainly in agriculture, raising cattle/sheep, and tourism, especially during the summer months. This area is beautiful and surrounded by over 180 miles of rugged cliffs and beaches which form the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Newgale Beach, a beautiful award-winning beach, is along the road, which you will view during your daily commute to work. The closest town of any real size is Haverfordwest, approximately a 15-20 minute drive depending upon how many trucks, tractors, caravans (recreation vehicles) you cannot overtake. It has two UK "superstores" (Tesco and Morrison) and a wide variety of smaller chain stores (Woolworth, Aldi, Lidl), local merchants, restaurants, convenience stores, and of course, the obligatory McDonald's. The local town also has a swimming pool, library, one movie theatre, a museum, and its own castle.
About one hour away is the city of Swansea and Cardiff lies about two hours away. Both offer much larger shopping stores and an outlet style shopping centre, McArthur Glen at Sarn Park, is located on the M4 motorway, halfway between Swansea and Cardiff, about an hour and a half away. Swansea has the distinctive title as the city with the nearest Starbucks (very important).
Weather
All of those UK stories you have heard about British weather are true! Pembrokeshire is on the direct path of the jet stream and receives some of the windiest and rainiest weather in the UK. When it rains, as it often does, the weather changes rapidly. Often gale force winds combined with rain can drench you with a large amount of horizontal rain, fog, and unpleasant weather for approximately four months of the winter. It can be extremely bleak. Overall, especially in the summer, it is much cooler than the US with temperatures hovering at approximately 70+ degrees Fahrenheit. Also, because the UK is so far north, summer days are particularly long with winter days quite short. You will not need air-conditioning, window screens, or to water your lawn at all (trust me on this one).
Description of Housing
Location
As a field officer (field grade officer) you have a few choices:
- If you are single, you can reside in the Officers' Mess and have a room of your own with full accommodation including all meals.
- If you bring your family to the area, you basically have three choices:
- live on Cawdor Barracks, or
- live in Haverfordwest, or
- live at Castle Martin training area.
There are only four sets of field grade quarters available on base. Each has four bedrooms, a full garage, loads of storage space, and are the largest quarters available. Positively, it is extremely close to work, across the street from the Officers' Mess and gym, and very quiet. Conversely, it is 10-miles, one-way from Haverfordwest where everything else is located (nothing is open after duty hours on base). Other ranks, officer and enlisted, live in town within easy walking or a very short driving distance to any location in Haverfordwest. A third but not recommended option is to live a 45-minute each way drive south at the Castle Martin training area. This is remote and no other officers live there although the location is quite picturesque close to the water and beaches.
Description
A typical quarter has two stories with three to four bedrooms (one larger master and smaller bedrooms), one bath and two toilets, a full kitchen, dining room, lounge (living room), fenced in garden (yard), and a small garage. Considering that most UK quarters tend to be on the small side, these quarters are considered rather large; however, closets tend to be on the small side.
From the UK Army housing department, we also signed for:
- lawn mower
- rubbish bins (trashcans)
- Hoover (vacuum cleaner)
- rake and shovel
- cooker (stove)
- full set of military furniture (as much as you require)
UK military furniture can include these items:
- beds
- dressers
- dining room table
- buffet table
- chairs
- sofa and lounge chairs
- book shelves
As you wait for your household goods to arrive, a "get you in pack" is also available consisting of dishes, pots, silverware, cups, iron, towels, and linen.
Officers' Mess
Within the Officers’ Mess at 14SR (EW), there are rooms and suites for single officers or geographical bachelors with a ballroom, two bars, breakfast room and a TV room, as well as laundry facilities and storage rooms. The Officers’ Mess provides complete maid service, as well as three catered meals a day, including weekends. While breakfast and lunch are on your own and in uniform, dinner during the week sometimes is eaten while wearing lounge suit or coat and tie. Normally the food quality remains very good to excellent.
For all officers in the Regiment, the mess is the epicentre of social activities consisting of both formal and informal events. Usually there is at least one formal mess function a month which includes dinner nights (tuxedo) or mess nights (Mess Dress) and even fancy dress (costumed) balls. Informal mess activities range from drinking a cold one after work, watching DVDs/satellite TV, and going out to a local pub, or enjoying one of the many numerous outdoor activities in Pembrokeshire.
Being a member of the Officers’ Mess is compulsory. As a member of the mess, I pay monthly subscriptions and my monthly mess bill seems to always remain somewhere in the ballpark of £50 per month depending on the number of social events attended. Mess bills are distributed at the beginning of each month and due within 10 days of receipt.
The expense for everything here in the UK is unbelievable! Most items on the economy are about double the price you would expect to see in the US In addition, the British pay a 17.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on almost all products. British Officers have their rent deducted from their pay automatically; Defence Housing Estate (DHE) directly debits my rent for £390 per month. Water and electricity are billed quarterly. We also have phone, satellite TV, broad band Internet, and a mobile telephone services which are all set up under direct debit from a British Pound Sterling account which we set up through any US post’s Bank of America, Community Bank. You will receive Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to cover housing costs and basically rent a set of quarters from the British government. COLA rates are high in the UK but depend upon the £ to $ rate (almost $2.0 to £1 as of spring 2007).
Electrical Power and Appliances
British electrical current is 240 Volt/50-cycle, single phase. Most US appliances (110 Volt/60-cycle) will operate in England, but require transformers that step the 240-Volt current down to 110 Volts. For many small appliances, you might consider purchasing British (or dual voltage) models, as it may be cheaper than buying transformers, and is definitely more convenient (available at military exchanges and on the local economy at places like ARGOS, etc.). British measurements and stove settings are sometimes labelled 1, 2, 3, etc. without listing the temperatures in centigrade. The American Women’s Club of London has a good conversion chart to assist for oven temperatures, weights, and measurements.
Appliances are available from RAF Croughton, which will provide a washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, stand-up freezer, microwave, and two large 110v transformers. Repairs are obtained by calling the appliance warehouse at RAF Croughton. You can request either UK or US sized appliances depending upon the size of your quarters. Note: Major British appliances are much smaller than their American counterparts and UK washers and dryers can take up to three hours per load.
TV and Video
DVDs are region 2 here (North America is region 1) and VHS tapes are PAL (not compatible with US systems). It is best to bring an all region DVD player or purchase one at the exchange upon arrival. You must pay an annual TV tax, over £130, to watch British TV in your home. Annually, as of July 2006, you can claim back your TV tax through the US Embassy. North American TVs are not compatible with the European TV PAL system, but you can purchase a multi-region TV through AAFES. There are five local stations in southwest Wales (four BBC stations and one Welsh channel). Sky Digital is available with a satellite receiver and has an enormous selection of channels. Different Sky packages range from £21 and up per month. If you are interested in getting Armed Forces Network (AFN) you can lease or purchase an AFN decoder and satellite dish from certain military exchanges. Available through AAFES or at RAF Lakenheath, the decoder system receives the AFN signal and numerous AFN stations via satellite. See for more details.
Mobile Phone
You can set up an annual contract with any of the national mobile phone companies but with no credit history in the UK, you will have to pay a deposit of approximately £150 for the initial phone and service (this will be reimbursed). Orange, or Vodaphone offer the best mobile phone coverage of the local area.
Internet
Pembrokeshire has made it into the 21st Century with broadband available in Haverfordwest and on base to a more limited extent. It is essential to staying in touch with the US Army for career development opportunities, promotion lists, policies, breaking news, and Army Knowledge On-line. You will also use the Internet to stay in contact with the Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP) NCOIC at the US Embassy. Many broadband services, recently up to over 2 Mbps, are available in the local area and can be combined with local and long distance phone service packages. Through your UK Army email account at work, you can also access the Internet but without any email connectivity.
Medical and Dental care
As a service member, you are entitled to use both the small medical and dental clinic on base (both available during the duty day). For emergencies, all personnel travel to the nearest hospital in Haverfordwest for care.
UK families and exchange families here can use the National Health System (NHS) for service and treatment. Because this is a remote location, you will be part of Tricare Prime Remote and must make any claims to the Tricare Europe office. To use NHS, family members must be registered with a local General Practitioner of which there are several in town.
For dental care, NHS has a shortage of dentist in the local area and regular appointments may take some time. After enrolling in United Concordia and receiving a non-availability statement from Tricare Dental Program Europe, you can receive care from a local private dentist as we have done.
Another option for routine medical care is to schedule appointments at one of the USAF base clinics.
Description of Military Post Office, Commissary and PX/BX Facilities and Support
The US Embassy in London provides excellent administrative support which includes pay, evaluation reports, leave, etc. The number one complaint and most serious inconvenience for this posting is that the nearest US military location is at RAF Fairford (about 200 miles away). RAF Fairford has the nearest APO (much cheaper to send packages and letters than from Wales), a small commissary, and even smaller Base Exchange (BX). Also, RAF Fairford has a petrol (gasoline) station where fuel coupons can be purchased and then used at many, though not all, UK service stations. I make a trip there almost monthly for mail, commissary, and BX, but try and combine this trip while travelling enroute to or returning from a meeting or conference elsewhere in the UK. The APO is only open Mondays to Fridays and the Community Bank, where I have my British Pounds Sterling bank account, is open during the week and on Saturdays.
A few handy shopping links will help you convert US to UK and European clothing and shoe sizes (Hints and Things and Online Converters).
It is a Herculean effort to reach RAF Lakenheath or Mildenhall (about 6-7 hours away by car) but a worthwhile trip to visit the mother of all BXs, BXtra and Commissary. There is also a military clothing store with an extremely limited selection of US Army rank and insignia. It is worth scheduling medical and or dental appointments to make use of the large and modern hospital and dental clinics at RAF Lakenheath. The only DA standard Photo lab is also in that area though although I highly recommend having a current DA Photo taken prior to arrival.
I receive most of my daily support through the Regiment. There is a small, combined medical and dental clinic on camp (it is limited and just supports active duty service members; US military families must receive all of their medical and dental care on the economy through TRICARE Prime Remote). From the Regimental Administrative Office, I submit travel and expense claims. TDYs are done differently in the UK with funds in cash or by check provided upfront for expensive travel. Hire (rental) cars are provided on camp and you are expected to stay at available officers’ messes when travelling in the UK (the rates are extremely reasonable).
I received and signed for British Army field "kit" (equivalent of US Army TA-50) from the Regimental Quartermaster, including a respirator (chemical mask), kevlar helmet, and Bergen (rucksack). Annually, I qualify with my personal weapon, the SA-80, a 5.56mm automatic rifle, and carried it on exercise and in theatre. You can also contact the Menwith Hill Station MI Battalion for a limited set of US Army TA-50 (I signed for a kevlar helmet, rucksack, webbing, etc.).
Religious services available locally
14SR has its own padre and small chapel on base. St. Davids, located about a 10 or so minute drive from the installation, has an absolutely stunning cathedral and is famous for being the UK's smallest city. Any “city” has to have a cathedral to have city status. Haverfordwest churches and the local surrounding communities contain a mix of Catholic, Congregational, and Baptist Churches available for worship.
Banking
You have the option to keep your permanent bank account in the US but we strongly recommend opening a British Pounds Sterling (BPS) account either at a local bank or at one of the RAF base Community Banks (Bank of America) to handle local monthly bills. There are some distinct advantages of opening a local community BPS bank account: you can withdrawal money in £ directly from your account (from the Community Bank, you can only withdrawal funds from their on post ATMs and you may be denied certain services or may have to provide a large deposit for some items/services without an established credit history in the UK (it is worth having a polite discussion with a local bank manager).
With A British Pounds Sterling Account or certain local bank accounts you should be able to have direct deposits (standing orders) and/or have money deposited (TDY reimbursement for example) paid for by the MOD directly into your account. Also, you can have a monthly allotment to add a set amount to your BPS account monthly. Most ATMs (cash points) in the UK, and throughout Europe for that matter, will accept your US bank ATM card. Note: US Credit cards charge between a 1% (USAA) and 3% (most others) surcharge on all overseas purchases, obviously local British Banks don’t add in the surcharge. Finally, you can pay for most of your US bills on-line and this is by far the easiest way of taking care of things without worrying if the hard-copy bills will reach their destination in time.
Schools
The nearest US DOD school system is over 250 miles away at RAF Croughton, just northeast of Oxford. As this in not an option, there are many schools to choose from in the local community. There are community and church primary schools (ages 3-11) and secondary schools (ages 11-18) in Haverfordwest. For secondary schools, there are two comprehensive county schools in town. All children in school in the UK wear school uniforms, which can be purchased at local community stores (we should have tried the supermarket Tesco's first). You can always home school as well. The Estyn home page covers educational inspection results of schools in Wales and is a great place to start looking at reports for strengths, weaknesses, and test scores for each school in the Wales.
As an exchange officer, you have the option of sending your children to an independent (private) school. All the officers in the regiment with school age children handle schools for their children in completely different ways from boarding school to local schools to having their families permanently residing somewhere else in the UK. Schools. The Non-DoDs Schools office in Germany will assist you if you pursue a private school option.
Also, Pembrokeshire College is the local community college located in Haverfordwest and has a wide range of classes and courses for adults and teenagers. Spouses may be able to take full time, specific courses at local universities/community colleges at no cost. Seek out college administrators and ask about any benefits to MoD personnel and their families.
POV Information
You may ship one POV to the UK at government expense. It will arrive at RAF Fairford where you will have to travel to pick it up. Converting a US car to UK specifications on base will cost about about $350 including parts, labour, and a Ministry of Transportation (MoT) inspection. When you ship a POV here, also bring a copy of the title, license plate for when you pick up the vehicle, original copy of the UK insurance form, and last vehicle registration documents, as these are necessary for registration in the UK. Local used and new cars are also readily available just about anywhere for purchase. Many of the roads in the UK, especially in Wales and Cornwall (southwest England), are extremely narrow or have enormous hedges on either side of the road with little or no shoulder so it can be quite challenging to drive a large car in this country. Petrol (gasoline) is about three to four times what you pay for it in the US Fuel vouchers are available at most RAF gas stations or BX's where fuel is a bit more expensive than in the US but much cheaper than on the economy. Fuel coupons are accepted at most UK petrol stations including Tesco, Morrison’s, Texaco, Shell, BP, Total, and any others which accept Allstar fuel coupons. If you have any doubt and before pumping fuel, it is always safer to ask. Annually, you will need a MoT inspection per vehicle and to pay for your tax disk (road tax). The first year's tax disk is free for a car you ship here, and you can claim back your tax disk for one car by submitting paperwork to the US Embassy. You must pay out of pocket for any additional automobiles. There is a garage in Haverfordwest, which provides services to US specs vehicles. Most of the dealerships in town cater to all of the European automobile manufacturers.
Miscellaneous
Social Life and Travel
There are many more social events within an UK Army regiment than in any US Army unit which I have been a part of. In the past year I have attended a Brigade Study Period (OPD) and Boxing competition (in Mess Dress), the annual Kettle Dinner near Cheltenham (Mess Dress), the annual Royal Signal Corps Dinner night at the Savoy Hotel in London (tuxedo), and too many to count Regimental formal dinners (Mess Dress, tuxedo, or fancy dress), Remembrance Day (Veterans Day) Memorials (Class As), and Officers’ Lunches (Class Bs). Many of the Regimental formal events involve spouses while the informal events can have families participating.
I represented the US military at an annual dinner and while camping out with the Cardiff, Wales, Confederate and Union Re-enactment Society. On another occasion in 2005, I represented the US military and spoke at the memorial ceremony at Whitesands Bay, St. Davids, Wales, for a US Army Air Corps crew who crashed their plane at that location, 62 years ago during WWII.
I have been able to do some travelling both officially and unofficially while on exchange and have travelled extensively in England and Wales, with other trips to Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, and Germany, where I attended both the week and two weeks long EW Course at the NATO school in Oberammergau, Germany (highly recommended).
How to defray costs
Mail. Internet shopping and packages from the US sent to your APO will not be charged customs or Value Added Tax (VAT). You may want to receive one credit card statement at your UK home address and at least one at your APO to have both US and UK billing addresses.
Value Added Tax (VAT) relief. RAF Fairford has a tax relief office and publishes annual instructions on UK tax relief. You must get agreement from the vendor in written form, a list of items in excess of £100, and the items to purchase minus the VAT, and bring this along with the price in £ plus a $8 processing fee to the VAT relief office, located at the community centre, RAF Fairford from Monday-Friday, 01285-71-4050/4056.
Fuel. Gasoline (petrol) vouchers will save you over ½ price fuel at stations which accept All Star fuel cards/vouchers. They are available at most US military gas stations installations in the UK. Exchange officers are exempt from the USAF 50 litre-per-day voucher purchase rule. Keep a copy of your orders and the USAF fuel program memo in your car. The price per litre of fuel is the same for unleaded, super unleaded, or diesel.
Budget Airlines. For inexpensive flights within Europe instead of using the larger carries look at Easyjet, Ryan Air, BMI Baby, Air Berlin, or German Wings.
MoD Accommodations in the UK.
· Officers’ mess (call and talk to mess manager).
· London. Royal Logistics Corps Officers’ Mess, HQ London District, Regents Park. DFTS 94630-2255. Costs approximately £40 for a mess type room for three nights if stay there for non-duty purposes.
· London. RAF Northolt Officers’ Mess. Across street from Ruislip Gardens subway (tube) exit. Ickenham. 02088-338-396.
· London. Victory Services Club, Reception Tel 0207 723 4474, Fax 020 7402 9496.
· London. Union Jack Club, Tel 020 7928 4814, Switchboard: 020 7928 6401, Fax: 020 7620 0565.
· Bath. Tri-service holiday home, located at Neston, Corsham, east of Bath. The Services Cotswold Centre, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9TU. Tel. 01225-810358. Quoted price is £7 per family, per night.
· Devon. Royal Fleet Club. 9-12 Morice Square (near Devonport), Plymouth, Devon. Tel 01752-562723.
· North Wales. The Nuffield Centre, HMS Indefatigable, Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Rates are £90 per family per week or £60 per weekend in youth hostel type accommodations with a communal kitchen. Manager, Tel/Fax 01248 718362, email: nuffield.centre@virgin.net.
· Mid Wales. Outdoor Activity Centre, Cwmfforest, near Talgarth, Black Mountains/Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. POC: RAF St. Athan Gymnasium. Tel 01446-797272. Rates are £6 per person per night.
· Inverness. Two fully furnished self-catering contact houses with Army Welfare Service Highlands/ 24 Wimberley Way, Inverness IV2 3XX. Tel. 01463-233132.
· Aberdeen. At Easter, from May to mid-October, and at Christmas, Douneside House is run as a holiday country house for serving and retired officers of the Armed Forces and their families. Douneside House, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, AB34 4UL, Scotland. Tel 013398 81230, Fax 013398, email: Manager@dounesidehouse.co.uk.
· Near Glasgow. STFAC Manager, 49 Kent Court, Churchill Estate, Helensburgh, G84 9RW, 01436-671133. This is a basic, furnished, self-catering apartment, which can be booked for daily (£15), weekend (£70), or weekly bookings (£135).
· The UK Army has an MWR/Family Readiness Group equivalent called the Army Welfare Service.
· Royal Air Force (RAF) Community Support.
· USAF base billeting in the UK - space available (family suites run $48 per night).
o RAF Alconbury, Britannia Inn DSN 268-6000 01480-82-XXXX
o RAF Fairford, Stirling House DSN 247-6100 01285-71-XXXX
o RAF Lakenheath, Liberty Lodge DSN 226-6700 01638-52-XXXX
o RAF Mildenhall, Gateway Inn DSN 238-6001 01638-54-XXXX
o RAF Croughton, Sheppard’s Inn DSN 236-8394 01280-70-XXXX
Sight seeing
· English Heritage. Adult membership costs £38 per year and gets ½ prices in Cadw and Historic Scotland sites the first year. If join a second year, free for all three organisations’ sites. English Heritage has over 400 properties, mainly castles, in England.*
· Cadw. Family membership is £55 for Wales and ½ prices in English Heritage and Historic Scotland locations the first year. Cadw is the Welsh version of English Heritage.*
· National Trust. This is for England and Wales, family membership is £73. NT has over 300 stately homes/mansions, gardens, and some castles (free entry in NT for Scotland sites).*
· *Free parking at these sites if a member.
Information Tickets and Travel (ITT)
Tickets for shows, amusement parks, castles, and travel arrangements, etc.
· ITT at RAF Mildenhall 01638-51-5577
· ITT at RAF Croughton 01280-70-8000.
· MWR at RAF Fairford 01285-71-4000.
Military Discounts in the UK
· Service members can use the Central Hotel Booking Service (CHBS) to book hotels/accommodation for personal use at discounted prices, Tel 08457 585 376.
· On the motorway (highway), MOTO service stations and Burger King’s at MOTO offer a 20% reduction when show your service ID card.
· 10% discount at Millets stores with military ID. Millets specializes in outdoor clothing and kit, and there are many Millets stores in and around most large towns and cities.
· Discount Her Majesty’s Forces Rail Cards. Available at your RAO/admin office, the Forces Discount Rail Card entitles service members and families to a1/index.htm3discount on standard rail fares for nearly all national rail services in mainland Britain. Requiring a passport photo, cards now cost £10 and are valid for one year from date of issue; cards increase to £12.50 on 1 NOV 06 and to £15 on 1 NOV 07.
· See the Defence Discount Directory for many additional discounts available to UK forces personnel.
The Position’s Benefits and Hardships
One of the major benefits of this assignment is the personal facet of networking and social events. Overall, there seems to be more job satisfaction in the British Army where the mantra "work hard, play hard" is lived, not just spoken about. These frequent formal and informal levels of socialisation seem to result in better overall unit morale, personal esprit de corps, unit cohesiveness, and trust.
This assignment has been a combination of the best of both the US and UK Armies. I have a safe, outstanding, and healthy working area and environment. The work remains unpredictable though challenging and rewarding. As in both of our Armies, it is the direct impact to soldiers’ lives which is most rewarding, i.e. making a difference. The four-day workweek seems to motivate soldiers more than a traditional five-day week ever could.
The cost of living has remained both the greatest blessing and curse during this assignment. Everything in the UK, with the exception of accommodations at officers’ messes, is more expensive than in the US. The Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) coupled with the Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) make up for most of these expenses.
Another major hardship is the fact that the closest APO, BX and commissary are almost 200 miles away at RAF Fairford. Dental and medical support is challenging though not too difficult to work around with routine and emergency care available locally although making appointments can be a challenge.
UK-US Army official and unofficial functions
- More social, more formal (protocol, attire, and toasts), more often, and the alcohol does flow.
- More social, more formal (protocol, attire, and toasts), more often, and the alcohol does flow.
- Can vary greatly from officers’ mess to mess.
- US themed functions ideas include: 4th of July party, Thanksgiving dinner, cookouts/BBQs, Country and Western night, etc.
- Officers’ coffee/tea.
- Bring a bit is US military culture into the organisation (perhaps a US style promotion ceremony?).
Some embarrassing moments to avoid . . .
- Tune your ear to “English” and its many regional dialects.
- Drinking and driving is a no go!
- Take organized transport to functions.
- Hold your alcohol and know when to stop.
- Buy in rounds.
- Know the mess rules (especially in regards to eating attire).
- Have an on call tasteful joke and prayer for mess events.
- You are an unofficial ambassador for the US Army and the USA.
- Fill out returns (RSVPs) and write thank you notes.
- Watch your whinging (whining) – Britain did NOT lose both World Wars.
- Scarce resources in MoD (don’t rub it in) – the UK Army punches well above their 100,000 size strength.
- Expect occasional UK-US friction.
- Political – UK is our closest ally in Global War on Terror (Long War).
- Environmental differences (European view on global warming and the Kyoto accord).
- Some people in UK feel closer to the US than EU.
- The Team America: World Police and Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan films are satires.
- View about American lack of humility and perceived arrogance.
Personal Assessment
There are many pluses (and some minuses) to this posting but overall it has been an extremely rewarding experience, and it is a phenomenal place to spend your twilight major years. Being an exchange officer is similar to being an exchange student to a foreign university although to an allied foreign military instead. There are only about 40 US Army exchange posts in the UK and about 100 total worldwide (the vast majority being in Britain). Of the three MI exchange positions in the UK, this is the only operational one, you can deploy (the others are on various staffs including one at the UK Intel School and one at the Old War Office in London).
This positing has been one of my absolute career highlights and the most rewarding tours in over 17 years in the US Army. I have had numerous opportunities as an exchange officer that I would never have had in a traditional US Army role. The tour has been a thorough combination of challenging, rewarding, and exciting; I strongly believe that I have brought real value to the Regiment by my direct liaising with the US and other NATO nations.
It has been quite a challenge to be integrated in the UK Army. Besides living far from the US umbilical cord, the British Army operates quite differently from the US with its own set of procedures, acronyms, terminology, and doctrine. It took me at least six months of absorption before I felt I was really contributing and fully effective as the SIO.
Because the UK Army is much smaller than the US Army, it is more reliant on opportunities to network and personal relationships established through the many organised social events. I have thoroughly enjoyed these lighter aspects of this post and have visited a large number of offices and organisations 14SR (EW) works regularly with.
Many of the challenges and hardships to the UK Army are similar for the US Army including supporting deployed personnel, manning, linguists (or the lack of them), and a high operations tempo. The Regiment has maintained a continuous presence or deployment of elements to numerous worldwide locations. As an example, my predecessor deployed to Iraq in 2003.
This position is the only US military exchange officer in Wales and is far from everything American -- you are an unofficial ambassador to Wales. You will be totally immersed within the local culture and completely part of the UK Army depending upon it for services and support. This is not your typical overseas posting and requires a bit of a "pioneer spirit" on behalf of both the service member and the family. Most of your social network is focused upon the Officers’ Mess within the Regiment although children's school and local churches are great entrées into the local community. It is also an opportunity to spend some quality time with your family and grow much closer together. 14SR is an operational unit which also means you can deploy. A keen understanding of some of the positives and negatives is essential prior to accepting this assignment.
In Summary, the Pluses (+)
- Totally unique assignment, like no other in the US Army where you get to experience day to day living as a UK Army officer.
- You are in charge of and get to manage the Regimental Intelligence cell, Intel and language training, and Intel support of operations.
- Much autonomy in the position (it is what you make of it)
- This is an exchange officer position, one for one exchange, not a liaison officer working for another organisation somewhere else.
- Great interaction and liaison between UK and other NATO coalition allies.
- 4-day work week (no typo) most of the time.
- Superb place to spend your final major years in a totally unique position.
- The UK’s only coastal national park is within a 10 minute drive and all over the local county of Pembrokeshire consisting of 186 miles of beautiful, rugged coastline with fabulous cliffs, beaches, and walking trails.
- Safe, good environment for families (kids will be immersed in the local culture).
- You are the unofficial US ambassador to Wales and are the only active US military presence in Wales that I know of.
- Attached to the US Embassy for admin support and treated like a Dept of State employee (there are a few perks here). You have a not well publicised option to send your children to a private UK school completely paid for by the US government. The US Army Attaché is the senior rater (rater is the CO 14SR (EW) and intermediate rater is the 11 Sig Bde Cdr a brigadier general).
- Ability to travel within the UK and the rest of Europe. The Ferry to the Republic of Ireland is a 20-minute drive away followed by a 3 hour plus ferry to Ireland.
- Officers’ mess experience is like no other with superb, almost monthly, mess events attired in mess dress, black tie (tuxedo), or fancy dress (costume).
- Very social environment and the alcohol does flow (this can be a plus or a minus).
- Great job satisfaction (the UK Army works and plays hard).
In Summary, the Minuses (-)
- Everything is more expensive in the UK due to the exchange rate but you will receive OHA and COLA. Annually, you will pay for a TV license (really a tax for BBC), vehicle tax, and Ministry of Transportation tests for vehicles. In addition, there is a 17.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most purchases.
- The weather sucks! All that you have heard about British weather is true with many days of wind and rain and both.
- You are isolated from the US military umbrella and post support (this can be a good thing).
- RAF Fairford, the nearest US military installation, is a 3 to 3 ½ hour drive each way with a limited selection of goods at the commissary, BX, and the nearest APO.
- Annual check-ups/appointments with US on base doctors are difficult to make. We have done an annual medical/dental trip to RAF Lakenheath to also make use of the largest BX, BXtra, and commissary in the UK.
- You and your family can get local medical (National Health Service, NHS) and dental (NHS or private treatment). Annual NHS dental appointments are very difficult to make. Under Tricare Prime Remote, you can make private appointments as necessary, and overall we have been pleased with the service; Tricare will reimburse you but costs are normally paid upfront.
- Pembrokeshire is the West Virginia of the UK. It is remote and rural and not near any big cities or major shopping areas; however, Swansea is an hour away (nearest Starbucks) and Cardiff (nearest big city) two hours away by car; the nearest airports are Cardiff, Bristol (3 hours away), or London Heathrow (4 ½ hours away).
- You don’t get any US holidays (only Her Majesty’s holidays).
- The unit is extremely busy with operations, exercises, conferences, and meetings. In almost three years on the job, I have visited the USA six times (Forts Meade, Gordon, Monmouth, and Huachuca); Germany six times; Canada, France, and Denmark once each; Iraq twice; and literally all over the UK for a few days at a time (at least monthly trips).
Some British English translated into American English
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Bergen |
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A rucksack or backpack (military expression) |
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Biscuits |
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Cookies |
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Brew |
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A brew usually refers to a cup of coffee or tea, not a beer. So don't get too excited if you are offered one (colloquial expression) |
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Cheeky |
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Rude but not really meaning it (mischievous, cute) |
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Chips |
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Thick French fries |
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Combat 95s |
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Utility uniform or UK's version of the BDU |
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Cooker |
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Stove/oven |
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Crisps |
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Potato chips |
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Dinner |
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Sunday afternoon/evening meal (regional variations) |
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Dummy |
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Pacifier |
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Fag |
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A cigarette |
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Garden |
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Any kind of yard with or without flowers |
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Gucci |
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An expensive, flashy and probably unnecessary piece of gear |
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Hoover |
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Vacuum cleaner |
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Jumper |
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A sweater |
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Kit |
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Can mean uniform, gear, equipment, or stuff (i.e. mess kit is your mess dress uniform and field kit means your TA-50) |
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Loo |
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Toilet or W.C. (Water Closet) - (colloquial expression) |
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Lounge |
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Living room |
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Maggot |
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Sleeping bag (military expression) |
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NAAFI |
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Navy, Army, Air Force Institute. Like a PX, only the British version (supplying food only) |
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NAAFI break |
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When you take a mid morning break for coffee or tea |
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Nappies |
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Diapers |
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Norgy |
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Either a green, extreme cold weather shirt or a large thermos container (military expression) |
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Pants |
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Underwear (also called knickers) |
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Pint |
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The primary measurement of a glass of beer (approx.1/index.htm2liter) |
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Petrol |
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Gasoline |
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Posh |
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Upper-class, stuck up, or speaking like royalty
(originates from colonial sea travel: Port Out Starboard Home - the more expensive way for travel to India, because this way you got the cooler cabins on the shady side of the ship) |
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Queue |
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Line (as in a queue in the shop, a queue of traffic) |
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Rubbish |
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Trash or nonsense |
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Rubbish bin |
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A trash can |
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Silly season |
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The final few weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays |
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Spec op |
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Not special operations as in SOF but a specialist operator (i.e. a signaller) |
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Tab or tabbing |
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A high-speed road march (Tactical Advance to Battle) |
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Tea |
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A hot beverage, or in some areas of the UK a colloquial expression for the UK the evening (main) meal
(breakfast dinner and tea - the 3 meals of the day as supposed to the London (posh) breakfast, lunch and dinner) |
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Toms/lads/squaddies |
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GIs or lower enlisted soldiers |
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Trainers |
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Running shoes |
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Webbing |
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Load Carrying or Bearing Equipment (LCE or LBE) |
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Whingeing |
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Complaining or whining (colloquial expression) |
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