MAJ/FC - Finance Staff Officer
Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA)
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Description of duty position and work environment
Overview
The PEP positions between the United States Army Finance Corp and the Royal Army Pay Corp (RAPC), now a part of the Adjutant General Corp (AGC), originated over 40 years ago. In more recent years the exchange positions (U.S. Exchange Officer and the British Exchange Officer) has been between Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). In July 2005 the U.S. Exchange Officer position was moved from AFPAA to the Directorate, Staff and Personnel Support, Army (DSPS(A)).
This U.S. Exchange Officer position is located at Worthy Down Camp, near the city of Winchester , England and the British Exchange Officer position is located at Headquarters DFAS, Washington D.C. Both Exchange Officer positions are usually two-year appointments and have been continuous since inception in 1961.
Organisation
The DSPS(A) mission statement is to provide direction and professional advice on Staff and Personnel Support and the implementation of Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) in order to enable the Chief General Staff to deliver the Army's contribution to current and future defence capability. DSPS(A) serves in very much the same role as the combination of the U.S. Army Finance and Adjutant General Corps schools.
Job Description/Experience
I serve as the Doctrine and Force Development Staff Officer for the DSPS(A). The Directorate is located in Gould House one of the largest buildings on Worthy Down. The Directorate occupies the second floor and work is performed in an open floor plan arrangement. The work environment is very comfortable.
I work for the Directorates's Chief of Staff (a British Army Colonel). The Director of DSPS(A) is a British Army Brigadier General. My Senior Rater is the U.S. Army Attaché (Colonel) to the United Kingdom.
Description of Housing
Location
Worthy Down is a small British Army camp (less than one square mile) in the county of Hampshire . Located in south central England , approximately 5 miles north of the city of Winchester . Winchester is located about 65 miles Southwest of Central London.
Family Quarters
Description of Quarters
There is a designated married quarter on Worthy Down for the U.S. Exchange Officer. The married quarter is located in the MoD housing area, less than a mile from the main gate to Worthy Down Camp. It is a two-story detached house, four bedroom, one and a half bath, and a detached single-car garage. The house has at least one 110-volt outlet in each room, powered by a large transformer in the garage. The main electrical supply in the house is 220 volt, 50 cycle. There is a good-sized backyard with a wood privacy fence, and a small tool shed in the backyard as well. Additionally, there is a large community playground just outside the backyard, easily accessible through a lockable gate in the privacy fence.
Household Costs
- Rent and Utilities
Rent and utilities (except water) are paid by the occupants of the quarters to the respective billing agency (i.e. MoD Housing Authority and Utility companies). The monthly rent for our married quarter is presently £200 ($360) a month. Electric, gas, and telephone are normally billed quarterly (as opposed to monthly in the States). The average monthly costs for utilities are £53 ($95) for electricity, £45 ($81) for gas and £60 ($108) for local phone and Internet service (a broadband ADSL capability with 24/7 usage). There is no cost for water. There are many phone service providers that offer very reasonable overseas rates to the States (i.e. 6 - 9 cents per minute). OHA is not authorised as BAH Type II covers the monthly rent and utility costs.
- Miscellaneous Costs.
Miscellaneous costs include:
- one time cost of $170 per vehicle, for conversion of U.S. vehicles to United Kingdom specifications;
- annual car tax £165 ($297) per vehicle (U.S. Forces shipped vehicles are exempt for the first year);
- annual Motor Vehicle Inspection fee £40 ($72) per vehicle;
- annual Television tax £121 ($217);
- monthly Satellite Television £55 ($100) which includes a second satellite box connection;
- an average monthly Officers Mess Bill of £40 ($72) over the year, this includes mess fees and social functions.
- Appliances
The U.S. Government through the Embassy provides large household appliances. The appliances provided include a medium size refrigerator, washing machine (European), dryer (European), and a dishwasher.
Medical and Dental care
Medical and Dental care is available in the Winchester area. Family members are authorised to use the National Health System (NHS) and military members can use the medical clinic on Worthy Down Camp. We have used the NHS medical clinic, for minor conditions, and have found it very responsive. We normally use the medical clinic at RAF Ruislip for routine appointments and have found them to be very good. For annual dental services we use RAF Ruislip and have found that they are very understanding of the distance we must travel and will normally schedule appointments for the entire family to be seen in a span of few hours.
Description of Military Post Office, Commissary and PX Facilities
Shopping
On Camp
There is one small shoppette, called a NAAFI, on Worthy Down. This shop has limited supplies of food items but is good for purchasing newspapers and high use items. The hours of operation of the NAFFI is limited.
Winchester Area
Winchester has a shopping district located on what is known as the “High Street”. It offers shops of the same quality and selection as any moderately sized city in the States. Additionally, there is a “superstore” which offers a full range of do-it-yourself items for the home. There are several full-service grocery stores in the vicinity. The nearest full-service grocery store (Tesco) is located about 6 miles from camp. The selection of grocery items compares favourably with any large grocery store in the States. However, the cost is approximately 50% higher than one would expect to pay in the States. The selection of fresh fruit and vegetable items is very good. There is also a farm store located in Kings Worthy, which has freshly made farm foods as well as produce. The nearest U.S. Military commissary is 60 miles from Winchester located at RAF Ruislip, so it is cost effective to purchase perishable items locally.
20 Mile Radius
There are two cities, within a 20 miles radius of Worthy Down, that offer greater shopping opportunities. Southampton is located about 15 miles south of Worthy Down. It is a large city with a good size-shopping district. It also has a multi-screen movie theatre and a theatre for plays and performances. Basingstoke , about 20 miles northeast of Winchester , has a nice, pedestrian-only shopping area, a multi-screen movie theatre, an ice-skating rink, and bowling alley.
Transportation
Bus and Rail
Worthy Down is serviced by an adequate public transportation system from Winchester . It is served by a bus, which comes to the housing area twice a day and runs to the main bus depot in Winchester . There is a main rail station in Winchester , and the British rail network can get you to most points in the country.
Motorway
Access to major highways is excellent. A major North-South limited access highway (similar to a four-lane state route) passes just in front of camp and a motorway (like an interstate) providing direct access to London has a ramp just 5 miles from camp.
Gasoline Vouchers
Gasoline (Petrol) vouchers can be purchased at any U.S. Military Installation in the United Kingdom , the vouchers allow U.S. Armed Forces personnel assigned to the United Kingdom to purchase gasoline on the economy at a greatly reduced cost. Gasoline is very expensive on the economy, averaging $6.00 a gallon. American forces in the United Kingdom are authorised to purchase tax-free gasoline on U.S. Military Installations (currently about $2.30 a gallon).
American Facilities
Military Installations within a 70 Mile Radius
There are three installations, in different directions, each located about 60 miles from Worthy Down. RAF Fairford is a small U.S. Air Force base, located Northwest of Worthy Down near Swindon . RAF Croughton is also a small U.S. Air Force base, located north of Winchester near Oxford . RAF Ruislip is a small U.S. Navy base, located just outside of London . The facilities on these bases include: AAFES or NEX (small with limited inventories), commissary, post office (APO/FPO) for receiving and sending letter mail and parcels, banking facility, auto parts store and gas station. RAF Croughton and RAF Ruislip have medical and dental clinics.
Military Installation of Choice
Travelling from Worthy Down, the most convenient military installation is RAF Ruislip where we receive our mail and do our commissary shopping. My wife travels to RAF Ruislip approximately every other week to use the postal facility and shop at the NEX and commissary.
Other US Installations in the United Kingdom
The largest U.S. military installations in the United Kingdom are RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, located 160 miles from Worthy Down. These large Air Force bases offer everything that is usually at a large U.S. military installation, to include full medical facilities, an AAFES shopping mall, a large commissary, theatre, etc. The Military Airlift Command is located at RAF Mildenhall, which offers regular flights to various locations in Europe and a twice weekly flight to Baltimore .
What religious services are available locally?
Currently under construction
Banking
We opened a British Sterling (Pound) Bank Account with Community Bank at West Ruislip a small Navy Base. Community Bank (Bank of America) is under contract with DoD to provide overseas banking support to all DoD members. We pay all of our local bills via direct debit (ACH) through this account. It works great and we are thankful for the service.
Schools
In England, children begin formal schooling at age four, called Reception.
The Primary schools go to age 11, called Year 6 ( U.S. 5th grade).
Secondary schools go from ages 11-16 ( U.S. 6th to 10th grades).
All students attending British schools are required to wear uniforms, which can be purchased from local stores.
Worthy Down does not have a school on camp. Children are bussed from Worthy Down to the local schools:
South Wonston Primary School (1½ miles from camp) and Henry Beaufort Secondary school (about 3 miles from camp).
One of our children attends Prince's Meads Primary school (5 miles from camp), a private school that charges tuition (PEP personnel are authorized to have private school tuition paid for by DODDS-Europe). Middle school aged children typically attend Kings' Secondary School (5 miles from camp) which is the academically strongest secondary school of the three in Winchester . We provide the transportation to both Princes' Meads and Kings' (mileage reimbursement is authorized from DODDS-Europe).
Information on schools in the Winchester area can be accessed on the Internet at www.schoolsnet.com.
POV Information
We shipped two vehicles, one via the U.S. government and the second through a commercial company.
The vehicle shipped through the U.S. government took approximately 60 days to arrive in the United Kingdom and was processed/picked up at the U.S. Naval base at West Ruislip. The processing time to receive a vehicle can take 3-7 working days.
The vehicle we shipped through a commercial agency took approximately 4 weeks to arrive in the United Kingdom (Southampton) and the processing time was one day.
Miscellaneous
Shipment of Pets
Since December 2002, shipment of dogs and cats to the UK has become much simpler and less costly than in the past. Most significant is that as long as your pet meets the PETS rules (microchipping, vaccinations against rabies, blood tests, tick and tapeworm treatment, and the issuance of official certificates) there will be no need for your pet to undergo the traditional 6 months of quarantine upon entering the UK . Plan ahead and review the latest information for the UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) at www.defra.gov.uk . However, be aware that there may be airline challenges with shipping pets in the summer time. Most airlines will not ship animals if the temperature is above a certain level, approximately 80 degrees. Some airlines have air conditioned facilities (British Airways), but the cost is approximately $1200 per pet.
Household Goods (HHG) Shipment
Shipment of household goods from the States takes approximately 45-60 days (transportation will guarantee delivery within 60 days so for planning purposes use 60 days). The summer time is a very busy time for the moving companies in the United Kingdom so household goods may not be delivered immediately upon arrival into the country and must be cleared by customs. The housing officials on Worthy Down will provide MoD furniture until household goods arrive or for the duration of the two-year tour. (See the PEP Handbook for more details on the shipment of HHGs).
Whole Baggage
Whole baggage takes about 30 days to arrive. Recommend whole baggage includes linens, towel, dishes, pots/pans, small TV and VCR. Note: NTSC (American standard) televisions/VCRs WILL NOT receive transmissions in the United Kingdom . Televisions/VCRs must be PAL (European standard) or Multi-system.
Social Life
There are many, both formal and informal, activities in which to get involved with on Worthy Down. While a few are mandatory, most are limited only by your desire to participate. We have found all of the activities to be very enjoyable and have participated in most events to which we have been invited. Our neighbours and co-workers are very friendly and very helpful. We were greeted warmly upon arrival and everyone has gone out of their way to make our stay enjoyable and rewarding. We have really enjoyed the British warmth and friendship and have found ourselves attending numerous events at the homes of our British friends as well as reciprocating at our home. The biggest event for us was planning and hosting a 4 th of July Barbecue at our home for friends and co-workers. We have found our time here to be enjoyable but busy.
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