Report of RAF FamCAS 2014 - RAF Families Federation

ARMED FORCES
CONTINUOUS ATTITUDE SURVEY
Report of
RAF FamCAS 2014
August 2014
HQ Air Occupational Psychology Team
Report of RAF Families Continuous Attitude

Survey (FamCAS) 2014
HQ Air Occupational Psychology Team
Summary Report
Published:
07 August 2014
Issued by:
HQ Air Occupational Psychology
Team, RAF High Wycombe
HQ Air Occupational
Psychology Team:
The HQ Air Occupational
Psychology Team informs
decisions to influence change by
applying professional skills and
knowledge to deliver outputs
relevant to stakeholders in order
that they can make evidence
based policy decisions. The
team has 3 main functions to:
Inform, Advise & Challenge.
Further information:
Carley Brown
SO2 Psych 1
Air-COSPers-Pol Psych1 SO2
Overview
This summary report provides results from the RAF Families
Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS) 2014. A tri-Service report is
published separately by Defence Statistics. The RAF report provides
a summary of the key RAF findings highlighting differences between
Officers and Airmen, presenting comparisons over time and with the
other single Services where appropriate. The report is accompanied
by data tables which present all of the 2014 survey data.
The aim of FamCAS is to assess and monitor the views of spouses
and civil partners of RAF personnel in key welfare areas, including
family life in general, childcare, deployment, education, employment,
healthcare, and housing. The data are used to aid the development
and tracking of military personnel policies, informing Defence
personnel programmes such as the New Employment Model and the
Armed Forces Covenant.
Key Points and Trends
Compared to FamCAS 2013, responses to most questions are
largely unchanged.
Most respondents are satisfied with their quality of life as a spouse
of a serving person; however felt that their partners Service impacted
negatively on family life. The ability to make long-term plans was
problematic, as was the ability of the serving person to take annual
leave at a time that suited the family.
Some respondents continue to experience difficulties
accessing/maintaining their childrens education following a Service
move to a new location. Satisfaction with access, quality, cost, and
hours of care of local childcare facilities has significantly improved.
RAF spouses continue to experience difficulties relating to
employment and training, most often due to moving location for
Service reasons. The number of respondents who area self-employed
or in full-time employment has significantly increased. Furthermore
RAF spouses are more likely to be in full-time employment than their
counterparts in the other single Services.
The majority of respondents owned a home and many of those who

did not indicated they would like to. Non-home owners reported being
unable to afford properties, or being unwilling to purchase a home in
their current location. Satisfaction with the availability and allocation
process for SFA/SSFA has significantly increased. Furthermore
dissatisfaction or negativity relating to many areas of housing has
decreased.
Satisfaction levels with the support offered pre, during, and post
operational deployment have been maintained and there has been a
significant decrease in respondents reporting that they feel
disadvantaged by deployments in comparison to the general public; an
area of discontent in 2013.
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS CONTENTS

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - LARGEST CHANGES SINCE 2013
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS RANK DIFFERENCES
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - KEY FINDINGS

Summary
Report structure
Key findings per section
Section A Biographical Information
Section B Service Life
Section C Healthcare
Section D Childrens Education
Section E Housing
Section F Training and Employment
Section G Deployment
Section H Other
Section J Armed Forces Covenant
3
4
5
6-7
8-10
11-14
15-16
17-20
21-24
25-26
27-28
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - BACKGROUND INFORMATION
29
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS METHODOLOGY
31
ANNEX A Copy of RAF FamCAS 2014 questionnaire (separate

document)
A-1
ANNEX B Tri-Service FamCAS 2014 reference tables (separate

document)
B-1
ANNEX C RAF Only FamCAS items 2014 reference tables

(separate document)
C-1
ii
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - LARGEST CHANGES SINCE 2013

Whats going up?
Whats going down?
Negative direction
Amount of spouses registered to vote as an
ordinary/residential voter (77%, 3% point decrease)
Positive direction
Amount of spouses in full-time employment (47%, 5% point
increase) or who are self-employed (7%, 3% point increase)
More spouses would use courses to assist them in finding
employment, if the MOD offered such courses (55%, 6% point
increase)
Amount of spouses who said they did not experience
difficulties accessing further or higher education as a result of
having to move for Service reasons (30%, 7% point increase)
Amount of spouses who said they did not experience
difficulty continuing courses that they had started in a
previous location after moving for Service reasons (23%, 6%
point increase)
Positive direction
Respondents who were unaware of support available to buy a
home (20%, 7% point decrease)
Dissatisfaction with allocation of SFA/SSFA (32%, 10% point
decrease)
Dissatisfaction with the availability of SFA/SSFA (23%, 10%
point decrease)
Feeling negative about housing (25%, 4% point decrease), or
prospects for buying or renting own home (23%, 3% point
decrease)
Feeling disadvantaged compared to the general public in
Housing (22%, 4% point decrease)
Feeling disadvantaged compared to the general public by
Deployment (44%, 5% point decrease)
Disagreement with the statement As a member of the wider
Armed Forces community I feel respected by society at large
(26%, 7% decrease)
Satisfaction with the allocation process for SFA/SSFA (47%,

9% point increase)
Satisfaction with the availability of SFA/SSFA (56%, 8% point
increase)
Access to local childcare facilities meeting family needs (53%,
6% point increase)
Quality of local childcare facilities meeting family needs (52%,
6% point increase)
Cost of local childcare facilities meeting family needs (43%,
6% point increase)
Hours of care at local childcare facilities meeting family needs
(44%, 5% point increase)
Feeling positive about Financial Benefits/Allowances (41%,
6% point increase)
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS RANK DIFFERENCES

Partners of Officers
Areas of positivity
More likely to feel part of the RAF community

More likely to report having many friends amongst other RAF families
More likely to use Mess facilities and rate them positively
More likely to know where to go for support from the RAF should they need it
Areas of dissatisfaction
The serving persons Service having a negative impact on family life
More likely to agree that their life is more difficult than that of friends whose partners are not in the RAF
More likely to live further away from the serving persons duty station
More likely to have left a civilian job due to the serving persons assignment
More likely to report that their own career prospects would be better if the serving person left the RAF
More likely to rate the length of accompanied assignments as too short
More likely to be dissatisfied with the amount of notice they received for their spouse/civil partners current assignment
Partners of Airmen
Areas of positivity
More satisfied with the Home Purchase Incentive Forces Help to Buy Scheme
More likely to have used the HIVE and rate this service positively
More likely to have received a Hive Deployment Support Pack prior to their partners last operational tour
Areas of dissatisfaction
More likely to experience difficulty claiming Job Seekers Allowance due to being married to/in a civil partnership with a serving person
More likely to need to work for financial reasons
More likely to report that their family income would be worse if the serving person left the RAF
FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - KEY FINDINGS

Summary
1.
The following are the key findings from the RAF version of the Families Continuous Attitude
Survey (FamCAS) 2014. Background information on the survey and a description of the
methodology can be found at the end of the findings. The results highlight the 2014 figures,
statistically significant differences between 2013 and 2014, differences between Officers and
Airmen, and differences between the Services.
2.
Impact of RAF lifestyle on family. Many spouses were satisfied with their quality of life
being married to a member of the RAF, but felt that their partners Service had a negative impact
on family life. The ability to make long-term plans was problematic, as was the ability of the
serving person to take annual leave at a time that suited the family. Partners of Officers were more
positive regarding feeling part of the RAF community, and having friends amongst other RAF
families. Despite this, a high proportion of respondents continued to report feeling lonely/isolated
as a result of being a Service spouse.
3.
Childrens Education. A large number of respondents with children did not experience any
difficulties obtaining places at the childcare, or school of their choice; however, a number of
respondents continue to experience difficulties accessing/maintaining their childrens education
following a Service move to a new location. The 2014 survey findings demonstrate significant
increases in satisfaction with access, quality, cost, and hours of care of local childcare facilities.
4.
Spousal employment and training. RAF spouses continue to experience difficulties with
employment, including having to leave civilian jobs due to the serving person being assigned.
Many found it difficult to find civilian employment after moving to a new duty station, and half of
respondents felt unable to pursue a career whilst the serving person is in the RAF. Despite these
issues, significant increases are observable in RAF spouses who are self-employed, or in fulltime employment. Furthermore RAF spouses are significantly more likely to be in full-time
employment than their counterparts in the other single Services. The 2014 survey findings also
demonstrate a decrease in the amount of respondents experiencing difficulty accessing or
continuing higher education in a new location for Service reasons.
5.
Accommodation. The majority of RAF respondents owned a home and approximately one
third of respondents who did not own their own home would like to; indicating appetite to
purchase properties. Those who did not own a home most often reported being unable to afford
one at present. In comparison to the other Services, RAF spouses were more likely to highlight
that they did not want to purchase a home in their current location. Just over half of respondents
were currently living in SFA/SSFA. Most were satisfied with the condition of and charges for
SFA/SSFA. In 2013, respondents were dissatisfied with aspects of SFA/SSFA including the
allocation process and availability of accommodation. Positively, satisfaction with both of these
areas saw a significant increase in 2014.
6.
Deployment. Approximately one third of RAF spouses reported that their partner had
been deployed on an operational tour within the last 12 months; a figure which is significantly
higher than that of the other Services. Satisfaction with support offered pre, during, and post
operational deployment improved between 2012-2013. Positively, levels of satisfaction in these
areas have been maintained in 2014. Furthermore, there has been a significant decrease in
respondents reporting that they feel disadvantaged by deployments in comparison to the general
public; an area of discontent in 2013.
Report structure
7.
This is the full RAF report for the 2014 FamCAS. This report includes the 2014 RAF results
as well as comparisons with results from the 2013 survey, and where appropriate comparisons
with other Services. In an effort to be more user-friendly the report contains less narrative than in
3
previous years, instead providing the data in tabular format. Companion reports on hot topics as
well as interpretative summaries will be produced as supplements.
8.
The report consists of:

A summary outlining the main findings and contextual information.
Key RAF FamCAS 2014 findings outlining the summary findings of the survey.
Background information outlining the context and background to the survey.
Methodology a detailed explanation of the methodology used in the survey.
9.
Annex A (supplied separately) is a copy of the 2014 RAF Families Survey. All data tables
with responses for each question are provided in Annex B (tri-Service report including item tables)
and C (RAF only item tables). Please note that all table codes beginning with F can be found in
Annex B.
Key findings by section

Key figures
Section A Biographical
Information
Section A asks individuals to

provide biographical information
such as location, age, gender, and
how long they have been married
to the serving person.
As per previous iterations of the RAF

Families Survey, the majority of
respondents were female, and most
respondents were living in England. A
large proportion of respondents were
not married to the serving person
before the SP joined the RAF. In
keeping with previous years, partners
of Airmen (AP) responded more often
to the survey than partners of Officers
(AP).
The majority of respondents were living in

England at the time of completing the
survey (83%)
Statistically significant
changes since 2013
(Tri-Service items only)
RAF only item
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C1.1
82% indicated that they were living with

the serving person during the working
week
RAF only item
C1.9
Most respondents were female (90%).

10% were male
RAF only item
C1.4
72% were partners of Airmen (AP) and

28% Officers partners (OP)
RAF only item
C1.3
The majority of respondents were aged

between 20-49 (91%) with the largest
proportion aged 30-39 (40%)
RAF only item
C1.7
61% had been married between 0-10

years
RAF only item
C1.8
The majority of respondents were not

married to/in a civil partnership with the
serving person before the SP joined the
RAF (91%)
RAF only item
C1.5
70% of respondents had never served in

the Armed Forces
RAF only item
C1.6
Key figures
Section B asks questions relating

to quality of life as a spouse/civil
partner of a serving person,
including the impact of Service on
family/home life.
changes since 2013
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
Marriage/Civil partnership
65% were satisfied with their quality of life
as a spouse of a serving person
RAF only item
C2.1
The majority of respondents did not feel

that the Service was a cause of problems
in their marriage (66%)
RAF only item
C2.11
Home/family life
Most respondents reported being
satisfied with their quality of life as a
partner of a serving person, and stated
that this did not cause problems in
their marriage. Despite this, the
majority of respondents reported their
partners Service had a negative
impact on their home/family life. The
majority reported experiencing
problems relating to the Service
person taking annual leave at a time
which suited the family, and the ability
to make long term plans. A large
proportion of respondents felt that they
had many friends amongst other RAF
families but did not feel part of the
RAF community. Whilst 27% reported
feeling well supported by the RAF, a
majority of spouses felt unsupported
and reported feeling lonely/isolated at
times as a result of being married to a
serving person.
(Continued on next page)
34% reported the Service had a positive

impact on their home/family life
RAF only item
The majority of respondents

reported a negative impact.
OP significantly more likely to
report a negative impact than
AP
C2.2
66% said their life was more difficult than

that of friends whose partners are not in
the RAF
RAF only item

agree than AP
C2.4
34% reported that Service life did not

cause problems for the serving person
when taking annual leave at a time that
suited the family
RAF only item

reported this was a major or
minor problem
C2.9
82% indicated that the ability to make

long-term plans was a major or minor
problem
RAF only item
32% felt that Service life did not cause a

problem with seeing their friends or family
RAF only item

reported this as being a major
or minor problem
C2.8
RAF only item

agree than AP
C2.3
RAF only item

agree than AP
C2.5
RAF Community
28% agree that they feel part of the RAF
community
42% feel that they have many friends
amongst other RAF families
C2.10
Key figures

(Continued)
changes since 2013
RAF only item
27% felt that spouses/civil partners of

serving personnel are well supported by
the RAF
41% reported feeling lonely/isolated as a
result of being married to/in a civil
partnership with a Service person
RAF only item
Notable comments

disagreed with this statement
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C2.6
C2.7
Key figures
Section C - Healthcare
Section C contains tri-Service items
relating to experiences and/or
problems faced by Service families
in accessing healthcare facilities
including dental treatment, GP
services, mental health support
and/or operations/consultants
appointments.
Most respondents reported having
sufficient access to dental treatment,
most commonly accessing paid
treatment with an NHS dentist. Of
those who experienced problems
accessing services, lack of available
places was the most reported reason.
The majority of respondents reported
being able to access GP services
when required. Respondents reported
fewer problems accessing GP
services when compared to dental
treatment, with distance to the nearest
service or long waiting lists being the
most commonly experienced
problems.
changes since 2013
Dental treatment
82% of Service families required dental
treatment in the last 12 months
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
Unchanged
F.2.1
70% required dental treatment and were

able to access it
12% required treatment but were unable
to access it
Unchanged
F.2.1
The most accessed service was paid

treatment with an NHS dentist
Unchanged
F.2.2
Of those who had moved in the last 12

months while undergoing dental
treatment, 78% did not need to continue
treatment in their new location
Unchanged
F.2.3
Of the 82% of Service families who

required dental treatment in the last 12
months, the majority (71%) did not
indicate any problems
Unchanged
RAF respondents significantly

more likely to have experienced
problems related to dental
services than Army or RN
respondents
F.2.4
For those that required dental treatment,

lack of available places for NHS or
private dentists was the highest ranked
problem (14%)
Unchanged
Significantly more RAF

respondents experienced
problems in this area than Army
or RN respondents
F.2.4
Distance to the nearest dental services

was the second ranked problem (10%)
Unchanged
F.2.4
Unchanged
F.2.5
Unchanged
GP services
89% of Service families required access
to GP services in the last 12 months
RAF rate significantly higher

than other Services (i.e. fewer
RAF families who needed dental
treatment were able to access it)
F.2.1
Key figures
changes since 2013
Unchanged
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.2.5
(Continued)
84% required GP services and were

able to access them
A smaller percentage of Service

families required mental health
support in the last 12 months than
dental or GP services. The majority of
those who required such services
were able to access them. Long
waiting lists was the most reported
problem in accessing mental health
support.
5% required GP services but were

unable to access them
Unchanged
F.2.5

months while undergoing treatment with
a GP, 66% did not need to continue
Unchanged
F.2.6

required GP services in the last 12
months 88% did not indicate any
problems
Unchanged
F.2.7
Distance to the nearest service and long

waiting lists were the highest ranked
problems (3% each)
Unchanged
Mental health support

20% of Service families required access
to mental health support in the last 12
months
F.2.7
Unchanged
F.2.8
11% required mental health support and

were able to access it
Unchanged
F.2.8
9% required mental health support but

were unable to access it
Unchanged
Unchanged
RAF reporting of long waiting

lists significantly lower than
other Services

months while receiving mental health
support, 93% did not need to continue
Army significantly higher than

RAF, which in turn is higher than
the RN
F.2.8
F.2.9
Key figures
(Continued)
changes since 2013
Unchanged

required mental health support in the
last 12 months, the majority (85%) did
not indicate any problems
For those requiring mental health
support, long waiting lists was the
highest ranked problem (7%)
Operation/consultant services
26% of Service spouses/families were
on the waiting list for an operation/
consultants appointment in the last 12
months
Of the 8% of Service families who had
been on a waiting list for an operation/
consultants appointment AND had
moved in the last 12 months, 34% said
their waiting time had increased as a
result of moving
10
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.2.10
Unchanged
F.2.10
Unchanged
F.2.11
Unchanged
F.2.12
Key figures
changes since 2013
RAF only item
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C3.1
75% of respondents had children
Section D asks respondents with

children questions relating to their
age, education status, and their
experience of difficulties relating to
access and content of childrens
education. It also asks
respondents how satisfied they are
with out-of-school provision and/or
childcare facilities.
For the first child, 57% of those aged 0-2

years were in pre-school
RAF only item
C3.5
Unsurprisingly, the majority of children

above the age of 5 were in some form of
full time education. The largest proportion
of 5-11 and 12-18 year olds were at a UK
state school (82%, 62% respectively)
RAF only item
C3.5
A number of respondents reported

experiencing difficulties in obtaining
places at schools or childcare of their
choice, as well as receiving adequate
information about these services prior
to a change in assignment/posting. A
small number of respondents also
reported experiencing difficulties with
a difference in educational syllabus
following a change of school, or
continuing their childs education
without a gap.
(Continued on next page
Of the 75% of respondents who had

children:
15% experienced difficulties obtaining a
place at the childcare facilities of their
choice
Unchanged
Significant increase in amount

of respondents who did not
experience difficulty in this
area (41%, 7% point increase)
F.3.1
11% experienced difficulties obtaining

adequate information about childcare
facilities prior to a change in assignment/
posting
Unchanged
32% stated no; 57% stated

N/A
F.3.2
9% experienced difficulties obtaining a

place at a school of their choice
Unchanged
37% stated no; 54% stated N/A
F.3.3
10% experienced difficulties obtaining

adequate information about schools prior
to a change in assignment/posting
Unchanged

N/A
F.3.4
5% experienced difficulties continuing their

childs education without a gap when
changing schools
Unchanged

N/A
F.3.5
11% experienced difficulties with a

difference in syllabus content when
changing schools
Unchanged
19% stated no. Army rates this

as significantly higher than
RAF which in turn was higher
than the RN
F.3.6
11
Key figures

(Continued)

months, a number of families reported
that the amount of notice given for an
assignment, or the allocation of
Service accommodation caused
difficulties with their children changing
schools. A small minority of
respondents reported experiencing
difficulties obtaining a place at the
school of their choice following a
move in the last 12 months. This was
most commonly due to insufficient
places at the school of their choice, or
schools in their catchment area.
The majority of families were satisfied
with the access and quality of local
out-of-school provision. Furthermore,
a large proportion of families were
satisfied that the access, quality, cost,
and hours of care of local childcare
facilities met their needs. These four
areas have significantly improved
since 2013.
changes since 2013
Education and Mobility

Of the 23% of respondents with children
and who have moved in the last 12
months:
6% experienced difficulties with the
amount of notice for assignment to a new
unit when their children changed schools
10% experienced difficulties with the

notice for allocation of Service
accommodation when their children
changed schools
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
Unchanged

N/A; the high proportion of N/A
responses reflects those who
have children and have moved
in the last 12 months but did
not need to change schools
F.3.9
Unchanged

N/A
F.3.10
Of the 3% of respondents with children,

who have moved in the last 12 months
and experienced difficulties with obtaining
a school place:
Top three problems encountered when
placing children at the school of choice
following a move in the last 12 months:
51% stated: Insufficient places at school of
choice
Unchanged
F.3.11
39% stated: Insufficient places at

school(s) in catchment area
Unchanged
F.3.11
30% stated: Insufficient places at local

school
Unchanged
F.3.11
Of those who experienced difficulties, 54%

said these were resolved
Of the respondents with children who
experienced difficulties with obtaining a
place at the school of their choice:
Unchanged
F.3.12
12
Key figures

(Continued)
changes since 2013
RAF only item
22% stated that they had appealed
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C3.6
21% stated that CEAS helped with their

appeal
RAF only item
C3.7
10% said a qualified Community

Development Officer helped with their
appeal
RAF only item
C3.8
Of those who experienced difficulties

obtaining a place at the school of their
choice, and who used a service/facility to
help them:
32% found the HIVE useful in finding a
school within their location
RAF only item
The majority felt this service

was not useful (38%)
C3.9
16% found the RAF Community website

useful in finding a school within their
location
68% found other internet sites to be useful
RAF only item
The majority felt this facility

was not useful (39%)
C3.10
RAF only item
C3.11
53% found their Local Authority helpful
RAF only item
C3.13
Special Education Needs

Of those with children, 5% have a
child(ren) with Special Education Needs
(SEN)
Of those with a child(ren) deemed to have
a SEN, 56% have registered them with the
CEAS
Notable comments
Out-of-school facilities
50% of families with school age children
find access to local out-of-school/youth
provision very good or quite good.
13
Unchanged
RAF figure is significantly lower

than the other Services
F.3.13
Unchanged
F.3.14
Unchanged
F.3.16
Key figures

(Continued)
55% of families with school age children

find the quality of local out-of-school/youth
provision very good or quite good.
Childcare
53% of families with children indicated that
access to local childcare facilities met their
needs sufficiently or to some extent
changes since 2013
Unchanged
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.3.17
6% point increase
F.3.20

the quality of local childcare facilities met
their needs sufficiently or to some extent
6% point increase
F.3.21

the cost of local childcare facilities met
their needs sufficiently or to some extent
6% point increase
F.3.22

the hours of care at local childcare
facilities met their needs sufficiently or to
some extent
5% point increase
F.3.23
Service children
76% of families with children had
registered their children as Service
children at their schools
Unchanged
36% of families with children are aware of

the link between registering them as
Service children at their schools and
accessing the pupil premium
84% of those with a child attending a
Service school overseas are satisfied with
the education they receive
14
Unchanged
RAF only item
F.3.18
RN figure is significantly higher

than the RAF which in turn is
higher than the Army
F.3.19
C3.15
Key figures
Section E Housing
Section E asks families questions
relating to accommodation and
home ownership. It seeks to
measure difficulties experienced by
Service families in buying a home,
as well as satisfaction with Service
provided accommodation and
associated services.
The majority of Service families

owned their own home, and a large
portion were living in their privatelyowned home. Those who did not own
a home most often reported being
unable to afford one at present. A
large majority of respondents did not
know about the Forces Help to Buy
Scheme; of those who did know about
it, partners of Airmen were more
satisfied with the scheme than
Officers partners. The majority of
respondents were living in their
preferred type of accommodation,
although less RAF families are
currently living in their preferred
accommodation than the other
Services.
Continued on next page
34% of spouses/civil partners have moved

in the last 12 months
changes since 2013
Unchanged
26% have moved due to Service reasons

in the last 12 months
Unchanged
65% of RAF families own their own home
Unchanged
Top Four reasons for not currently owning

a home:
54% of non-home owners reported being
unable to afford to buy a home at present
47% of non-home owners said living in
Service Family Accommodation (SFA) is
better suited to their family needs at
present
39% of non-home owners stated that they
wanted to be able to move with their
spouse when he/she is posted
38% of non-home owners stated that they
did not want to buy a home where they are
currently located
Accommodation type/preferences
55% of respondents live in SFA
Army rate is significantly higher

than RAF which in turn is
higher than the RN
higher than the RN
RN rate is significantly higher
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.1.1
F.1.2
F.1.3
Unchanged
F.1.5
Unchanged
F.1.5
Unchanged
F.1.5
Unchanged
RAF figure significantly higher

F.1.5
Unchanged

higher than the RN
F.1.6
37% live in their privately-owned home

68% have the preference of living in
privately owned accommodation
Unchanged
Unchanged
63% are currently living in their preferred

type of accommodation
33% are not currently living in a privately
owned home but would prefer to be
Unchanged
15
Notable comments
Unchanged
RN rate is significantly higher

RAF rate significantly lower
than other Services
RAF rate significantly higher
than other Services
F.1.6
F.1.7
F.1.8
F.1.8
Key figures
changes since 2013
RAF only item
Section E Housing
(Continued)
14% were satisfied with the Home

Purchase Incentive Forces Help to Buy
Scheme
Most Service families were living over

20 miles away from the serving
persons current station; Officers
partners were more likely to live
further away than partners of Airmen.
A number of respondents rated station
facilities such as the HIVE and
Messes good, but the majority of
respondents stated that they did not
use station facilities.
Station facilities
The majority of spouses/civil partners
reported living over 20 miles away from
the serving persons current station (32%)
23% rated the on-base convenience shop
as good
32% rated the HIVE as good, and a further
13% rated the service as adequate
The majority of those living in

SFA/SSFA were satisfied with its
condition, its charges, and that the
accommodation represented value for
money. In 2013, respondents were
less positive about aspects of
SFA/SSFA including the allocation
process and availability of
accommodation. Positively,
satisfaction with both of these areas
saw a marked increase in 2014. The
majority of respondents living in
SFA/SSFA had used the Modern
Housing Solutions service in the last
12 months and most were satisfied
with the service provided.
RAF only item
RAF only item
RAF only item
14% rated the standard of station families

clubs as good. 8% rated station youth
clubs positively, and a further 20% rated
play areas as good.
RAF only item
16

select dont know/not
applicable (69%). AP were
significantly more satisfied with
the scheme than OP
live further away from the SPs
station than AP
RAF only item
28% rated the Messes as good, and a

further 15% rated them as adequate
Service accommodation
56% of those in SFA or Substitute or
Substitute Service Family Accommodation
(SSFA) were satisfied with its condition
72% of those in SFA/SSFA were satisfied
with the charges
56% are satisfied with the availability of
SFA/SSFA
47% of those in SFA/SSFA are satisfied
with the allocation process
51% have used the Modern Housing
Solutions service in the last 12 months, of
which 50% were satisfied
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C4.11
C4.1
C4.2
AP rated this service
significantly higher than OP.
OP used this service less than
AP
OP rated this facility
significantly higher than AP.
OP used this service more
than AP
reported that they did not use
Families clubs (64%), Youth
clubs (83%), or Play areas
(60%)
C4.3
C4.5
C4.4
C4.6
C4.7
Unchanged
F.1.9
Unchanged
F.1.11
8% point increase
F.1.12
9% point increase
F.1.13
Unchanged
F.1.20
F.1.21
Key figures
Section F Training and

Employment
Section F measures the impact of
Service life on the training and
education of RAF spouses. It asks
questions relating to qualifications,
and experiences of finding and
maintaining employment.
Most respondents had achieved

qualifications ranging from GCSE to
Bachelor Degrees. This year there
was an increase in RAF spouses who
were self-employed, or in full-time
employment compared to 2013.
Furthermore, RAF spouses were
significantly more likely to be in fulltime employment than those from the
other Services. A number of spouses
experienced difficulties finding
employment due to factors associated
with Service life, such as the serving
person being away often, or moving
jobs frequently due to new
assignments. The majority of spouses
would use MOD provided courses to
assist them in finding suitable
employment if such courses were
available. The most favoured services
included access to a jobs database,
career consultation services or a CV
writing course.
changes since 2013
Education
20% of respondents highest qualification
achieved was a Bachelor Degree
Most respondents highest qualification
achieved ranged from GCSE to Higher
Education Diploma (51%)
7% experienced difficulty accessing
further education as a result of having to
move location due to Service reasons
7% experienced difficulty continuing
courses that they/their family started in a
previous location, as a result of having to
move location due to Service reasons
Employment status
47% of spouses/civil partners are in fulltime employment
RAF only item
Notable comments
OP 29%, AP 17%
RAF only item
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C5.1
C5.1
Unchanged
30% stated no problems

experienced; 63% stated N/A
F.5.1
Unchanged

higher than the RN
F.5.3
5% point increase
Significantly more RAF

spouses are in full-time
employment than the other
Services
F.4.1
7% of spouses/civil partners are selfemployed

24% of spouses/civil partners are in parttime employment
3% point increase
5% of spouses/civil partners are not

employed but are seeking employment
73% had not heard of the Job Centre Plus
Armed Forces Champion
Unchanged
F.4.1
Unchanged
F.4.2
Finding employment
15% have experienced difficulty finding a
job because their spouse is often away
13% have experienced difficulty finding a
job because their spouse is in the Armed
Forces
17
Unchanged
Unchanged
Unchanged
F.4.1
RN rate is higher than RAF
rate, which in turn is higher
than the Army rate
RAF rate is lower than Army

and RN
F.4.1
F.4.3
F.4.3
Key figures

Employment (Continued)
The majority of spouses reported

having to leave civilian jobs due to the
serving person being assigned. Many
found it difficult to find civilian
employment after moving to a new
duty station. The majority of spouses
reported needing to work for financial
reasons as well as their own fulfilment;
however 50% of spouses felt unable to
pursue a career whilst the serving
person is in the RAF.
changes since 2013
11% have experienced difficulty finding

employment due to their employment
history (i.e. moving jobs frequently)
55% of spouses/civil partners would use
courses to assist them in finding
employment (or moving to an employment
of their choice), if the MOD offered such
courses
34% would use Access to a Jobs
Database to help find employment
30% would use a Career Consultation
Service
29% would use a CV Writing Course
24% would use a Small Business Start-up
Course
Difficulties with employment/training
69% have had to leave a civilian job
because the serving person has been
assigned
30% said they did not experience
difficulties accessing further or higher
education as a result of having to move for
Service reasons
23% said they did not experience difficulty
continuing courses that they had started in
a previous location after moving for
Service reasons
57% of spouses/civil partners found it
difficult to find civilian employment after
moving to a new duty station following an
assignment
71% used the internet in their most recent
search for employment
7% used the HIVE in their most recent
search for employment
18
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
Unchanged
F.4.3
6% point increase
F.4.4
Unchanged
F.4.5
Unchanged
F.4.5
Unchanged
5% point increase
F.4.5
F.4.5
RAF only item

have left a civilian job due to
the serving persons
assignment than AP
C5.2
7% point increase
F.5.1
6% point increase
F.5.3
RAF only item
C5.3
RAF only item
C5.4
RAF only item
C5.4
Key figures

In 2014, new items were added to the

Families Survey to assess how
qualified spouses felt for the work they
were undertaking. A number of
respondents indicated a preference to
work longer hours than they currently
do. Interestingly, RAF spouses in
part-time employment were less likely
to seek additional working hours than
Army or RN spouses. A large
proportion of respondents felt they
were over-qualified for the work they
do; however the majority felt their job
matched their skills and experience.
64% reported experiencing some difficulty

or a lot of difficulty claiming Job Seekers
Allowance due to being married to/in a
civil partnership with a serving person
changes since 2013
RAF only item
Notable comments
AP significantly more likely to

experience difficulty than OP
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C5.5
35% felt able to pursue a career whilst the

serving person is in the RAF
RAF only item
50% felt unable to do so
C5.6
72% stated that they needed to work for

financial reasons
RAF only item

report needing to work for
financial reasons than OP
C5.7
83% reported needing to work for their

own fulfilment
RAF only item
C5.8
76% of spouses/civil partners stated that

the serving person earns more than them
RAF only item
C5.9
Qualifications and employment

6% of those in full-time employment, and
22% of those who were self-employed
would like to work longer hours at their
current basic rate of pay
N/A
New item for 2014
F.5.10
33% of those in part-time employment

would like to work longer hours at their
current basic rate of pay
N/A
New item for 2014.

RAF figure is significantly lower
than other Services
F.5.10
27% of those in full-time employment,

37% of those in part-time employment,
and 28% of those who were self-employed
felt over-qualified for their work
N/A
New item for 2014
F.5.12
85% of those in full-time employment,

75% of those in part-time employment,
and 77% of those who were self-employed
felt that their job has matched their skills
and experience to a large or moderate
extent
N/A
New item for 2014
F.5.13
19
Key figures

A small minority of RAF spouses had

accompanied the serving person
overseas on assignments in the last
12 months. Of those, the majority
were able to maintain a National
Insurance record, obtain Serviceprovided information before going
abroad, and find paid employment
overseas.
changes since 2013
Overseas Employment
11% of spouses/civil partners had
accompanied the serving person on
overseas assignments in the last 12
months
Unchanged
Of those who had accompanied their

spouse on overseas assignments in the
last 12 months:
47% had obtained paid employment
overseas
Notable comments

higher than the RN
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.5.5
Unchanged
F.5.6
41% had accessed Service-provided

information before going overseas
Unchanged
F.5.7
32% were able to maintain a National

Insurance contribution record
Unchanged
F.5.8
20% applied for National Insurance credits
Unchanged
F.5.9
20
Key figures
changes since 2013
Section G - Deployment
Section G seeks to measure
satisfaction with assignments, as
well as RAF families experiences
of the serving person being
deployed.
Most respondents were satisfied with
the length of accompanied tours, but
considered unaccompanied tours to
be too long in length. The majority of
respondents were satisfied with the
information they received prior to the
serving persons current assignment;
by exception respondents were
dissatisfied with the information
received regarding employment
opportunities for accompanying
spouses.
More than half of respondents
reported that their partner had been
on an operational tour in the last two
years. Significantly more RAF
spouses reported that their partner
had deployed within the last 12
months than Army or Navy spouses.
A large number of spouses thought
that operational tours were too long in
length, and many were dissatisfied
with their separation from the serving
person during pre-deployment
training. Families were positive
regarding the serving persons ability
to spend time with them during postoperational deployment leave.
Assignments
73% rated the length of accompanied
assignments as about right
RAF only item
52% rated unaccompanied assignments

as too long
58% were satisfied with the amount of
notice they received for their spouse/civil
partners current assignment
Notable comments

rate these as too short than
AP
RAF only item

RAF only item
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C6.1
C6.2
be dissatisfied with notice
received than AP
C6.3
Information on serving persons

current assignment
47% were satisfied with the information
received on housing
RAF only item
C6.4
35% were satisfied with information

received relating to childrens
education/childcare
RAF only item
C6.5
56% were dissatisfied with information

received relating to employment
opportunities for spouses
Operational tours
RAF only item
C6.7
4% of respondents spouses/civil partners

were on operational tour at the time of
completing the survey
31% of respondents spouses/civil partners
were on an operational tour in the last 12
months
3% point decrease
Unchanged
F.6.1

F.6.1
43% of spouses thought the length of the

serving persons most recent operational
tour was too long
RAF only item
56% said it was about right
C6.9
36% were dissatisfied with their separation

from the serving person during predeployment training
RAF only item
22% satisfied; 43% neutral
C6.10
21
Key figures
(Continued)
The majority of respondents indicated
concerns regarding the serving person
completing an operation tour,
specifically their ability to cope whilst
the serving person is away, the impact
of deployment on their childrens
behaviour, and the relationship
between the serving person and the
child(ren) being disrupted.
The majority of respondents knew

where to access welfare
support/information whilst the serving
person was deployed. Many
accessed Service-provided welfare
support services such as the HIVE.
Most respondents received predeployment information such as a
Hive Deployment Support Pack;
however the majority were not made
aware of the RAF Community
Website. Furthermore, a vast majority
of respondents were unable to access
pre-deployment family briefings.
56% were satisfied with the ability of the

serving person to spend time with their
family during post-operational deployment
leave
77% of spouses/civil partners felt that the
prospect of the serving person doing an
operational tour was a major or minor
problem
75% of respondents said that coping while
the serving person was on an operational
tour was a major or minor problem
78% of spouses/civil partners considered
the effects on the behaviour of their
children while the serving was on an
operational tour to be a major or minor
problem
82% considered the relationship between
the children and the serving person being
disrupted while the SP is on operational
tour to be a major or minor problem
Welfare support
66% of RAF spouses knew where to get
welfare support/information during
operational tours
changes since 2013
RAF only item
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C6.11
RAF only item
C6.12
RAF only item
C6.13
RAF only item
C6.14
RAF only item
C6.15
Unchanged
F.6.2
Unchanged
Of those who accessed welfare support

during the SPs last operational tour:
38% used the HIVE
23% used the Community Support
Website
21% spoke to the relevant Chain of
Command
Information received prior to
operational tour
53% received a Hive Deployment Support
Pack
22
RAF only item

RAF only item
C6.16
C6.16
RAF only item
C6.16
RAF only item

have received this than OP
C6.17
Key figures
(Continued)
Satisfaction levels with support

received prior to, during, and after the
serving persons operational
deployment remain largely unchanged
since 2013. The majority of spouses
were dissatisfied with support
received from the serving persons
Chain of Command, and the facilities
and events to meet other spouses and
families throughout the deployment
process.
changes since 2013
RAF only item
81% received a Compassionate Travel

From Overseas card
49% were made aware of the RAF
Community website
RAF only item
75% were made aware of the Point of

Contact scheme
RAF only item
27% were able to access pre-deployment

family briefings, either face-to-face or
remotely
RAF only item
Notable comments
The majority (51%) were not

made aware of this facility
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C6.18
C6.19
C6.20
The majority (73%) were not

able to access family briefings
C6.21
Unchanged
26% dissatisfied
F.6.3
34% satisfied with support from the

serving persons Chain of Command
Unchanged
37% dissatisfied
F.6.4
25% were satisfied with facilities and

events to meet with other spouses and
families
Unchanged
46% dissatisfied
F.6.5
Unchanged
27% dissatisfied
Army rate is higher than RAF
rate, which in turn is higher
than RN rate
F.6.6
Unchanged
40% dissatisfied
F.6.7
Of the 56% of RAF families whose

spouse/partner was deployed within the
last 2 years:
Satisfaction levels with support before
the most recent tour:
33% were satisfied with the welfare
support used
Satisfaction levels with support during

support used
34% were satisfied with support from the
23
Key figures
(Continued)
changes since 2013
Unchanged

families
61% were satisfied with the lines of
communication with the Service person
Unchanged
37% were satisfied with the level of

support offered by the Point of Contact
scheme in the event of a problem
RAF only item
Satisfaction levels with support after

support used
Unchanged
Notable comments
45% dissatisfied
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.6.8
22% dissatisfied
F.6.9
29% dissatisfied
C6.26
F.6.10
F.6.11
22% were satisfied with support from the

Unchanged
29% dissatisfied
RAF satisfaction significantly
higher than in 2012
39% dissatisfied

families
Unchanged
41% dissatisfied
F.6.12
RAF only item
Figure increased since 2013

(2013: 31%)
C6.22
74% perceived the change to have had a

negative impact on themselves or the
family
RAF only item
Figure increased since 2013

(2013: 68%)
C6.23
27% reported the behavioural change

lasting a few weeks, 39% a few months,
and 34% longer
72% said they did not seek professional
help for this
RAF only item
C6.24
RAF only item
C6.25
37% of spouses/civil partners felt that the

serving persons behaviour had changed
as a result of their experiences on an
operational tour
Of the 37% of spouses that said the
serving persons behaviour had changed:
24
Key figures
Section H Other
Section H seeks to measure
spouses perceptions of their
family life if the serving person
were to leave the RAF. It also asks
a number of questions regarding
communication preferences, and
their experiences of using Serviceprovided support services.
A large proportion of respondents
would be happy if the serving person
left the RAF, indicating that career
prospects would be better from both
themselves and the serving person.
recognised that their family income
may be worse if the serving person
were to leave the RAF.
The majority of spouses had never
heard of the RAF Community website,
nor Airspace, and had not used such
facilities.
changes since 2013
Leaving the RAF

41% of spouses indicated they would be
happy if the serving person left the RAF
Notable comments
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
RAF only item
C7.8
41% of spouses indicated that the serving

persons career prospects would be better
if they were to leave the RAF
RAF only item
C7.4
57% reported that their own career

prospects would be better if the serving
person left the RAF
RAF only item

report their own career
prospects would be better than
AP
C7.3
48% indicated that their family income

would be worse if the serving person left
the RAF
RAF only item

report their family income
being worse than OP
C7.5
Communication
78% of spouses were happy for the RAF
to communicate with them
RAF only item
C7.10
78% were happy to be contacted by email,

47% through the serving person, and 34%
in person
RAF only item
C7.11
The vast majority of respondents had

access to the internet and were familiar
with using it (98%)
RAF only item
C7.12
The majority of respondents have never

used the RAF Community website (47%)
or have never heard of it (32%)
RAF only item
C7.13
60% of respondents had never heard of

Airspace or did not have access to it
(25%)
RAF only item
C7.14
25
Key figures
Section H Other
(Continued)
The majority of respondents knew

where to access RAF support should
they need it. A large number of
respondents had heard of support
services such as Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen and Families Association
Forces Help (SSAFA-FH), HIVE, and
the RAF Community Support website.
Most respondents that had used such
services were satisfied with them.
76% did not declare their status as a

member of the Armed Forces Community
when accessing public and commercial
services
General support and welfare
58% of spouses knew where to go for
support from the RAF should they need it
changes since 2013
RAF only item
RAF only item
Notable comments

know where to go for support
then AP
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
C7.15
C7.9
81% had heard of the SSAFA-FH and

14% had used this service. Of those that
had used SSAFA-FH, 65% were satisfied
RAF only item
C7.16
86% had heard of the HIVE and 40% had

used this service. Of those that had used
the HIVE, 76% were satisfied
RAF only item
C7.16
40% had heard of RAF Community

Support and 10% had used this service.
Of those that had used the service, 54%
were satisfied
RAF only item
C7.16
26
Key figures
Section J Armed Forces

Covenant
Section J seeks to measure

respondents awareness and
understanding of the Armed Forces
Covenant. It includes questions
relating to areas of Service life
which spouses feel positive or
negative about, and any areas of
particular disadvantage they may
experience in comparison to the
general public.
The majority of respondents were
registered to vote, however this figure
has reduced since 2013. RAF
spouses were more likely to feel
respected by society at large due to
their affiliation with the Armed Forces
than spouses from the other Services.
They were positive about the job
security and financial benefits
afforded to their partner by the
Service, as well as the friendships/
support offered by other military
families. Respondents indicated that
the amount of separation from the
serving person, the negative impact
on their own career, and the
emotional impact on their children
were all areas of Service life which
made them feel negative.
77% of respondents are registered to vote

as an ordinary/residential voter
10% indicated that they had experienced
difficulty maintaining their status on the
electoral register in the last 12 months
32% agreed with the statement As a
member of the wider Armed Forces
community I feel respected by society at
large
changes since 2013
3% point decrease
RAF only item
Unchanged
Notable comments
RN figure is higher than the

RAF, which in turn is higher
than the Army
Unchanged from 2013

than other Services
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.7.1
C4.12
F.7.2
26% of respondents disagreed with the

statement As a member of the wider
Armed Forces community I feel respected
by society at large
7% point increase
F.7.2
49% of RAF spouses/partners are not at

all aware of the Armed Forces Covenant
Unchanged
F.7.3
Top three categories that make

respondents feel positive about being a
Service spouse/partner:
Job Security (48%)
Unchanged
Financial Benefits/Allowances (41%)
6% point increase
Friendship/Support from other military

families (36%)
Top three categories that make
respondents feel negative about being
a Service spouse/partner:
Amount of separation from spouse/civil
partner (58%)
Effect on own career (57%)
Unchanged
F.7.4
Unchanged
F.7.4
27
Unchanged
RN figure significantly higher

than other Services

than other Services
F.7.4
F.7.4
F.7.4
Key figures
Section J Armed Forces

Covenant (Continued)
changes since 2013
Unchanged
Emotional impact on children (51%)

Top three areas that make RAF
spouses feel at a disadvantage to the
general public:
Family life (51%)
Unchanged
Deployment (44%)
5% point decrease
Housing (22%)
4% point decrease
28
Notable comments
RAF figure significantly lower

than other Services
Table ref
(Annexes B
& C)
F.7.4
RN figure significantly higher

than RAF figure, which in turn
is higher than the Army figure
F.7.5

than RN
F.7.5
F.7.5
FAMCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduction and Background
10. The HQ Air Occupational Psychology team is tasked by RAF Community Support to carry
out an annual investigation into the attitudes and experiences of the families of RAF personnel on
a range of issues associated with being married to/in a civil partnership with a member of the RAF.
It is a questionnaire that has been distributed since Mar 95 and has evolved based on the
changing nature of Service life and sponsor requirements.
11. In collaboration with the other single Services a set of harmonised questions, known
generically as the Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FAMCAS), are also included within the
questionnaire. These were introduced in 2010 to inform the work of the Armed Forces Covenant
team. Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (DCDS) (Personnel and Training) has overall governance for
these items; however they are embedded within single Service Families Surveys and remain the
responsibility of each Service. For the RAF, SO2 Psych 1 of the HQ Air Occupational Psychology
Team is the FAMCAS lead. In 2012 the FAMCAS items were classified as an Official Statistic.
12.
The aim of the RAF Families Survey is to inform RAF personnel policy by:
a.
Providing regular data on the attitudes, opinions and circumstances of the families of
serving RAF personnel to inform both the RAF and Covenant teams.
b.
Developing and maintaining a longitudinal database on those attitudes, opinions and
circumstances.
13.
The aim of this report is to present the findings from the 2014 administration of the survey.
Context
14. FamCAS was conducted at a time that included the drawing down of the campaign in
Afghanistan, the implementation of changes to the shape of the Armed Forces and the terms and
conditions under which personnel serve. In the past few years, important decisions have been in
relation to:
the planned return of combat troops from Afghanistan by 2015;

the future shape of the Armed Forces (Future Forces 2020) and the role of the Reserves
(Future Reserves 2020), where Reservists will form a greater part of the Armed Forces,
particularly in the Army;
the Armed Forces redundancy programme. This continued with the fourth and final set of
redundancies announced in January 2014, after the Review in 2010. There were 1,505
redundancies announced, with the vast majority coming from the Army.
the return of all Army personnel from Germany to the UK by 2020;
future pension arrangements (AFPS 2015);
the New Employment Model.
15. FamCAS was also conducted at a time of public sector pay restraint and at the backend of
the largest global recession in several decades.
FamCAS survey content
16.
The survey itself is divided into 9 sections on the following topics:
Section A: Biographical Information

Section B: Service life
Section C: Healthcare
29
Section D: Childrens Education

Section E: Housing
Section F: Training and Employment
Section G: Deployment
Section H: Other (leaving the RAF, Communication, and General Welfare)
Section J: Armed Forces Covenant
17.
Annex A (supplied separately) is a copy of the 2014 RAF Families Survey. All data tables
with responses for each question are provided in Annex B (tri-Service items) and C (RAF only
items).
30
FAMCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS METHODOLOGY

18. Design. The survey consists of tri-Service items and RAF only items. Tri-Service questions
were developed by the FamCAS Working Group (WG) over a period of 4 months in the autumn of
2013 to be included within each single Service Families Survey. Consultations were held with inhouse stakeholders to create a set of tri-Service and RAF only questions.
19. Administration of the 2014 FamCAS. The 2014 FamCAS was in the field from Feb-May
14. The survey was sent to a total of 7633 RAF spouses or civil partners. The sample was
stratified by rank to ensure it was representative of the RAF at the time of distribution (for instance,
if 20% of the RAF was composed of Cpls, 20% of the sample would consist of spouses of Cpls).
The surveys were distributed by mail via the serving person for them to pass on to their
spouse/civil partner to complete1.
20. Response Rates. In total 1786 completed questionnaires were returned, representing an
overall response rate of 23%2. Since 2010 the response rate has increased year on year; with the
exception of 2013 when it decreased by 1%. Low response rates to the survey are likely related to
the annual census sampling employed for some geographical locations, the large number of items
contained within the survey, and the administrative procedure of distributing the survey via the
serving person. In 2014, a number of email reminders were sent to the serving person to check
they had received the survey and encourage them to pass it on to their spouse/civil partner. This
may have assisted in increasing the 2014 response rates for the RAF and other single Services.
21. Analysis. The majority of the survey consists of FamCAS items with data analysis provided
by Defence Statistics. The remainder of the survey contains RAF specific items which have been
analysed by SO2 Psych 1 of the HQ Air Occupational Psychology team.
22. To compensate for disproportionate representation of different rank groups in the Families
sample, adjusted weighting figures were derived from Defence Statistics calculations and applied
to all data considered in this document. The percentages presented in the report represent the
responses given by individuals to questions they found directly relevant. Unless otherwise stated,
percentages were calculated excluding the respondents who ticked the does not apply or do not
know options or who had been asked not to answer a question based on a previous response.
23. Statistical testing. Information on the statistical testing approach used to analyse the data
can be found in the Defence Statistics tri-Service FamCAS report3. Statistical testing is conducted
to determine if differences (in this case between Officers and Other ranks; and between surveys)
are significant or more likely due to chance. Note that significant increases do not necessarily refer
to an improvement. A significant increase in dissatisfaction, for example, is unlikely to be
considered an improvement.
It is not yet possible to send surveys direct to Service personnel spouses as MOD neither has the up front
consent nor holds sufficient contact details for spouses to contact them directly for research.
2 The average response rate for FamCAS 2014 was 25%.
3 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tri-service-families-continuous-attitude-survey-index. [Accessed
06 Aug 14]
31

Report of RAF FamCAS 2014 - RAF Families Federation

Încărcat de

Informații document

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Report of RAF FamCAS 2014 - RAF Families Federation

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

ARMED FORCES

CONTINUOUS ATTITUDE SURVEY

Report of RAF Families Continuous Attitude

The majority of respondents owned a home and many of those who

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS CONTENTS

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS RANK DIFFERENCES

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - KEY FINDINGS

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS METHODOLOGY

ANNEX A Copy of RAF FamCAS 2014 questionnaire (separate

ANNEX B Tri-Service FamCAS 2014 reference tables (separate

ANNEX C RAF Only FamCAS items 2014 reference tables

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - LARGEST CHANGES SINCE 2013

Whats going down?

Satisfaction with the allocation process for SFA/SSFA (47%,

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS RANK DIFFERENCES

More likely to feel part of the RAF community

FamCAS 2014 RAF RESULTS - KEY FINDINGS

The report consists of:

Key findings by section

Section A asks individuals to

As per previous iterations of the RAF

The majority of respondents were living in

82% indicated that they were living with

RAF only item

Most respondents were female (90%).

RAF only item

72% were partners of Airmen (AP) and

RAF only item

The majority of respondents were aged

RAF only item

61% had been married between 0-10

RAF only item

The majority of respondents were not

RAF only item

70% of respondents had never served in

RAF only item

Section B Service Life

Section B asks questions relating

RAF only item

The majority of respondents did not feel

RAF only item

(Continued on next page)

34% reported the Service had a positive

RAF only item

The majority of respondents

66% said their life was more difficult than

RAF only item

OP significantly more likely to

34% reported that Service life did not

RAF only item

The majority of respondents

82% indicated that the ability to make

RAF only item

32% felt that Service life did not cause a

RAF only item

The majority of respondents

RAF only item

OP significantly more likely to

RAF only item

OP significantly more likely to

Section B Service Life

27% felt that spouses/civil partners of

RAF only item