The Armed Forces in Wales are formed of serving personnel, both Regular and Reservist, from the Tri-Services: the Royal Navy/Royal Marines, British Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF).
HMS Cambria is the Royal Naval Reserve Unit, based in Cardiff. Tawe Division is a satellite unit of HMS Cambria based in Swansea. There will also be some Naval personnel stationed with other Armed Forces, and many Naval Service families living in Wales.
For further information on the Royal Navy, visit www.royalnavy.mod.uk
Headquarters 160th (Welsh) Brigade, based in Brecon, leads Army engagement across Wales. It acts as the Army’s link with Welsh Government, helps shape the recruiting environment, provides firm base support, and serves as the tactical headquarters for UK operations in Wales.
Other bases and training facilities located in Wales include
Within the Brigade:
Welsh Combat Units - Not in the Brigade
For further information on the Army in Wales, HQ 160th (Welsh) Brigade | The British Army
The main RAF base in Wales is RAF Valley on Anglesey. This is home to No. 4 Flying Training School, responsible for training the UK’s next generation of world-class fighter pilots. Aircrew are also trained at RAF Valley for mountain and maritime operations throughout the world. RAF Valley is also home to the Mountain Rescue Service, the Armed Forces only high-readiness, all weather search-and-rescue, aircraft post-crash management asset.
For further information on the RAF activities in Wales, visit www.raf.mod.uk
Formally RAF St Athan, now MOD St Athan is a Tri-service site based in the Vale of Glamorgan. St Athan is also home to the University of Wales Air Squadron.
For further information on MOD St Athan contact the local HIVE (see below).
HIVE information services are available to all members of the Service community, providing information support to members of the Regular forces, Reservists and their families and dependents. An extensive range of information is available, focusing on relocation information, local area information, education, accommodation, employment and training opportunities, childcare and travel. The HIVEs are a good way of disseminating information to the Service community locally, through their blogs, email lists and social media
There are about 1,500 reservists in Wales. They perform vital roles in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAF). Reservists come from diverse backgrounds. They give up their spare time to train and serve alongside regular personnel in the Armed Forces. They carry out different roles at their respective reserve units, where the minimum annual requirement is just under 30 days a year. In return, reservists receive pay and expenses for evening and weekend training, and equal pay to their regular ranks on deployment.
For further information on the Reservists activities in Wales, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-reserve-forces-and-cadets-association-for-wales
Many ex-Service personnel have chosen to settle in Wales after leaving the Armed Forces. Service personnel transition out of the Armed Forces for a number of reasons. Just because a veteran/ex-Service personnel is no longer serving in the Armed Forces, this does not mean that they and their family are no longer impacted by the experiences of when they were serving. For this reason, Welsh Governments definition encompasses children of veterans/ex-Service personnel for up to six years after transitioning out of the Armed Forces.
VALOUR is a new national programme designed to make it easier for veterans across the UK to access the care and support they deserve. Led by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) within the Ministry of Defence, it aims to improve how services are coordinated at national, regional and local levels, ensuring veterans get the right support, in the right place, at the right time.
For further information on VALOUR visit VALOUR: information and next steps - GOV.UK
There are over 5000 Cadets in Wales who enjoy fun with friends at more than 200 unit locations spanning the length and breadth of the country. Cadet organisations combine youth work with military-themed training and community-based activities. They improve the health of Cadets through a variety of outdoor activities and sport. Young people between the ages of 12 and 18 can be a part of the Cadets, depending on the organisation they join.
For further information on the Cadets in Wales, visit Reserves Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales - GOV.UK
Serving personnel, Veterans and their families can access a range of services. Please see the SSCE Cymru directory of support for further information.
It's ok talking over skype and that but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away.
"Being a military child is hard, but it also gets you a lot of new experiences that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise".
Esme-Jane
"For military children they [Mount Street Junior School] do a club called Little Troopers, they've done a Remembrance service, purple up day. We celebrate Holi and Dawali".
Arushi
"My Mum is my parent that is in the Armed Forces. She is a reservist. So when I was younger it was a lot worse, she travelled around a lot. I've lived in the same house my whole life, but she has moved around me. I was in a constant cycle of saying goodbye".
Emma
"My Dad, he's in the Army and he works in the Engineers and he goes away on week days and comes back on weekends"
Emily
"Dad often goes away. It is a bit worrying not knowing where your Dad is going. It does worry me and my sister. Yeah, you just never know when he's coming home".
Joe
"In June or July, my Dad is going away quite far. He's in the Army, he's a chef. Having your Dad gone is so sad."
Josie
"I've lived in many places. So, I was born in Cyprus, after that I've been to Germany, then I went to this place called Stafford. Then another place which is Wales."
Dominic
"I've moved seven times in fourteen years."
Lilia
"Now we've got a forever home. I never have to worry about leaving or how long until I am leaving. I feel like I belong here a lot more, that's always great."
Oliver
"As soon as we get used to a house, you get moved - I’ve been to four schools and moved six times."
Aiden
"I lived in Nepal, then we went to Brunei, then Malaysia."
Ashim
"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."
Chloe
"I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times, it’s just a normal thing now."
Chloe
"It's ok talking over skype and that, but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away."
Georgia
"He signed off last week, so he will be done by the end of this year. He’s done 24 years. I find that better because he will be around a lot. He likes watching us playing rugby, so he will get to see us more."
Lewis
"I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, it's adventurous and exciting."
Harry
"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."
Ieuan
"My mum got a chalk board and it says how many sleeps on it with chalk, every minute it’s getting closer for him coming home."
Mia
"I don’t want him to get promoted... I want him to get promoted but I don’t want to leave."
Oliver
"I might be going to boarding school so that I don’t change schools every few years."
Ryan
"I've been to seven different schools; I’ve not stayed put in one school long enough."
Shana
"He has been away for six months and he is back for two weeks, then he goes away again."
Sianed
"My parents were in the Army. My mum is a like a nurse and my dad went to the war in Afghanistan. I actually didn’t really know what he was doing so I was like, ‘Cool Dad, go there,’ but then I found out and thought, 'Thank God he came back alive.'"
Sanjog
"I’m going to a new place entirely. They don’t know anything about me and that’s a big restart and that’s really good for me."
Piaras
"I moved to Wales because my dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends."
Dan
Welsh Local Government Association
One Canal Parade
Dumballs Road
Cardiff
CF10 5BF
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