Navy Command FOI Section Navy Command Headquarters MP 1-4, Leach Building Whale Island PO2 8BY

Telephone [MOD]: +44 (0)2392 628695 2015-06848 Facsimile [MOD]: +44 (0)2392 625279 E-mail: [email protected]

Mr P Jackson [email protected] 1 Sept 2015

Dear Mr Jackson,

Release of Information

Thank you for your correspondence dated 31 July 2015 requesting the following information:

‘Average Length of Service (LoS) for those serving in the in the trade of Aircraft Handler (AH) for the last 5 years

Average LoS to achieve rank of Leading Airman Aircraft Handler [LA (AH)] for the last 5 years

Average LoS to achieve the rank of Petty officer (AH)

Also please provide the Criteria for Extension of Service (of 5 and 10 years) beyond the usual 22 years engagement.

Is it necessary to achieve a particular rank before being considered for an Extension of Service? If so, which ranks are typically offered extensions?

Are Aircraft Handlers typically offered Extensions of Service? If so, what percentage of AHs (in last 5 years) have taken up 5 and 10 year extensions?

Of those offered Extensions of Service (whether by trade of Aircraft Handler or across all trades) what is the breakdown by rank?

Is it possible to achieve further substantive promotion during the Extended Service period?

If service is extended by 5 years what effect does this have on Pension Benefits?’

Your enquiry has been considered to be a request for information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I can confirm that the Department holds the information you have requested and can be found at Annex A to this letter.

If you are not satisfied with this response or you wish to complain about any aspect of the handling of your request, then you should contact me in the first instance. If informal resolution is not possible and you are still dissatisfied then you may apply for an independent internal review by contacting the Information Rights Compliance team, 1st Floor, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, SW1A 2HB (e-mail [email protected] ). Please note that any request for an internal review must be made within 40 working days of the date on which the attempt to reach informal resolution has come to an end.

If you remain dissatisfied following an internal review, you may take your complaint to the Information Commissioner under the provisions of Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act. Please note that the Information Commissioner will not investigate your case until the MOD internal review process has been completed. Further details of the role and powers of the Information Commissioner can be found on the Commissioner's website, http://www.ico.org.uk.

Yours sincerely

Navy Command Secretariat – FOI Section

2015-06848 Annex A dated 1 Sept 2015

Q1. Average Length of Service (LoS) for those serving in the Royal Navy in the trade of Aircraft Handler (AH) for the last 5 years

A1. This information is only held in a 7-year average format and this is the information that has been provided for questions 1 - 3.

Percentage chance of survival for a new entrant Able Seaman (AH) Chance of completing the given 0 84% Length of Service 1 77% 2 76% 3 72% 4 62% 5 56% 6 49% 7 43% 8 41% 9 38% 10 32% 11 30% 12 27% 13 23% 14 21% 15 19% 16 18% 17 16% 18 15% 19 13% 20 12% 21 12% 22 10% 23 9% 24 8% 25 6% 26 6% 27 5% 28 4% 29 4% 30 3% 31 3% 32 2% 33 1% 34 0% 35 0% 36 0% 37 0% 38 0% 39 0% 40 0%

Q2 Average LoS to achieve rank of Leading Airman Aircraft Handler ([LA (AH)] for the last 5 years Q3 Average LoS to achieve the rank of Petty Officer (AH)

A 2 & 3. Taking your Q2 and Q3 together, the average LoS to achieve ranks of Leading Airman (AH) and Petty Officer Aircraft (AH) are shown in the table below:

Expected LoS in rank for a new entrant Able Seaman (AH) Expected Expected LoS LoS in on promotion rank to the rank Rank (years) (years) Able Seaman 5.1 Leading Hand 7.4 6.2 Petty Officer 6.3 14.2 Chief Petty Officer 3.6 21.4 Warrant Officer 4.3 27.4

Q4 Also please provide the Criteria for Extension of Service (of 5 and 10 years) beyond the usual 22 years engagement.

A4. All information including criteria for EoS can be found at the following link: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/~/media/royal%20navy%20responsive/documents/reference% 20library/br%203/Br3book/ch49.pdf

Specifically Chapter 49, paragraphs 4926-4933.

Please note that an Extension of Service (EoS) is typically between 6 and 30 months, which should not to be confused with Extended Careers (EC) that are generally for 5 or 10 years. With the introduction of New Employment Model EC is now superseded by Employment Stage (ES). ES3 is awarded by selection and to meet the Service requirement. Employment Stages are awarded in 5,10 or 15-year blocks and the final block offered which can take time in the Service to age 60 can be less than 5 years but must have a duration of at least one year.

Q5. Is it necessary to achieve a particular rank before being considered for an Extension of Service? If so, which ranks are typically offered extensions?

A5. No. In accordance with BR3 Chap 49 Para 4929.

Q6. Are Aircraft Handlers typically offered Extensions of Service? If so, what percentage of AHs (in last 5 years) have taken up 5 and 10 year extensions?

A6. EoS is offered in accordance with BR3 Chap 49 Para 4928 i.e.generally for the needs of the Service. Length of EoS iaw BR3 Chap 49 Para 4927. Extensions are normally for between six and 30 months but exceptionally an extension for five years may be offered. See link to BR3 Chapter 49 above. Information regarding the percentage of AHs taking up an extension of service is not held by the Department.

Q7. Of those offered Extensions of Service (whether by trade of Aircraft Handler or across all trades) what is the breakdown by rank?

A7. The numbers offered EoS in the AH branch are very low as shown in this table:

Rank Number awarded EoS Warrant Officer (AH) 2 Chief Petty Officer (AH) 3 Petty Officer (AH) 3

Q8. Is it possible to achieve further substantive promotion during the Extended Service period?

A8. No. In accordance with BR3 Chap 49 Para 4933. See link to BR3 Chapter 49 above.

Q9. If service is extended by 5 years what effect does this have on Pension Benefits?’

A9. Under AFPS 75, you stop accruing pension benefits after 34 years of Service, under AFPS 05, it stops after 40 years service; prior to this, you continue to accrue pension benefits whether or not it is during an extension of service.