Click here Vacant Property Survey or Scan the QR Code.
Generic and local information for the UK Military community in Brunei including Serving Personnel, Families, Veterans, and MOD Civilians.
This is best viewed through a personal device because the MODnet firewall may prevent access to some links.
Tuesday 26 March 2024
Brunei: RMP Vacant Property Survey - Register your property as vacant to trigger extra patrols
Click here Vacant Property Survey or Scan the QR Code.
Brunei: PCMF - Urgent Notice
As a result we are unable to conduct face to face appointments at this time due to hygiene concerns.
However we are committed to ensuring continuity of care by offering telephone consultations.
We kindly ask individuals that have appointments today to consider rescheduling their appointments accordingly.
Please note that emergency appointments will continue to be accommodated as needed".
Brunei: AWS Community Support - Easter Programme and Opening Hours 9 AM - 2 PM
Wednesday Cooking Session still spaces for young people in year 7-13.
Also spaces still for next week's programme
Email: BRUNEIGAR-SpSvcs-AWS-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Brunei: BFB Library Information - BFB Library NOTICE
Brunei: Brunei HIVE Notice - Easter Leave
Brunei HIVE Notice - Easter Leave
Mumong HIVE office will be closed from Monday 25th April 2024 to Friday 5th April 2024.
Chit Chat HIVE office will be closed from Wednesday 27th March 2024 to Friday 5th April 2024.
Chit Chat & Mumong HIVE office will resume on Monday 08th April 2024.
BRUNEIGAR-SpSvcs-HIVE-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Emails will not be actioned until our return.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Please contact your Unit Welfare Team for urgent matters.
Brunei: Operating Hours of Garrison Swimming Pool and Gymnasium - Easter Leave
OPERATING HOURS OF GARRISON SWIMMING POOL AND GYMNASIUM - EASTER LEAVE
Brunei: Operating Hours of Education Centre - Easter Leave
OPERATING HOURS OF EDUCATION CENTRE - EASTER LEAVE
Brunei: Closure of QOGLR DET for Easter Leave
CLOSURE OF QOGLR DET - EASTER LEAVE
QOGLR Det will be CLOSED for the period from 25 March to 07 April 2024 for Easter leave. The QOGLR Det will not be able to accept any transport request (including taxi booking and car hire) during the stand down period, however if any compassionate, Aero med or emergency cases will be supported by the duty driver.
There will be a duty phone manning by QOGLR Det duty personnel for the transport confirmation and any emergency call.
a. Last day for the transport request ( including car hire and taxi booking) is Friday 15 March 2024.
b. QOGLR Det duty phone no. +673 833028.
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: New grants to support Early Years Service children
That’s a total of more than £2.1 million in grant awards since the programme launched in 2022!
Monday 25 March 2024
Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS) 2024 – now open!
FamCAS is an annual, tri-Service survey, which invites a sample of Service spouses and civil partners to share what they like and dislike about Service family life.
This anonymous survey covers key issues that impact you, as Service families, and gives you the chance to share your views on aspects of day-to-day Service family life. This includes questions on employment, childcare, and healthcare.
FamCAS 2024 is now open, and we want to hear from you!
To check whether you have been invited to take part, please click here to access the Survey checker and follow the onscreen instructions. This works best in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge! If you haven’t been invited to take part this time, you will have the opportunity to leave a comment instead.
Alternatively, you can go straight to the survey, by clicking on the below link or scanning the QR code below and enter your Serving Partner’s Service number to get started! The survey is online only this year!
Click here for the FamCAS Survey 24 or alternatively scan the QR Code below
Brunei: Supporting Neurodiversity Week - Thursday 21st - Wednesday 27th March 2024 Campaign
Neurodiversity Week. Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organisations with the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
Further information. Introduction | Neurodiversity Celebration Week (neurodiversityweek.com)
Online events. 2024 Events Schedule | Neurodiversity Celebration Week (neurodiversityweek.com)
Defence Dyslexia Network. An official MoD network working on normalising the discussions around neurodiversity and dyslexia. Free for all military personnel to join, ask for advice and find useful resources. Defence Dyslexia Network - Home (sharepoint.com)
Resources for Trainers and Instructors
Resources for those with Neurodiversity
- Genius Within Adjustments Screening tool – Identifies strengths and weaknesses and suggests useful workplace adjustments.
Information targeted towards Line Managers and Peers
Understanding Neurodiversity
- ADHD and Autism webinar slides - The ADHD stuff in this presentation is really accurate and it gives some really useful advice to LM on supporting personnel with ADHD.
Event. What we want from line managers - building a toolkit (sharepoint.com)
Date. Wednesday, March 13, 2024 09:00 – 10:00 (GMT)
Where. OnlineOnline attendance sign-up. Defence Dyslexia Network - What we want from line managers - 13th March 2024 (office.com)What. The Defence Dyslexia Network with Abbey Wood Innovation Bridge will host the Spring 2024 (13 Mar 24) Defence Dyslexia Network hybrid event. The theme for this year is 'What we want from our line managers' with a focus on building a toolkit to help support them. The aim is to give the network an opportunity to inform and educate line managers by building a toolkit to help support Neurodiverse people.
Keynote Speaker. Importance of cognitive diversity in organisations by John Abel - CTO of Google UK
Please see: Further information
Friday 22 March 2024
Brunei: BFB Quarterly Newsletter - Edition 5
British Forces Brunei Quarterly Newsletter - Edition 5
Brunei: Holi Celebration – Sunday, 24th March 2024, 1730 - 1830 hrs @ BFB Temple
HOLI (FESTIVAL OF COLOUR) CELEBRATION – SUN 24 MAR 24
According to the Brigade of Gurkhas Religious Festivals FOE 2023/24, the HOLI festival will be celebrated at BFB Temple on Sunday, 24 March 2024.
We cordially invite all BFB personnel to join us in celebrating this vibrant Nepali cultural event, if you are around.
Timing: 1730 – 1830 hrs. Please be seated by 1725 hrs.
Dress code: Casual attire (we recommend avoiding expensive or new clothes)
Sequence of events:
- Meditation
- Pooja
- Chir Jalaune (Bonfires)
- Bhajan (songs)
- Religious teacher’s Speech
- Celebration with colourful powder
Brunei: NAAFI - Easter Egg Hunt - Saturday, 23rd March 2024, 1500 - 1730 hrs @ Patio Bar
Open University Disabled Veterans' Scholarships Fund
Open University Disabled Veterans' Scholarships Fund applications are now open!
Last year, The Open University supported around 28,000 disabled students. And, since the Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund was established, more than 300 additional disabled students have been able to access higher education with us.
What is a Disabled Veterans' Scholarship?
If you’ve been injured or disabled in, or as a result of, military service, you could be funded to complete a full Open University qualification.
We offer 50 scholarships annually. All undergraduate and postgraduate modules and qualifications are eligible. You’ll have your fees waived for up to 120 credits per seasonal academic year, up to a maximum of 360 credits, which is equivalent to a full honours degree.
Information and eligibility criteria can be found here:
Disabled Veterans' Scholarships | How to Pay | Open University
Thursday 21 March 2024
Social Media Specialists - free BFBS social media training programme for military spouses plus Veterans and their spouses
Join the RBL at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Members of the public can watch the D-Day 80 Service of Remembrance in the grounds, with seating available on a first come, first served basis.
Entry to the Arboretum is free, but booking your visit in advance is recommended to guarantee entry, and save on parking (£4 in advance, £6 on the day)
Defence Discount Service: Veterans Privilege Card Video
National Adult Social Care Recruitment Campaign - Made with Care
The campaign aims to highlight the amazing opportunities which the care sector can provide for a fulfilling career, showcasing the amazing difference you can make every day and demonstrating that it is easy for people without any previous experience to get started.
As part of their work DHSC have recognised that a career in care could work incredibly well for those leaving the armed services and the partners of those currently serving in the armed forces.
As such we have been working with Forces Employment Charity and the Career Transition Partnership to create a suite of resources which can help to showcase the benefits of a career in care and direct people to the national campaign site where they can find out more about the roles on offer and search for relevant jobs in their area.
The resources, including posters, leaflets and social media assets, are free to download and will hopefully provide useful support for those currently looking for flexible careers or considering their next step.
Wednesday 20 March 2024
Lower minimum income requirement agreed for the Armed Forces
- On 4 December 2023, the Government announced that the MIR would be increased to align with the new minimum general salary threshold for skilled workers, which is currently £38,700, with an initial increase to £29,000 in Spring 2024. This will no longer include an additional income requirement where a child is included in the application.
- The Ministry of Defence has worked with the Home Office on options to mitigate the potential impact on recruitment and retention the increase may have, and it has been agreed that the MIR will be aligned with the salary threshold for Other Ranks on completion of training, which is currently £23,496. Officers earn £31,304 until completion of Initial Officer Training when their pay increases to £37,425. The MIR for HM Armed Forces will be reviewed in line with the annual pay award.
- The Government introduced the MIR in July 2012 for partners and children of British and settled persons, and in December 2013 for a partner and child(ren) of HM Armed Forces, including the Brigade of Gurkhas, under Appendix HM Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules.
- The full Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules can be found at: HC 590 – Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- A Q&A document has been prepared and can be accessed at this LINK
Brunei: Disrespecting the Month of Ramadhan
1. Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 articles under the Constitution of Brunei
Darussalam defines fines, imprisonment or both if one gets convicted of disrespecting the month of Ramadhan. The duration of Ramadhan in 2024 is from 12 March to 09 April 2023, however, dates maybe subject to change depending on the sighting of the moon.
2. Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 - Disrespecting the month of Ramadhan (Para 195, page 89):
a. Any person who consumes in public any food, drink or tobacco during
the fasting hours in the month of Ramadhan is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.
b. Any person who sells or serves any food, drink or tobacco for immediate
consumption at that spot, in a public place, during the fasting hours in the
month of Ramadhan is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.
c. Subsection (2) shall not apply to any medical practitioner or any other
person who serves any food, drink or medicine to any patient during the fasting hours in the month of Ramadhan without which such patient will be affected.
d. If any person fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (2) in his
status as an employee for another person, his employer shall be deemed to have abetted such offence and to have caused the commission of such offence by reason of abetment unless he can prove that such offence was committed without his consent, power, knowledge or approval and that he took all reasonable steps to avoid such act from being committed.
Family Lives Newsletter - March 2024
People contact Family Lives about stages of a child's development, issues with schools, and parenting/relationship support. Family Lives also respond when life becomes more complicated and provide support around family breakdown, aggression in the home, bullying, teenage risky behaviour and mental health concerns of both parents and their children.
You can talk to Family Lives over the phone, via email or online from your phone, tablet or laptop. This service is free and confidential.
https://www.familylives.org.uk
To read more about Family Lives Newsletter on their website, Click Here.
Family Action Job Vacancy: Practice Development Support Office - Part Time & Home Based
- starting at £24,724 FTE per annum, raising to £27,232 FTE per annum
- Additionally, £480 home-based allowance FTE per annum
- Permanent Contract
- UK home based with some travel
- Part time – 22.2 hours per week
- To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: completed.application20@family-action.org.uk
- To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification
- Closing date: Friday 12th of April at 5pm
- ID: 1126
Reserves Continuous Attitude Survey: ResCAS 2024 closes in 2 weeks, take part now!
The Reserves Continuous Attitude Survey (ResCAS) closes on Tuesday April 2nd 2024.Please take time out to provide feedback on your experience as a Reserve.
Why complete it?
We would like to hear your views and experiences so that we can help shape the policies that support and enable your service, including providing the right support and training. The more responses we have, the clearer the picture MOD has of your experience.
For more details on whether you can take part and how, please find your service below.
Tuesday 19 March 2024
Brunei: Get You Home (GYH) Information
1. Entitlement. All SP who are permanently assigned to an overseas station are eligible for GYH(O). In addition, any spouse/civil partner and/or family members child(ren) accompanying the SP will also be entitled to GYH(O), less those SP claiming SCV (Para 09.1105b refers). They are entitled to one return GYH(O) journey per assignment year to the country of domicile. The assignment year commences on the SP’s arrival in Brunei and renews on the anniversary of the arrival. There must be an expectation of serving the full 12 months of the assignment year in order to qualify for the entitlement.
2. Carry Forward of GYH(O) Entitlement. In normal circumstances there will be no scope for the carry forward of GYH(O) from one assignment year to the next. Where it is considered that there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. consecutive operational deployments) a case should be submitted by the affected Service person to their unit CO for authorisation. A copy of the CO’s personal authorisation should be copied to the unit HR admin staff to authorise them to adjust the Service person’s GYH(O) journey balance on the JPA system.
3. Commencement of Entitlement. Entitlement to GYH(O) commences from the date the Service person reports for duty in the overseas country. Entitlement to GYH(O) will not commence during any period of leave taken in the overseas country prior to the assignment reporting date.
4. Cessation of Entitlement. The entitlement to GYH(O) for the Service person will cease on the last day of duty in the overseas country. The immediate family entitlement will cease from the date the immediate family departs the overseas assignment location, or the date of the Service person's last day of duty overseas, whichever is the earlier.
5. Travel Arrangements. Personnel are responsible for their own travel arrangements and travel from either Miri Airport, Malaysia or Brunei International Airport is permitted. Where a direct flight is not available and a break in the journey is unavoidable, Service personnel are to book the next available connecting flight to the UK or the final country of domicile. Where possible, stopovers in the overseas destination to the country of domicile or UK must not exceed 24hrs as it is expected that a flight to the UK or country of domicile will exist within that timeframe. Requests to conduct a ‘stopover’ beyond 24hrs must be cleared through RAO BFB, through the relevant chain of command, prior to the SP entering into any financial arrangement with a travel agent or booking service. GYH(O) journey legs must be applied via JPA online self-service system (Self Service Journey Claim) and be approved before commencing GYH(O) travel. Note: SP must reach their final destination within 72hrs in order to claim MMA for terminal travel.
a. JPA Audit Front Cover - Available through HR Admin or link: Front Cover Audit Sheet.
b. JPA Claim declaration Sheet - Available through HR Admin or link: JPA 025. Note: Declaration to be typed, signed and dated.
c. Print out of JPA Journey Number page.
d. Print out of the claim details. Note: not the call to audit notice workflow
e. Receipts for payment of flight including terminal travel other than travel made by private vehicle. Note: Out of Bounds travel receipts are not accepted, and invoices are not admissible as this is not proof of payment.
f. Print out copy of flight itinerary and proof of travel (copy of passport page with departure/arrival stamp of county of embarkation and disembarkation).
GYH (O) - OUT OF BOUNDS TRAVEL AGENCIES
1. By order of the Chief of Staff Brunei Garrison, the following businesses have been placed out of bounds until further notice in relation to claims made against the MOD Get You Home (Overseas) travel scheme:
a. Century Travel.
b. Shammiz Travel - Not registered with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT).
c. Ramdhani - Not registered with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT).
2. All ranks are to be aware that JPA claims made with receipts obtained through the above-named agencies, or through a Non-Government registered agency in relation to Get You Home (Overseas) travel, will be recovered in full. Administrative or disciplinary action may be taken against those failing to adhere to this order.
GYH (O) - SUGGESTED GYH (O) REPUTABLE TRAVEL AGENCIES
1. A list of suitable travel agencies within Brunei can be obtained through the MCC Internal Sharepoint. All ranks are to ensure that the business by which the GYH (O) travel is facilitated must be registered with the Bruneian government or a known reputable ATOL registered online Internet agency. Suggestions are:
a. Brunei - Pan Bright Travel
b. Brunei - Freme Travel
c. Brunei - Southern Cross
d. Brunei - Anthony Tours
e. Brunei - JJ Tours
f. Internet - Booking.com
g. Internet - Expedia.co.uk
h. Internet - Royal Brunei Airlines
i. Internet - Air Asia
j. Internet - Sky Scanner
2. If Service Personnel are in any doubt as to whether the receipts are acceptable, they should contact the FSA BFB located within the main Admin Office, Tuker Lines in the first instance.
Brunei: Respite Provision
1. Aim. The aim of Respite Provision (RP) is to contribute towards travel and accommodation costs of Service personnel and their accompanying immediate family permanently assigned to an overseas station in order to achieve overnight respite from their duty station.
Brunei: GOGGINS Challenge Charity Run for Mental Health - Wednesday 20th - Friday 22nd March 2024 @ Temple Car Park
4 mile run in every 4 hours for 48 hours.
20th - 22nd March 2024
A team from C Company 1 RGR is organising a charity event to support SSAFA mental health support team.
Please support with donation or if you wish to take part scan QR code and register your name.
Donation link is
https://www.justgiving.com/page/goggins-challenge-1709102462980?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fgoggins-challenge-1709102462980&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share
Togetherall: Neurodiversity Celebration Week Support
We all experience and interact with the world in a way that makes sense to us. Neurodiversity highlights the idea that there's no one right way to think, learn, behave or feel.
People think differently, which means we can also utilise different ways to feel better. With Togetherall, members can share their experiences and share community.
Read more about Neurodiversity in @Togetherall's blog post: https://togetherall.com/en-gb/support-articles/what-is-neurodiversity