Defence Children Services, Education Advisory Team (UK) - School Place Offers & Appeal Advice

There are some key dates coming up for families who have children due to start primary or secondary school in September 2024.

Defence Children Services Education Advisory Team (UK) have prepared an Information Sheet, which offers advice to families about responding to the school places they have been offered for their children should it be needed. This guidance is relevant UK-wide.​

For further information please go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/defence-children-services-dcs

Brunei: Leaving Brunei soon? Remember to hand back your BFBS TV Box

The BFBS Office is open from 0900-1700 Monday to Friday.

For any queries, please email: brunei@bfbs.com

Pathfinder - Jobs Newsletter for Service Leavers and Veterans

Pathfinder International magazine has been distributed by the Ministry of Defence to personnel leaving the Armed Forces each and every month since 1991 and is a vital source of information for resettling servicemen and women.

At Pathfinder International we work with a variety of employers to help ex servicemen and veterans find work.

Click here to search jobs online. 

Career Opportunities for the service leavers and veterans Click Here

‘Take Control Of Your Future’

Building Skills, Reaching Heights: Your Path to Scaffolding Success!

Scaffolding Training Available in Swansea at our Scaffolding Academy.

From Beginner to Advanced Level. Apprenticeships Available throughout the year.

Get on the path to become a fully qualified Scaffolder.

Visit our website: www.cwicscaffolding.academy

Phone: 01792 482022

Email: scaffolding.academy@uwtsd.ac.uk

Discount Code: PATHWAY10 for 10% Discount on our courses.

Pathfinder International Magazine - June 2024

The June 2024 Edition of Pathfinder International magazine is available now. To read please CLICK HERE.

The May 2024 Edition of Pathfinder International magazine is available now. To read please CLICK HERE.

The February & March 2024 Edition of Pathfinder International magazine is available now. To read please CLICK HERE.

The December 2023 & January 2024 Edition of Pathfinder International magazine is available now. To read please CLICK HERE.

Brunei: NAAFI Information - NAAFI Wagon

The NAAFI Wagon is currently in need of repairs, and we are working to get it back up and running as soon as possible. 

We will keep you all updated on when it is back on the road.

Army Welfare Service: Relationship Conflict Stress Awareness

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Guides for those bereaved by suicide in the Armed Forces community

Suicide Bereavement UK have developed a series of At Your Side guides for those bereaved by suicide in the Armed Forces community.

Three guides have been written by the bereaved for the bereaved:

• At Your Side guide for Veterans
• At Your Side guide for families
• At Your Side guide for Serving Personnel

Both the veteran and family guide were launched on the 17th April 2024. The Serving Personnel guide will be launched at the Suicide Bereavement UK Conference on 26 Sep 2024.

To view or download the guides, please visit: https://suicidebereavementuk.com/armedforces/​​

Togetherall: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2024

Happy Pride Month!

Togetherall offers inclusive mental health support regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Join their free, anonymous online community for peer support at togetherall.com

Army Library and Information Service (ALIS)

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ALIS. The role of the Army Library And Information Service (ALIS) is to provide information and resources in support of operations, education, training, life-long learning and welfare. To help support the professional development of military personnel in BFB, ALIS Online can still be accessed via Defence Gateway. ALIS Online is accessible by all serving British Army personnel both regular and reserve. It contains a searchable catalogue as well as electronic books, journal articles, audiobooks and links to podcasts. Electronic content can be accessed directly and hard copy books from the catalogue can be requested using BFPO to support professional development.

ALIS Online. Via Defence Gateway Application ALIS – ALIS Online

ALIS SharePoint. ALIS Locations Worldwide

Prince Consort's Library is a specialist military library, providing operational and intelligence support, information services, reference materials, information for Battlefield Studies, Staff Rides and general library support.

Services Central Library provides educational support for the Army and can provide resources for your personal and professional development, including languages, reading list materials and more.

ALIS Catalogue: the complete catalogue of all books, articles and other resources available in Army Library and Information Centres worldwide.

Free Request Service: search the online catalogue​ and click request. Items are sent directly to you wherever you are. Long loans available, no reservation fees or overdue charges.

Course Support: from GCSE to PhD; FS to ALDP ME; covering a wide range of subjects - logistics, management, driving resources, NEBOSH and more. Please contact SCL for more information.

News Updates: weekly news updates covering 37 countries. Sign up for weekly emails containing opinions, information and insight on current affairs. Please contact PCL for more information.

Country Information: information, resources and twice daily RSS feeds are available on current issues and topics for each region or country. Information packs can be compiled from open sources. These are available to units on demand for operational needs and are tailored to meet specific requirements. Please contact PCL for more information.

eResources: access to online resources such as Janes, Ebsco, Stratfor, news resources and access to subscription only websites. Please note: eResources are not available if you access ALIS Online via MODnet. Please use Defence Gateway. This service is only available to Army personnel, ​

Battlefield Studies and Staff Rides: PCL has a wealth of information relevant to Battlefield Studies and Staff Rides including Regimental Histories, Campaign Histories and Post-Exercise Reports (PXRs). Please contact PCL for more information.

Military Studies Library Service (MSLS): MSLS is a current awareness bulletin on military and international affairs. The complete MSLS database is available online through the ALIS Catalogue.

British Army Military Book of the Year (BAMBY):​ an annual competition to determine the best military book of the year, judged by a panel of Army personnel.

If you can't find what you are looking for, click the Ask a Librarian link and the library service staff will be happy to help. Alternatively, contact Services Central Library (SCL) for educational enquiries, Prince Consort's Library (PCL) for military enquiries or your local Army Library and Information Centre.

ALIS Membership. Access to our service is free to army personnel. Please read the Terms and Conditions of Membership. All other ALIS services (except ALIS Online) are​ also available to the wider Defence Community including:

- All military personnel and their families

- Employees of MOD agencies and their families

- UK based civilians and their families

- MOD civilians

Celebrating Fifty Years of The Gurkha Museum

This June, we celebrate fifty years of Gurkha heritage being protected and preserved under one roof, The Gurkha Museum has come a long way since its humble beginnings in a converted barrack block back in 1974 at Church Crookham. Now located in Winchester, the Museum is a popular destination for Gurkha heritage enthusiasts and attracts visitors from across the globe.

We are also proud to announce that this month, The Gurkha Museum has been granted Full Accreditation by Arts Council England for another five-year term. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to maintaining high standards in collections care and management. This accreditation opens up opportunities for grant applications to funding bodies, allowing us to proceed with Project Kaida fundraising without any collection-related concerns.

The Gurkha Museum’s early years (1972 – 1990)

Before the establishment of The Gurkha Museum, the responsibility of collecting artefacts and documenting the heritage of Gurkha units rested with each individual unit. During the peak of the Second World War, the Gurkha Brigade of the British Indian Army consisted of 130,000 soldiers. Even in the 1950s and 60s, the Brigade remained a formidable force with tens of thousands of soldiers. However, as British involvement in conflicts like the Malayan Emergency and the Borneo Confrontation came to an end, the Brigade of Gurkhas gradually reduced in size, raising concerns about preserving its rich history.

In 1969, serious discussions began regarding the creation of a museum dedicated to Gurkha heritage. After "much discussion and many frustrations", Brigadier Kent was finally granted the authority to establish the museum in 1972. Although the initial plan was to have the museum in its current location at Winchester's Peninsula Barracks, circumstances at the time made it impossible. Instead, a vacant block at Queen Elizabeth's Barracks in Church Crookham was designated as the temporary space.

Due to limited funding from the Ministry of Defence, a significant portion of the museum's finances came from the fundraising efforts of Gurkha battalions stationed in Hong Kong. Planning for the museum commenced immediately, and on 1 July 1972, Lady Tuite generously donated the museum's first artefact - Colonel Dundas' review order jacket from the 3rd Gurkha Rifles. Finally, on 21 June 1974, the museum was officially inaugurated by Field Marshal Harding.

Despite its small size and inconvenient location behind the wire of an active army barracks, the museum managed to attract some important visitors in its early days. Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, former Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army during World War II, paid a visit in August 1974. Another notable visitor was Bhanbhagta Gurung, recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions in Burma in 1945, who visited the museum in 1986.

By the late 1980s the museum had outgrown its space at Church Crookham barracks and, eventually, was able to move to its current location at Peninsula Barracks as originally planned.

Initial collection displayed in The Gurkha Museum

Explore the Museum’s inaugural guidebook showing the artefacts displayed in the first Gurkha Museum in Church Crookham, Hampshire. Today many of these historically and/or culturally significant artefacts remain on exhibit in the public galleries at the Museum in Winchester.

We would love to hear about your favourite item among the two floors of display cabinets. Additionally, we are eagerly seeking suggestions for items that deserve a prominent place in the redeveloped exhibits post Project Kaida. Share your thoughts with us.

Have a look at the guidebook HERE.

Check out all upcoming events HERE.

To visit The Gurkha Museum website, please click HERE.