Guidance

Civil Service Armed Forces Network (CSAFN)

Updated 11 November 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-staff-networks/civil-service-armed-forces-network-csafn

What are we?

The Civil Service Armed Forces Network is a staff support network in the Civil Service to support members of the Armed Forces Community who are Civil Servants. It aims to be network of Government Departmental Armed Forces Networks, brought together by committee.

Membership

Membership is open to all members of the Armed Forces community, that are also Civil Servants. This is Veterans, Reserves, their Spouses and Partners and War-Widow(er)s, Membership is voluntary and free of charge. To qualify for membership, colleagues must fit the definition of the Armed Forces as defined in the Armed Forces Covenant[footnote 1]. A veteran is defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in His Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve), or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations. A Civil Service Armed Forces Lead from each department will be invited to the bi-annual committee meetings.

Role of the CSAFN

  • Provide support and guidance for the Armed Forces Community in the Civil Service including but not limited to:
    • Informal learning and development
    • A mentor
    • An internal buddy system
  • Create a space where the Armed Forces Community can come together to be recognised and celebrated.
  • Provide direct support to those applying for jobs in the Civil Service.
  • Provide a space for the Armed Forces Community to share their experiences and act as a peer support network.

CSAFN Objectives

  • Share best practice and champion the Armed Forces community within the Civil Service.
  • Help identify issues and barriers in relation to departmental policies, procedures, and practices affecting the Armed Forces community.
  • Promote awareness of the value the Armed Forces community can add to the Civil Service.
  • Act as a signpost to others in the Armed Forces community.
  • Supporting service leavers and veterans entering the Civil Service, including demystifying the application process.
  • Monitoring and evaluating data on veterans/reserves in the Civil Service.
  • The priorities for the network would be in the following order:
    • Veterans
    • Reserves
    • Spouses/ Families
    • Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV)

This doesn’t mean there is less importance placed on each sub-set, it is merely to help prioritise work and resource.

CSAFN Committee

The network is run by a committee. Membership to the committee is for the leads and/or Armed Forces Champion for each department, with connected departmental bodies either reporting via departmental leads or in person. Sub Committee leads do not need to be departmental Armed Forces Leads or Champions.

The leadership team for the committee is provided by the two Chairs and Chiefs of Staff with the Secretariat in support.

The Secretariat for the committee is provided by the Office for Veterans Affairs (OVA) these are not in a voluntary role. This is because the relationship between the OVA and the network has many benefits.

The committee will be organised as per the organisation chart below:

Joint Chairs

  • 1 x Veterans Chair*
  • 1 x reserves Chair*
    • Secretariat (OVA provided)

Joint COS

  • 1 x Veterans COS
  • 1 x reserves COS

Sub committee Leads

  • Civil Service terms and Conditions Lead
  • Policy Prioritisation Lead
  • Armed Forces Families Lead
  • Buddy Coord Lead
  • Comms Lead

Departmental AF Champions**

  • Dept AF Champion
  • Dept AF Champion
  • Dept AF Champion

*These are the Veterans and Reserve Champions for the Civil Service

**This can also include separate leads in the departments for veterans, reserves and forces families matters/networks if the Departmental AF Champion requires

Please note the Departmental AF Champions can also be Sub-Committee Leads if they wish.

Further Information

Full Terms of Reference for the network is available to civil servants on request.

If require any further information, please contact:

The CSAFN Secretariat - [email protected]

The Chief of Staff for Reserves - [email protected]

The Chief of Staff for Veterans - [email protected]

The Chief of Staff for Families - [email protected]

  1. Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families. ↩

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