Life in the RAF is far from ordinary and presents a unique set of challenges, as is the journey into parenthood for Service personnel. To help you navigate there is a range of information available:
RAF New Parent Pack
The recently created RAF Parent and Wellbeing Cell has have re-launched the fully updated and rebranded RAF New Parent Pack which 2 new leaflets for new parents. This offers a more bespoke pack of information for individual parenting journeys. You can access these here:
Managing your Pregnancy and Maternity Leave a guide for Service personnel
Are you serving and pregnant? This guide contains information about maternity provisions, health and safety in the workplace, and returning to Service life after maternity leave.
Supporting your Staff during Pregnancy a guide for line managers
Do you have a member of staff that is pregnant? This guide gives you everything you need to know about the process, including risk assessments, and entitlements.
Managing your Paternity Leave a guide for new parents
This booklet explains paternity entitlements and procedures for paternity arrangements.
Managing Shared Parental Leave Guide for Service personnel and their line managers
This booklet is intended for guidance, to simplify the procedure and entitlement of Shared Parental Leave.
RAF Maternity Passport
Mobility is part of RAF life, however this can have an impact on antenatal care. This document ensures continuity of care between military and NHS health services.
RAF Parental Mental Health booklet
This guide has been put together to raise awareness of parental mental health issues and signpost to guidance and support – whether or not you’re going to give birth yourself, co-parent your child, raise a child on your own or you are supporting a new parent.
Managing your Adoption journey a guide for Service personnel
This guide explains what you need to do if you are planning to adopt and provides guidance on procedures and entitlements.
Supporting your staff during their Adoption Journey and Leave a guide for managers
This guide explains the adoption process and milestones, and provides guidance on procedures.
Parenting networks
Support Group for RAF Parents returning to work
A group setup for RAF parents returning to work after parental leave. It contains information for serving parents returning to the workplace, as well as local information and contacts.
Join Defence Connect page >
Join Facebook Group (not accessible using MOD devices) >
Defence Breastfeeding Network
A community for Service personnel and their families to discuss all things pregnancy, breastfeeding, policy and returning to work. Open to all three services and their dependants.
Tri-Service LBTQ+ Parenting Guide
This handbook has been created by the LGBT+ Networks (RAF Freedom Network, Army LGBT Forum and Royal Navy Compass) to provide advice, guidance and support to LGBT+ Serving personnel seeking advice or information on starting a family, or for diverse families.
Breastfeeding
The MOD has released a new Defence Instruction and Notice (DiN) on Breastfeeding 2022 (DIN01-076-Breastfeeding) for Service personnel. The aim of the policy is to provide information and guidance on the management of breastfeeding in the workplace for Service personnel and line managers. The DIN is available via MODNet for all Service personnel.
