Quarterly Newsletter - Spring 2019
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For the latest news and updates
Check out the Military Family Services (Europe)
Facebook
page or view one of our many information briefs on
YouTube
.
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Canadian Federal Elections 2019
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The next Canadian federal election is October 21st, 2019 but now is the time to start thinking about how to exercise your right to vote while living OUTCAN.
If you are a dependent of a CAF member or you are a sponsored civilian employee (or dependent), you will need to register on-line to vote. You will use the last address at which you lived prior to being posted OUTCAN in order for Elections Canada to determine your riding. Remember to allow sufficient time for a package to be mailed to you as well as time for you to return the package to Canada. For the purposes of delivery of the ballot to you, you can use either your current physical address or the P.O. Box Station Forces address, whichever will be quicker.
CAF members do not need to register as ballots and voting process will be managed through the CAF.
Consult the link below for more information.
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Your Military Family Services Team
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Changes to Advisory Committee Representation
Sue Goddard, Senior Manager, Military Family Services Europe
As the Canadian Armed Forces footprint in Europe has grown over the past few years, we have experienced a shift from most of our families being posted in areas where there is an MFS centre (Neiderheid, Naples, Brussels, Casteau and recently, Riga) or at least an MFS presence (UK) to most of our families being posted to ‘remote’ locations without an MFS presence. Accordingly, we have adjusted our services to try to meet the different needs of those families and to explore alternative ways of delivering those supports and services.
We are also striving to ensure that our European Advisory Committee is reflective of the current demographics. To that end, we have increased the number of remote family representatives from 2 to 4. We have also decided to divide the remote countries into 4 areas, each with a representative, to ensure that there is an opportunity for all voices to be heard.
The table below outlines how countries will be represented by an Advisory Committee representative effective July 2019. Please note that this does not affect which MFS centre and staff supports you. That will remain as currently in place. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Senior Manager, MFS at
Sue.Goddard@forces.gc.ca
or our AC Chair, Sue Rushton at
mfse.ac.chair@gmail.com
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Are you a family living where there is no MFS center?
Do you have an idea for a CAF family activity in your community.
Contact your Community Service Provider
to find out how MFS can support you with funding.
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We are your voice to the Military Family Services (Europe)
By Chantal Hatton, Advisory Committee representative for Riga, Latvia
The MFS(E) Advisory Committee is a group of volunteers representing Canadian Armed Forces families and communities across Europe. Their primary role is to provide advice to the MFS(E) Senior Manager about the needs of the community and to evaluate the effectiveness of the MFS program.
It’s the time of year that Canadian military families get ready to move to Europe or return to Canada. Here are just some of the resources that MFS can offer you to help you during upcoming move:
-
Information sessions, such as “Preparing for an OUTCAN Europe posting or “Transitioning Back to Canada 2018”,.
- Moving can be stressful. If you are in need of mental health support, there are
programs and services that are available.
Before life becomes all about the upcoming move, take advantage of where you currently are. Enjoy each day because as you move, there may be exhaustion from the move, administration overload and (reverse) culture shock to make things a bit more challenging. You may not notice the lack of clarity until you settle into your new home.
As for the community forums, the results will be shared with your community and also be used in the MFS(E) work plan to provide relevant and meaningful services for families. Thank you to all who participated.
If you want to get more involved with the MFS(E) Advisory Committee, contact
Sue Goddard, MFS(E) Senior Manager, or a
current Advisory Committee member
. There are and will be additional vacancies, due to departures this posting season.
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Get Involved! MFS(E) Advisory Committee Membership!
By Sue Rushton, Izmir Turkey, AC Chair
Are you in Europe and trying to find a way to be involved? Do you have ideas for how MFS(E) services and programs might better serve your community and the European CAF community at large? Do you want to add your voice to the conversation in a meaningful way?
Join the MFS(E) Advisory Committee!
I have been fortunate to be a member of the MFS(E) AC since January 2016 and it has been a wonderful and enriching experience. I have participated in discussions ranging from improvements to the Outcan Screening Process, security and safety concerns of Outcan CAF families, Remote Family support programs, as well as hosted Community Forums where I was able to connect families and make their voices heard. The biggest bonus is I have made friends from all over Europe that I look forward to maintaining throughout our CAF journeys and beyond.
Sometimes the concern for people Outcan is that there are limited employment opportunities to fill the void on their resume. Well being a member of the AC can be added to your resume as not just volunteer experience, but as a way to add new career related skills. Your time commitment would be approximately 20-24 hrs per year for preparation/attending meetings via Webex as well as an opportunity to travel to Germany once per year for the annual face-to-face to connect with other members and spend a whole day tackling various topics and training.
This summer there is a large turnover of MFS(E) AC members and we would love for passionate individuals to step up and be the next group of voices to help MFS(E) with recommendations and input to provide the best possible service for all CAF Outcan families regardless of location and family demographic. Members of the AC can be CAF members, spouses and dependents (18+) living in one of the communities which they will represent. If you are interested, but have questions, please contact myself at
mfse.ac.chair@gmail.com
or the MFS(E) Senior Manager Sue Goddard at (
sue.goddard@forces.gc.ca
).
Vacancies will be advertised soon so keep an eye on your inbox, Facebook and anywhere else you get MFS(E) news!
Click on the poster to know about all current and upcoming vacancies.
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New Chaplain Benevolent Fund
CFSU(E) now has a Chaplain Benevolent Fund for the use of CFSU(E) members and their dependents in the event of a crisis/emergency where a small donation may be granted, and when all other avenues of financial support have been exhausted. As your Padres in Europe, we seek to care for you in a sundry of different ways: spiritually and emotionally. Please do not hesitate to contact your area Padre if in crisis.
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Ongoing Emotional Support with the Family Information Line
Are you having issues accessing mental health support services due to geographic location or language barriers i
n your communities? The Family Information Line (FIL) team is happy to share an important initiative: ongoing emotional support.
Families of military members and veterans are able to seek emotional support with the same FIL team member at a predetermined time using the point of access of their choice: phone or via Webex.
Stephanie and Lisa are experienced team members at the FIL who are currently providing this extended service. If you require emotional support, please do not hesitate to reach them by email at
FIL@CAFConnection.ca
or at
00-800-771-17722
. They are looking forward to serving the families together.
If you would like more information on the ongoing emotional support service,
click here
.
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Are you returning to Canada?
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There is a new employment initiative launched by the Department of National Defence, exclusive for military spouses!
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The RCPO, CFSU(E) has launched an inventory of work vacancies, posted on the
CAF Connection website
. Dependents and spouses may browse this website if they are interested in working and submit their applications. As the inventory remains open, applications can be updated as dependents gain new qualifications or find new interests.
This inventory is open to dependents of Canadian civilian component and CAF members stationed in Europe. It will be used to staff positions within CFSU(E) locations in Europe and Turkey (Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and UK).
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For Global Affairs Canada local employment opportunities in Europe
click here
.
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Getting ready to move
By Véronique Turcotte, Community Services Provider
Posting season has started and in the next few weeks, some of you will commence your House Hunting Trip (HHT). Looking for a new home in a new country may be very exciting, but oh, so stressful. How do I do it? Where do I search? Who can help me? What do I need to do to prepare? ... So many questions cross your mind. Then, suddenly the move is there and you are leaving for the big adventure. This article is to share with you all, what most helped my family and I, when we moved OUTCAN to Brussels last summer.
First of all, I remember how the MFS team was there for us throughout the whole process, and how fast they answered our e-mails whenever we had a question. As soon as we received our posting message, MFS sent us their “Welcome to Brussels” booklet. This guide was a great source of information as it offers all you need to know about children’s day camps, schools, neighborhoods, grocery stores, public transportation, bank accounts … and so on. This booklet has answered many of our questions. So, do not hesitate to contact MFS(E).
Second, with the support of our friends who had already been in Brussels for almost a year, we chose the school that our children would attend. This helped us to determine potential neighborhoods. It was a great advantage to have a sponsor who has the same family situation as us. Their assistance was invaluable during our HHT and upon our arrival in Belgium.
Third, it is important to have your official documents well organized. Make sure your documents remain valid throughout your posting period and that you bring all original documents (e.g. birth certificate) as this will save you a lot of time and energy.
Fourth, set your priorities with reference to where you will be staying upon your arrival and before you can move into your new home. There are several hotels or apartments available. However, these temporary accommodations should meet your needs considering your family composition in the best possible way. If, for example, you have young children, consider being located close to a green area, park, or attraction so that they can be entertained if they do not attend a day camp.
Fifth, should you plan to drive, please note that roads, driving habits as well as road signs are different. Make sure to be well informed prior to your arrival.
Sixth, an international move is quite expensive. BGRS advances, the OUTCAN loan and a credit card with enough cash are all important factors to consider.
Finally, a small anecdote: it took me approximately 3 weeks to figure out how the garbage and recycling system in my neighborhood worked. Reading, informing yourself and asking questions will be helpful, but making mistakes is also part of the process. Have a good move and good luck!
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Living OUTCAN from a 6 year old's point of view
By Jennifer Delahunt, Community Services Provider
I like to think that we made the right decision moving to Belgium! We have traveled to places we had never dreamed of. The culture experience our children have had is beyond something we could ever teach them through books and movies. My first thought writing this article was to write about how much our family has enjoyed this posting. From my point of view everything has been amazing, but do my children share the same feelings? I just assume they do because they’re only 6 and 3 so they must feel the same as I do, right? I have decided to do a mini interview with my 6 year old son to find out.
Interview between Alexander & Mommy
Mommy
: Good Morning are you already for your interview? Can you tell me your name?
Alexander
: Good Morning Mommy, my name is Alexander and yes I am already!
Mommy
: Great, let’s get started! How old are you and what grade are you in?
Alexander
: I am 6 and in grade one.
Mommy
: Let’s talk about our move from Canada to Belgium. Where did we come from in Canada?
Alexander:
We came from New Brunswick (That’s interesting, I am pretty sure we came from Quebec). We came by plane and it took us 20 hours (it really did feel like 20 hours, but it was only 8).
Mommy
: Do you remember how many suitcases we had?
Alexander
: We had 17 suitcases (Yes, it did feel like that many! We actually had 3 suitcases, 4 carry-ons, two barrack boxes, stroller, car seat and a baby seat)
Mommy
: How long did we stay in our hotel?
Alexander: We stayed 9 days (Wow, it felt like 9 months to me but we actually stayed for 5 weeks)
Mommy: Before we moved here, do you remember what you thought Belgium would be like?
Alexander
: Like Canada (Good point, considering that was where you spent the entire 3-4 years of your life).
Mommy
: What are some things you have enjoy here in Belgium?
Alexander
: Fries with Ketchup, waffles and those chocolate things that look like little hamburgers (chocolate macrons). I like going on adventures!
Mommy
: Me too!! (I’m sure I have set him up to become a world explorer). What are your favorite places we have visited?
Alexander
: I liked going to the big tower in Paris and the place that had a lot of green stuff (after a bit more investigating I realized he was talking about Ireland). Oh and I liked Budapest!!
Mommy
: Wow that sounds like you have had some great adventures. Do you have any upcoming trips you are excited about?
Alexander
: Yes, Lego house. I don’t know where it is but I get to take a plane to go!!
Mommy
: Have you enjoyed any new traditions since we arrived?
Alexander
: Mommy, I like Saint-Nicolas but he doesn’t visit Canada.
Mommy
: Do you mean Santa?
Alexander
: No, I mean Saint-Nicolas. You know the man that comes on a boat with his Donkey and friend and they leave candy in our shoes.
Mommy
: Oh right! Saint-Nicolas! I remember now. Do you have any advice or tips for children who will be moving to Belgium?
Alexander
: Yes Mommy I am very happy we moved here, I like my new school and going exploring. For the advice can we tell them that the letters and numbers are written differently here than in Canada. We can also tell them that Belgium doesn’t have a lot of snow! Oh and there are a lot of places to visit from the war.
Mommy
: Very true! I forget when was that war?
Alexander
: It was in 1059 (okay so maybe he is off by a few years)
Mommy
: Thank you for the interview Alexander!! You did a wonderful job!
Alexander:
You’re welcome Mommy!
Although he may not see it at this moment, I think this Belgium experience has shaped him into the little person he is becoming. The places we have visited and the culture differences are something he picks up on and has become a part of him.
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Dear Posting Message
A Poem by Elizabeth Gobeil Tremblay Translated in English by Brigitte Barrette
You represent all a soldier leaves behind
To ensure he holds his career in line
Moving across the country
Shaking up his life bluntly.
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I wait for you wholehearted and ardent
How could I think you’d be so important
You are all but only a document
Stating where my life goes for the moment.
Will you show me new horizons?
Take me back to familiar seasons?
Truth be told, you have no use at all
You’re a barrier on my path is all.
I cannot wait to finally hold you
So to prepare and forget about you.
Because you could well be surprising
And send my plans to hell by morning.
You are the one who will shed light
On what my new path shall be like
As long as I don’t hold you in my hand
My destiny could sway far from the plan.
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Sometimes even in the same household
Some fear you and others for you hope.
Our loved ones endure you with sadness
Neighbors hate you in all mightiness.
You bring on compulsory goodbyes
In a fool’s ‘‘see you later’’ disguise
Hiding that joy in my mind
From the ones I’ll leave behind.
For my feet are still here
But my spirit is gone
All winter I dreamed of
New adventures to come.
If the swallow announces spring
For military families, it’s this message of posting
That will bring change, feared or hoped for
A source of angst, even when longed for.
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Moving to Europe with my dog
By WO Shriner
Hello everyone! My Name is WO Schriner and I was posted to CFSU(E) Europe last APS. I would like to share my experience with my move over as a single member and my dog Homer. The process started when I received confirmation I was posted to the medical clinic, and the questions started, HHT, travel over, and how to get Homer over there as he has never flown before.
As the date got closer for the HHT approached I received notice that I would be sponsored by a member who experienced the same situations. That was a relief. Upon arrival in Germany for the HHT, my sponsor showed me around and acquired the addresses for the vet, kennels, and pet food places he used, which helped answer some questions. As well talking with others the options to either fly or take the Queen Mary 2 over, I investigated both options
1. Flying was the hard part as not all airlines would accommodate pets during certain times of the year due to heat (which was completely understandable) and Homer was too big to go into the cabin with me.
2. The Queen Mary 2. Upon looking into this, I found that the kennels on board are booked up to 2 years in advance so that left me with a decision to make and after some research on line I found a pet transport company who did an amazing job. They provided the guidance and paper work necessary in order for Homer to make the trip. There was a cost to this adventure for Homer but to have him here I chose to make the agreement. It was very comforting to know he was in good hands.
I chose the Queen Mary 2 and in doing so I spent more time in Canada. It was easier for Homer to have me there as he does not do well staying alone in a hotel and could become very loud, I would rather deal with hotels in Canada and any noise than to get stressed in Europe with language barriers. After I arrived here there would be no issues as there are so many people who would have opened their homes to Homer and I while we waited for our furniture to arrive 6 week after they packed us in Canada.
My parents picked up Homer the day before I left to fly to NY and board the QM2, and he was spoiled rotten by them. They did not want to let him go. The company kept in contact with them and a few days before he was to depart Comox, they shipped his crate so he could acclimatize and get used to the size for his amazing journey home. On the day he departed my parents got him to the airport and he was met by the team and he flew to Vancouver where he stayed the night and got some water, food and a walk.
On departure day, Homer boarded the Lufthansa air pet transport plane and started his flight over. All this time I received photos of Homer all through his journey until he arrived in Frankfurt airport at the pet lounge. I arrived and was given the process to clear him through customs and the vet to ensure he was in good health. He was very excited to see me. And he has loved the area and his new home to be enjoyed for the next 4 years.
Thank you to all those who helped in the process to get Homer here!
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Posting season – a checklist for your move
By Meghan Marcotte, Community Member
Doesn’t waiting for a Posting Message suck? Seriously, it’s now March 26 as I am writing this, and my hubby has yet to receive a Posting Message. So frustrating. I think I am going nuts with just “tell me where I am going!” as this point. Part of me has my fingers crossed it’s taken so long that the military will just leave us here another year – wishful thinking right?! As I impatiently wait, I’ve put together a checklist to help the move go a little smoother (just remember though, I am in GK so the list may vary depending on the remote-ness of your posting). The list was passed down to me when a colleague left a few years ago, and I’ve tweaked it a little over the years as I have seen more and more members posted back. Hope this helps ease that bit of stress as your years in Europe are coming to an end. See you all back in Canada!!
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Preparing for Reverse Culture Shock
by Mackenzie LeVernois, YEP student
The furniture is packed in your sea container and you’re living out of suitcases (again). Oh, the joys of moving! Heading back to Canada after an OUTCAN is bittersweet; your European adventure has come to an end but the comforts of home are in sight. Some people don’t realise however, that they will probably experience a form of reverse culture shock when they return. When I first moved back to Canada after two years in the Netherlands, I returned to a country that I felt at times I did not belong to, or that I no longer recognized. Some very basic things like the speediness of restaurant service and people speaking English caught me off guard. Not feeling rushed at a restaurant and stopping myself from eavesdropping on conversations just because I could understand what they were saying took some time, but these are the trials and tribulations of moving back home.
One of the most challenging things about moving back to Canada is that you have an idea of what Canada is in your mind, and when you arrive it is not what you had pictured. Amid your posting, you have changed and so has Canada; sometimes in ways you didn’t expect. You may find it difficult to fit in with old friends, and children may have a hard time relating to their classmates. This is all normal! It will be a transition period, just like when you moved to Europe. The only difference is, it may be more frustrating because you have expectations of Canada, and not all of them will be met when you return.
To deal with reverse culture shock, it is important not to isolate yourself and to try and keep some familiar activities in your routine, like family movie-night or evening walks. For children and youth, it is a good idea to join an extracurricular activity that is familiar to them so they can meet new people and create routine in their schedule. In addition, it is extremely important to keep a running discussion with your children about what they're experiencing when you move back. A few comments at dinner time or during their drive home from school about what you found challenging that day helps show your children that you understand what they are going through and that they are not alone. Keeping in contact with old friends or people back in Europe can also help. When you return to Canada, some people will not be able to understand or appreciate the experiences you had during your time in Europe like you do and may struggle to relate to your interests and stories. Connecting with people who are familiar with your story or people who have experienced similar things will help you as you transition back to a "Canadian mentality".
Amid the struggles, reverse culture shock also helps us underline some of the best things about being Canadian that we may have taken for granted before. My most memorable experience with reverse culture shock that always makes me laugh, is being bombarded with friendliness. Especially for those with experiences in Northern/Eastern Europe, the friendly Canadian smile or “hello” on the sidewalk may be hard to get used to. After spending a year in Estonia and then visiting family in Canada, I was a bit flustered when someone started up a friendly conversation with me in a gas station. I felt exhausted having to smile, make eye contact, and keep up with the small talk; something I hadn’t done in public in over a year. It gave my family a good laugh, but it just goes to show that it takes time to get used to being in Canada again.
Nevertheless, moving back to Canada will be full of new opportunities and experiences for the entire family. I wish everyone moving back a safe and smooth journey and hope that your time in Europe was enjoyable! If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, you can contact the Family Information Line (FIL) at any time, via phone or email: 1-800-866-4546 (North America), 00-800-771-17722 (International), or
FIL@CAFConnection.ca.
For some more tips and tricks, please click on the following links:
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Preparing to Move…Again
By Eric MacKenzie – Community Services Manager
Springtime means posting messages, and with posting messages comes preparations to move. Some of you will soon be closing the OUTCAN chapter of your experiences and returning back to Canada, while others begin to prepare for their European adventures.
Military Family Services (MFS) is here to help with either end of your transition. Please take advantage of the resources available to assist you such as our
recorded virtual sessions
. Furthermore, your opinions and feedback of your OUTCAN experience is extremely important to us. Around June, you will be asked for feedback on MFS and the support you received. Your information is valuable for us to ensure we are meeting the needs of our CAF community in the U.K., and to help identify areas of improvement for members and families who will be posted here.
Some of you are still in the process of settling into your OUTCAN posting. MFS is here to help you transition as well. We recently completed our Community Forums, which capture the important feedback from our families posted in the U.K. We will use this information we collected to better serve you in the future, to ensure you are thriving during your time in the U.K.
OUTCAN postings can be an adventures time, filled with a myriad of experiences from cultural, architectural, religious, and even culinary or a vast difference in climate. We hope that for those of you who are preparing to return to Canada, you are bringing back wonderful memories, including traveling, and your posting to the U.K. has been a positive one.
If there is anything MFS can do to help assist with your upcoming transition, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at
MFSE.UK@cfmws.com
.
Thank you, and happy spring from your MFS team at the London Det in Ruislip.
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Visit our
for recordings of virtual sessions
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News from our CFMWS Partners
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Children's Education Management
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A new poster has also been created to explain what CEM is all about.
Check it below!
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Personnel Support Program (PSP)
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The PSP Chalet Program offers accommodation options in various parts of Europe at a 40% subsidy by the European Fund. All accommodations are fully furnished and well equipped. The PSP Chalet Program also offers Full-Flex vouchers. The Full Flex vouchers can be used to offset the cost associated with accommodations such as hotel rooms, RV rentals, vacation apartments, as well as cruises. Prizes are awarded in a lottery held twice a year.
Visit our
website
for more information about the program and the chalets available. You may also contact the Chalet Coordination for more details at
+PSPEurope@forces.gc.ca
.
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Entering on your first year full-time post-secondary studies this September? You might be eligible for the Academic Scholarship Program for European Fund Members! Successful applicants that are accepted and attending a recognized post-secondary establishment may receive a maximum of € 500.
Click here for all the details.
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Are you a European Fund member? Were you or any of your family member hospitalized for more than 48 hrs? We’re here to help! You might be eligible to claim for hospital comfort.
Click here for all the details
.
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Support to EF Families During Spouse's (CAF or civilians) Deployment and CAF member Temporary Duty or Course
Will your spouse be away for TD, deployment or course for more than 30 consecutive days? You might be eligible for reimbursement of € 100 per month to a max of € 600.
Click here for all the details
.
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