The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has introduced an internet-based total reward statement (The Armed Forcesí Benefits Calculator) for its 215,000 personnel, making it the UKís largest ever total reward project.
The Armed Forcesí Benefits Calculator was designed in conjunction with employee benefits consultants, Thomsons Online Benefits, and builds on the success of the Pension Calculator which was launched previously in July 2005.
The online Armed Forcesí Benefits Calculator will provide Service personnel with a convenient and quick way of assessing the indicative value of their total remuneration package, incorporating basic pay, specialist pay, individual allowances, pension, and other MoD-provided benefits. It will also enable personnel for the first time to be able to access a range of remuneration-related information from a single dedicated site. 
The interactive tool will make it much easier for Service personnel to make a direct comparison between the total remuneration package offered by the MoD and that offered by civilian employers, and will include important information on a variety of remuneration-related matters, including: Defence discounts ñ principally through the Defence Discount Directory; news/information on pay and allowances matters; financial education information; and the opportunity to take advantage of financial products offered by major financial institutions, some of which will be aimed specifically at Service personnel.
The Calculator will also be made available to potential recruits keen to investigate the type of reward package that might be available should they choose to join the Armed Forces.
Air Cdre Ross Paterson, Director of Service Personnel Policy (Pay and Allowances), whose staff have developed the Calculator in conjunction with Thomsons Online Benefits, said: ìThe Armed Forcesí Benefits Calculator is a significant step forward in giving our people clearer visibility of the overall remuneration package the MoD has to offer. It builds on the Pensions Calculator first introduced in 2005 and we hope that it will be just as successful and popular with Service personnel in helping them understand the value of their remuneration.î
The Calculator has links with the Financial Services Authority as part of the cross-Government initiative to improve financial capability throughout the Services and it also has links to the Defence Discount Directory; information on pay and allowances; financial education information; and the opportunity to take advantage of financial products offered by major financial institutions, some of which are aimed specifically at Service personnel.
Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) said: ìThe Armed Forcesí Benefits Calculator is an exciting and innovative project which I am confident will show all who use it just how competitive the remuneration package our personnel receive is.î
Thomsons Online Benefits were chosen to work on the project following the success of the pension calculator. Thomsons unique combination of communication and technological expertise meant they could provide the MoD with the strategic vision needed to deliver a project of this size on time and to budget.
Chris Bruce, Managing Director of Thomsons Online Benefits comments: îThe success of the Pension Calculator demonstrated how technology can be used within the MoD as a tool to communicate complex remuneration issues to Service personnel. We are particularly proud to have helped the MoD deliver the UKís largest total reward project and believe that it is further testament to the success of our agile development methodology and the professionalism of our team.î
The Armed Forces Benefits Calculator can be viewed at:
MOD launches UK's biggest total reward statement with Thomsons Online Benefits
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has introduced an internet-based total reward statement
