Published by the Government in 2011, the Armed Forces Covenant is a statement of the moral obligation which exists between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces. Community Covenants are intended to complement, at local level, the Armed Forces Covenant, and to illustrate support between a civilian community and its local military community.
Chairman of Buckinghamshire County Council, Marion Clayton, said, "It's important that we seek ways in which we can improve mutual support and work together to the benefit of the whole community. This Community Covenant is a local statement of that mutual support between the civilian community and its local Armed Forces community.
"It's designed to complement the national Armed Forces Covenant, recognising the unique pressures under which forces personnel work, and the particular needs of their families."
Buckinghamshire County Council aims to make a real difference to Service personnel and their families, with initiatives underway including days out for Service families and Service children, play parks, mentors for Service leavers and veterans, and support services for those dealing with long periods of separation.
The scheme also works reciprocally, with servicemen and women pledging to aid the community in a variety of ways, such as the military co-responders scheme run by RAF Halton, in which Armed Forces personnel assist the South Central Ambulance Service in Oxfordshire.
The Station Commander of RAF Halton, Group Captain Chris Elliot, said, "We at RAF Halton hold a unique place within the community of Buckinghamshire, and we work hard to maintain and improve that relationship through all that we do.
"The Armed Forces Community Covenant serves to highlight the moral obligation between the community and the Armed Forces so that we can ensure that we support the communities in which we live and work, but importantly ensure that servicemen, servicewomen, families and veterans receive the support that they need from the county councils where they live and work.
"To be one of the many military units signing the Covenant in Buckinghamshire is an honour, and I hope that we can all continue to work together for the greater good."
Brigadier Neil Baverstock, Officer Commanding 145 (South) Brigade, who spoke on behalf of the Armed Forces in Buckinghamshire, said, "The Armed Forces are as much a part of Buckinghamshire as Buckinghamshire is part of the Armed Forces."
Click here to read the full article on the MoD website.
Click here to read more about the Armed Forces Community Covenant, and click here to read the latest edition of the Community Covenant e-newsletter.