UK MERCHANT SEAFARERS VETERAN’S BADGE

Click Here to download an application form

The Merchant Seafarers’ bravery and sacrifice in assisting HM Armed Forces in military operations has been formally commemorated with the launch of the UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge. This is the only variant of the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge and recognises the unique service provided by merchant seafarers in support of military operations.

Eligibility

Criteria
The badge is available to all Merchant Navy Seafarers and fishermen who served in a vessel at a time when it was operated to facilitate military operations by HM Armed Forces at any time.

Posthumous requests
The badge is a survivors badge and therefore is not issued posthumously.
The only exceptions are War Widows and Widowers who are in receipt of a War Widows/Widowers Pension paid by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. This is in recognition of the fact that their death was due to their military service.

The introduction of this dedicated badge for Merchant Navy seafarers and fishermen means that applications by these individuals for the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge are no longer being accepted. If an individual already holds an HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge they may still apply for the Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge.

Members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary should continue to apply for the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge.

Click Here to download an application form

DEFENCE DISCOUNT DIRECTORY
www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk
Introduction
All the offers contained within the Defence Discount Scheme are available to the entire Defence Community, namely: Regular serving personnel; Reserves; Service families; MoD Civil Servants; Cadets; and Veterans. We are conscious, however, that only a fraction of the 10 million-strong Veterans community in this Country are currently registered on-line as members of the Discount Scheme. Not only does this mean that many of you are potentially missing out on great deals, but it also represents an enormous amount of untapped buying power which, if harnessed, could make the Scheme even more successful. If you have not already registered we encourage you to do so now and discover the full range of discounts available. We also urge you to spread the word to others who are eligible, so that they too can enjoy the benefits.
To complement the e-newsletter already sent to members of the on-line Discount Scheme, this year will see the launch of a new monthly Forces Discount Newsletter. This will, amongst other things, include details of the current ‘top 10’ discounts and any offers new to the Scheme.
You may be aware that there are a number of unofficial organizations who also offer discounts to the Defence Community. Whilst you may wish to explore the availability of alternative discounts, please note that all the benefits within the Defence Discount Scheme are free of any subscription or membership fee. This may not be the case on other sites. If, however, you find that you can get a better deal on any of the other sites please take the time to pass this information on to your local admin office or Veterans Association, who will pass it on to the Defence Discount Scheme co-ordinator to investigate.
From the MOD
Please remember that the discounts and other offers in the Directory are concessions provided by commercial organisations, and are not conditions of service or entitlements. Also, please note that inclusion of an advertisement in this Directory does not imply any form of MOD support or endorsement – the MOD does not endorse any particular company or product as a matter of policy.
The MOD accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information provided in advertisements, and personnel should make full enquiries before entering into any arrangement. Any arrangements you make will be a private contract between you and the company concerned and the MOD accepts no liability (whether in negligence or otherwise) in respect of any such contract.

Finally, a word about security. When using the Directory you may be asked for proof of your entitlement. A completed copy of the MOD Certificate of Entitlement, available on the Defence Discounts Directory web site, should always be sufficient. You may be asked to show your ID as proof of entitlement, but this should never be given, sent, faxed or copied to any company or non-Service person.

Vice Admiral Peter WilkinsonDeputy Chief of Defence Staff and Minister(Personnel) Derek Twigg MP Under-Secretary of State for Defencefor Veterans

Notes from the team at Crest Publications
Crest Publications was established 15 years ago and are specialists in military publishing. Now, working in partnership with the MOD, Crest have created this website in order to ensure that you have maximum possible access to discounts as a member of Forces personnel.
This website is the online version of the Defence Discounts Directory and has a few advantages in this respect. The team at Crest are constantly working on your behalf to arrange new deals with more companies who want to reward you for the vitally important work you do. This means that new discount opportunities are being added to the website on a weekly basis and you don’t have to wait for the annual hard copy to come out before you can take advantage of them!
We will always aim to ensure that the service provided to you by this website is as helpful as possible. To this end we have created a mechanism by which you can let us know if you are unhappy with any aspect of the site. You can also let us know if you have had any difficulties in claiming your discount from any of the companies advertising on the site. To get in touch with us send an e-mail to feedback@crestpublications.com. Your feedback will help us to improve the directory and its on-line counterpart in future years.

If you are not already signed up to the newsletter (you will be given this option when you register) you can do this by emailing our feedback email address. The newsletter will keep you up to date with new discounts as well as discounts that are soon to be added to help you plan ahead to save money on your purchases. In addition to this the newsletter features competitions you can enter to win some fabulous prizes – surely something for nothing can’t be a bad thing……
Finally don’t forget that this is the only Forces discount website that is officially recognised by the MOD. Make sure you check the web address when you log on. If it doesn’t say MOD it is not the real thing!

APPLICATIONS BY MERCHANT SEAFARERS

Eligibility

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has advised that Merchant Seafarers and Fishermen who have served in a vessel at a time when it was operated to facilitate military operations by HM Armed Forces, also Widow(er)s in receipt of a War Widow(er)s Pension paid by the Service Personnel and Veterans' Agency, are eligible to take part in the scheme which offers various discounts and special offers.

To join up

1. Go on-line to www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk

2. Click-on "Join Directory" button:

3. Fill in the form.
4. Click on "Access Discounts" to register.
5. You will then be taken to the login screen, where you can enter your e-mail
address and password to gain access.
6. Certificate of Eligibility - print off as follows:
After signing in and obtaining the opening page.
Go half way down that page to the "Certificate of Eligibility" square and
click-on "CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD" to download it.

Certificate of Eligibility
The Ministry of Defence have authorised the Merchant Navy Association and the Federation of Merchant Mariners to act as the authority for assessing and endorsing the eligibility of applicants to use the Defence Discount Directory,
by approving their Certificate of Eligibility.

Completing the Certificate of Eligibility:

CURRENT SERVING PERSONNEL

Fill in their name, Rank/Grade (their position on board ship) and Unit - put
"Merchant Navy".

In the tick boxes, tick "HM Forces" box. Then sign the Certificate.

VETERANS

Fill in their name.

In the tick boxes, tick "HM Forces" box (nothing else required).
Then sign the Certificate.

Applicants must then send their completed Certificate of Eligibility to the Association that supplied their U K Merchant Seafarers Veterans' badge. The completed Certificate of Eligibility must be accompanied by a stamped (UK, not Overseas, Channel Islands or Isle of Man stamps), self-addressed envelope otherwise the Certificate of Eligibility will not be returned.

Applicants applying to the Merchant Navy Association should send their completed Certificate of Eligibility to :

T M Brant
Merchant Navy Association
9 Saxon Way
Caistor
Market Rasen
LN7 6SG

Tel: 01472 851130
E-mail: mna.national@virgin.net