HIVE provides support to deployed personnel and their families through the provision of information about available support, services and communication. Ask your nearest HIVE for the HIVE Operational Deployment leaflets which give full details of all the support it can give you during deployments. There are also deployment guides available for families of deployed personnel and these are available by clicking on the links on the right.
Keeping in Touch during Deployments
What can your HIVE do for you?
- Assist in setting up an ArmyNET or E-bluey account
- Find your nearest fax-bluey machine
- Keep you up to date with local activities and events
Listed below are the various ways of keeping in touch during deployments and your HIVE will provide further information if you need it. The related links on this page take you to the relevant websites giving full details.
BFPO
By Post - The Enduring Free Mail Service can be used by family and friends in the UK and at BFPO addresses worldwide to send packets free to named Service personnel and MOD deployed civilians in authorised operational theatres. Customers who are posting letters, cards and packets up to 2kg in weight using the Enduring Free Mail Service to Op HERRICK and HM Ships in support must ensure that these items are physically handed over to a counter clerk at a UK Crown/Sub Post Office or overseas British Forces Post Office. Certain items are prohibited and these are listed on the BFPO website.
Parcels must be addressed using the following format:
Service No Rank Name
Unit/Regt
Operation Name
BFPO No
The town and country must not be included in the address.
Most operational BFPOs are included in the enduring free parcel scheme. A full list of BFPO numbers and further information on this service is available on the BFPO website in 'related links' or by contacting the BFPO enquiries team on 08457 69 79 78.
Blueys - A hand written letter which can be sent free to deployed personnel. Blueys can be obtained free from your HIVE or Welfare Office and also from your local post office.
E-blueys - A two-way method of communication that can be used by anyone with access to the internet. Deployed personnel, family and friends can compose an e-bluey and once they hit ‘send’, their letter is sent via an automated system to the recipient. The letter is received by the specialist Forces Post Office system, printed, enveloped and sealed before onward transmission. E-blueys are private, and they combine the speed of electronic communication with the personal touch of a letter. Your HIVE can assist you in setting up an e-bluey account.
Fax-Blueys - A free service provided by BFPO available through some HIVEs to send a scanned handwritten letter or picture over the internet. Where a Fax-bluey machine is available, handwritten letters (written on special Fax-bluey paper available from the HIVE or the Unit Welfare Office) can be sent to deployed personnel with the same speed and privacy as an e-Bluey. The Fax-Bluey machine scans and sends the letter via an electronic system that prints, folds and seals it in theatre before delivery to the recipient.
British Forces Broadcasting Service
BFBS Campaign 'Boost for the Boys' - A campaign introduced by BFBS using 'Audioboo' enables forces families to record and upload messages for family and friends wherever they are in the forces world. The service is free and simple to use. All the recorded messages are played on BFBS Radio. The messages are also uploaded onto the 'Boost for the Boys' webpage on Audioboo, meaning they can be heard again if they are missed on BFBS. There is also a facility for iPhone users to leave an audio message using the BFBS app, which can be downloaded from iTunes or the Android Market at no cost. For full details click on 'Boost for the Boys' using the link for BFBS Radio on the right of this page.
Radio Dedications - BFBS airs ‘Access All Areas’ every Sunday on BFBS 1, which consists of dedications made by the family members and friends of deployed service personnel.
Alternatively, requests and dedications can be aired any day on any BFBS show. Messages to be aired can be requested by any of the following means:
Phone: 01494 372 786
Email: bfbsme@bfbs.com
Text: 07740 377 377 starting your message with ME or AAA (for Access All Areas) then a space
Website: www.bfbs.com/messages
Write to: BFBS Radio, BFPO 786
BFBS Message Board - Service personnel, family members and friends can leave a message on the BFBS Message Board on the BFBS website. Messages can be viewed on line and are also read out by radio presenters during broadcasts.
TV Blueys - Service personnel and family or friends can record their own video dedications on a digital DVD camcorder, and send it off to BFBS. The video is then played in between programmes on BFBS TV overseas. See the BFBS TV weblink in 'related links' for contact details.
Film Messages - Units can arrange with BFBS to have a camera crew film messages to families living overseas from serving personnel in theatre. Full details are available on the weblink provided in 'related links'.
Paradigm - WelComE (Welfare Communications Everywhere)
Free Voicemail - (when calling from a UK, German or Cypriot landline)
With a Paradigm account, family and friends based in the UK, Germany and Cyprus can leave voicemail messages for entitled UK military personnel serving on operational duty overseas. Entitled deployed personnel can retrieve the voicemail messages for free in-theatre.
Top-up Service - Friends and family can top-up the Paradigm account card from the comfort of their home. Entitled deployed personnel can top-up the private side of their Paradigm account card whilst serving on opertional duty overseas.
Full details of the Paradigm service can be obtained by clicking on the link on the right side of this page.