School continuity can determine whether service families stay

Repeated postings can disrupt children's education as severely as poor housing disrupts family life. The proposed remedies include examining school catchment areas around service accommodation and funding spare places so a transferred family is not left gambling on its children's education. State boarding provision can also give children continuity when parents serve abroad, although many schools have removed their boarding facilities because they meet a national need rather than a local one. Specialists can earn more in civilian engineering, airline flying, or security work, so dependable housing and schooling give families reasons to stay that salary alone cannot provide. The value of a service benefit also depends on what families can already obtain outside the armed forces. Retention policy therefore extends beyond pay into schooling and posting support.