Career Intermission

What is this for? 

You can take  unpaid time out of your Service career for any reason, such as personal or professional growth, although a career intermission (CI) will not ordinarily be granted simply to enable you to take up other paid employment.  CI  is granted at the discretion of the Service; it is not a right and will only be permitted where manning margins allow and where it does not compromise operational capability and/or effectiveness.

What do I get? 

Ordinarily, you will only be permitted to undertake one CI during your career. This may be for between:  

• 3 and 6 months 

• 6 and 12 months 

• 1 and 3 years  

Your Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) will change while you are on a CI, which will vary according to the length of the CI. The changes can be found at JSP 760, Chapter 6, Annex A.  On returning to duty, whilst your previous TACOS will resume, this will be subject to any overriding changes that may have occurred during the CI.  

There may also be an impact on the allowances you are currently claiming.  More information can be found in JSP 760, Chapter 6, Annex B.   

CIs do not count for reckonable service and to enable completion of a commission or engagement, or to make up pension qualification you may request an extension of service equal to the duration of the CI. The extension will be subject to Single Service approval.  

To note: There is no guarantee that you will return to the same assignment or geographical location prior to commencement of the CI.  

How do I claim?

Before applying you must read about the changes to your TACOS and consult your Career Manager to ascertain and discuss the effect it might have on your career . 

Applications for a Career Intermission should be submitted on JPA, giving notice equating to the normal assignment notification period applicable to your Service - following the instruction in the Absences (flexible working) user guide (which can be found at JPA User Guides and Forms on defnet).

If you don’t have access to JPA, you should apply to your line manager using the form at Annex C of Chapter 6 in JSP 760 (defnet access only).