Terms of Reference Armed Services sub-committee
Introduction
The Armed Services Sub-Committee adheres to the Traditions and Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous Great Britain and English-Speaking Continental Europe, to The AA Structure Handbook for Great Britain, and to The AA Service Handbook for Great Britain.
Structure
The Sub-Committee is chaired by the General Service Board Trustee responsible for Armed Services and can contain up to eight members. These members are selected through the General Service Board Nominations Committee process. A Secretary is elected by members of the Armed Services Sub-Committee.
Experience
A minimum of five years’ continuous sobriety at the time of application and experience in Intergroup and/or Regional Armed Services Liaison or other relevant experience. Good organisational and communication skills are desirable. The ability to produce written and verbal reports would be an advantage, as well as relevant IT skills. Service within the Armed Services is desirable but not essential.
Rotation
Armed Services Sub-Committee members normally serve for a period of four years.
Meetings
The Armed Services Sub-Committee meets twice a year in York in person, plus has two online meetings. The first Sub-Committee meeting of the year and the annual Regional Armed Services Liaison Officers meeting will be held on the same day in York. Armed Services Sub-Committee members are expected to attend all the meetings. Non-attendance at two consecutive meetings without apology will be deemed resignation from the Armed Services Sub-Committee. Minutes of the meetings will be forwarded to the Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Board in accordance with procedures for subcommittees.
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
The term unconscious bias encompasses several types of bias such as gender bias, confirmation bias, age bias, and affinity bias, to name a few. It can be both positive and negative, as we may favour or disapprove of someone based on whether we feel they fit into ‘our group’ (namely, whether we feel they share similar characteristics to us). This means a person could make a decision influenced by false beliefs or assumptions or by categorising someone through the practice of ‘stereotyping’.
Everyone can think in a way that involves unconscious bias at some point, but it is important to be aware of it and not let it affect behaviour or decisions.
One of our key expectations that all persons within, or who work with the Armed
Services Sub Committee should be aware of unconscious bias and of the impact this may have on others and the impact this may have on Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole.
Safeguarding
The Armed Services Sub Committee members have responsibility to ensure that all projects and meetings etc. are in accordance with the recommendations set out in The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous Safeguarding Policy
Aims and Objectives
The aims of the Armed Services Sub-Committee are
- to raise awareness of Alcoholics Anonymous within all areas of the Armed
Services community, including serving persons, veterans, and their families - to establish and maintain good relations with professionals and professional
bodies connected with the Tri-Services - to offer support and advice to Regional Armed Services Liaison Officers
- to help promote and encourage the appointment of Armed Services Liaison
Officers - to support the development and sharing of good practice and review and
update literature, media resources, and guidelines as necessary - to organise the annual meeting of Regional Armed Services Liaison Officers meeting held in York (the purpose of this meeting being to inform the Fellowship what the sub-committee is doing, to review progress, and to agree a way ahead)
- to develop, update, and maintain a resource pack for all Armed Services Liaison Officers
- to be responsible for the Armed Services ‘Twelfth Steppers List’ by contacting each member on the list every year and maintaining good communication with the Board Trustee responsible for Telephone Service
- to be responsible for the Armed Services section on the AA GB website by
developing and maintaining all information that is published - cooperate with other GSB subcommittees as appropriate to further our primary purpose.
- to implement Conference recommendations
Updated: January 2025
