Where do FS and WO SE Fitts deploy?

[Could be the last?]

In 16 years, a mere blink of an eye I know, I have never seen a FS or WO Squipper deployed. Do they have some form of dispensation?:hmm: :hmm:

[Blakey875]

No joking - Is there such a thing as WO Squipper and if so where id he based?

[johnny99]

No joking - Is there such a thing as WO Squipper and if so where id he based?

DGLogs(Strike) and DPA Abbey Wood to name but two posting opportunities. I'm sure there are others but remember for a small trade the number of posts available at FS and WO rank is also going to be relatively small. If you want to know the exact number, location and appointment roles then take a look at the PMA appointment register.

[globetrotter101]

On my last visit to CAM at Henlow there were a FS and WO SE Fitt posted there. I believe there is also a WO SE Fitt at Middle Wallop.

[globetrotter101]

Come to think of it the SWO at Kinloss is also a WO SE Fitt!

[Could be the last?]

What about the sandpit?? Not seen many out there.......

[globetrotter101]

Im sure FS and WO SE Fitt's are not the only trade who have little or no visits to the sandpits, what about WO Pers Admins? Where do Cartographers get detached to or even posted (do they ever leave Northolt?). Im sure this list will grow with other non deployed ranks and trades.

[soddim]

Surely by the time a chap or chapess gets to be a WO or FS SE Fitt he/she has deployed often enough to be able to say 'Get some time in Son.'

[Kev Nurse]

I think some of you miss the point. A FS/WO in the ground trades will normally be assigned to a managerial role supervising many trades within a sqn or wing of the unit. Eg a squipper FS WO is employable anywhere within the ground engineering set up on any unit. Sure, there will the occasional staff job closely associated with the trade (say maintenance policy for a new helmet) that would be best done by a very senior NCO squipper, but the majority will move away from fly clothing and liferaft bays. I'm sure they have been out on deployment as WO IC GEF, or SWO, etc.

[Could be the last?]

Interesting points.

KN/Sod - Worked along side a FS SE Fitt who had never deployed operationally in 24 years! and there are a lot more where he came from. You will also find that WO SE Fitts generally don't get the management opportunities and are edged out by WO Arm. It is all very political in the Eng world.

101 - This is kind of what I'm getting at. How many other trades have a tendency not to deploy above a certain rank? Surely with policy shifts such as empowerment, WOs could be filling SO3 slots and have their vast experience tapped......

My main point is, in this day an age can we really have any trades/ranks not joining in with the big sandpit rotation? And this is NOT a dig at Squippers!

[SaddamsLoveChild]

CBTL - I took one away once on a det to a sandy place and he had not been anywhere other than on longterm postings to cyprus and sports tours. My 3 weeks with him was purgatory...........hated the food, hated the people, hated the heat, we did have some fun though!!

Your point is well made but it isnt just the SE Quips that dont deploy when they get to a senior rank, look at how many admin officers above Sqn Ldr only have the QJB medal. There is a fundamental problem here in Telic/Herrick with the same faces coming back time and time again and the same dodgers dodging.

Can anyone in PMA shed light on why some trades and branches dont deploy, I notice all the embassy or consular staffs overseas have a FS or WO Admin in them !!

[Could be the last?]

SLC - Spot on.

If PMA could also shed info on why, when a Sqn is supporting a specific Op, the engineers are still pinged for DWR? I am fully conversant with the 90 day caveats etc but because the Op is enduring and personnel are rotating through on a very regular basis of 8-10week stints (Harmony of 1:2.5) they still get pinged for other bol$%ks? Surely as, and supporting, a formed unit they should be left alone?:ugh:

[Climebear]

Can anyone in PMA shed light on why some trades and branches dont deploy, I notice all the embassy or consular staffs overseas have a FS or WO Admin in them !!

Is this a wah? Do you think that it could be because the jobs are admin jobs? This is why they are also filled by AGC(SPS) SNCOs and PO/CPOWTRS! Just like all the loan service aircraft technician jobs have technicians in them!

Oh and technically there are no admin officers above sqn ldr rank. All officers (less specialist branches - Docs, Dentists, Lawyers, Musicians etc) transfer to the GD Branch on promotion to wg cdr.

As for formed units not being pinged for DWR - how else is PMA going to fill posts that have caveats such as 'must be filled with somone who is 1st-line current on xx type of aircraft' demanded by the deployed units. IIRC the vast majority of formed units are granted a sanctuary period so that individuals are not pinged for DWR in the first year (in some cases 2 years) in post. Therefore, if your unit really is that busy you will have gained enough of a credit in that period to drop you down the waiting list for a DWR appointment.

But do not fret over such things as your non-deployable FS and WO SE Fitts. There are some posts that are filled by 'any trade'. Your FS and WO SE Fitts are fair game for these as I am sure they will find out when their names come to the top of the lists (a significant number of Air Cartographers, Musicians, Dental Techs etc found out as well as a not insignificant number of TG1 SNCOs who had never done a qaulifying deployment in their careers).

I am not at PMA. I don't even work in the personnel world (I am at a purple operational HQ and am frequently away on operational deployments) but I am sure that someone there will be able to give you the party line.

[Comp Charlie]

Air Cartographers who work at AIDU at RAF Northolt do have a (very) small number (1?) of slots in Cyprus I believe.

Aside from that I know of one JNCO Air Cart who volunteered for escort duties and was employed for 4 months at SLB working for J9.

He loved it. Top lad who I have known for years - and this was his first detachment to the best of my knowledge!

CC

[Chainkicker]

Im sure FS and WO SE Fitt's are not the only trade who have little or no visits to the sandpits, what about WO Pers Admins? Where do Cartographers get detached to or even posted (do they ever leave Northolt?). Im sure this list will grow with other non deployed ranks and trades.
I know AIDU bods do get sent on the "any" OOA slots driving crash ambulances etc :ok:

[Could be the last?]

What is the definition of "ANY" OOA posts? Do they include FP or Ops tasks?:suspect:

[Climebear]

What is the definition of "ANY" OOA posts? Do they include FP or Ops tasks?:suspect:


They are posts that can be filled by 'Any Trade'. Yes they do include FP and some driving tasks - I'm not sure what you mean by Ops jobs - surely most of the Ops staff would be FOAs/FOMs.