Military AircrewA forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
According to the MoD the fact that forces morale is at its lowest ebb is ok because at least the books now balance!! So no additional cuts for ABC13 and a pay rise next year then.
An MOD spokesman said: “We have made tough decisions to get the defence budget back into balance.”
Aah. Poor them having to make the tough decisions. But it was the serving personnel that had to live with your tough decision.
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In my opinion, those attitude serveys always, somehow, managed to paint a much rosier picture of the way people felt than was evident at the front line. Always looked bit like the outcome of a BoI; "Don't bore me with the facts and evidence gathered by the Board, I've decided to reach my own conclusions that suit my own adgenda."
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Last edited by Courtney Mil; 16th Aug 2012 at 20:31.
"Aah. Poor them having to make the tough decisions. But it was the serving personnel that had to live with your tough decision."
Another classic example of the military mindset that somehow boxes up 'the MOD' and decides that it is a separate organisation to the armed forces and therefore can be blamed ad naueseum.
In reality those decision were taken by serving personnel, who will be living with them. The MOD is the military - whether the military like it or not!
Sadly after 32 years I am seeing the Service that I joined as a personal commitment change to something I am not familiar. I, as a young recruit, was told that integrity, moral courage and selfless Service was paramount. Being responsible for my decisions would decide my own future. It seems that the RAF is now a ‘job’ and is treated as such. This has turned some elements into a social experiment. I was under the impression that you joined up knowing that you would abide by laws and regulations. Not enlist then want to change them to suit your own personal circumstances.
It would be unfair to blame the RAF alone. Our own politicians don’t seem to be responsible for the decisions they make. It seems personal gain is more important than ‘Serving your country’.
Are things worse? No, just different for a different generation.
I think every profession or Service is now a 'job'. Teaching has gone this way too. I treat colleagues with the same qualities of tolerance, loyalty etc that I always did in the RAF, but HR and senior management I treat with the contempt they deserve. They started it, and I believe the only route to change is to hit them where it hurts - in the pocket and hassle-factor.
Question: Who would now recommend to teenagers a career in the Services?
(Job, maybe, for what you can get out of it, but not a career)
Foxy, I have to challenge you on the teaching bit- something we both clearly have strong views about. In my school, the staff really walk in ignorance of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions 'blue book'. Why, because I ensure they get their due and more. They in turn, don't play the 'not my job' card, and go the extra mile. Eg, funerals of non close family (not entitled to go)- I never refuse because it's important to them. Dentals and doctors the same. In return, I expect deadlines to be met, planning to be done and all the rest. Within my oft stated assertion that, "This is not a democracy", morale is high, as are standards.
Regards
CG
Sorry for drift, everyone.
Last edited by charliegolf; 17th Aug 2012 at 11:24.
CG, My wife and many of our friends are teachers. Anecdotal evidence is that you are defiantly in the minority, and if there is ignorance of pay and conditions it is out of loyalty and obligation to the children, not to the management or local government.
Back on thread, I will only support (not encourage) my kids to join up if they do so with a short term aim to gain experience and training, not as a career. Since leaving I've discovered there are many opportunities that reward your effort and endeavours, not rely on them to keep a broken system working for the benefit of others.
Last edited by Mike Rosewhich; 17th Aug 2012 at 12:24.
The MOD is the military - whether the military like it or not!
The MOD is not the military, the military is in places like Afghanistan suffering from the incompetence and self serving policies of the MOD. There may be members of the military in the MOD, some of whom have been promoted to the level of their own incompetence, some of whom additionally may be following their own self serving policies. That does not mean that the MOD is the military. It is not. On the contrary the MOD as a whole constitutes are far more deadly adversary than the military is ever likely to be called upon to confront in the field. Another of Mountbatten's "good ideas" that has cost far too much life and treasure.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 70
Posts: 9,417
A few years ago, at a PR/media seminar, the point was made from the top that MOD = Bad, RAF = Good. Now would I be a cynic to suspect that there is actually a plan for the bad news to remain at the centre and the good news to go to the Service?
Morale among our Armed Forces heroes has slumped under the Coalition.
Job cuts, botched defence reviews and pay caps last year put the military at its lowest ebb since 2008.
So, in other words if it is at its lowest SINCE 2008 surely in 2008, under the previous New Liarbour Government, morale must have been lower than it is now? Therefore morale must have picked up (not sure I remember when that was!) before falling again, but is still not as low as it was under the previous bunch of political idiots
I reckon if the survey was done now, morale would be even lower. The Olympics security debacle has driven most people to the depths of despair.
My unit is broken. 20% downgraded or sick, largely due to the 3 times a week beastings from the PTIs, and of the rest, 15% are OOA, 15% are on reserve for OOA, 30% are on Olympic Duties. It leaves 20% remaining, many of whom are either posted shortly with no replacement, discharged with no replacement, on guard (still have to do that!), or untrained and therefore not able to be utilised.
My management have tried to refuse taskings that come in, but the upper echalons only hear white noise. The end result being that people cannot get their OOA prep done because they are constantly doing another task, meaning those OOA are having to stag on for longer.....
When somone mentioned to a 2* the other day that fulfilling his requests might take a little time due to lack of people and too short a deadline, he apparently pointed out that there were "24 hours in a day" and people should "dry their eyes." Well done Sir, inspiring!
