Woman RAF officer joins top military brass
New ACOS Trg is a cracking officer whom I know.
However, also subject to the same gripe of no campaign medals as Air Traffickers rarely deploy (although one did work for me in the sandpit a couple of years ago).
Should a small level of front line operational experience exclude you from the starred ranks by not being able to discuss/think at the strategic level about ops from a position of experience?
LJ
However, also subject to the same gripe of no campaign medals as Air Traffickers rarely deploy (although one did work for me in the sandpit a couple of years ago).
Should a small level of front line operational experience exclude you from the starred ranks by not being able to discuss/think at the strategic level about ops from a position of experience?
LJ
Last edited by Lima Juliet; 1st Sep 2013 at 08:54.
PS. Just had a PM from someone, so I thought I would clarify. I'm not digging at individuals regarding their op experience. However, I am asking the questionof whether we should ask our strategic leaders to have significant hands-on op experience? The fact that a large proportion of air traffickers have not deployed very much is not a dig at them - they have had a very important ops support task to do here in the UK.
I've served around Air Traffickers in the Falklands, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans. Often it is their specialisation that lets them down as it is normally not easily transferrable to control in other country's airspace.
I've often thought we send too many non-op types to staff college who end up being starred ranks and their knowledge of our core business (airpower projection) is woefully thin - again, this is not a dig at any particular individual on this thread!
LJ
I've served around Air Traffickers in the Falklands, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans. Often it is their specialisation that lets them down as it is normally not easily transferrable to control in other country's airspace.
I've often thought we send too many non-op types to staff college who end up being starred ranks and their knowledge of our core business (airpower projection) is woefully thin - again, this is not a dig at any particular individual on this thread!
LJ
we send too many non-op types to staff college who end up being starred ranks and their knowledge of our core business (airpower projection) is woefully thin
iRaven
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ACSC attendance is for reserved for those demonstrating the potential for promotion to Gp Capt, the number of Air Rank appointments per Branch is therefore irrelevant.
Service on ops can only be of benefit to the professional development of any serviceperson but it doesn't necessarily follow that lack of op experience is detrimental.
Service on ops can only be of benefit to the professional development of any serviceperson but it doesn't necessarily follow that lack of op experience is detrimental.
Mahogany
You are of course technically correct, but a lot of good operators don't get ACSC as they don't have the "reach" to 1-2 star (I know as I used to work in Manning). Which is a bit pants as a lot of branches that attend don't have this "reach" to start with!!
iRaven
Course Aim
To prepare selected officers for high-grade appointments at OF4/OF5 level and potentially above, by developing their command, analytical and communication skills, and by providing a broad understanding and knowledge of joint military operations in the context of an integrated approach, and of defence and security as a whole.
To prepare selected officers for high-grade appointments at OF4/OF5 level and potentially above, by developing their command, analytical and communication skills, and by providing a broad understanding and knowledge of joint military operations in the context of an integrated approach, and of defence and security as a whole.
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We could start by identifying what competencies we require for each rank/role. Then we could select, train and post individuals in order enable them to obtain the correct mix of skills, knowledge and experience to best prepare them for every stage of the career. Or we could just continue to stovepipe people by branch and job title and ignore the idea of best person for the job.
Last edited by Mahogany_Bomber; 2nd Sep 2013 at 12:19.
As the RAF downsizes....are there being made reductions in the numbers of Star Ranks commensurate to the reduction in over all manning? Or....would such reductions stymie promoting the necessary qualified people to those Ranks in order to have them available for some large War mobilization need?
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I thought this was a good piece from Sky News, with AVM Elaine West, that's just been released ...
Sky News AVM E. West
Well played Ma'am 
Sky News AVM E. West
Originally Posted by Sky News By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent
In her first interview since being promoted, Air Vice-Marshal Elaine West told Sky News the military is modernising to mirror society and insisted the UK is not out of date by preventing women from fighting on the frontline.
In her first interview since being promoted, Air Vice-Marshal Elaine West told Sky News the military is modernising to mirror society and insisted the UK is not out of date by preventing women from fighting on the frontline
If we are going to mirror society, how long until we can expect the disabled and ex-offenders with 'unspent' convictions to start applying to join?
Newsflash for MOD Main Office, there is no such thing as equality. It is a manufactured concept in vogue since the 18th century revolutions.
If it made economic sense to a company to have 50% of its board composed of women, don't you think the profit-hungry venture capitalists from NY to London would have done it as a matter of course already??!!
Similarly, if all women were capable of achieving Air Rank after 30+ years of hard work, and wanted to make the sacrifices necessary, then 50% of Air Ranks..........would be women??
The fact is, that most women drop out of the mil to have the children they so obviously want (my wife and 3 kids at home being a case in point). If she wanted to be a career animal - she would have been one.
So lets cut the social engineering newspeak and concentrate on what's important: Another senior officer, in an RAF with about 7 front line sqns (hyperbole, I know), has been promoted by fair means or foul, who knows. It matters not what gender they are.
If we are going to mirror society, how long until we can expect the disabled and ex-offenders with 'unspent' convictions to start applying to join?
Training Risky,
"It matters not what gender they are."
Well, judging from your hysterical rant, it appears to matter to you!
You are aware that it is possible to be a success in business or whatever chosen career path, AND a mother?
"It matters not what gender they are."
Well, judging from your hysterical rant, it appears to matter to you!
You are aware that it is possible to be a success in business or whatever chosen career path, AND a mother?
What matters is selection based on merit, not quota filling. All the PR-spin 'first at whatever' stories are meaningless drivel in a world where sexism/racism is illegal and young girls can become Queen and PM.
And yes it is possible to be a success in business or whatever chosen career path, AND a mother, but the few examples you can hold up as role models are notable as exceptions (Horlick/Roddick/Thatcher).
To clarify, if the business/political/military worlds were meant to be statistically representative of society - then all the naturally talented and able women (who want to sacrifice their family time) would be in 50% of top positions by now. Human nature and biology say that is not meant to be so - so they are not.
And yes it is possible to be a success in business or whatever chosen career path, AND a mother, but the few examples you can hold up as role models are notable as exceptions (Horlick/Roddick/Thatcher).
To clarify, if the business/political/military worlds were meant to be statistically representative of society - then all the naturally talented and able women (who want to sacrifice their family time) would be in 50% of top positions by now. Human nature and biology say that is not meant to be so - so they are not.
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You are aware that it is possible to be a success in business or whatever chosen career path, AND a mother?
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With apologies to Harry Callahan...
MRS. GREY: His Honor intends to broaden the areas of participation for women in the police force.
CALLAHAN: Well that sounds very stylish.
CALLAHAN: Well that sounds very stylish.
During her career she has deployed to Iraq on both the First Gulf War in 1991, and again on Operation Telic in 2003 when she was Chief Engineer for the Joint Helicopter Force.
Just dragged out the photo of my graduation parade at Feltwell in 1964. The portly old AVM who took our parade looks old enough in the pic to be this lady's father.
At least some things are looking up in the RAF
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