"Dumbing down" RAF Officers?
johnfairr wrote:
Which brings to mind the image of a certain Section Officer who might shortly have found her shirt becoming rather creased....
Oh go on - it's been a while.....
The bonus being that it was taught to me on a one-to-one basis by a member of "G" Flight. Having first creased the shirt . . . . . . . .
Oh go on - it's been a while.....
My IOT at Kirton in Lindsey lasted 13 weeks in 1955, followed by 6 days leave before starting flying training at Ternhill. Service writing, boot polishing, square bashing and block cleaning hardly prepared us for a dazzling career in the RAF. Plenty of flying though
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Allegedly taught to be an officer and gentleman in 1953, expected to wear a hat in civies, and raise your hat when meeting a lady.
Not sure how much of it stuck, do wear a hat now, having run out of hair.
Did get an excellent wife, not sure how much the training worked towards that
Not sure how much of it stuck, do wear a hat now, having run out of hair.
Did get an excellent wife, not sure how much the training worked towards that
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Nomad, remember the calling cards, station parades etc.
Last parade I recall was at Kinloss in 78 after that there seemed a dose of common sense.
Last parade I recall was at Kinloss in 78 after that there seemed a dose of common sense.
33 weeks? How the heck do they fill the time in? I enlisted at OCTU, RAF Feltwell on 23nd September 1964, and was commissioned on 16th December. That works out as 12 weeks. The aircrew equivalent (at South Cerney, IIRC) was 16 weeks, but they had to be taught how to do sums. I could already do them, so I didn't miss the extra four weeks 
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I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Can I plead predictive text?
Or guilty to lack of proof reading?
The job did have its lighter moments. Secret files 'secured' in wooden filing cabinets, Top Secret signals hidden in Secret folders for security. A gp capt ringing up asking if I had got THE LIST. Eventually, without disclosing its name, I discovered that it was the Bomber Command List of Soviet Air Defences. The boss kept it in a holdall in his room because it was so sensitive. Of course none of these breaches worried me in my ignorance.
Or guilty to lack of proof reading?
The job did have its lighter moments. Secret files 'secured' in wooden filing cabinets, Top Secret signals hidden in Secret folders for security. A gp capt ringing up asking if I had got THE LIST. Eventually, without disclosing its name, I discovered that it was the Bomber Command List of Soviet Air Defences. The boss kept it in a holdall in his room because it was so sensitive. Of course none of these breaches worried me in my ignorance.
Which brings to mind the image of a certain Section Officer who might shortly have found her shirt becoming rather creased....
18 weeks for me. Ironically, the only part that was useful was the Office Simulator: I was in charge of organising the air display and spent most of it drinking coffee, eating choccy digestives and having a few ciggies here and there; by the time I left the RAF I had been involved in organising three displays - the drills stood me in good stead!
Whatever is/was an 'Office Simulator'?
I think it did have a serious purpose though, it allowed you to perfect the art of getting the brews in in a safe environment before being let loose on a merciless crew room!
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I remember a task that resulted in me having to telephone someone sat <6' away from me. A poor connection resulted in me standing and walking over to chat face to face with the person I needed to speak to.
Think I was told I had a poor attitude in the debrief.
The technique of chatting face-to-face served me well over the next 20-odd years. It also served to reinforce my distain for emailed (or otherwise) edicts from 'senior' officers - esspecially those from chisellers who forwarded those from above which I'd already received, read, and given a damn good ignoring.
Think I was told I had a poor attitude in the debrief.
The technique of chatting face-to-face served me well over the next 20-odd years. It also served to reinforce my distain for emailed (or otherwise) edicts from 'senior' officers - esspecially those from chisellers who forwarded those from above which I'd already received, read, and given a damn good ignoring.
A US Army view of a similar situation.
