Hi Everyone,
Sorry that I have been off line for a while. A superb piece of writing by Strims, and I know that it is through despair that it is written and pure professionalism that it has not ended up as a letter in the Times or Telegraph.
Howver, a word of warning. The Feds / Rozzers / Monkeys / Snow Drops etc, MOD computer geeks,and a number of the hierarchy are on to PPRUNE. It has definetly been fired down to our frontline to be careful what we say. Infact, to be honest, the exact words were..'use the chain of command to air grievances'!?!
Lets hang in there lads and lasses. The next Op is only just around the corner. Believe it or not, I do believe in Queen and country. What has made my Service career so much fun ( apart from some outrageous flying ) is the characters and personalities that have similiar hopes, fears and aspirations. Ignoring all the rest of the bollocks, if we lose sight of this ethos, friendship, cohesive bond, then those of us that are left behind are well and truly buggered. I have no hesitation with Op Certain Death 37 or in being one of the 20 minuters ( I am not to question why, I am here but to do and die ) and I knew that when I signed the dotted line. We need to be in it together though, with all the enthusiasm and committment that has been witnessed with the Falklands, Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and all the other low intensity Ops around the world. If we fly forward with doubt in our colleagues in the aircraft checking our six, we are already onto a hiding, forget any equipment shortages, crap pay, overstretch etc.
But I had hairs rising on the back of my neck whilst reading, and realising, the depth of feeling in these posts. It was obvious that this was not whinging or whining that has been the epitomy of so many PPRUNE threads.
I love my flying, hate ground tours, but we are going to have to do something about it. Once ISCS, JCSC, ISC, ASCS, HCSC all get completed, those destined for the top have to have the morale fibre, experience and honesty to know the difference between what is good for their career and what is good for the Service and ultimately their country.
How come all us minions at the bottom of the pile, from all walks of life, academic backgrounds, numerous aircraft types, have the same consistent line of reasoning to the posts?
I will stop now. It is Saturday, thoroughly depressed and genuinely worried ( I want to stay in, the thought of 33,000 feet for 7 hours at a time gives me a nose bleed!) I am off to the local to purchase a hangover.
Cheer up, but remember, be careful and as predicted Big Brother is watching us. Good post Strims. Well written and an ideal submission for your Service paper at Staff College!
[This message has been edited by JHC (edited 10 June 2000).]
[This message has been edited by JHC (edited 10 June 2000).]