I thought I might add my opinion on the related debate on the usefulness of OpsOs.
It's always amusing when the same tired old "all OpsOs are rubbish" comments are trotted out. Yes I know this is an internet rumour site and therefore uninformed comment and jumping on the bandwagon are are often integral to the discussion but the standard "my mate was once on a sqn which had a first tourist Plt Off OpsO straight out of Shawbury who was sh*t" really isn't much of a story is it?
The Flt Ops specialisation is like every other; some within it are good, some are bad and the remainder sit somewhere in the middle. It has suffered (and continues to do so to a lesser extent) as a consequence of a recruiting policy which on occasion looked like a request to send the RAF's sick, lame and lazy into the specialisation. The posting policy was equally questionable at times, replacing experienced GD personnel in keys posts with shiny first tourist DE OpsOs was always going to lead to failure on occasion - but whence lies the blame?
All the while OpsOs are cheaper to employ than Fg Branch personnel they will remain; equally, as long the specialisation lacks a staff structure, strategic plan and in particular robust post-graduate-training (and STANEVAL procedures) it will suffer from the inability to remove those who are failing to perform.
If your OpsO isn't up to scratch have you helped in their education and training or simply logged onto an internet forum and had a moan? If you see a knowledge or skills gap in an individual (and this doesn't just apply to your OpsOs) that you are able to address then take the time to do so, don't just walk away moaning about it. Yes you're busy and yes it's probably not directly in your TORs but as professionals don't we all have a duty to improve the knowledge and skills of those around us?
Enough of my soapbox, thoughts on the above?
MB
Last edited by Mahogany_Bomber; 21st Dec 2008 at 14:52.