A civilian perspective.
As a Met. man I lived in OMQ at
RAF Nicosia
RAF Guetersloh
RAF Rheindahlen 2 tours
for a total of 14 years between 1961 and 1996.
As my EMR or whatever rose, so did the housing size/ style. So it would in Civvy street.
We adopted an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" posture, and I must say we encountered very little of the irritations that the article highlights, possibly because I was seen as non-threatening regarding career paths. As far as maintaining a decent OMQ [including oven] surely that is the civilised norm ........
The lady confesses to being loud: such self-analysis should surely precede remedial action?
Portadown Way at JHQ was superb: BBQs in the middle most Wednesdays in season, Maypoles, Father Christmas on a fire-engine, a mix of civvies, Army and RAF ....... we were sorry to leave. Liver now recovered.
Yes there were absurdities: a 1/4 share of an official lawnmower and 1/8 of a roller and I think 1/10th of a ladder. But where else on earth would a middle-ranking civil-servant make-believe sort of Gp Capt get a life with Summer Balls, Jazz and curry in the mess Sunday lunch, Happy hour in the best company in the world?
I haven't addressed the "wife-of" thing, but my wife would happily socialise with anybody civil, and happily cut anybody dead who was rude. And did.
Hope that was worth saying.