Traunche 3 by Stealth?
The last redundancy session, some 10 or so years ago, promised a third traunch of redundancy, but it all stopped after the second. A statement at that time from manning (or whatever they were then) essentially proclaimed that changes to the quality of life of RAF personnel would enhance natural wastage. This clearly meant it would mitigate the cost of a third traunch, which at that time was rather lucrative.
Then, almost immediately, followed the introduction of the immature and inadequate system that was JPA; the biggest changes to allowances (by stealth) ever; and an increase to the Annual Fitness Test pass standard. The commulative result was an exit of people who would have probably preferred to see a career to 22 yrs or 55yr (or whatever).
Now we are discussing the possible career average pension, and the probability that you won't get your pension until age 55 irrespective of when you leave, or even later; do you think that the service is once again changing the environment by stealth to encourage exits from the Service, without a need to pay redundancy?
Will the AFT pass mark increase? Will the period of OOA duties and thier durations increase further? Will what is left of the allowances system be cut further or abolished over time? Will the benifits and rewards of serving in HM Forces be outweighed by the costs of living, ambiguity of life, quality of life, and the deeper self-sacrifices that only those who have served in combat areas can understand?
I open the debate with eagerness.