Working with US Personnel
I have spent most of the last 12 years working for/with US personnel - including a 3* State Department diplomat - as well as officers from all four Services, in different locations around the world
I have found almost all of them to be intelligent, professional, hard working, flexible and a lot of fun to be around. Most - if not all - show a genuine interest about 'England' (luckily, because we've managed to let our holiday cottage to several groups!) and willingly take part in our modest Queen's Birthday and Jubilee Celebrations. They all love london - I cheerfully produce an itinery for those who want to 'do' London in 2-3 days. Clearly my time in MB wasn't wasted. Yes, US personnel - especially Officers - do put in long hours because of the 'face time' requirement for their fitness reports, but overall in the 6 overseas locations (3 operations, 3 HQs) I have served with US personnel, I have found them much more hard working that the average British officer.
I accompanied another senior US Diplomat a while back to treaty talks in London and squirmed uncomfortably witnessing the performance of senior British Civil Servants and Ministers (former and current) trying to tackle some of the treaty issues. That was not a time for the understated 'Heroic Amatuerism' approach that we in the UK seem to be proud of.
I have encountered a few a***ses, most notably the US Army Garrison Cdr at KAF a few years ago who pulled a pistol on a speeding RAF crew bus driver.* I also had a pistol pulled on me by a USA MP who accused me of rolling through a stop sign on a US Garrison in Germany.**
However, I have found their NCO cadre to be a little 'slow', in many cases. In theatre after the 6 month point the NCOs seem to go into an automaton state: they seem to struggle to understand simple instructions (in Engerlish) and have no sense of the 'big picture'. Unless they've worked in Europe, for example, they have not one wit of an idea about NATO - or Europe, for that matter. However, I could temper this - I've encountered similarly dull British Army NCOs in support roles - but this is an exception, rather than the rule in HM Forces.
Perhaps I should qualify my comments. None of these posts have been flying roles although we had two first-class USAF exchange officers in MB during my time. One doesn't survive several operational tours on A-10s, F-15 and F-16s without being rather good, I contend.
* speeding is such a perjorative term. Try 25 mph. The Col was also returned under escort to CONUS for striking one of his officers.
** In his defence, I had rolled through the stop sign and he was on a rest tour from Iraq and clearly suffering from PTSD.
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 1st May 2012 at 10:10.