Whilst SIRIUS is a nod towards career management, from the briefings I sat in on, I'm just not sure how well received it will actually be once implemented. We were briefed that individuals would go on to the Exec Stream at some point during their time as senior sqn ldrs. Once on there, subject to periodic review of continued potential, individuals would be bounced around Defence every 2 years to enable them to get the requisite skill sets and career profile to make it to the highest ranks. Those on the Main Stream would be offered longer postings to give a degree of personal stability and professional continuity, but there may be some 'Main Stream' posts which by their very nature, would attract the high fliers e.g. procurement on longer tours.
However, this still raises a number of issues which I'm not convinced have been, or will be resolved.
An individual on the Exec Stream can be 'demoted' back to the Main Stream after I think it was something like 9 or 10 years (or earlier at their request) if they hadn't picked up. Fair enough, give someone else a chance. However, that means the deck is massively loaded in the Service's favour. How many people would willingly - and enthusiastically - sign up to a scheme whose T&C were basically:
"right Blogs, this is your chance for glory. We're going to thrash you for the next 10 years. Your wife will barely see you, and when she does she will complain about your 3rd move to the other side of country in 6 years and the kids becoming increasingly maladjusted. However, at the end of that 10 years, or sooner if we deem it necessary, we'll just demote you back to MS and you can get on with life. You might get promoted, but then again as the Service is shrinking, you probably won't. Sign here, here and here, oh and here's a good number for a divorce lawyer".
or:
"right Blogs, well done. You've taken everything we can throw at you for 10 years and as a reward, we've earmarked you for the highest reaches of the Air Force. You have bags of potential and really get the job done. There's just one little thing however, we notice from your file that you aren't a pilot and all the jobs we were considering for you need a pair of wings, or at a pinch, an Chartered Engineering status. Terribly sorry old boy, but that's just the way it goes. We might be able to get you to Gp Capt, but afraid that will be it. Thanks for trying though, you've really helped us through a sticky patch in getting Project X up and running. So sorry to hear your wife ran off with the tennis coach by the way "
Either of those sound vaguely attractive to any sane individual who would like a semblance of a normal family life outside of the Service? It's effectively Russian roulette with careers. Some - a very few will win - but for a lot it will be messy and lead to bitterness when it goes wrong. Somehow however, I really can see both those scenarios playing out at some point in the not too distant future.
Last edited by Melchett01; 4th Sep 2012 at 11:29.