Thanks LJ,
Really informative, thank you for the links. As a JHC wokka mate, under Army TLB I found the whole JFC/enabling chapter very interesting, but with regards to this thread then Para 13 - People was worth a read on what this body of wisdom recommended a few years ago. Notably the paragraph copied below on specialist functional areas:
d. Defence should place greater emphasis on recruiting or developing people with the right skills and expertise, particularly in professional or more specialist functional areas.
It is not an ego trip when I genuinely believe that those involved with aviation are professional and specialised, both operators and those required to fly a desk.
At the risk of asking a rhetorical question, the obvious question is why this pretty simple recommendation has not only been ignored in the air environment, but the original issue identified appears to be exasperated?
Selatar,
You miss the point my friend - of course if a VO rate of say less than 15-10% then decision makers will not be that concerned. Even if in professional and specialist areas the VO rate is currently below the manning trigger levels, there appears absolutely no recognition that in the next 5 years the numbers may look absolutely fine, but the experience levels and true definition of SQEP will not. Why should those currently involved in manning worry about the next 5 years as they will be onto their next posting, and as long as they keep day to day business ticking along then not only are they very busy themselves, but also understandable if they don't put their head above the parapets or attempt to quantify exactly what the issue is/will be and more importantly how to resolve long term to avoid future 'boom and bust' manning levels and requirements.
As long as everyone is aware of this risk, then I am sure SQEP matrices and posting requirements, qualifications and experience can all be compromised to ensure a bum in cockpit or at a desk. Not tieing staff posts to aviators is a good example of where the 'E' of SQEP as non aviators is missing 'mitigated' by their Service 'air awareness' or having completed induction training or a specialised course prior to assuming the role.
But the MAA cannot then bleat about its concerns of lack of SQEP or we do experience military failure, procurement and/or airworthiness errors.
No such thing as a free lunch, you don't get something for nothing, you reap what you sow and all the other cliches out there!
Last edited by MaroonMan4; 16th Dec 2014 at 20:11.