Originally Posted by
greenedgejet
Almost all uk military direct entry pilots from all three services started their flight training with at least some civilian QFIs from 1995 to 2003. (Huntings and Babcock).
Indeed most RAF Multi engine pilots have continued to do so to the present day. Babcock pilots carry out EFT and RAF MELIN.
The "pure" civi QFIs ......... have been teaching Military students since the mid 1990s.
Under Ascent, top notch civis teach Navy observers.
At Shawbury there are many ex mil QHIs.
Provided there is a military ethos to the schools, the mix of backgrounds is a genuine asset to be valued not scorned.
Not strictly true is it, GEJ? RAF EFT went back to pure military in 2006 with the establishment of 16, 57 and 85 (R) sqns.
Civvie QFIs teaching military students since the 90s is, as others have pointed out, not necessarily a good thing. Where is the recent frontline experience? Where is the military ethos in that?
Top notch civvies at Culdrose, aren't they pretty much all Ex-Mil? Nothing wrong with civvie EX-MIL, but it is the ex-mil bit that is hugely important. Just as it is at Shawbs.
Problem is, for Ascent, and soon the military, the pool of ex-mil instructors is starting to dry up. It will eventually wither, and no-one predicted that, well the SO1s and SO2s involved in the farce of MFTS did but the senior hierarchy weren't listening!! Valley is a case in point.
Now they want to move BFT to Valley!! Good luck with recruiting qualified ex-mil for that! Which means more postings of regular manpower to bail out a contractor that promised everything but failed to deliver - again!!