I think also there has been a seismic shift in RAF life in the medium term (the last 20 years or so). In days gone by we would have had:
- Sqn Cdrs mixing it more with their people socially and at work rather than the endless meetings they go to and everyone 'bomb-bursting' afterwork.
- The Mess Bar providing a useful medium to discuss matters less formally after work (but the 'sport billy' brigade got their way on that one).
- One Liners followed by an almost 100% turn out at Happy Hour that used to give a great informal mechanism for decompression of matters.
- 15% or so 'Spec Aircrew' allowing youngsters a sounding board on issues with well experienced individuals (the Sqn Uncle system helps with this now but only person is a LIMFAC).
- People tended to live in the Mess or Quarters and so the work/social mix was far higher.
- Sqn Lunches, Sqn Golf Afternoons or other 'bonding' activities.
- Very few Op dets to the same old place (giving variety).
- More rangers and land aways to different places (that wouldn't end up costing us money and wouldn't need individual receipts for JPA).
- More people looking after our niff naff and trivia (on the Sqn and in Handbrake House).
- Until the mid 90s very little change over the previous 25 years.
As people are now encouraged to buy their own house (often away from the local area), drink less, work until 1800hrs+ answering the day's emails, constant change of fleets/bases for senior officer vanity projects, fly less and sim more then the old system has slowly whithered away. Further, as people buy their houses where they can afford them then a posting can often go unaccompanied. Also the stay at home partner is a thing of the past with the 'other half' needing to work to help pay the eye-watering mortgage. It all adds up to extra stress and tension. We either need to re-invent ourselves or go back to the old ways of doing business - just blundering along saying everything is fine is not an option. I have been heartened by what seems like the full roll-out of the 'Sqn Uncle' scheme - although there should also be a few 'Aunties' as well and so maybe we need to reinvent that title!!
As the RAF approaches its 100th and other Air Forces like the USAF reach their 70th, then we need to all take stock of social, cultural and financial changes in the 21st Century for the good of our people's mental health. This is far more important than rentention although the treatment measures in the early stages (before it becomes a big problem) are pretty much the same.
LJ