AAC Compensation Payout

[chinook240]

http://http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3602791/400-000-Harry-flying-instructor-Army-bullying-storm-Compensation-payout-sergeant-major-forced-resign.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3602791/400-000-Harry-flying-instructor-Army-bullying-storm-Compensation-payout-sergeant-major-forced-resign.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490)

[Tankertrashnav]

Nothing would surprise me about the way the army treats its own, having seen some of the crap my son had to put up with in a 22 year career.

[dervish]

Tankertrashnav

Unfortunately, I must agree with you. I recall a Colonel who sent an e-mail to a critically ill man's home address telling him to complete some work by close of play that day. Another Colonel, the man's boss, brought significant violence upon him. We're not all bad!

[airpolice]

Prince harry's flying instructor wins £400k in compensation over bullying scandal | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3602791/400-000-Harry-flying-instructor-Army-bullying-storm-Compensation-payout-sergeant-major-forced-resign.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490)

That's a link the the article mentioned in the OP

[Pontius Navigator]

Like a captain, ordering Miss PN, a sqn ldr, to attend a social event. Miss PN had a prior light blue engagement but that didn't figure. Where we have had green bosses their personnel handling skills have, from a light blue perspective, always been near non-existent.

Is it because they have been brought up leading squadrons in contrast to rather more independent SACs?

[Two's in]

Brig Lowe said: '[Maj Graham] was vindictive, abusing his position of responsibility and the trust placed in him. His conduct wronged the complainant and acted against the interests of the Army. We recommend his chain of command consider Major Graham's position, including whether disciplinary action is warranted.'


It only takes one complete knob like this to break down years of trust and respect. The AAC has done an admirable job of training aircrew to work collaboratively, despite the Commissioned versus Enlisted barriers that naturally make this difficult. If you can't manage a senior experienced WO without resorting to vindictive and petty punitive actions that directly affect a soldier's life and career, you shouldn't even be serving, let alone serving in a career manning role. The £400k should be docked from this reptile's wages, along with those who were complicit. Kudos to the 1 star for not brushing this under the carpet, which would have been a much easier option.

[MOSTAFA]

What a complete crock of *****. 2 Army Officers whom, as far as I'm concerned are a couple of really decent guys, get criticised by some left wing luvvie 1 star and the RAF retired old farts club come out to criticise something that never ever happens in the RAF - does it?

I personally have known both Officers for at least 20 years albeit I've never heard of the Sergeant Major, I'm guessing there are 2 sides to this very sad affair and people taking this at face value should be ashamed of themselves. As for calling somebody with the Queens Commission a reptile who has spent 30 years flying both helicopters and fixed wing on operations for Queen and country the less said the better.

[Rotate too late]

Left wing luvvie one star? Seriously? Jeeeesus, what an awesome example of refusing to address the issues of poor management because your mate is mega on the piss. Feel free to grow up.
Pilot does NOT automatically equal manager or leader....clearly.

[The Old Fat One]

£400K...I'd call that a result. And yes it most certainly has happened in the RAF. T'was reported in the Daily Mail as well.

[Pontius Navigator]

Mostapha, only one post refers to that incident, the rest to green management skills cf light blue. Certainly light blue has its fair share of SO that you would only follow out of curiosity. Clearly, given the relative sizes of the forces it follows there will be more in the Army. Sadly we seem to have come across many of them.

[Wander00]

I know nothing of the particular circumstances of this post so won't comment on that. However, seems astonishing and not a little disappointing that hurt feelings or not getting the posting you want count more for compensation than lost limbs and damaged minds. Just a thought.

[Rotate too late]

Wander, in my current job I regularly come into contact with people that have decided that the only solution to their problems when fighting depression is suicide, I would hope that your reference to hurt feelings is not a direct inference to depression, which is reported that the "victim" has suffered, even if you have little sympathy for this guy ( whom I do not know) then at least trust that the Brigadier ( whom I have met and respect) has at least sought to right a terrible wrong. The cynic in me would suggest that if this could have been covered up, it would have!!

[diginagain]

I know nothing of the particular circumstances of this post so won't comment on that. However, seems astonishing and not a little disappointing that hurt feelings or not getting the posting you want count more for compensation than lost limbs and damaged minds. Just a thought.

In an effort to provide some balance, Wander00, I do know the particulars of this case, and all of the parties involved, and Boo is getting nothing less than he rightly deserves.

[Wander00]

In that case the compensation for those injured in any sense or around combat needs to be substantially increased, and whilst on the subject it is IMHO a disgrace that the majority of the support and rehab is provided by charities, not the nation in whose cause they were in harms way. "Rant" off!

[NutLoose]

Some of the comments are interesting and contain several naming and shamings, some RAF officers.

[diginagain]

In that case the compensation for those injured in any sense or around combat needs to be substantially increased, and whilst on the subject it is IMHO a disgrace that the majority of the support and rehab is provided by charities, not the nation in whose cause they were in harms way.On that point we can agree.

[MAINJAFAD]

In fact, the story is quite old, and the Daily Fail has done its usual outrage bus by missing out a lot of important facts. Channel 4 covered it months ago.

http://www.channel4.com/news/soldiers-powerless-against-bullies-says-harrys-instructor

As usual, what the Daily Fail has failed to take into account is that the offending Officers have failed to comply with MOD policy as laid down by the relevant JSP, firstly in offering the Sgt Maj a retention of service bonus to stop him signing off and then failing to deal with the Service Complaint in the regulated manor. In all of the cases where there has been a major pay out in a court case against the MOD, the primary reason for said pay out is because the line management / Chain of Command have been too lazy or incompetent to read the book that contains the Service policy and follow it to the letter.

[air pig]

In all of the cases where there has been a major pay out in a court case against the MOD, the primary reason for said pay out is because the line management / Chain of Command have been too lazy or incompetent to read the book that contains the Service policy and follow it to the letter.

Sounds just like NHS management or in some cases mis-management.

[Tourist]

It's amazing how people who have no knowledge of the situation come on here and have a go at the Army.

There is always the possibility that he was an awful pilot and utterly unsuitable for the task.

Personally I think the Army are very good at leadership, though I can imagine that non military people like the RAF can find it a little bit of a culture shock.

Said Army chap came and trained with the RN....

[sharpend]

Interesting re compensation culture. In the days of Crown Immunity I suffered horrendous injuries as a result of an aircraft accident that curtailed my RAF career. I stayed in & had a great time, but my fast jet days were over and so was any chance of further promotion. I still suffer from those injuries. They were caused mainly due to faulty equipment (ie my aircraft windscreen was not fit for purpose and subsequent to the accident I believe all the Hawk windscreens were changed). I got a gong, but how much compensation did I receive? Diddly-squat, zero, nothing :).

[NutLoose]

There is always the possibility that he was an awful pilot and utterly unsuitable for the task.

Very true, but then would you entrust teaching a member of the Royal family in line to the throne to such an instructor?

[MAINJAFAD]

Very true, but then would you entrust teaching a member of the Royal family in line to the throne to such an instructor?

Or offer him a large retention bonus and posting of choice to get him to withdraw a PVR?

[Tourist]

Strange the RN chopped him then eh?

[Melchett01]

Personally I think the Army are very good at leadership, though I can imagine that non military people like the RAF can find it a little bit of a culture shock

That depends on your view of leadership. In 18 years in the RAF, I've worked at Corps, Div and BG levels, and in that time I've met some very good Army officers, and I've met some Army 'officers' I wouldn't follow out of curiosity.

Thankfully, the days of a generalised view of leadership being about footstomping and blustering your way through are rapidly disappearing in favour of a more nuanced approach to getting the best out of your people.

[Tourist]

I wouldn't disagree with any of that.

[MACH2NUMBER]

I worked in several Joint and Allied appointments. You have to work out the different strengths a weaknesses of each Service and nationality. I have seen some shockers and some superstars. IMOP:worst UK shocker was Army, National shocker USAF, but Star was Italian Air Force.
The Army and the UK has no monopoly in military leadership credentials. There will be bad apples in any organisation, but also good leaders.