Movers v Loadies (Merged)

[Muppet Leader]

RA.
No the world wouldn’t stop if movers did not exist.
It would just seem like it for everyone else.

AWBIW.
I’m not “in” anymore.
Got my chance, (with a little help from an inheritance), and took it .
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining – far from it.

After all, who could grumble after spending weeks on end in old Vegas during Red Flag, with one aircraft a week re-supply at Nellis, with some hydraulic fluid and a new pair of gloves for Nigel.
A quick swap of the hire van for three Corvettes and a tour of the West Coast each week, until the next flight.
Then do it all again in Calgary for Med Man.

Ghurkha rotation from the Far East.
Weeks and weeks flogging round all these places that you had never heard of

NATO conferences with golf at St Andrews, with the Secret Service bods from over the water.
Even commandeered SACEURs’ car once, with him still in it. Lovely chap, shame I can’t remember his name.

And the worst are those Navy lads and their warm water trials on their nasty torpedoes, in the Bahamas!
Eight weeks in a condo on Coco Beach – Its’ rough.

This list just goes on and on.

But it taught me about life.

You make your own chances. You just have to know which ones to take.

Just trying to make a point earlier that not all those rough tatty movers that you meet are all the same.
We are all human, and as such we will all make mistakes at some point in our lives.
Some just make more than others.


Ps; Yes I’ve had the operation to get my knuckles just off the floor

[RoboAlbert]

ML

The sad thing is that I think you probably believe that.

[c130 alm]

Muppet Leader are you saying that all movers could be Loadmasters?

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

E numbers,
A couple of thoughts here,


"And you know what, when I'm lying on my sun bed at Curium Bay and I see Albert fly over I think to myself " I bet he's carrying at least 200 pounds of excess baggage".

I know it really juvenile but how do you know, when looking up that we are carrying "muppets"

"Well yes - I am lucky enough to earn that type of salary,and I have a paid up house in UK, and I have an apartment in Cyprus"............bet you also think you have a big willy

A muppet on that much money.................Can anyone else smell bullsh@t?

Don't slag off TAC Queen....he succeded where, based on your vitriol here, you so obviously failed.


all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[Muppet Leader]

C130alm.

Not even if Hell froze over.

FM Thru
Just a thought, but I didn’t know anyone did a trim down route.
Just stick to the good old “load it all down the front ‘till the crew door hits the floor, then load it all down the back ‘till the crew door comes to the top of my flying boot, and we’ll be somewhere near”.

Can’t go far wrong with that

[Krystal n chips]

Gosh ! What a revelation this thread has become. And there was I suffering from the delusion over the years as to the true role of the Loadie. You see, I had always assumed ( yes, I know "never assume-check" ) that, being at the leading edge of innovation, the Air Farce had simply developed the role of Loadie in those pre in flight vid. days as it's very own version of I.F.E. . I make a couple of exceptions here however. Notably the helo guys, who always seemed to be more down to earth, and a certain Texas ANG LoadMistress--aaaagh heaven on legs !!. As for the rest, well, there were some real "drama queens" ( both genders ! ) whom I came into contact with over the years as pax. Not sure which was / is the best example to give though. The hero who gave us a pious lecture about " MY cabin" ( wasn't aware he owned the four engined relic at the time ! ) and who, after about the sixth / seventh impact with the Oxfordshire earth--recyled his breakfast, dinner and tea----all over "HIS" Cabin
Or the star who felt that throwing the lunch boxes at the pax en route from Colt to RAFG on an Albert was "good fun"----and retreated upstairs for the rest of the flight when they were thrown back at him. Or the civilian version ( ex RAF note ) who flooded the E/E bay on a 737----cos he couldn't find the Very Large Stop Cock--in front of his eyes in the galley.! However, now that I have read these missives from various Loadies, I realise how wrong I am to make these assumtions about this special breed -----but not the hours of endless entertainment they provide

[EESDL]

Typical, Movers on a Mil Aircrew forum...... line them up against a wall (next to the coppers) and shoot them.
Saw a mover try to pass herself off as 'aircrew, (Bangor Maine - 01) she was very embarrassed when the chap she was lying too handed her a doughnut in the morning, as his role as 'Captain' the next morning.
Movers - get a life.
Although, I must confess, I may have met sopme useful memebers of the RAF who happened to be Movers.

[PC7anyone?]

lost luggage

9 pax and 9 bags to go from Lynham to Greece. Checked in 2.5 hrs ahead of take off. Other freight a Landie & Trailer. Get to Greece......only 8 bags. Nice one movers. Luckily OC Movements on the aircraft doing a quick visit. Movers got a rocket, I got my bag the next day! And the stories go on.

Simple really, if you don't like what you do then change role and cash in with the aircrew!

[Blakey875]

Some interesting comments since my last visit, both sensible and spiteful. ABIW thanks - up till your comment I thought Tac Queen was female! We all know that all movers would not make Loadies but please remember that some don't want to be, enjoy what they're doing and in spite of the minority of moaners get on with the job with what sometimes limited resources they have. On recent Ops were it not for their fraternising and horse trading with other nations to borrow their equipment nothing would roll.

I find it ironic that before the AQM branch was introduced in 1964 that you had to be a SNCO Mover or Supplier to carry out flying duties whereas post 1964 you are made a SNCO before you can prove you are fit for flying duties. I know most of the wind-ups amongst the ground trades is the Aircrew Instant Sgt where everyone else have had to slog and work for years to gain that same status. The Canadians have coped for years with Cpl Aircrew and even the Army Air Corps have Cpl Pilots....

Yes I agree that not all Movers are Angels but the same applies to the other half. I've got many examples but refuse to lower the tone any further as long as those standing on the left behave.

I was once asked "What's the difference between a Terrorist and a Loadmaster?" ......... "Well, you can negotiate with a Terrorist!"

Keep the good comments coming boys but please don't lower the tone.

[TAC Queen]

Echo 5

Yes I really was a mover and no my SAMO did not give me a glowing report. I left the trade with a selection of knifes in my back for daring to improve my lot. I really did enjoy being a mover and still have many friends in the trade. Even after my farewell presents. Still have never had to buy a knife since.
No I did not find 95% of the training easy as I was never instructed on Electrics, Hydraulics, MET, Combat survival, and a host of other fields and lets not forget catering at RAFMS. Yes my mover background did and still helps me. But the point I suppose I am badly trying to but across is that being a mover does not help all that much through ALM training.
There are some very good movers out there who will go to hell and back to get the job done properly. Unfortunately there are those who don’t give a dam and when it all goes wrong they blame every one but themselves. I always find this funny when a mover starts but BS me with things a ALM would not understand (ALP SACS FDCS) and then I inform them of my background and watch the panic sweep across their face.
Every one makes mistakes; lets just own up to them, learn from them and try not to repeat them.

All spelling mistakes are because I can’t spell

[ENG]

Having spent most of my flying career with a Loadie or Mover down the back I find both a real pleasure to fly with. The helpful atitude and professionalism of both these trades has made me look forward to my next posting. Nimrods or Sentry.

[Now a 'J' Bloke!!]

Thanks ENG;

Could you put another log on the fire...there's a good chap!! Oh sorry, I can do that all by myself now!!

This thread has been hilarious reading...and a little sad too. I'm a loadie, ex ground trade but not mover and I can vouch that there are ggreat blokes (& blokettes) in both branches...with a liberal smattering of important people too. I like to think that I get on with movers generally and can spot the hard workers v the bullsh**ers fairly easily.

And as a loadie....I can decipher the ALP (even tho I don't use them now), can understand the SACS but admit I'm lost about FDCS.

Anyone for a cup of tea.....you know where the galley is.

Regards to Most
J Bloke...

[TAC Queen]

J Bloke
SORRY, Did not mean to sound patronising,
Ill get me coat

Question, is this new version of the J v K but now using trades against each other??

PS don’t do catering on TAC,
NICE!!

All spelling mistakes are because I can’t spell

[Huron Topp]

As 875 stated, us Canucks have gotten along quite well with corporal aircrew. Stripes come with talent, not with the job. By the way, us backward colonials have the problem solved, ALL loadies are movers.

[M134]

NCA ‘earn’ their stripes the same way a commission is earned in the RAF; through hard work and the ability to pass through the filters to the operational side of training. Ground trades also need to pass the same filters to get to SNCO however the holes START pretty big in their mesh and pretty much anyone with the right attitude can walk through them. As the screw tightens along the way the good guys pass through the ever-tighter scrutiny becoming SNCO’s as the less able falls away.

[c130 alm]

I find all this very sad. How anyone can say that Movers are better than Loadies or vice versa is beyond me. There are good and bad in both trades. And I know plenty of good and plenty of bad from both trades.

There is a system in place to recruit NCA and love it or hate it its here to stay. If Movers want to become Loadies then they can all apply just like the DE`s can. Being a good Loadie is not just about knowing how to lash a load in correctly (although important) but there is so much more to the job. I am all for as many people as possible applying for Loadie, regardless of past situation, as all it can do is improve the calibre of the trade.

All this discussion is doing is causing harmful ill feeling between the 2 trades. As someone has already said, we should be trying to improve co-operation and help bring the 2 trades together seeing as they work so close already.

Now how about giving it a rest??!!

[dc8loadie]

Movers v Loadies

MY my, it seems that things do not change on transport ops, movers still hate aircrew (not just loadies) and vice versa.
i recently left the movements trade after 25 years and can say i thoroughly enjoyed working with loadies in my time on mobile and in base load control, i worked very closely alongside some excellent aircrew on my last tour with an army unit which had a herc and chinook crews attached.
so i find all this so called "banter" horrifying, we are supposed to be moving forward in these days of dwindling funds and equipment and surely the easiest way is for you all to work together.
c130 alm and now a 'J' bloke thank you for your intelligent and adult approach to this discussion.
tac queen get a life, i was on the oggies and am now a civvie loadmaster with out the chip that you seem to have grown.

[globefan]

Having not been on this site for some time I thought this particular thread might prove interesting. Ultimately, however, I find it all very sad and a great shame that nothing seems to change however hard some of us try.

I applaud c130alm and dc8loadie for their balanced approach. Some sensible comment amongst all the dross.

I must say that it is from us elder 'statesmen' that the new boys and girls (in both trade groups) get some if not all of their opinions and reading some of the diatribe on here it is no wonder that things will always be difficult.

And before anyone asks I have done this job for 16+ yrs both Lyn and Brize, both on a very old prop and a very new jet. A good part of my time now is spent building and maintaining bridges between ALMs and Movs - and this could not be done without the express assistance of some top blokes within the Movs empire.

Each and everyone of us could tell numerous stories slagging each other off - but lets face it there are more important things in life. Unless of course - there is no life....

[TAC Queen]

To all
The point I was trying to put across but obviously failed was that if you want to do the job then apply.
I’m just sick of people saying I can do your job but never getting off their B-hinds and applying.
I know lots of movers who would make excellent ALM's. But being a mover does not make you a ALM. The same as being a NAV does not mean you are a pilot.
I’m still shocked that I got through selection (as are most of my Sqn). But I did and know I am here.
Be proud of what you are. I was proud of being a mover and still am. I only left because I felt I needed a change and more of a challenge (plus a extra 16K helped). I did not think I was a ALM. I was a mover with different qualifications and job specs.

I did not mean to cause anyone offence with my posts and apologise if I did.

But can we all get on with our own jobs and stop trying to do other peoples. As I have already said if you think you can do it then do it.
There is a reason for movers and a reason for ALM's. The system works, ALM's are the last check not the last word.

All spelling mistakes are because I can't spell

[6nandneutral]

I suppose that it was me who started this off with my reply to ML. What annoys me is the assumption that being a mover automatically makes you a candidate to become an ALM. As has been mentioned before there is good and bad in both, but as aircrew if we f***k up we put our hands up, we don't blame the other shift. Which reminds me that the best way forward would be to sack the 'other shift'. I do however thing that it is worthwhile to give the good movers some praise. There have been many occasions when they have sorted out many handling problems on the ground and provided the crews with excellent DF supplies when we normally wouldn't have had the opportunity to do so. What I'm trying to say is that a good mover can be very useful and they are very much appreciated. Where they let themselves down sometimes is with the lack of supervision. On many occasions down route the movers team leader will get too involved in the loading operation and the supervisory element is lost until the ALM checks it. If the team leader was less hands on then they would surely spot any errors earlier. I do realise that this is not always possible due to high workloads and manpower shortages. In these days of many ops we should stick to what we know and work more as a team. So maybe it is time to close this thread, initially I thought that it would be a good source of banter but it has only become a slagging match to the detriment of both trades.
ML checked out your profile and yes it does make good reading, but as TQ pointed out the loading is not all there is to being an ALM.
TQ do you still pratice your C & D drill in a gentlemans club - (private joke).