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Armed Forces overstretched

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Old 15th Jun 2005, 06:03
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Armed Forces overstretched

Story from todays news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4093720.stm
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 06:05
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Adam Ingram is shortly to be interviewed on BBC News 24.......

What a dismal, rambling performance from a total numpty who merely trotted out the Blairite line and evaded direct questions.

Good luck to all those still in the Armed Forces, I fear you're going to need it in increasing quantities.

PSOs - you can pass this on in your daily PPRuNe briefing to your airships.

Last edited by BEagle; 15th Jun 2005 at 06:18.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 07:15
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Beagle,

I watched the interview.

May I humbly second your comments.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 07:18
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Did you also see the interview of Lord Tim Garden and a chap from RUSI just now?

Some very well presented views on overstretch.

But I was somewhat alarmed to hear "The Prime Minister wants to 'do things' in Africa".........

With what?
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 07:19
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Having just seen the news with Tim Garden (Ex CDS) at 0815, it will be interesting to see if AI acknowledges the overstretch.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 07:22
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Beagle,

Well, I've still got a year on the Reserve. Also, I'm already half way there!!!
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 07:24
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Saw AI on the box and was underwhelmed !!
TG ex CDS !!
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 07:25
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Jockanese Mafia

Adam Ingram is a light-weight - I have just listened to him prattling on Radio 4, under the interrogation of John Humphreys. He disingenuously highlighted that there are more troops in NI (irrespective of Home Service units) than Iraq and Afghanistan and has not addressed the isssue of overstretch. 'Och aye' Ingram was completely lost for words when challenged about MCT hours. Came out with the typical right-wing new Labour 'lines to take' such as 'creating a healthy debate' and 'beginning to understand the issues of preceeding (ie Conservative) years'.

The sooner that the Prime Minister ditches his expeditionary 'ethical' Foreign Policy and focusses on Britain's soft power strengths, the better for the forces.

CC
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 08:26
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Cambridge Crash

It's Jockinese Mafia, dear boy. However, I must protest at the inherent racist undertones of your post. You give the impression that you feel Ingram is a knob because he is Scots.

I agree wholeheartedly with the general sentiment that Ingram is an intellectual lightweight who merely troops out the 'party line' time after time. However, I would like to remind M' Learning Friend that Ingram has, for years, merely been Buff Hoon's amanuensis. He knows nothing more than how to trip out his boss's and/or Civil Serpents' drafted drivel.

In other words: We're nae short o Scots numpties, jist as ye're nae short o Inglis yins. They're numpties by dint o their bein numpties, not by dint o bein Scots or Inglis!
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 09:08
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Well done the NAO! 50% of the reason that I handed my kit in was the absolute barking mad cutbacks imposed in the face of common sense by professional liars like Ingram who will happily hide behind the fact that Armed Forces personnel will give 100% regardless of circumstances.

Now why couldn't this story have run pre-election?
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 10:28
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See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/h...aomilitary.pdf for the full NAO report.

JessTheDog - part of MY reason was suffering under the inadequately testiculated who, with stars in their eyes, wouldn't stand up and say "NO!!".......
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 10:32
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Jess - I am with you on this one.
Beags - The outcome of no-one saying "No" IS overstretch - so they are closely linked.

Has anyone out there left, or is about to leave, the Services because of the overstretch, either wholly or in part? If so, just post.

"Me too"

If enough of us do that, perhaps it might add a smidgin of weight to the NAO argument that 'doing more with less', with no kit, no training, no support and seeing our loved ones and our country less and less, is simply taking advantage, for political gain, of our fellow Servicemen and Servicewomen.

It has got to stop, or otherwise, it will end in humiliating defeat - somewhere, sometime and with great loss of life - that of our friends and families. It seems no-one up on high has learnt the lessons of history.

So..............."ME TOO"
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 10:36
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ME TOO
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 10:44
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I now wish I had kept copies of my PVR application and the response I sent to a Gp Capt who had asked me for feedback.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 10:51
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Over stretch

Notwithstanding what the NAO have to say I must admit that I have not seen any evidence of overstretch. Life here in the FAA is fun, buzzing and the future is very clear and bright. We have recently taken delivery of a world class ASW aircraft and the SKW is also first rate. Larry the Lynx is due to be replaced initally with a software upgrade and then eventually with a Lynx replacement.

We have a lot of new T45 destroyers on the horizon and maybe if we are lucky we will take delivery of new aircraft carriers within the next 12-15 years.

As far as work goes, then the tempo is the same as it has been since 1982. We work hard, play hard and fight hard. No change. Flying hours are at a premium - we had a little glitch last year but this year have been told to fly as much as we can.

So, where is this overstretch?
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 10:57
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vecvechookattack is either drunk or a co-author of the infamous faked RN/RAF letter to the Times welcoming the demise of the SHAR.

So, where is this overstretch?
Establishments where the most common surname is "gapped".

My establishment of 4, of whom 2 were due to be sent OOA simultaneously.

Also, one married couple where wifey went away for an OOA and had a few weeks overlap before hubby went away.

That's just off the top of my head.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 11:04
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My establishment of 4, of whom 2 were due to be sent OOA simultaneously.

Also, one married couple where wifey went away for an OOA and had a few weeks overlap before hubby went away.



so, why is that overstretch? My oppo went OOA for 6 months and his ship handed over to the ship his Mrs was on....and they didn’t get to see each other....result...12 months apart. But that has been happening since ladies were allowed in the services. That’s not overstretch....just inconvenient.


Your Establishment of 4 of which 2 were OOA simultaneously….? So that’s 50% OOA and 50% back at home…? And you call that overstretch. Don’t tell me, you’d prefer it iof you were all at home.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 11:04
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Does anyone know a source that provides the percenatges for the RAF, RN and Army that are on duty away from home for say 125, 150, 175 or 200+ days per year, and provided for maybe the last 5 years. I've seen some numbers somewhere previously (can't remember the source). The Government would probably point out that the numbers have been decreasing over recent years. That's not bl**dy surprsing really is it, seeing as there are less of us to send away! That's why I'd like to see the figures as percentages.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 11:11
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Your Establishment of 4 of which 2 were OOA simultaneously….? So that’s 50% OOA and 50% back at home…? And you call that overstretch. Don’t tell me, you’d prefer it iof you were all at home.
My establishment at that time was a "shore" establishment and the posts would be considered "harmony" posts in naval parlance. So everyone in that instance was meant to be at home! PMA were casting around deperately for warm bodies to meet an OOA committment. Overstretch. Cut the task burden or increase the manning. It is simple but obviously too difficult for MoD.
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Old 15th Jun 2005, 11:45
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I think you may be mixing up Harmony with Shore posts etc. I am currently based at a shore establishment BUT in a front line job AND expected to go to sea, deploy etc etc. Being posted to a shore base does not relinquish you of sea duties.

Cut the task burden or increase the manning
or, rather than wasting time and energy moaning about overstretch and gapping and lack of money....how about we manage the problem better
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