Morale - Discuss!
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lake District
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it's pretty much 'horses for courses' as far as how happy or not you are...If you joined the light blues some 20 years ago(as i did) you may have some reason to feel sad at the decline in numbers and 'how things used to be'. If you have joined recently you would'nt know any different as far as workload and deployments go...
As it happens I am not particuarly low in the morale stakes but I did share a few beers with some groundcrew off multiple platforms (it was a stag) and I could barely move my feet for the pile of iron filings around them...ie they had so many axes to grind!
I agree with a lot of the sentiments on this thread...not all are unhappy but then not all are getting shafted or the shafting is of various lengths and frequency...ohh! I have had to learn to put up, shut up and smile
Best wishes Vim
As it happens I am not particuarly low in the morale stakes but I did share a few beers with some groundcrew off multiple platforms (it was a stag) and I could barely move my feet for the pile of iron filings around them...ie they had so many axes to grind!
I agree with a lot of the sentiments on this thread...not all are unhappy but then not all are getting shafted or the shafting is of various lengths and frequency...ohh! I have had to learn to put up, shut up and smile
Best wishes Vim
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unfortunately, its human nature to try and do your best. Its also forces nature to have the 'can-do" attitude and achieve the maximum at all times. These two little traits are a major cause of most the problems we have. We constantly try to achieve the unachievable without the right resources. And surprisingly, we often manage to get the job done. But at the expense of 'burnt out crews' , the loss of a lot of good will, and hence crap morale!!Additionally, no- one is prepared to stand up and be counted and say -- STOP. With the assetts and crews we have we just can't achieve what you are asking. (For one it would adversely effect their future career!)
What does this mean on my frontline?
Well it has meant at times, 8 back to back working weekends, (and before you ask, the boys were also doing the obligatory mon - fri at i estimate to be minimum of 12 hour days). And all this during normal peacetime ops!!
I'd love to do the whole officer thing and provide solutions rather than problems , but the truth is i can't think of any.
Its simple - there is no money, and the service is relying solely on the good will of its men and women to survive. And then it wonders why the guys and gals leave at the earliest opportunity!
Perhaps, and this is at a push, we should consider some sort of union to push for the rights of the people who defend their country. ( European court of law might actually help us in achieving this for once).
Saw it work wonders with the Danish Air Force!!!(or is that another thread?)
What does this mean on my frontline?
Well it has meant at times, 8 back to back working weekends, (and before you ask, the boys were also doing the obligatory mon - fri at i estimate to be minimum of 12 hour days). And all this during normal peacetime ops!!
I'd love to do the whole officer thing and provide solutions rather than problems , but the truth is i can't think of any.
Its simple - there is no money, and the service is relying solely on the good will of its men and women to survive. And then it wonders why the guys and gals leave at the earliest opportunity!
Perhaps, and this is at a push, we should consider some sort of union to push for the rights of the people who defend their country. ( European court of law might actually help us in achieving this for once).
Saw it work wonders with the Danish Air Force!!!(or is that another thread?)
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: my own little world
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How about "Morale, you find it".
I can tell you that morale in my place of work is about as low as a lean implementing OC Eng (things don't get much lower, not even snakes ar$e$).
I can tell you that morale in my place of work is about as low as a lean implementing OC Eng (things don't get much lower, not even snakes ar$e$).
Join Date: May 2000
Location: door or ramp, don't mind.
Posts: 961
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Remember the scene in The Great Escape where Steve McQueen sits in his cell , after toiling against the odds for weeks on end making do with what's on offer or what can be scrounged in order to achieve the seemingly impossible, only to be banged up again, and thus relentlessly bounces his baseball off the opposite wall ?
That's me that is. Or at least it feel like it some times. Actually that's bollox, what I meant is it feels like it ALL the time.
That's me that is. Or at least it feel like it some times. Actually that's bollox, what I meant is it feels like it ALL the time.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: northside
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think what you lot need to do is to go and find an Officer. An Officer will be able to lift your morale. He will have the neccesary leadership skills. The Officer will be enthusiastic, bright, cheerful. he will lead you and encourage you. he will build your confidence and develop your pride in your service but most of all your pride in yourself.
So, if your morale is low then I suggest you go and talk to an Officer. he'll sort it for you.
So, if your morale is low then I suggest you go and talk to an Officer. he'll sort it for you.
Registered User **
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So, if your morale is low then I suggest you go and talk to an Officer. he'll sort it for you.
Ever been measured up for a room with rubber wallpaper ?
Safety_Helmut
Guest
Posts: n/a
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: lincolnshire
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just want to work for an organisation where you work 14-16 hrs a day average (and some/most weekends) and do a pretty good job and then after 6 years you're in with a chance of getting promoted (or - more recent aspiration - going to work somewhere where you can work 8-5 and who gives a stuff than about getting promoted...). Unfortunately I joined the RAF. B***er. Actually I'd happily work 20 hours a day if one person ever said thank you or something resembling a remotely pleasant comment (and, yes, I do practice what I preach with my troops). Yes I get the lovely glowing OJAR every year but that doesn't count for anything.
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere in UK
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes Morale is soaring - Most jobs are now civilianised (therefore you have to do the work yourself), Lean has made everyones life much easier (with its sensible. level headed ideas), Common core working week (means I get to go home on a Thursday now).
With hardly any forms to fill in - it now leaves plently of time to sit around and drink coffee, or maybe even fly one of the many serviceable aircraft (lots of spares around).
Life is great
= I wouldn't have it any other way.
With hardly any forms to fill in - it now leaves plently of time to sit around and drink coffee, or maybe even fly one of the many serviceable aircraft (lots of spares around).
Life is great
= I wouldn't have it any other way.
Wasn't there once a guardroom poster that went along the following lines?:
"Actions on discovery of an Outbreak of Morale:
- Shout MORALE, MORALE, MORALE
- Make one attempt to put it out
- Fetch the Leading Regulator/ RP Sgt (RSMs Dog)/ SWO Pig"
"Actions on discovery of an Outbreak of Morale:
- Shout MORALE, MORALE, MORALE
- Make one attempt to put it out
- Fetch the Leading Regulator/ RP Sgt (RSMs Dog)/ SWO Pig"
FTRS, its the way ahead! The RAF gets my experience (and continuity) and I ditch most of the b******t. I get to come to the factory every day (I do actually love my job!), play with the toys and go home. I still get deployed but I have stability at home, where it counts. My wife gets to keep a job for more than 2 years and my kids have made long term friends and are settled in school. No 6000's, no sec duties and little hassle.
Also, as I am here long term, I can officially welcome the army of civil servants who seem to be taking over the running of the RAF.
We now actually have TWO admin squadrons here that are led(?) and run by Civil Servants. Needless to say, one is a management perfomance sqn! Perhaps this should be another thread.....
Also, as I am here long term, I can officially welcome the army of civil servants who seem to be taking over the running of the RAF.
We now actually have TWO admin squadrons here that are led(?) and run by Civil Servants. Needless to say, one is a management perfomance sqn! Perhaps this should be another thread.....
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Ex Scotland, N Sea
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
dark blue work fridays? ???
Eh? when did the dark blue work fridays? all the skimmers I worked with went home on Friday lunchtime and turned up again Monday lunchtime, trains permitting.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Are British troops at breaking point in Iraq? 
Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Talk about aid and comfort to the enemy. Just one more push lads, see, we´ve got them cracking.........
Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Talk about aid and comfort to the enemy. Just one more push lads, see, we´ve got them cracking.........
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Like I'm gonna say....
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Trust me on this one, it's not just the troops at breaking point. The rotary guys are working themselves to the bone to support BLiar et al. There is nothing better than having over 1/3 of a sqn away at any one time, only to find that some/most of the support elements of the military struggle to do the simplest of jobs (ie support the deployed lads and lasses). It is rather a shame that the work ethic that I have come to learn and love at my place is not echoed around the non-formed unit peeps.
Those out there can figure out that with that many away, the roulements come round rather too quickly. I'm fully awaiting Southside to poke his head above the parapet and offer some words of wisdom, but for his sake, I recommend he keeps hunkered down.
TI out
Those out there can figure out that with that many away, the roulements come round rather too quickly. I'm fully awaiting Southside to poke his head above the parapet and offer some words of wisdom, but for his sake, I recommend he keeps hunkered down.
TI out
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Britain
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My morale isn't low - the work's hard, the hours can be very long, the management make decisions that baffle me, and I get sent away to places I'd rather not go to. However, I and my collegues do our utmost everyday to take the p*ss out of all of these things and it makes us happy!
Quite often people say "Your Squadron is crap", but to me the Squadron is the people I work with, not the management, the aircraft or the jobs we do - so if it's crap that's me you're calling crap, and I'll knock your teeth out for saying it! I'm a professional, and I insist that my lads (and lasses) are too, but we're going to have a laugh while we're at it!
The grass is always greener in civvy street, but I still reckon I'm on to a good thing here...
Quite often people say "Your Squadron is crap", but to me the Squadron is the people I work with, not the management, the aircraft or the jobs we do - so if it's crap that's me you're calling crap, and I'll knock your teeth out for saying it! I'm a professional, and I insist that my lads (and lasses) are too, but we're going to have a laugh while we're at it!
The grass is always greener in civvy street, but I still reckon I'm on to a good thing here...
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: northside
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2 Points to make.
That'll be their job then. Thats what they are there for.
Good points made by tonkie ...although I'd argue that the grass isn't always greener. I know of 2 Ex- airline pilots who have returned to the fold because they wanted more stability and more weekends off !!!! At least in the Military flying world, once you have established yourself in an aircraft you can be almost certain where you will live, in the airlines it isn't always the same.
The rotary guys are working themselves to the bone to support BLiar et al.
Good points made by tonkie ...although I'd argue that the grass isn't always greener. I know of 2 Ex- airline pilots who have returned to the fold because they wanted more stability and more weekends off !!!! At least in the Military flying world, once you have established yourself in an aircraft you can be almost certain where you will live, in the airlines it isn't always the same.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: West Anglia
Age: 54
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SS
Yes, and that's the curse, I suppose, of having a job and an ability to be exploited by our overstretching masters. If we were of minimal use to anyone we could take Monday mornings off and have a set lunch hour. At least having that routine allows you to comment with authority on what it's like as a civvy.
That'll be their job then. Thats what they are there for.