Supply Officer
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Supply Officer
Hi there,
Having read through the very interesting thread about Ground Branches which was from febuary.
There was a lot of encouragement for Supply Officers and bashing for Flight Ops Os'.
Coincidentally these are the two branches im applyng for. I wonder if anyone from either branch could give me some info about what happens after IOT and the Specialist Training for both branches. Especially Supply.
All Info much appteciated.
xx
Having read through the very interesting thread about Ground Branches which was from febuary.
There was a lot of encouragement for Supply Officers and bashing for Flight Ops Os'.
Coincidentally these are the two branches im applyng for. I wonder if anyone from either branch could give me some info about what happens after IOT and the Specialist Training for both branches. Especially Supply.
All Info much appteciated.
xx
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Sadly, many moons have passed through Autumn sunset since I was in recruiting, so I can't help. However, with your choice of monicker, I would have thought you will be inundated with replies!
It would be quite funny if you turned out to be a 17 stone, hairy-arsed Jock who plays 2nd row forward but has the wit to know that Topchick would get more answers
It would be quite funny if you turned out to be a 17 stone, hairy-arsed Jock who plays 2nd row forward but has the wit to know that Topchick would get more answers
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Specialist Training for both branches. Especially Supply.
Supply=Stores, as they rarely 'supply' anything..
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Is there a jokers Branch/trade??
If you're the same person I think you are then your questions have been answered previously, specifically about training.
Perhaps popping down to your local AFCO might be a good place to start?
"It would be quite funny if you turned out to be a 17 stone, hairy-arsed Jock who plays 2nd row forward......"
Sounds like one or two people-formerly-known-as-WRAFs I came acr....err, make that, encountered during my time in the mob! Such as the Prairie Vortex Money Monster, aka Mrs Doubtfire of MPA some years later and uglier. Not even MPA-pretty!
Enjoy the banter, TopChick - and ignore the trolls!
Sounds like one or two people-formerly-known-as-WRAFs I came acr....err, make that, encountered during my time in the mob! Such as the Prairie Vortex Money Monster, aka Mrs Doubtfire of MPA some years later and uglier. Not even MPA-pretty!
Enjoy the banter, TopChick - and ignore the trolls!
BEagle!
Thanks for reminding me about Mrs Doubtfire, I'd hoped I'd forgotten her! Wasn't she that one who sent the new Flt Safety posters back to the UFSO with the note 'Flt Safety isn't Admin's concern'?
TopChick - Clearly you'll get lots of banter and some snide comments about Supply Ops and 'This is an aircrew forum'. Laugh with some of the comments, ignore the ignorant and, hopefully, you'll get some gen come through. Sadly, I can't help with your question but I wish you luck.
Thanks for reminding me about Mrs Doubtfire, I'd hoped I'd forgotten her! Wasn't she that one who sent the new Flt Safety posters back to the UFSO with the note 'Flt Safety isn't Admin's concern'?
TopChick - Clearly you'll get lots of banter and some snide comments about Supply Ops and 'This is an aircrew forum'. Laugh with some of the comments, ignore the ignorant and, hopefully, you'll get some gen come through. Sadly, I can't help with your question but I wish you luck.
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Good to see you are getting loads of useful advice! I am a Flt OpsO and offer the following:
The Flt Ops branch was brought into existence as a cost saving measure. The RAF had been spending £££££ on training aircrew and then putting them into ground tours which seemed to be a waste of money. So in 1997 when the Flt Ops branch was started/born it was decided that a Flt Ops Officer would be a ground based branch that would replace the need for aircrew to fill in all the flying/operational related ground tours.
The major credibility problem that the branch suffers from (in my opinion) stems from the following: If you look at a typical aircrew ground tourist they are likely to be an individual who has completed flying training which takes approx 2-3 years, and then will have completed a minimum of 1 flying tour which again takes approx 2-3 years. So on day 1 of their ground tour they will have 5 years flying experience and wider experience of being in the RAF. The current training for a Flt OpsO is a total of 3 months, after that it is “ on the job training”. How the establishment expect an Officer with a total of 3 months training to compete on an even footing in the credibility stakes with someone who has 5 years training/experience baffles me.
On the whole it is a good branch and provides excellent opportunities to work with all types of aircraft. You are likely to become a jack-of-all-trades instead of a subject matter expert on a particular aircraft type, which suites some but not everyone. The branch is still in its infancy, and is still in need of someone to define exactly what role they want from a Flt OpsO and then standardise that role across the RAF.
I would recommend the branch, but make sure you are clear with what you are going into by speaking to a few OpsO’s on stns, which can be organised by your AFCO.
The Flt Ops branch was brought into existence as a cost saving measure. The RAF had been spending £££££ on training aircrew and then putting them into ground tours which seemed to be a waste of money. So in 1997 when the Flt Ops branch was started/born it was decided that a Flt Ops Officer would be a ground based branch that would replace the need for aircrew to fill in all the flying/operational related ground tours.
The major credibility problem that the branch suffers from (in my opinion) stems from the following: If you look at a typical aircrew ground tourist they are likely to be an individual who has completed flying training which takes approx 2-3 years, and then will have completed a minimum of 1 flying tour which again takes approx 2-3 years. So on day 1 of their ground tour they will have 5 years flying experience and wider experience of being in the RAF. The current training for a Flt OpsO is a total of 3 months, after that it is “ on the job training”. How the establishment expect an Officer with a total of 3 months training to compete on an even footing in the credibility stakes with someone who has 5 years training/experience baffles me.
On the whole it is a good branch and provides excellent opportunities to work with all types of aircraft. You are likely to become a jack-of-all-trades instead of a subject matter expert on a particular aircraft type, which suites some but not everyone. The branch is still in its infancy, and is still in need of someone to define exactly what role they want from a Flt OpsO and then standardise that role across the RAF.
I would recommend the branch, but make sure you are clear with what you are going into by speaking to a few OpsO’s on stns, which can be organised by your AFCO.
MG - yes, that was her.
Once saw her at Wattisham going for a run (really!) in a grey tracksuit. It looked like one of the old Weston-on-the-Green static parachuting ballons on a windy day!
Not liked by many - especially by those for whom she was Queen Bee. The meekest, prettiest little WRAFlette ATCO on the base once lost her cool and, after being told she was wearing the wrong type of shoes at the Christmas Draw or somesuch party, went red in the face and said "Why don't you just pi$$ off, you horrid old bag!" much to the pride and amusement of her boyfriend!
One of my ex-UAS ground branch students became a Stacker, then moved rapidly upwards as she was very good at her job (having no delusions about her flying skills!). Promoted to Sqn Ldr about 10 years after finishing IOT, I believe. Nice person, all her staff at her Det liked working for her and, as a result, they provided a top notch service.
TopChick, in the Kingdom (or Queendom) of the Blunt, even the slightly sharp will do well!
Though I have to say that the 'Flight Ops' or, more correctly, Phone Answering Branch (another flawed beancounter idea) aren't exactly viewed with terribly high esteem.....
Once saw her at Wattisham going for a run (really!) in a grey tracksuit. It looked like one of the old Weston-on-the-Green static parachuting ballons on a windy day!
Not liked by many - especially by those for whom she was Queen Bee. The meekest, prettiest little WRAFlette ATCO on the base once lost her cool and, after being told she was wearing the wrong type of shoes at the Christmas Draw or somesuch party, went red in the face and said "Why don't you just pi$$ off, you horrid old bag!" much to the pride and amusement of her boyfriend!
One of my ex-UAS ground branch students became a Stacker, then moved rapidly upwards as she was very good at her job (having no delusions about her flying skills!). Promoted to Sqn Ldr about 10 years after finishing IOT, I believe. Nice person, all her staff at her Det liked working for her and, as a result, they provided a top notch service.
TopChick, in the Kingdom (or Queendom) of the Blunt, even the slightly sharp will do well!
Though I have to say that the 'Flight Ops' or, more correctly, Phone Answering Branch (another flawed beancounter idea) aren't exactly viewed with terribly high esteem.....
KK8888, may I please direct you to the link from my previous post on this thread. Seems you need a bit of a wake up call from 'the great un-washed" 
Strange how a Sgts Job is made into a Flt OpsO job and soon....... the wheel turns a full circle.
Strange how a Sgts Job is made into a Flt OpsO job and soon....... the wheel turns a full circle.
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RAuxAF
HK8888, is the Flight Ops Course modularised for the RAuxAF, then, or do the reserves make it up as they go along ?!
TopChick, joining your local RAuxAF unit might be a good entree to the 'junior service' before feasting on the meat and potatos of a regular RAF career...
TopChick, joining your local RAuxAF unit might be a good entree to the 'junior service' before feasting on the meat and potatos of a regular RAF career...
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TopChick, joining your local RAuxAF unit might be a good entree to the 'junior service' before feasting on the meat and potatos of a regular RAF career.
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Plans 123, what a site!!!! Yeah I accept we suffer from a credibility problem but the majority of those comments seemed aimed at “the deadwood” in the branch (which again I admit we have our fair share of). A lot people who have dealt with poor individuals. I would say that the majority of those comments seemed to come from the Truckee fleet who I believe provide next to F*** All training for their Ops O's, yet leave them on night shift when they have no one to get any advice from.
FrogPrince a RAuxAF Officer has a 2 week residential cse at Shawbury after completing approximately 1 year (once a week) on a RAuxAF sqn.
FrogPrince a RAuxAF Officer has a 2 week residential cse at Shawbury after completing approximately 1 year (once a week) on a RAuxAF sqn.