Pilots, Observers and Aircrewman
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Pilots, Observers and Aircrewman
Well everyone I may have left recruiting a while back but feel invigorated to make a new post.
This week we passed out another set of bright young things to the front line and HRH DOY was good enough to come along a pin the wings on (well velcro anyway) and I stood there shouting loudly wondering why we still struggle to get aircrew through the door.
Is this not a career of interest, excitement and high reward? I know when we get to middle management its all cynical comments about costs and priorities but is eight years of great flying, on good money, not incentive enough to the young people of today? Even under AFPS 05 you still get a nice wad of Early Departure Payment and the CAA recognise more of our training than ever before.
I just don't see why they're not knocking on the door as they always seem to with the RAF and it's not like we're not around and about a bit more now.
Is it Iraq, Afghanistan or just plain lack of interest - even the numbers of fisheads wanting to move sideways into flying is appallingly low?
I say shout from the rooftops, not about how long you can stay, but how good it is even for eight years.
Well rant over, I am clearly feeling melancholy and I am sure once I get back to teaching the little monkeys next week I'll feel a lot better.
This week we passed out another set of bright young things to the front line and HRH DOY was good enough to come along a pin the wings on (well velcro anyway) and I stood there shouting loudly wondering why we still struggle to get aircrew through the door.
Is this not a career of interest, excitement and high reward? I know when we get to middle management its all cynical comments about costs and priorities but is eight years of great flying, on good money, not incentive enough to the young people of today? Even under AFPS 05 you still get a nice wad of Early Departure Payment and the CAA recognise more of our training than ever before.
I just don't see why they're not knocking on the door as they always seem to with the RAF and it's not like we're not around and about a bit more now.
Is it Iraq, Afghanistan or just plain lack of interest - even the numbers of fisheads wanting to move sideways into flying is appallingly low?
I say shout from the rooftops, not about how long you can stay, but how good it is even for eight years.
Well rant over, I am clearly feeling melancholy and I am sure once I get back to teaching the little monkeys next week I'll feel a lot better.
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Si
Having taken them off you for a few years and processed them, I can tell you that the enthusiasim is there at the beginning. However, the constant tours to Iraq and other such places are beginning to take there toll on the frontline. Harmony is an issue and come family or constant tours then the family wins!
I am not saying that life in a blue suit does not apply. However, we must career manage our people better and offer more of an incentive to either climb the ladder or be a career aviator and stay in the cockpit. Unfortunately now, that decision needs to be made very early on.
We are still not regarded as true blue by the fisheads and promotions boards show that. There has to be a through and through aviator that reaches the higher echelons to show that you can stay totally in aviation and still succeed. And before it is said, the Second Sea Lord does not count!
Having taken them off you for a few years and processed them, I can tell you that the enthusiasim is there at the beginning. However, the constant tours to Iraq and other such places are beginning to take there toll on the frontline. Harmony is an issue and come family or constant tours then the family wins!
I am not saying that life in a blue suit does not apply. However, we must career manage our people better and offer more of an incentive to either climb the ladder or be a career aviator and stay in the cockpit. Unfortunately now, that decision needs to be made very early on.
We are still not regarded as true blue by the fisheads and promotions boards show that. There has to be a through and through aviator that reaches the higher echelons to show that you can stay totally in aviation and still succeed. And before it is said, the Second Sea Lord does not count!
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As a matter of interest Si, how was the flypast? It was a tough decision, but I decided to give up my seat (and stick) in favour of my present poolside seat here in Florida! No contest really!
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The flypast was epic, a real triumph for the TO who put in a lot of work across 3 operating authorities.
The display was great too with the grey Merlin showing the Lynx a thing or to.
The flypast was epic, a real triumph for the TO who put in a lot of work across 3 operating authorities.
The display was great too with the grey Merlin showing the Lynx a thing or to.
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Quality of life
I read your post with interest, however, having spent almost ten years as RAF aircrew in various capacities throughout the 1990s, I feel there is a very simple answer to your question: namely that of quality of life.
In this uncertain world there seems little point to joining the military and risking one's life during inconsequential regional conflicts for very limited personal reward and even less recognition.
Were the UK to be threatened directly, then I imagine that the recruitment figures would improve, but given that Bin Laden is unlikely to be defeated by conventional means, and Blair’s dodgy dossier suggested that Akrotiri could only just be within range of the Scuds, the threat simply doesn’t feature in the public consciousness.
Many of us don’t hold the military accountable for the shambles in Iraq, but rather the myopic and self interested political masters. Why get killed or injured, simply because of their crass misjudgement or inability to lose face by withdrawing from a lost country.
What does John Reid really think that half a dozen GR7s, some SH, and a few thousand infanteers will achieve in Afghanistan ? The suppression of the only cash crop they have? The voluntary disarming of the warlords and institution of widespread parliamentary democracy? Unlikely, but even if it were so, is that worth risking one’s life for?
The military doesn't offer a great lifestyle. Yes there’s security of employment, of sorts, but is that compensation for the continual cycle of detachments, manpower overstretch, relatively poor pay, dreadful married quarters, antiquated messing arrangements (where is PAYD?), etc. A glance at the threads on pprune confirms that many of those serving are as disillusioned now as I was in 1999.
Is it any surprise that with the airline industry so buoyant, and the military so bleak, the RAF is struggling to fill its quota.
If young people of suitable character wish to see the world, they’ll choose to do it volunteering with Op Raleigh or a NGO placement, or simply stump up the cash and take a gap year. Brisbane and Barcelona seem much more attractive than Basra, especially when looking through the cockpit window.
In this uncertain world there seems little point to joining the military and risking one's life during inconsequential regional conflicts for very limited personal reward and even less recognition.
Were the UK to be threatened directly, then I imagine that the recruitment figures would improve, but given that Bin Laden is unlikely to be defeated by conventional means, and Blair’s dodgy dossier suggested that Akrotiri could only just be within range of the Scuds, the threat simply doesn’t feature in the public consciousness.
Many of us don’t hold the military accountable for the shambles in Iraq, but rather the myopic and self interested political masters. Why get killed or injured, simply because of their crass misjudgement or inability to lose face by withdrawing from a lost country.
What does John Reid really think that half a dozen GR7s, some SH, and a few thousand infanteers will achieve in Afghanistan ? The suppression of the only cash crop they have? The voluntary disarming of the warlords and institution of widespread parliamentary democracy? Unlikely, but even if it were so, is that worth risking one’s life for?
The military doesn't offer a great lifestyle. Yes there’s security of employment, of sorts, but is that compensation for the continual cycle of detachments, manpower overstretch, relatively poor pay, dreadful married quarters, antiquated messing arrangements (where is PAYD?), etc. A glance at the threads on pprune confirms that many of those serving are as disillusioned now as I was in 1999.
Is it any surprise that with the airline industry so buoyant, and the military so bleak, the RAF is struggling to fill its quota.
If young people of suitable character wish to see the world, they’ll choose to do it volunteering with Op Raleigh or a NGO placement, or simply stump up the cash and take a gap year. Brisbane and Barcelona seem much more attractive than Basra, especially when looking through the cockpit window.
Last edited by miles offtarget; 30th Apr 2006 at 09:48.
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I'd give my right leg, left arm and my two front teeth to be any sort of airman.
There's no one holding me down, i've only got my Mum and Dad to think about, i'm about to graduate from university.......yet I have CVD.
Granted i'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer either but at least there is interest out there. Even if it is from people who wouldn't pass the medical.
There's no one holding me down, i've only got my Mum and Dad to think about, i'm about to graduate from university.......yet I have CVD.
Granted i'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer either but at least there is interest out there. Even if it is from people who wouldn't pass the medical.
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I can assure you that there is interest, me for one. I'm currently thinking about join the RAf as a Weapons System Operator in the Crewman role. I hope to join by the end of the year.
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It can MG, due to the weight of pies loading down the tail 
, a bit like the Lynx. Flypasts for wings parade, what next, there will be a drive past for groundcrew pass-off parades
, a bit like the Lynx. Flypasts for wings parade, what next, there will be a drive past for groundcrew pass-off parades
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But you need to remember that mfor each Merlin, you can have 5 Lynx.....not much contest really eh?
But in all seriousness. Why would anyone want to join the Royal Navy as an Aviator? Surely, those people who want to sail at sea will join the navy and those who want to fly will join the RAF
But in all seriousness. Why would anyone want to join the Royal Navy as an Aviator? Surely, those people who want to sail at sea will join the navy and those who want to fly will join the RAF
Last edited by rafloo; 1st May 2006 at 09:26.
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Originally Posted by rafloo
But in all seriousness. Why would anyone want to join the Royal Navy as an Aviator? Surely, those people who want to sail at sea will join the navy and those who want to fly will join the RAF
