Army Scrooge Spirit... (just a little flash..)
Army Scrooge Spirit... (just a little flash..)
.... and only because I'm tired and grumpy!
Saw an article on page 2 of (what I assume was) today's telegraph about an Infanteer in Basra having a rant about the RAF "Dressing Pilots up as Santa", having a christmas party whilst the army were "all out on the dangerous streets" and a quote from him saying "they're [the RAF] just civilians in uniform".
Anyone find a link to said article? Things that really grip my.....
We've got enough problems without trying to knife each other in the back, and the infanteer in question really came across as a proper scrooge (from my folks point of view) who was just grumpy that he couldn't join in! I realise that this is (probably) not the case and I'm sure he's more tired and stressed than I am, and certainly not happy about being away from his loved ones getting shot at during crimbo, but really... to say things like that to a journo on the record... someone needs to have a word...
<Rant off>
Be safe guys, be it in a party mood or not...
Saw an article on page 2 of (what I assume was) today's telegraph about an Infanteer in Basra having a rant about the RAF "Dressing Pilots up as Santa", having a christmas party whilst the army were "all out on the dangerous streets" and a quote from him saying "they're [the RAF] just civilians in uniform".
Anyone find a link to said article? Things that really grip my.....
We've got enough problems without trying to knife each other in the back, and the infanteer in question really came across as a proper scrooge (from my folks point of view) who was just grumpy that he couldn't join in! I realise that this is (probably) not the case and I'm sure he's more tired and stressed than I am, and certainly not happy about being away from his loved ones getting shot at during crimbo, but really... to say things like that to a journo on the record... someone needs to have a word...
<Rant off>
Be safe guys, be it in a party mood or not...
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Whilst the mean streets of Bazbados, Maysan and more so Helmann's, are undeniably bandit country (great respect to the infantry), tooling round in military aircraft in The Rak or The Stan is no bed of roses either. What a shame that this soldier cannot appreciate that his light blue brothers-in-arms, particularly SH, operate in the face of great danger, as the recent DFCs testify. Every bugger has an AK, hot LZs are thick with HMG and RPG, the place is awash with SAM-7s and you're sitting in a massive, noisy high-value-asset. For a squaddie to voice such opinions would be dissappointing, for an officer, appalling but not unprecedented. I wonder if he will still view the RAF as civvies in uniform when he takes a round in the butt and gets a Vortex/Ascot casevac to Blighty?
There is no shame in having parties or other jollities in theatre when circumstances permit. Unfortunately, the mentality of certain elements of the army is particularly dour and an absolute morale vacuum. As time went on in Iraq I observed the number of REMFs increasing, army bureaucracy and bullsh1t increasing, fun and morale decreasing. There was nothing like cracking a beer at the Camel's Toe after a day's tasking in 50C heat - unfortunately the RSMs seem to prefer dets to be dry, dull and miserable.
There is no shame in having parties or other jollities in theatre when circumstances permit. Unfortunately, the mentality of certain elements of the army is particularly dour and an absolute morale vacuum. As time went on in Iraq I observed the number of REMFs increasing, army bureaucracy and bullsh1t increasing, fun and morale decreasing. There was nothing like cracking a beer at the Camel's Toe after a day's tasking in 50C heat - unfortunately the RSMs seem to prefer dets to be dry, dull and miserable.
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Saw the same and thought "what a tw@t". An outburst of the green-eyed-monster methinks, that or someone turned his maggot around and he got out of the wrong side!. Hope he got / will get a nice xmas lunch / dinner too this year to cheer him up a tad!
If it is as good as last years was he will have little to whinge about.
Well done guys for the normal RAF attempt to make things better in the sandy ****e-hole. So long as the "job" is getting done there is no reason to practice bleed just to stop a stroppy squaddie throwing his gob about
As for the "We've got enough problems without trying to knife each other in the back" comment, too true pba.
If it is as good as last years was he will have little to whinge about. Well done guys for the normal RAF attempt to make things better in the sandy ****e-hole. So long as the "job" is getting done there is no reason to practice bleed just to stop a stroppy squaddie throwing his gob about
As for the "We've got enough problems without trying to knife each other in the back" comment, too true pba.
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Must admit I do find it a tad rich that the RAF can bring their dets all this Xmas spirit while the other half crashes and burns (MPA thread).
Still at least whenever an outsider casts a stone in the water the light blue close ranks and all is well in the world,
Regards
Still at least whenever an outsider casts a stone in the water the light blue close ranks and all is well in the world,
Regards
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HEDP - Must admit I don't follow your logic.
1. A (cheap) charter aircraft organized by DTMA cannot get to MPA due breakdown/fog.
2. The already stretched RAF Tristar Sqn is asked to rescue the service and tries it's best to do so.
3. A good proportion of the FI garrison waiting to get home are RAF personnel.
And you say:
- based on the fact that some RAF personnel (who have absolutely nothing to do with the South Atlantic airbridge) are making the effort to have a "celebration" of sorts at Basra.
I know the RAF transport service often disappoints , but I think you are looking for fault where none exists.
Merry Chrimbo.
1. A (cheap) charter aircraft organized by DTMA cannot get to MPA due breakdown/fog.
2. The already stretched RAF Tristar Sqn is asked to rescue the service and tries it's best to do so.
3. A good proportion of the FI garrison waiting to get home are RAF personnel.
And you say:
I do find it a tad rich that the RAF can bring their dets all this Xmas spirit while the other half crashes and burns
I know the RAF transport service often disappoints , but I think you are looking for fault where none exists.
Merry Chrimbo.
Oh dear, sour grapes, poor doodums. Like it wasn't your choice at the careers office??
If you feel that way, poor soldier, then do something about it and implement the same in the Army, instead of bleating about it in the Papers. K@ob!
If you feel that way, poor soldier, then do something about it and implement the same in the Army, instead of bleating about it in the Papers. K@ob!
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Saw the article too, immediate thought was - do better at school and join the RAF.
Conversely as is said above, organise something similar for your crew.
It is easy to be uncomfortable.
Conversely as is said above, organise something similar for your crew.
It is easy to be uncomfortable.
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Saw the article myself in the Telegraph this morning, & frankly couldn't believe that anyone would be that much of a Christmas killjoy. Having spent Christmas in the sandpit I know tasking gets a bit low, & so there's an opportunity to actually enjoy Christmas. Does said army officer expect that RAF personnel not working during lunch on 25th should all be miserable because some of the green brethen have to walk the mean streets of Basrah? I'm sure that ATC in the tower, RAF Regt on force protection, fireman etc will all be working too. And will ALL the army be on the streets? I expect some will be in the mess pulling a cracker.
Frankly the man's a t**t, or a misquoted one.
Frankly the man's a t**t, or a misquoted one.
Last edited by Ken Scott; 23rd Dec 2006 at 20:13. Reason: grammar
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
It has always been the same. Whenever I saw RAF personnel in swanky hotels, my goal was always to try and get my guys into those hotels, not try to get everyone into 2-man tents in the mud. As the famous quote goes, "any idiot can be uncomfortable". In this case trying to introduce a touch of Christmas Spirit definitely comes under the "providing comfort" category and this person's chain of command are either incredibly poor at the welfare and morale aspects of their job, or this is some terminally miserable bastard who needs euthanising - didn't see it so can't yet decide. Maybe he just had a letter from his wife saying she wasn't running off with another bloke.
HEDP - would suggest that perhaps nothing is more important that the morale of those in theatre anyhow? Albeit it's a sorry state of affairs about the guys coming back north (who have almost certainly done their time in the 'pit as well), making life as normal as possible for the guys (generic term meant to cover gals as well) in the two way range is a major priority!
As for closing ranks, before you cast aspersions, read the article... The guy comes across as a scrooge and an egit of the highest order. Fully aware he's probably been massively mis-quoted as sis the way with the journos nowadays, but really! Have no issue with people condemming the state of affairs with regards SH, the airbridge or having to many shiny toys and not enough lifting green things, but to condemn fellow professional warfighters as "civilians in uniform" just because they can get their ducks in a row and have a merry crimbo is a bit beyond the pale (pail? who can tell)
Be safe all, merry christmas!
As for closing ranks, before you cast aspersions, read the article... The guy comes across as a scrooge and an egit of the highest order. Fully aware he's probably been massively mis-quoted as sis the way with the journos nowadays, but really! Have no issue with people condemming the state of affairs with regards SH, the airbridge or having to many shiny toys and not enough lifting green things, but to condemn fellow professional warfighters as "civilians in uniform" just because they can get their ducks in a row and have a merry crimbo is a bit beyond the pale (pail? who can tell)
Be safe all, merry christmas!
Media spin and all, but had a certain sort of ring to it! maybe it's a plot by the journos to drive a wedge, but the telegraph has been fairly pro military of late. maybe they're only pro army..
As a minor corrective - From the Sunday Times, demonstrating that the RAF has indeed abandoned all notions of doing anything useful and is concentrating only upon dressing up as Santa. Or not...
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I do hope the chap was not wearing a Santa hat over his headset, or that mince pies were on board! Moreover, at no time should cheap plug in Xmas trees adorn the flight deck of one of Her Majesty's aircraft; nor should antlers be seen atop the skipper's noggin. However do these chaps hope to get the job done with such tomfoolery going on......
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I do hope the chap was not wearing a Santa hat over his headset, or that mince pies were on board! Moreover, at no time should cheap plug in Xmas trees adorn the flight deck of one of Her Majesty's aircraft; nor should antlers be seen atop the skipper's noggin. However do these chaps hope to get the job done with such tomfoolery going on......
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I trust every Army sangar, ops room, mess tent and vehicle is devoid of any combat indicators of Crimble?
Army...Be Miserable.
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I think I didn't quite get my point across in the way I had intended so........
Lets assume that the MOD website has an article about an RAF station that has loaded one of Her Majesties planes with all things nice for RAF Lyneham personnel and transported it by special delivery to RAF Lynehams finest personnel.
Hurrah for the RAF you might say (and I can see that if you have the toys you might play with them from time to time.......)
Meanwhile, that leaves many a young squaddie and the like with families desperate to send parcels at Christmas but limited to a 2 Kg parcel and having all sorts of problems getting them through the post office etc etc......
My issue is not with who did what for whom but the lack of understanding of the young squaddies perception of what has happened. My issue is with the various derogatory names this individual has been called on an anonymous website without a thought for how something may appear to someone else.
Yes, I have been the bringer of good cheer but generally it was done for the good of all and not for the few who have the capability to help themselves........
NB:- This is not a gripe from me, merely an attempt to bring some understanding from the other side of the fence
Happy Xmas one and all
Lets assume that the MOD website has an article about an RAF station that has loaded one of Her Majesties planes with all things nice for RAF Lyneham personnel and transported it by special delivery to RAF Lynehams finest personnel.
Hurrah for the RAF you might say (and I can see that if you have the toys you might play with them from time to time.......)
Meanwhile, that leaves many a young squaddie and the like with families desperate to send parcels at Christmas but limited to a 2 Kg parcel and having all sorts of problems getting them through the post office etc etc......
My issue is not with who did what for whom but the lack of understanding of the young squaddies perception of what has happened. My issue is with the various derogatory names this individual has been called on an anonymous website without a thought for how something may appear to someone else.
Yes, I have been the bringer of good cheer but generally it was done for the good of all and not for the few who have the capability to help themselves........
NB:- This is not a gripe from me, merely an attempt to bring some understanding from the other side of the fence
Happy Xmas one and all