Visit to Boulmer
TAC Int Bloke
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Ah! IDOs not doing banter? It all went down hill when they closed Drayton....
er.....I was pondlife, it's like irony man! 
Are you some kind of up your own backside cnut? Would that be the pondlife that do all the things that you cannot be bothered to? Or the pondlife that go around clearing up the sh1te that you have left behind.
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Inter-branch slagging is older than the RAF and there is no reason to believe the FC branch is viewed any more dimly than any other branch by the wider RAF.
I recall that WCs and IDOs fall into the Wpns vs Systems banter mode during training and for a short while after but that this is largely forgotten about after some ops room experience and some time in the branch, when banter at the personal level becomes far more fun, on those occasions when banter is called for (it was normally Friday nights).
The training regime included some crossover of knowledge between the WC and IDO specialisations when I was going through the CRC, and during the later periodic standard evaluations. I've known IDOs to give out a broadcast picture on radio during exercise, which requires some knowledge of what aircrew want for situational awareness and an understanding of the WC task. Working in silos in ignorance of the wider team is no way to get on, whether in the military or in civilian life, and learning about the other roles (whether in the ops room or in the more boring office) helps the overall team effort.
I recall that WCs and IDOs fall into the Wpns vs Systems banter mode during training and for a short while after but that this is largely forgotten about after some ops room experience and some time in the branch, when banter at the personal level becomes far more fun, on those occasions when banter is called for (it was normally Friday nights).
The training regime included some crossover of knowledge between the WC and IDO specialisations when I was going through the CRC, and during the later periodic standard evaluations. I've known IDOs to give out a broadcast picture on radio during exercise, which requires some knowledge of what aircrew want for situational awareness and an understanding of the WC task. Working in silos in ignorance of the wider team is no way to get on, whether in the military or in civilian life, and learning about the other roles (whether in the ops room or in the more boring office) helps the overall team effort.
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Right you lot, please leave Maple alone; he's only joining-in with the intra Branch banter and he's served his time in and out of bunkers - I know him and would have him on my team as a Tac Int bloke!
Sorry to disagree with you Maple, but Drayton was a dump - it all went down hill when they closed this place:
The Home of Fighter Control?
Now that's what you call an officers' mess! R3 bunker within walking distance and a sea view too (would have been great for my kids' boarding schools as well!).
Sorry I never got to work there.
Apparently they're going to put ACCS or ASCACS (or whatever it is this week) in the Bawdsey Bunker and a couple of sqns of Typhoons at Woodbridge for defence of the Capital .... well this is a rumour network, and the R3 there's still in reasonable nick by all accounts:
Going Underground!
STH
Sorry to disagree with you Maple, but Drayton was a dump - it all went down hill when they closed this place:
The Home of Fighter Control?
Now that's what you call an officers' mess! R3 bunker within walking distance and a sea view too (would have been great for my kids' boarding schools as well!).
Sorry I never got to work there.
Apparently they're going to put ACCS or ASCACS (or whatever it is this week) in the Bawdsey Bunker and a couple of sqns of Typhoons at Woodbridge for defence of the Capital .... well this is a rumour network, and the R3 there's still in reasonable nick by all accounts:Going Underground!
STH
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Thank-you for those few kind words STH, you've forgiven me for all those JMC briefs at last I see!
Now you come to mention it Drayton was a collection of squallid huts on the wrong side of the tracks - but Bawdsey? That would be class, any chance Patrington could reopen at the same time? 'Neat' has a nice ring to it too
Now you come to mention it Drayton was a collection of squallid huts on the wrong side of the tracks - but Bawdsey? That would be class, any chance Patrington could reopen at the same time? 'Neat' has a nice ring to it too
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Some of us are still at West Drayton. 
You will be pleased to know that the place finally closes next spring. Just in case you feel the need, we have kept the old FC wing and your ops room is still there (someone forgot to switch the lights of - I kid you not!). Indeed, we occasionally still see you guys when you have nothing better to do than detach to the local Novotel.
If you fancy investing, the old airmens' blocks were demolished last year and some property developer is building a shed load of 'apartments', starting price a little over £200K. For that, you get the ubiquitous atmosphere complete with the air rifle pellets that currently bounce off our walls.
You will be pleased to know that the place finally closes next spring. Just in case you feel the need, we have kept the old FC wing and your ops room is still there (someone forgot to switch the lights of - I kid you not!). Indeed, we occasionally still see you guys when you have nothing better to do than detach to the local Novotel.If you fancy investing, the old airmens' blocks were demolished last year and some property developer is building a shed load of 'apartments', starting price a little over £200K. For that, you get the ubiquitous atmosphere complete with the air rifle pellets that currently bounce off our walls.
I thought talk of Beirut, excuse me, West Drayton would cause Lon Mil to comment.
Ratpup, as a mil ATCO, even I'm slightly jealous of the opportunities that are starting to open up to my FC brethren in the Battlespace Management side of the house. Though I have to say fellas that it wouldn't be enough to make me want to work in the depths at Boulmer, even if the mess and especially the bar are great.
With the greatest will in the world, the AD side of it isn't what it used to be, even with the changes brought about by 9/11. Luckily for them, the FCs are well placed to jump onboard the Battlespace Management wagon, especially as it starts to properly encompass the use of space proper.
What ever you end up doing, good luck fella and top words from STH. Don't get hooped in the bar, it doesn't look good the next day.
Ratpup, as a mil ATCO, even I'm slightly jealous of the opportunities that are starting to open up to my FC brethren in the Battlespace Management side of the house. Though I have to say fellas that it wouldn't be enough to make me want to work in the depths at Boulmer, even if the mess and especially the bar are great.
With the greatest will in the world, the AD side of it isn't what it used to be, even with the changes brought about by 9/11. Luckily for them, the FCs are well placed to jump onboard the Battlespace Management wagon, especially as it starts to properly encompass the use of space proper.
What ever you end up doing, good luck fella and top words from STH. Don't get hooped in the bar, it doesn't look good the next day.
Originally Posted by justone26
3. Best tours are difficult to answer but I am sure the few guys on exchange in the US or in NATO posts may have an opinion.
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WCs getting MScs
Maple01 wrote:
Did someone call?
Actually Justone26 WCs do get MScs courtesy of HM - I'll see your IS and raise you Aerospace Systems!
Spotter.
Surveillance (er....spotters)
Actually Justone26 WCs do get MScs courtesy of HM - I'll see your IS and raise you Aerospace Systems!
Spotter.
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Fair play spotter, forgot about your Aerospace Systems course.
The key point is that the branch now offers far more than 1ACC and E3D especially 3rd tour onwards. You would be amazed the nooks and crannies where you will find FCs.
TMJ it is indeed the same person from the train.
Justone
The key point is that the branch now offers far more than 1ACC and E3D especially 3rd tour onwards. You would be amazed the nooks and crannies where you will find FCs.
TMJ it is indeed the same person from the train.
Justone
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You would be amazed the nooks and crannies where you will find FCs.
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It's a fair cop Spotter, glad to hear you’re still around, teaching WC these days?
All I got out of being an ASOp was a C&G Communications, an aversion to light and mild chinagraph poisoning. I was offered a GNVQ L2 in computing - oh how I laughed.....
Looks like the posh end of the branch is getting its act together, jolly good show!
All I got out of being an ASOp was a C&G Communications, an aversion to light and mild chinagraph poisoning. I was offered a GNVQ L2 in computing - oh how I laughed.....
Looks like the posh end of the branch is getting its act together, jolly good show!
Last edited by Maple 01; 28th Mar 2007 at 17:19.
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Originally Posted by SirToppamHat
Now that's what you call an officers' mess! R3 bunker within walking distance and a sea view too (would have been great for my kids' boarding schools as well!).
That said, some people thought we forgot all about work while on-duty as well...
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'A girl who smellt of biscuits' - what's so bad about that - girls can smell of far worse things!
Seriously, though, Ratpup, you'll get plenty of gen from your RJP. Good jobs - well there are several jobs for FCs Stateside - some for ex-Fylingdales people who know about spaceships & stuff, and some for ordinary FCs. The space side tends to be done by Surveillance people.
We've also got growing numbers of people serving in liaison posts with the army - 16 Air Assault and 19 Mech Brigades, for example (Air-Land integration is THE hot topic at the moment, and the FC Branch has cornered the market). We've got loads of people in both the bumpy and the flat sandpits. 60% of our WCs and quite a few of our surveillance people are on the E-3 force. There are several jobs in Europe (Norway, Naples, Germany, SHAPE, etc, etc).
First though, you've got to qualify, and your first tour will be in a CRC. Once you've proved yourself a useful member of society, the chances of getting out into the wider Air Force and, indeed, the Joint environment, are excellent. But you'll probably still go back to a CRC again, at least for a while.
Bottom line is - there are loads of opportunities, but you will be at the mercy of the poster (ie, you can state a preference for your next job, but you'll have to go where you're sent). If you don't think you could hack the Bunker environment, pick another branch.
See you next month!
BM
Seriously, though, Ratpup, you'll get plenty of gen from your RJP. Good jobs - well there are several jobs for FCs Stateside - some for ex-Fylingdales people who know about spaceships & stuff, and some for ordinary FCs. The space side tends to be done by Surveillance people.
We've also got growing numbers of people serving in liaison posts with the army - 16 Air Assault and 19 Mech Brigades, for example (Air-Land integration is THE hot topic at the moment, and the FC Branch has cornered the market). We've got loads of people in both the bumpy and the flat sandpits. 60% of our WCs and quite a few of our surveillance people are on the E-3 force. There are several jobs in Europe (Norway, Naples, Germany, SHAPE, etc, etc).
First though, you've got to qualify, and your first tour will be in a CRC. Once you've proved yourself a useful member of society, the chances of getting out into the wider Air Force and, indeed, the Joint environment, are excellent. But you'll probably still go back to a CRC again, at least for a while.
Bottom line is - there are loads of opportunities, but you will be at the mercy of the poster (ie, you can state a preference for your next job, but you'll have to go where you're sent). If you don't think you could hack the Bunker environment, pick another branch.
See you next month!
BM
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Just thought I'd write to give a big thank you to everyone who showed us around at Boulmer last week.
Everyone was top-notch: from people being *very* generous buying rounds in the mess, patiently answering silly questions in the bunker and even the station commander who came and had a drink and a chat with us. I think we were all really impressed by the friendliness of everyone there! The only downside was how rough I felt the morning after the night before
I haven't had a hangover like that since student days...
Being back in London where an IPA comes to just under four quid, one thing I miss above all else is the £1.04 pint
Next step is a trip to Brize to see ATC and flt ops before making my mind up on branch choices.
Cheers
Ratpup
Everyone was top-notch: from people being *very* generous buying rounds in the mess, patiently answering silly questions in the bunker and even the station commander who came and had a drink and a chat with us. I think we were all really impressed by the friendliness of everyone there! The only downside was how rough I felt the morning after the night before
I haven't had a hangover like that since student days...Being back in London where an IPA comes to just under four quid, one thing I miss above all else is the £1.04 pint
Next step is a trip to Brize to see ATC and flt ops before making my mind up on branch choices.
Cheers
Ratpup
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Common sense prevails?
The long-term future of an RAF base in Northumberland, which was threatened with closure, has been secured.
There were fears hundred of jobs would be lost at RAF Boulmer, near Alnwick, under plans to transfer some operations to Lincolnshire.
Only the search and rescue unit would have remained at the site after 2012.
But the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has now decided to retain the base as the hub of the Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS).
There were fears hundred of jobs would be lost at RAF Boulmer, near Alnwick, under plans to transfer some operations to Lincolnshire.
Only the search and rescue unit would have remained at the site after 2012.
But the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has now decided to retain the base as the hub of the Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS).
