As PMA goes, so does Management of Personnel
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As PMA goes, so does Management of Personnel
I've picked this up from the RAF Movs website - I hope Marge didn't mind the cross-posting, but this is a sign of the very edge of the deep and dark abyss. These points were e-mailed to him by his management:
All
I attended the briefing in XXXX Sqn on Mon on the formation of the ACOS Manning division within the Air HQ at High Wycombe, which will replace PMA as we know it at Innsworth. I reproduce my scribbled notes below for your information.
ACOS Manning will be 40% smaller than the current set-up at Innsworth, because of the lack of space at High Wycombe. The reduction in the number of desks will obviously mean that there will be fewer desk officers/ drafters to look after everybody, so their workload will increase significantly.
In preparation for the move to High Wycombe next year, ground trades and ground branches will now come under DACOS Manning 2 and 3 respectively from 1 Apr 07. GD and flying branches will come under DACOS Manning 1 from 1 Jan 08, which is the date of the move to High Wycombe.
Ground trades Open Door telephone calls will now only be available in the afternoon. The same applies to officers from 1 Apr 07.
Formal career advice interviews for officers and NCO aircrew have now ceased.
Open Door interviews will take place only when there is a genuine reason, rather than just ‘catching up on things’, as desk officers/ drafters will have to be far more selective in agreeing to Open Door interviews because of a lack of time.
Written career briefs for ground trades and career plans for officers are now discontinued.
If using the Open Door, use the telephone in preference to e-mail. Everyone will expect a response to an e-mail !
There will be less negotiation between desk officers/ drafters and chains of command that are losing or gaining personnel. In other words, if you’ve got manning issues, tough. You’ll make do with what ACOS Manning gives you (or doesn’t give you, as the case may be).
Check your JPA workflow notifications. JPA will now be used for communications from your desk officer/ drafter.
Ensure your roles and responsibilities are up to date on JPA. They will be used by your desk officer/ drafter to build up your record of experience, which will affect your next posting. Make sure the job descriptions are correct as they will be used to select your replacement.
Tell your desk officer/ drafter if your job has changed in any way.
For ground trades there will be no more hasteners for outstanding appraisals, and there will be no further Missing Assessment Boards. If your appraisal has not been completed on time, you will miss out on the promotion board. MESSAGE: take responsibility for your own appraisal and ensure your ROs are doing their job on time.
For officers, pre-board grades will remain unchanged, i.e. grades A to B+ will be read. A provisional promotion list will be published on the intranet. It will be up to the individual to decline, as there will be no more promotion letters and Queen’s Letters of Thanks.
An e-Air Force List will replace the book version.
Self-service PVR applications will be available on JPA later this year. Acceptance of applications will still be based on the Service need!
Ensure your JPA posting preferences are up to date, as they will automatically appear on your appraisal before the 1st RO writes your report (you will no longer see your appraisal before the 1st RO). If you have not filled in any preferences, it will be assumed you have none.
Self-service applications for change of engagement will be available on JPA from Sep 07.
Anyone else see themselves with a bright future in this RAF?
All
I attended the briefing in XXXX Sqn on Mon on the formation of the ACOS Manning division within the Air HQ at High Wycombe, which will replace PMA as we know it at Innsworth. I reproduce my scribbled notes below for your information.
ACOS Manning will be 40% smaller than the current set-up at Innsworth, because of the lack of space at High Wycombe. The reduction in the number of desks will obviously mean that there will be fewer desk officers/ drafters to look after everybody, so their workload will increase significantly.
In preparation for the move to High Wycombe next year, ground trades and ground branches will now come under DACOS Manning 2 and 3 respectively from 1 Apr 07. GD and flying branches will come under DACOS Manning 1 from 1 Jan 08, which is the date of the move to High Wycombe.
Ground trades Open Door telephone calls will now only be available in the afternoon. The same applies to officers from 1 Apr 07.
Formal career advice interviews for officers and NCO aircrew have now ceased.
Open Door interviews will take place only when there is a genuine reason, rather than just ‘catching up on things’, as desk officers/ drafters will have to be far more selective in agreeing to Open Door interviews because of a lack of time.
Written career briefs for ground trades and career plans for officers are now discontinued.
If using the Open Door, use the telephone in preference to e-mail. Everyone will expect a response to an e-mail !
There will be less negotiation between desk officers/ drafters and chains of command that are losing or gaining personnel. In other words, if you’ve got manning issues, tough. You’ll make do with what ACOS Manning gives you (or doesn’t give you, as the case may be).
Check your JPA workflow notifications. JPA will now be used for communications from your desk officer/ drafter.
Ensure your roles and responsibilities are up to date on JPA. They will be used by your desk officer/ drafter to build up your record of experience, which will affect your next posting. Make sure the job descriptions are correct as they will be used to select your replacement.
Tell your desk officer/ drafter if your job has changed in any way.
For ground trades there will be no more hasteners for outstanding appraisals, and there will be no further Missing Assessment Boards. If your appraisal has not been completed on time, you will miss out on the promotion board. MESSAGE: take responsibility for your own appraisal and ensure your ROs are doing their job on time.
For officers, pre-board grades will remain unchanged, i.e. grades A to B+ will be read. A provisional promotion list will be published on the intranet. It will be up to the individual to decline, as there will be no more promotion letters and Queen’s Letters of Thanks.
An e-Air Force List will replace the book version.
Self-service PVR applications will be available on JPA later this year. Acceptance of applications will still be based on the Service need!
Ensure your JPA posting preferences are up to date, as they will automatically appear on your appraisal before the 1st RO writes your report (you will no longer see your appraisal before the 1st RO). If you have not filled in any preferences, it will be assumed you have none.
Self-service applications for change of engagement will be available on JPA from Sep 07.
Anyone else see themselves with a bright future in this RAF?
Last edited by Mr C Hinecap; 30th Mar 2007 at 20:51.
Disgraceful. Absolutely bloody disgraceful.
We always suspected that 'career' actually refered to heading downhill out of control rather than having anything to do with a future, I guess this just confirms it.
Surely, with the lack of career interviews coupled with everything else hinted at in this means that the RAF will struggle to keep its "Investors in People
" charter.
7 years to go, not that I'm counting.
We always suspected that 'career' actually refered to heading downhill out of control rather than having anything to do with a future, I guess this just confirms it.
Surely, with the lack of career interviews coupled with everything else hinted at in this means that the RAF will struggle to keep its "Investors in People
" charter.7 years to go, not that I'm counting.
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We always suspected that PMA (Personnel Mis-Management Agency) was a waste of space. (Alledgedly, the only careers that PMA looked after were their own!)
However, things have just got a lot worse - my heart sinks.
Nonetheless, there is a light-hearted side because well done to the idiot who thought-up the pearler of an acronym that is
ACOS..........A CROCK OF SH!T?
Quite apt if you ask me!
However, things have just got a lot worse - my heart sinks.
Nonetheless, there is a light-hearted side because well done to the idiot who thought-up the pearler of an acronym that is
ACOS..........A CROCK OF SH!T?
Quite apt if you ask me!
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I guess one could use the job description update to their advantage, considering it will be used by the Desko for the next post...
"Responsible for X Million pouind budget, completed all necessary courses and qualifications for advancement to Gp Capt and ready to command a unit in next tour. My personal situation lends itself best to running RAF [insert as applicable]." etc
Aye
"Responsible for X Million pouind budget, completed all necessary courses and qualifications for advancement to Gp Capt and ready to command a unit in next tour. My personal situation lends itself best to running RAF [insert as applicable]." etc
Aye
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Surprised....? No.
Since the drive in the RAF is to de-skill any given post, this latest lunacy is perfectly in keeping with policy.
Incompetence and short term thinking mis-management will always find a level where it can be mistaken for leadership. Anyone for Trade Group 4?
Incompetence and short term thinking mis-management will always find a level where it can be mistaken for leadership. Anyone for Trade Group 4?
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My dealings with PMA were mostly OK, my most recent desk officer was actually quite helpful 
The tradition of taking something that is part-broken and breaking it completely continues.
There's not enough physical space at High Wycombe, there is no scope for expansion beyond the wire (it would be into National Trust woodland!) there was a critical lack of accommodation during my time there a few years back.
This is the thin end of the wedge. I predict that personnel management will be outsourced by the end of the decade, probably to a call centre in India!
Incidentally, what is happening to Innsworth? Will the land be sold for housing?
The tradition of taking something that is part-broken and breaking it completely continues.There's not enough physical space at High Wycombe, there is no scope for expansion beyond the wire (it would be into National Trust woodland!) there was a critical lack of accommodation during my time there a few years back.
This is the thin end of the wedge. I predict that personnel management will be outsourced by the end of the decade, probably to a call centre in India!
Incidentally, what is happening to Innsworth? Will the land be sold for housing?
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Isn't this he forum where pople have often called for the tail (anyone not actually flying) in this air force to be thinned considerable to enable more of the resources to be directed to the more pointy end. Well it looks like people listened and delivered:
Be very careful what you ask for, you just might get it!
Lean has cut engineers (well non-commissioned ones anyway)
HQ staffs have been cut
JPA has cut the number of blunties
PAYD has reduced the number of blunties by handing over functions to contractors - son of PAYD will extend this even further
the list goes on...
The only problem is that the total amount of resources has reduced. So although a greater percentage is now going to the front line - it is a greater percentage of a smaller pot.HQ staffs have been cut
JPA has cut the number of blunties
PAYD has reduced the number of blunties by handing over functions to contractors - son of PAYD will extend this even further
the list goes on...
Be very careful what you ask for, you just might get it!
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Surely the excuse that there is a lack of deskspace and real estate is a joke right? (Isn't it April Fools tomorrow?)
So we are to put up with a degradation in the already floundering support given by those employed to manage personnel (the clue was in the name)?
If an aircraft hangar is built and it is found that it is too narrow to house the aircraft...would you cut two feet off either wing or build a new hangar and admit the mistake?
So we are to put up with a degradation in the already floundering support given by those employed to manage personnel (the clue was in the name)?
If an aircraft hangar is built and it is found that it is too narrow to house the aircraft...would you cut two feet off either wing or build a new hangar and admit the mistake?
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"Incidentally, what is happening to Innsworth?"
May be going to the Army. Lot of uniforms / suits repeatedly seen around the place. The ARRC currently is based in Germany but reportedly coming back to UK by 2012. Whilst one visit could be dismissed as passing interest, six or seven would suggest strong possibility.
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wobbler fang
I am Trade Group 4 any questions? I only see that I have been retrained from a "Tape Ape" to a "Techie Tape Ape" , are you a TG3 old sweat that feels under the Axe, as that was How it felt whilst I was being trained at Training School, biggest divide going TG3 and TG11
almost as bad as the C130 boys
Prepping my Sangar now Sir, Stag on
I am Trade Group 4 any questions? I only see that I have been retrained from a "Tape Ape" to a "Techie Tape Ape" , are you a TG3 old sweat that feels under the Axe, as that was How it felt whilst I was being trained at Training School, biggest divide going TG3 and TG11
almost as bad as the C130 boys Prepping my Sangar now Sir, Stag on
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The areas from Innsworth that have already moved to High Wycombe are struggling to recruit sufficient people to fill the E1 posts required (no real surprise given the area and the wages offered). When PMA move next year there will be a requirement for a further 70+ E1 posts.
It all seems like another well thought out fiasco waiting to happen.
It all seems like another well thought out fiasco waiting to happen.
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It's not just desk space that's in short supply (some are or will soon be hot desking!) but also IT. Some who hot desk may find the desk they've hotted to has no IT on it!. Marvellous way to run a HQ. Still the stars still keep their big offices and personal staffs so as long as they're alright eh?
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You can't blame this on 'REMFs', as you put it. The RAF's executive branch is almost exclusively aircrew, including those at the top of PTC, PMA and so on. So you could say that this has been brought upon us by those who should know better!
Other than that I agree with everything you say.
SBG
Other than that I agree with everything you say.
SBG
The RAF's executive branch is almost exclusively aircrew, including those at the top of PTC
I hate to disillusion you but top of PTC: An Engineer. Until this tour, top of the then TGDA: Admin Sec. Head of CHQ: An Engineer. Dep Head of CHQ: a civil serpent. I can give you more if you want......