RAF Fitness Test - Soon to be twice a year!
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RAF Fitness Test - Soon to be twice a year!
Excellent news!
Allegedly from Oct 07, maybe some muscle-mechs can comment?
I'm all in favour of us being a fit fighting force, but we really don't need any extra admin burdens like this.
Not only do I have to CCS, IRT, PME, FMT600, Airfield Driving, Compulsory PT, Live fire, WHT but I've now got a second fitness test to do!
Now, I appreciate it's only half an hour down the gym, but in reality it's a whole sight more hassle than that. Especially given the three months (plus) a year in the sandpit and numerous other nights/days/weeks away during the year, it's just an extra pain in the arse...It's just another period of time when I can't be doing my primary or secondary duty, or when I need to be in work when I could be stood down following weekend tasking or an OOA. It's also another period of time that I have to programme the lads to be away from their primary/secondary duties, because you can bet your bottom dollar that they'll be on the CO's s**t list if they're not in date.
Bet you that the PTIs won't be in at weekends, or late nights to support our 24 hour ops (and no, I'm not moaning about PTI's as a group)
Now, given that our PTI cadre is being reduced and the fact that between them and SHQ noone can record the successful (or not) completion of the current RAFFT, this strikes me as another admin burden for the already busy Sqn to take on and another ill thought through retention-negative policy.
Given that last year, due to a randomly generated policy, I managed to do 3 fitness tests in a 4 month period and still be recorded as out of date on the system, will this mean I will need to do six next year in order to be recognised as fit? Our stn has an on arrival, as a Sqn and on Birthday policy, so frankly we might as well just do it every other week! Luckily, we'll be able to use our locally trained Sqn PT man, but wait: He can't do directed PT! Simply brilliant...
Anyone else spot a last minute attempt at branch justification by AMP?
Anyway, it's been a long day...
Allegedly from Oct 07, maybe some muscle-mechs can comment?I'm all in favour of us being a fit fighting force, but we really don't need any extra admin burdens like this.
Not only do I have to CCS, IRT, PME, FMT600, Airfield Driving, Compulsory PT, Live fire, WHT but I've now got a second fitness test to do!
Now, I appreciate it's only half an hour down the gym, but in reality it's a whole sight more hassle than that. Especially given the three months (plus) a year in the sandpit and numerous other nights/days/weeks away during the year, it's just an extra pain in the arse...It's just another period of time when I can't be doing my primary or secondary duty, or when I need to be in work when I could be stood down following weekend tasking or an OOA. It's also another period of time that I have to programme the lads to be away from their primary/secondary duties, because you can bet your bottom dollar that they'll be on the CO's s**t list if they're not in date.
Bet you that the PTIs won't be in at weekends, or late nights to support our 24 hour ops (and no, I'm not moaning about PTI's as a group)
Now, given that our PTI cadre is being reduced and the fact that between them and SHQ noone can record the successful (or not) completion of the current RAFFT, this strikes me as another admin burden for the already busy Sqn to take on and another ill thought through retention-negative policy.
Given that last year, due to a randomly generated policy, I managed to do 3 fitness tests in a 4 month period and still be recorded as out of date on the system, will this mean I will need to do six next year in order to be recognised as fit? Our stn has an on arrival, as a Sqn and on Birthday policy, so frankly we might as well just do it every other week! Luckily, we'll be able to use our locally trained Sqn PT man, but wait: He can't do directed PT! Simply brilliant...
Anyone else spot a last minute attempt at branch justification by AMP?
Anyway, it's been a long day...
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I like your OCT 07 deadline.
At ISK everyone does it before they deploy so we're on 2 or 3 or 4 times a year already, and have been since 2001. Ha! Ha!
At ISK everyone does it before they deploy so we're on 2 or 3 or 4 times a year already, and have been since 2001. Ha! Ha!
rudekid: My source says something quite different to yours. The exact opposite in fact. I will go and recheck my understanding tomorrow.
With regard to PTIs working weekends, in my experience most of them are working most weekends - the ATI versions at least.
With regard to PTIs working weekends, in my experience most of them are working most weekends - the ATI versions at least.
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PCD
That would make some sense. Will make some enquiries and see what can be arranged. Hopefully, the new RAFFT won't be linked to a specific period (birth, joining etc) so you can actually just be 'in date'. Otherwise, we'll be doing CCS eight times a year as well!
Ideally, I'd like a sanctuary period so that, like our Army colleagues we could do all our admin requirements together as a formed unit, once a year. However along with the rest of the non F3 RAF(
), we've been on continuous Ops since 2001!
Manning up...Pants still moist.
Stuff
Will re-check mine as well- wouldn't be wanting to spread unsubstantiated rumours.
Not slagging the PTIs, we've got a great set where I'm based, they're dealt as many crummy cards as the rest of us. Our guys, would I'm sure, work whenever we asked them to. What I'm frustrated by is the extra admin required at home base, when we're continually being asked to spend more and more time away from home base year on year. It's a bit like the directed PT irritation. We should all be fit for ops, but we will soon have the increased irritation of a requirement to visit the gym three times a week. It's just extra admin head ache. Fit people will still be fit, fatties will still weasel out of it any way they can. It's just extra admin and hassle for all, especially the fit guys.
Had a conversation with our PTIs a few weeks ago about this. I like to train evenings, run at the weekends and manage to occasionally play a representative sport for the RAF (increasingly on leave, not duty days!) How does this count against my mandated requirements. Sure, a swept up gym, or online system would enable me to enter my trg sessions and count them against my mandated PT. But typically, the RAF, depsite the majority of the teeth and support arms being heavily engaged on Ops rushes in a admin heavy policy without the correct infrastructure in place. Where does the admin burden fall? Not on PSF, not on 9-5 guys who can organise their daily rosters, but on the already over stretched and hectic front line units.
It's just another example of poorly executed and hurriedly introduced policy, of which we seem to have hundreds!
I need to relax...I'm sure there's more important things for me to worry about.
That would make some sense. Will make some enquiries and see what can be arranged. Hopefully, the new RAFFT won't be linked to a specific period (birth, joining etc) so you can actually just be 'in date'. Otherwise, we'll be doing CCS eight times a year as well!
Ideally, I'd like a sanctuary period so that, like our Army colleagues we could do all our admin requirements together as a formed unit, once a year. However along with the rest of the non F3 RAF(
), we've been on continuous Ops since 2001!Manning up...Pants still moist.
Stuff
Will re-check mine as well- wouldn't be wanting to spread unsubstantiated rumours.
Not slagging the PTIs, we've got a great set where I'm based, they're dealt as many crummy cards as the rest of us. Our guys, would I'm sure, work whenever we asked them to. What I'm frustrated by is the extra admin required at home base, when we're continually being asked to spend more and more time away from home base year on year. It's a bit like the directed PT irritation. We should all be fit for ops, but we will soon have the increased irritation of a requirement to visit the gym three times a week. It's just extra admin head ache. Fit people will still be fit, fatties will still weasel out of it any way they can. It's just extra admin and hassle for all, especially the fit guys.
Had a conversation with our PTIs a few weeks ago about this. I like to train evenings, run at the weekends and manage to occasionally play a representative sport for the RAF (increasingly on leave, not duty days!) How does this count against my mandated requirements. Sure, a swept up gym, or online system would enable me to enter my trg sessions and count them against my mandated PT. But typically, the RAF, depsite the majority of the teeth and support arms being heavily engaged on Ops rushes in a admin heavy policy without the correct infrastructure in place. Where does the admin burden fall? Not on PSF, not on 9-5 guys who can organise their daily rosters, but on the already over stretched and hectic front line units.
It's just another example of poorly executed and hurriedly introduced policy, of which we seem to have hundreds!
I need to relax...
I'm sure there's more important things for me to worry about.
Last edited by rudekid; 4th Jul 2007 at 22:13.
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Plastic if they are tacking it on to the end of CCS does that mean you lucky chaps will get to do that twice a year. It is done during the force protection week at another base. It is not being implemented until Apr 2008 with the increases in the muscle fitness requirements. BMI checks are also being carried out but only as a data collection exercise.
Another waste of time. 
I have collected over twice the number of fitness tests than I have had years in the service. The most irritating time was when I did a fitness test at a new station at the end of March only to be told that it would be out of date in two days because the new year rolled over in April. I then went on CCS the next week to be told that I had to re-do it again because they now tied the fitness tests with CCS. What a mess!
I'm hoping that when I fill the blue card with stamps, I can trade it in for something Green Shield style.
Don't get me started on IDT...including the one hour lesson with a lesson objective on how to fill a sandbag...
I have collected over twice the number of fitness tests than I have had years in the service. The most irritating time was when I did a fitness test at a new station at the end of March only to be told that it would be out of date in two days because the new year rolled over in April. I then went on CCS the next week to be told that I had to re-do it again because they now tied the fitness tests with CCS. What a mess!
I'm hoping that when I fill the blue card with stamps, I can trade it in for something Green Shield style.
Don't get me started on IDT...including the one hour lesson with a lesson objective on how to fill a sandbag...
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This is purely poor management on behalf of the senior RAF managers. Without getting into a slanging match between forces in the RN the AFT is based around your report date. My OJAR gets written on 31 May and on 31 May I have to be in date for my AFT. You only need to do 1 a year (the clue is in the title). You can do it at any time of the year. For instance. If I did my AFT on 1 june 2007 then I'm not required to do another one until 31 May 2009.
You don't need to be in the UK to do your AFT, you can do it anywhere you are currently based. If there are no PT staff in or around your particular hole in the sand then thats not your fault. The RN manage to condy=uct the AFT when deployed.... how do submariners do it? (with bubbles)
You don't need to be in the UK to do your AFT, you can do it anywhere you are currently based. If there are no PT staff in or around your particular hole in the sand then thats not your fault. The RN manage to condy=uct the AFT when deployed.... how do submariners do it? (with bubbles)
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VVHA
According to the stuff I have seen today, we are being mandated to undertake the RAFFT twice a year.
Note: It's not called an AFT, it's a RAFFT hence no annuality and no RN!
Policy seems to be the issue in this case, though I'll grant you the management leaves something to be desired on occasion.
Still, ever willing to engage in some off-topic inter-service slanging matches if you fancy!
According to the stuff I have seen today, we are being mandated to undertake the RAFFT twice a year.
Note: It's not called an AFT, it's a RAFFT hence no annuality and no RN!
Policy seems to be the issue in this case, though I'll grant you the management leaves something to be desired on occasion.
Still, ever willing to engage in some off-topic inter-service slanging matches if you fancy!
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If I'm ordered to the gym during my working hours to take a test (even for the 2nd or 3rd time in a month) then thats what I will do. I'm paid to do what I'm told. For the wages I get, it can't be bad. If it transpires that I'm being mis-managed or badly led, well, who gives a to$$? Its their loss, not mine.
I get so pi$$ed off with people in the RAF complaining that they are wasting their time doing what they are told to do. The fact is that they are not wasting their own time, they are wasting the RAF's time. Just get on with it, guys.
I get so pi$$ed off with people in the RAF complaining that they are wasting their time doing what they are told to do. The fact is that they are not wasting their own time, they are wasting the RAF's time. Just get on with it, guys.
Can getting and staying fit be really such a bad thing? If nothing else, doing a collective impression of the fat wheezy boys with a note from Matron sitting it out on the sidelines only gives more ammo to our Army chums.
And anyway, having seen the LM from the AFBSC on the matter, if you really feel that strongly about it, it can be counted as one of your 3 so-called recommended / compulsory periods of phys each week. However, if instead of doing a fitness test you were told to go and play football/rugby/sport of choice for an hour, I would put money on the door being off its hinges in the stampede to get out and onto the pitch (and before you say anything, I'm in SH, so no I don't spend all my time doing sports afternoons!). So why should a bit of a jog up and down the gym be a huge problem. If it is, get a girlie to go with you - makes doing sit ups much more enjoyable
If nothing else it should be a matter of personal pride. But if you want to spend the rest of your life trying to remember when you last saw your feet, please be my guest.
And anyway, having seen the LM from the AFBSC on the matter, if you really feel that strongly about it, it can be counted as one of your 3 so-called recommended / compulsory periods of phys each week. However, if instead of doing a fitness test you were told to go and play football/rugby/sport of choice for an hour, I would put money on the door being off its hinges in the stampede to get out and onto the pitch (and before you say anything, I'm in SH, so no I don't spend all my time doing sports afternoons!). So why should a bit of a jog up and down the gym be a huge problem. If it is, get a girlie to go with you - makes doing sit ups much more enjoyable
If nothing else it should be a matter of personal pride. But if you want to spend the rest of your life trying to remember when you last saw your feet, please be my guest.
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AC Ovee: I get so pi$$ed off with people in the RAF complaining that they are wasting their time doing what they are told to do. The fact is that they are not wasting their own time, they are wasting the RAF's time.
Unless, of course, there's an option to carry out the RAFFT on a weekend, or at 2am during the week - now that's what I call equal opportunities!
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
Dear ACM Torpy,
Please excuse Brian from the war today as he has a bad cough and an inconvenient shift pattern, and is therefore unable to be fit twice a year.
Regards,
Brian's Mum
PS. He will need to leave early today so he can meet me after school to buy some warm vests.
Please excuse Brian from the war today as he has a bad cough and an inconvenient shift pattern, and is therefore unable to be fit twice a year.
Regards,
Brian's Mum
PS. He will need to leave early today so he can meet me after school to buy some warm vests.
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The primary question on fitness is fit for what? Fit for operational duty? Aren't you all doing that already?
Perhaps 'Their Airships' plan to enter you in a mass trot past at next year's London Marathon.
Perhaps 'Their Airships' plan to enter you in a mass trot past at next year's London Marathon.