Questions for the CAS?
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 694
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From: Lincs
SaddamsLoveChild
If you are seriously suggesting that Glen DOES NOT know what is going on, then that only makes matters even worse! He does know, he is NOT out of touch, he simply chooses to do absolutely 'squat' about it.
As has been pointed out here, he has worked up to this position and is well aware of how bad news is shielded from him by those below, but it is his job to find out what is going on and, if rfequired, have the courage to make a stand.
How long has AFBLT been going? What about CASWO conferences ? Are you suggesting that he hasn't been briefed on their outcomes? or is the word on the street so bad that none of the 1* or above have had the balls to tell him yet?
Has morale ever been worse in the service?
Have our servicemen and women ever had such appalling support from those on high?
Has the 'welfare' of our service staff ever been so dreadful ?
(The answers to all the above are all an emphatic NO!)
The fact is that all he is interested in is his bloody Typhoons. He thinks they will somehow save the RAF. IMHO he should take a long hard look at the AT fleet that we 'don't have'. He should go spend a couple of weeks with the SH fleet, and see how they are struggling. Then get up to ISK and see the dreadful state of the Nimrod fleet (what's left of it) and then maybe go and visit the rest of the guys in a service that is frankly, bancrupt.
Perhaps then he will go along to Messrs Brown and Browne and say, 'sorry gents, but this cannot continue, and if you don't get it sorted, I'm going to resign'
That way HE most definately will win our respect, NOT his rank!
If you are seriously suggesting that Glen DOES NOT know what is going on, then that only makes matters even worse! He does know, he is NOT out of touch, he simply chooses to do absolutely 'squat' about it.
As has been pointed out here, he has worked up to this position and is well aware of how bad news is shielded from him by those below, but it is his job to find out what is going on and, if rfequired, have the courage to make a stand.
How long has AFBLT been going? What about CASWO conferences ? Are you suggesting that he hasn't been briefed on their outcomes? or is the word on the street so bad that none of the 1* or above have had the balls to tell him yet?
Has morale ever been worse in the service?
Have our servicemen and women ever had such appalling support from those on high?
Has the 'welfare' of our service staff ever been so dreadful ?
(The answers to all the above are all an emphatic NO!)
The fact is that all he is interested in is his bloody Typhoons. He thinks they will somehow save the RAF. IMHO he should take a long hard look at the AT fleet that we 'don't have'. He should go spend a couple of weeks with the SH fleet, and see how they are struggling. Then get up to ISK and see the dreadful state of the Nimrod fleet (what's left of it) and then maybe go and visit the rest of the guys in a service that is frankly, bancrupt.
Perhaps then he will go along to Messrs Brown and Browne and say, 'sorry gents, but this cannot continue, and if you don't get it sorted, I'm going to resign'
That way HE most definately will win our respect, NOT his rank!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 0
From: wilts
Thing is, he he doesn't even need to resign. He just needs to hold a press conference, say what he has to say, then stand his ground and dare this shambolic Govt to sack him. What will the halfwits say? They have no credibility. RAF just needs someone with a spine and a set.
Not holding my breath with Torpy though, he simply doesn't have it in him.
Not holding my breath with Torpy though, he simply doesn't have it in him.
Guest
Posts: n/a
What would I say to CAS?
Hello Sir, your looking lost.
No this is 1310 Flt. The AT and the Harriers are down the corridor.
Bye Sir.
Oh, in fact he did visit the Stan recently, and didnt visit the SH guys. Never mind, pehaps he'd be so kind as to take Chinooks of the front of all RAF publicity material, and stop people giving Odius Strike Command awards.
After all, we're not FJ, only quasi-RAF these days and he really doesnt seem to give a rats ass!
Just shaft us like everyone else does!
WM
No this is 1310 Flt. The AT and the Harriers are down the corridor.
Bye Sir.
Oh, in fact he did visit the Stan recently, and didnt visit the SH guys. Never mind, pehaps he'd be so kind as to take Chinooks of the front of all RAF publicity material, and stop people giving Odius Strike Command awards.
After all, we're not FJ, only quasi-RAF these days and he really doesnt seem to give a rats ass!
Just shaft us like everyone else does!
WM
Cunning Artificer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 7
From: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
The last time I met CAS/CDS (Sir Andrew Humphrey) he asked us the questions. We looked after his personal Gazelle at the time and his peregrinations often had us working at weekends. He noticed that it was always the same four guys and enquired into our shift patterns and working hours. He ordered beers all round as well - at 32 Sqns expense!
There were changes in our working arrangements after that chat. Its a pity he never managed a full innings as CDS.
There were changes in our working arrangements after that chat. Its a pity he never managed a full innings as CDS.
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Down Under
CAS could get the SH Force back into the RAF proper by fighting for JHC to be 3 Gp, under HQ Air's command. If the Army and RN squeal, let them have permanent 2* stewardship of the Gp on a rotational basis, with the RAF permanently providing the 1*.
HPT
HPT
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 381
Likes: 1
From: KORR somewhere
Sir,
Do you or any of your staff actually read any of the RAF message boards?
If not - why not?
If you do; do you just ignore it as bluff and blunder, rather than think 'hang about..they've got a point'
Do you or any of your staff actually read any of the RAF message boards?
If not - why not?
If you do; do you just ignore it as bluff and blunder, rather than think 'hang about..they've got a point'
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: England
Sir,
Any chance of 'joined up thinking' any time soon?
If the shop floor do much more 'firefighting' will they be entitled to strike?
Any chance of a pay rise to back up the empty, can't buy food with it, rhetoric?
Will someone admit it is a mistake to lose Military hospitals, and when can we have a couple back?
Will you bring back sports afternoons?
Any chance of 'joined up thinking' any time soon?
If the shop floor do much more 'firefighting' will they be entitled to strike?
Any chance of a pay rise to back up the empty, can't buy food with it, rhetoric?
Will someone admit it is a mistake to lose Military hospitals, and when can we have a couple back?
Will you bring back sports afternoons?
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 1
From: firmly on dry land
While I agree with the sentiments express I also know that CAS is fighting for the RAF both for now and what he sees is as important, for the future.
Then the point about resignations - yes, what would it achieve? However what about the voices from senior retired officers?
I see letters from Senior Army Officers, I see letters from many Naval Officers, I see and hear from previous CinC and CAS . . . . . . . . .
Apart from Lord Tim, there is a defening silence from the grey suited ex-light blue. Remember the Scottish Gp Capt who was pushed threatening to tell all . . . I think someone whispers in their ears the P word.
Then the point about resignations - yes, what would it achieve? However what about the voices from senior retired officers?
I see letters from Senior Army Officers, I see letters from many Naval Officers, I see and hear from previous CinC and CAS . . . . . . . . .
Apart from Lord Tim, there is a defening silence from the grey suited ex-light blue. Remember the Scottish Gp Capt who was pushed threatening to tell all . . . I think someone whispers in their ears the P word.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln
Sir,
Why do we still have IPTs staffed by incompetant civil servants who have no idea of operational capibility or state of the art technology?
When are we going to re-staff IPTs with Military posts filled by people with relevant and recent operational experience, not REMFs who have bummed around quiet backwaters for their whole careers?
When are we going to augment IPTs with suitably qualified and experienced civillians who have a grasp of modern technology and who are paid a salary comparable to that which they could command in industry?
Bear
Why do we still have IPTs staffed by incompetant civil servants who have no idea of operational capibility or state of the art technology?
When are we going to re-staff IPTs with Military posts filled by people with relevant and recent operational experience, not REMFs who have bummed around quiet backwaters for their whole careers?
When are we going to augment IPTs with suitably qualified and experienced civillians who have a grasp of modern technology and who are paid a salary comparable to that which they could command in industry?
Bear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 744
Likes: 1
From: In the workshop, Prune-whispering.
1. Have we historically, always had 1 Group Captain for every 100 other ranks in the RAF?
2. How many months of the year are you spending in the sand?
3. Would you agree that in the interests of flight safety, all Nimrods should be grounded until further notice?
4. Can you suggest how I can convince my young SAC's and Corporals to remain in the RAF?
5. When are you going to say "No more" to OOA tasking so that we can concentrate on getting our own house in order?
2. How many months of the year are you spending in the sand?
3. Would you agree that in the interests of flight safety, all Nimrods should be grounded until further notice?
4. Can you suggest how I can convince my young SAC's and Corporals to remain in the RAF?
5. When are you going to say "No more" to OOA tasking so that we can concentrate on getting our own house in order?
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: uk
1. Why do you stay in? When you can leave on a full wage pension?
2. Why do we have F/S's doing gate guard, is this value for money?
3. Why am I forced to pay mess fee's when I don't use the mess at all?
4. What level on manning do you see in the RAF in 5, 10,15 years time?
5. Why is everyone leaving? (60% of my section is on resettlement at present.)
6. Why do servicemen salute Gordon Brown?
7. Where are all the spares?
2. Why do we have F/S's doing gate guard, is this value for money?
3. Why am I forced to pay mess fee's when I don't use the mess at all?
4. What level on manning do you see in the RAF in 5, 10,15 years time?
5. Why is everyone leaving? (60% of my section is on resettlement at present.)
6. Why do servicemen salute Gordon Brown?
7. Where are all the spares?
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: UK
It appears the manning crisis has been addressed. We are all encouraged to become 'Dog the Bounty Hunter'.
Does this mean that the pers manning the AFCO will be raking it in?
A Recruitment Bounty Scheme (RBS) was launched in Oct 07. Under the scheme, eligible RAF personnel are encouraged to recruit individuals into the Service. The reward for recruiting a single individual into a recruitment ‘pinch point’ branch or trade will be £1300 (gross) paid once the recruit has successfully completed Phase 2 training.
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: North of the 55th Parallel
1. How many C130s do we have to lose before replacements are ordered?
2. Do you think it is really a good idea to shoehorn the whole of Transport Command into a foggy part of Oxfordshire?
3. If we are going to build runways in the middle of deserts, do you think they should be wide, normal, narrow, or really narrow?
4. Do you think given the current and likely future tempo of operations, a return to Cold War levals of defence spending is not an unreasonable request the military might make of government?
5. When does lean become anorexic?
2. Do you think it is really a good idea to shoehorn the whole of Transport Command into a foggy part of Oxfordshire?
3. If we are going to build runways in the middle of deserts, do you think they should be wide, normal, narrow, or really narrow?
4. Do you think given the current and likely future tempo of operations, a return to Cold War levals of defence spending is not an unreasonable request the military might make of government?
5. When does lean become anorexic?
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 694
Likes: 0
From: Lincs
Wader,
Could you enlighten us into exactly what the CAS is fighting for?
With the exception of Typhoon, this guy has done nothing that I can see for the rank and file of the service, other than oversee the biggest slump in manpower, morale, support ands welfare for our service men and women. Frankly, he should be utterly ashamed and get of his backside and do something about it.
How many people in the RAF (and the services I'm sure) are happy with this JPA thing? How much has been written on prune about it? My friends still in tell me that it is a complete farce. Why is it still so?
Why do the boys and girls still not have enough of the basic kit they need to tdo the job?
Why is more effort being put into niff-naff such as 2 lots of AFT instyead of getting the real issues sorted out?
CAS fighting for the service is he?? yeah, right!
Ref the point about resignations and what would it achieve? It would get so much publicity that hopefully this government might just take some notice. Your comment about retired senior officers is absolutely true, and their comments are now long forgotten. My complaint with them is that they should have done the moaning whilst they were still in!! Not wait until they leave.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED, thats the measure of real courage and commitment, and that's what's expected of the CAS.
Could you enlighten us into exactly what the CAS is fighting for?
With the exception of Typhoon, this guy has done nothing that I can see for the rank and file of the service, other than oversee the biggest slump in manpower, morale, support ands welfare for our service men and women. Frankly, he should be utterly ashamed and get of his backside and do something about it.
How many people in the RAF (and the services I'm sure) are happy with this JPA thing? How much has been written on prune about it? My friends still in tell me that it is a complete farce. Why is it still so?
Why do the boys and girls still not have enough of the basic kit they need to tdo the job?
Why is more effort being put into niff-naff such as 2 lots of AFT instyead of getting the real issues sorted out?
CAS fighting for the service is he?? yeah, right!
Ref the point about resignations and what would it achieve? It would get so much publicity that hopefully this government might just take some notice. Your comment about retired senior officers is absolutely true, and their comments are now long forgotten. My complaint with them is that they should have done the moaning whilst they were still in!! Not wait until they leave.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED, thats the measure of real courage and commitment, and that's what's expected of the CAS.