Sir Glen Speaks!
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I left the RAF 10 years ago, after 25 years service, at the insistence of (the now former Mrs Taxydual). I left a career and a Service I loved. I regret it to this day. However, it was my signature on the form.
Daily, I read (through this site and the newspapers) of the malaise that the RAF appears to be suffering. I say 'appears' because, obviously, after 10 years, I am out of the loop and cannot speak first-hand.
One thing does intrigue me though. Can the blame for this malaise really be laid at the feet of just one individual? Namely Sir Glenn Torpy. Can a transient, ie 2/3 year in post, CAS have that much influence on the morale and attitudes of the RAF as a whole?
Daily, I read (through this site and the newspapers) of the malaise that the RAF appears to be suffering. I say 'appears' because, obviously, after 10 years, I am out of the loop and cannot speak first-hand.
One thing does intrigue me though. Can the blame for this malaise really be laid at the feet of just one individual? Namely Sir Glenn Torpy. Can a transient, ie 2/3 year in post, CAS have that much influence on the morale and attitudes of the RAF as a whole?
Last edited by taxydual; 5th Sep 2008 at 14:21. Reason: Punctuation
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May I say that Winco and the rest of the whingers on this site do NOT represent the views of the majority of the members of the RAF or at least the people I work with. I have been in for a while now and the only place that I consistently read or hear of complaints concerning the current CAS is on PPrune. He is certainly not a major topic of conversation in my crewroom. These complaints seem to come from the same individuals all the time. I also find it intriguing that some individuals who have long left the Service know so much about how he does his job. May I ask a couple of questions of those who question CAS' ability to do the job along with his integrity?
When did you last speak to him face to face?
Have you ever asked him directly to do anything for you?
If so, what response did you get?
When was the last time you sat in on a meeting between CAS and any member of the government so that you can say with some conviction that he just rolls over and does the politicos bidding?
How many of you have been awarded the DSO?
When did you last speak to him face to face?
Have you ever asked him directly to do anything for you?
If so, what response did you get?
When was the last time you sat in on a meeting between CAS and any member of the government so that you can say with some conviction that he just rolls over and does the politicos bidding?
How many of you have been awarded the DSO?
If I may add my two penn’orth. I didn’t serve under the current CAS so I don’t know what he is like as a leader although I do know he was decorated for his leadership in GW1.
The point I wish to make is how many of you gentlemen have taken over a staff appointment only to find that you have been handed a crock of s**t/cluster f***/whatever-you-may-call-it by your predecessor(s). Then compare that situation to that of the current CAS – although, in his circumstances, the situation is probably on a grander scale. I’m pretty sure that the seeds of the whirlwind that is blasting away at the current CAS were sown some years ago, so shouldn’t some of the angst be directed toward those who did the sowing?
The point I wish to make is how many of you gentlemen have taken over a staff appointment only to find that you have been handed a crock of s**t/cluster f***/whatever-you-may-call-it by your predecessor(s). Then compare that situation to that of the current CAS – although, in his circumstances, the situation is probably on a grander scale. I’m pretty sure that the seeds of the whirlwind that is blasting away at the current CAS were sown some years ago, so shouldn’t some of the angst be directed toward those who did the sowing?
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mileandahalf,
Wrong and right.
Wrong - I have read every post and paid great attention to what has been said. Which prompted me to post.
Right - I am a happy person and still enjoy being in the RAF.
Could you please answer the questions I have posed above? Just for completeness you understand.
Wrong and right.
Wrong - I have read every post and paid great attention to what has been said. Which prompted me to post.
Right - I am a happy person and still enjoy being in the RAF.
Could you please answer the questions I have posed above? Just for completeness you understand.
mileandahalf
If I may echo vmv2's reply..Wrong and right - the only difference between vmv2's answer and my own is I am enjoying being out of the RAF. I suppose in your view, all the problems, actual or perceived, are all down to the man himself, it's only happened during his current tenure and it's got nothing to do with actions that were (or were not) taken by his predecessors.
The fact that I am not knocking the man doesn't mean I think he's a good leader and the best man for the job... or not! I' ve expressed an opinion which is similar to the point made by taxydual.
I won't make derisory comments just because I happen to disagree with what has been posted.
If I may echo vmv2's reply..Wrong and right - the only difference between vmv2's answer and my own is I am enjoying being out of the RAF. I suppose in your view, all the problems, actual or perceived, are all down to the man himself, it's only happened during his current tenure and it's got nothing to do with actions that were (or were not) taken by his predecessors.
The fact that I am not knocking the man doesn't mean I think he's a good leader and the best man for the job... or not! I' ve expressed an opinion which is similar to the point made by taxydual.
I won't make derisory comments just because I happen to disagree with what has been posted.
taxydual:
In a word, TD, no. I think I said as much in an earlier post. That isn't the point though. It's a question of leadership. Given that there is the malaise of which you speak, then the person in charge, ie the CAS, should be seen by one and all to be addressing it. I, admittedly from outside the RAF now and outside the loop as you say, see no sign of it. The Army, with similar worries, has a CGS who is addressing them and can be seen to be doing so even to my myopic view. It is that disparity which is so striking, and to be fair to Sir Glenn so typically RAF!
One thing does intrigue me though. Can the blame for this malaise really be laid at the feet of just one individual? Namely Sir Glenn Torpy. Can a transient, ie 2/3 year in post, CAS have that much influence on the morale and attitudes of the RAF as a whole?
He is certainly not a major topic of conversation in my crewroom.
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minigundiplomat,
Sorry, but I don't get your point about an ivory tower. There isn't one in the hangar I work from.
The point of my original post was to express my opinion that Winco's statement that he was "speaking for the majority of those who still in" was not correct as far as our squadron is concerned. I can honestly say that I can't ever recall the subject of any recent conversation being CAS and/or how he has performed in post. There are far more parochial matters concerning us such as JPA, petrol prices, etc.
Sorry, but I don't get your point about an ivory tower. There isn't one in the hangar I work from.
The point of my original post was to express my opinion that Winco's statement that he was "speaking for the majority of those who still in" was not correct as far as our squadron is concerned. I can honestly say that I can't ever recall the subject of any recent conversation being CAS and/or how he has performed in post. There are far more parochial matters concerning us such as JPA, petrol prices, etc.
vmv2 - Has it not occurred to you that if the CAS is not a topic of conversation in your crewroom at all then those present don't perceive (and I chose, and hopefully spelt, that word carefully) that he is doing anything worthwhile to better their lot....?? You don't say that CAS is mentioned favourably in your crewroom - rather that he is not mentioned at all!!
The majority of people on this thread who are criticising CAS are doing so on the basis of his apparent (again a carefully chosen word) inaction in terms of speaking out, effecting (productive/useful) change, etc..... The fact that he is not mentioned in your crewroom seems to imply that your co-workers also sense no productive action on his part - they just aren't as upset about it as some posting here, maybe it is just what they have come to expect from senior officers over the years....??
The majority of people on this thread who are criticising CAS are doing so on the basis of his apparent (again a carefully chosen word) inaction in terms of speaking out, effecting (productive/useful) change, etc..... The fact that he is not mentioned in your crewroom seems to imply that your co-workers also sense no productive action on his part - they just aren't as upset about it as some posting here, maybe it is just what they have come to expect from senior officers over the years....??
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vmv2
When did you last speak to him face to face? probably back in 2002-3
Have you ever asked him directly to do anything for you? No, he has always been a fast jet man, I've always been on Multi
If so, what response did you get? n/a
When was the last time you sat in on a meeting between CAS and any member of the government so that you can say with some conviction that he just rolls over and does the politicos bidding? I've never sat in on such meeting, but I'm afraid that you have misse the point. My argument is that Torpey is NOT and is NEVER seen as a person who stands up for the thousands of men and women under his command. I have yet to hear him say a single word against the dreadful cuts that affect the service so much. And as I've said before, his handling of the Nimrod loss has been so poor, that he is an embarrasment, I suspect, to a great many in the service.
How many of you have been awarded the DSO? I DO NOT have a DSO, but so I will decline from commenting any further about the award. If you knew anything whatsoever about awards, then you would know what I mean.
The problem is that Glenn Torpey is NOT a good CAS. He IS a nice chap, infact a charming chap, but NOT a good CAS, and thats why people are giving him a roasting. You must know how bad it is in the service at the moment, and yet whilst the RN and Army chiefs are quite happy to say in public that the cuts are too much, our (or your) glorious leader sits fat, dumb and happy, saying nothing! Sad, but thats the fact.
Cazatou
I have refrainewd from putting it in big letters, but are you going to reply to my commenst or are you going to go 'deep and silent'??
When did you last speak to him face to face? probably back in 2002-3
Have you ever asked him directly to do anything for you? No, he has always been a fast jet man, I've always been on Multi
If so, what response did you get? n/a
When was the last time you sat in on a meeting between CAS and any member of the government so that you can say with some conviction that he just rolls over and does the politicos bidding? I've never sat in on such meeting, but I'm afraid that you have misse the point. My argument is that Torpey is NOT and is NEVER seen as a person who stands up for the thousands of men and women under his command. I have yet to hear him say a single word against the dreadful cuts that affect the service so much. And as I've said before, his handling of the Nimrod loss has been so poor, that he is an embarrasment, I suspect, to a great many in the service.
How many of you have been awarded the DSO? I DO NOT have a DSO, but so I will decline from commenting any further about the award. If you knew anything whatsoever about awards, then you would know what I mean.
The problem is that Glenn Torpey is NOT a good CAS. He IS a nice chap, infact a charming chap, but NOT a good CAS, and thats why people are giving him a roasting. You must know how bad it is in the service at the moment, and yet whilst the RN and Army chiefs are quite happy to say in public that the cuts are too much, our (or your) glorious leader sits fat, dumb and happy, saying nothing! Sad, but thats the fact.
Cazatou
I have refrainewd from putting it in big letters, but are you going to reply to my commenst or are you going to go 'deep and silent'??
Winco,
I think Cazatou was hoping to divide and conquer, either to act as devils advocate or just to p
ss everyone off, I don't know.
The fact that several serving people have supported your post seems to have cut off his oxygen somewhat.
MGD
I think Cazatou was hoping to divide and conquer, either to act as devils advocate or just to p
ss everyone off, I don't know.The fact that several serving people have supported your post seems to have cut off his oxygen somewhat.
MGD
