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Married Quarter Standards

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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 11:26
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Married Quarter Standards

Apologies if this has been posted earlier:

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | 'Filthy' home angers RAF couple

I really hope that this is not true!!!

If it is true, just what is going on out there?
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 14:55
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Thats not your ginger kid is it serenapps?
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 16:34
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Na, it would be bald, wrinkly with no teeth if it was mine.

Seriously though, scum that live in this country get better treatment than they (and probably many others) do.

"In the case of Aircraftsman Campbell, action was taken as soon as issues were reported. Defence Estates, the RAF Chain of Command and the RAF Families Federation are engaging to help the individual and the family. "
How the hell does it happen in the first place. Lack of any leadership at any level is the main cause. Bury head in sand and only react "IF" the press get hold of it.
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 16:38
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The entire housing stock of the Ministry of Defence was sold to a Japanese bank some 10 or 12 years ago and what that means is the liaison officer on camp has limited control over the standards of these properties.
I think that pretty much tells you how this happens...
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 17:05
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There appear to be contradictions in this story. The family's version seems to gel with the response (hotel, welfare house and £100 compensation) but is at odds with the redecoration, new kitchen, carpets and the claim that the cleaners found no problem.

Having "followed the flag" and lived in MQs for most of my 40 years service I would not advocate a return to the draconian march out (with white gloved families officer) but it's passing, as with so many things in life that sound like a common sense and popular idea at first, are often a step on a road to disastrously lowered standards. JPA, PAYD et al.

If the airman's version is close to the truth then it's little short of a disgrace.
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 17:12
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AA, Sorry but that is too simple an answer.

.....and what that means is the liaison officer on camp has limited control over the standards of these properties.
A very convenient excuse to be able to bury head in sand and not actually do anything about a known problem.

Somehow I don’t think the agreed contract said “All Liaison officers, family’s officers or any other busy body shall completely ignore any poor standards that we the new Japanese owners choose to inflict on young defenceless airmen and their families”.

A cynical response from me but let’s face it very true I feel.
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 17:36
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Hmm FMQ estates

At the soon-to-be-closed secret Wiltshire airbase the contactors are spending millions on upgrading the central heating systems.

Expected completion date...........2012
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 18:14
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“All Liaison officers, family’s officers or any other busy body shall completely ignore any poor standards that we the new Japanese owners choose to inflict on young defenceless airmen and their families”.
They never seemed to have any compunction in metaphorically arse-raping us when we did a handover and nail us for everything wrong when I was in... What happened to the handover of the previous resident?
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 19:20
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AA

They never seemed to have any compunction in metaphorically arse-raping us when we did a handover and nail us for everything wrong when I was in..
Totally agree. They were very good at picking on the defenceless. Shame they are not as tough now when dealing with people “UP” the chain. Quality of life might have improved for everybody if they had of been.
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 21:32
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"I've told Aarron to choose between me and the RAF"

Err......Bye then.
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 22:07
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How many ex-senior officers are on the management boards of the companies charged with running the MQs?
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 06:09
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There's more to this than meets the eye. The story just focuses on allegations, lets remember that, and lets allow for some poetic licence. If the family can tell me how to keep fleas out of a house in the first place then I want to know, I'll make a fortune. He should remember that if his beloved RAF can't keep Backfires out of England, it sure isn't going to keep fleas out of his Welsh MQ. Perhaps Davina glares at them and they simply wither.

Following the infestation she asked for (and got) a new mattress and it seems that the RAF is genuinely making every effort to address this problem. One hesitates to personalise this because it would be a great loss if the aggrieved Davina and Aarron decided that they must put the salary and pension behind them, go get a mortgage and a new house and a new job, but I understand totally if thats what he feels he must do.

But lets cut to the chase shall we? He says that he has got a new job and has to stay - the poor little poppet. Imagine being trained and actually being asked to honour your commitment? The outrage!! One imagines dark forces at work here - either that or the malodorous whiff of disgruntled and frothing coffee morning gussets.

Farewell Davina and Aaron.
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 09:47
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Was fortunate to do my last ever march-out recently. The nice lady that did the pre-march out mentioned a couple of points worthy of note. If a bulb didn't work on inspection then I would be charged for it - 15 quid, for one bulb; a battery gone flat in a smoke detector - that would be 25 pounds please. You can see why the standards are low - the poor pennniless darlings.
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 10:09
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The standards of the MQ's I occupied always matched the aircraft I flew - unfortunately being on a Canberra squadron at Wyton meant living in a 1950's time warp.

When the desparately needed updates arrived it was carried out in a brutal manner. The botched double glazing installation in November whilst I was away on detachment meant my wife and children were left over the weekend with no front door or front downstairs windows - just plastic sheeting!
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 16:14
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Before we rush to judge his wife as some publicity seeking harridan, someone on that base who should have performed a basic check of the condition of the MQ before occupation either chose not to do that, or judged it to be fit for an OR and his family.

She is the one who will be living in a festering ****e hole while he is in a hot sandy place serving his country, she is the one trying to bring up a small child while her husband is away, she is the one who will be judging the quality of life her husband receives from the RAF. In turn, he is the one who will be receiving the letters from home, he is the one who will be distracted from his primary duties because of the dereliction of duty to provide basic level of housing to his family, and he is the one who can't do a damn thing about it because of his service and rank.

Don't ever underestimate the demoralizing and destabilizing effect that comes when you fail to provide the most basic needs to your junior ranks and their families.

The net result is another black eye for HM Forces in general, the RAF in particular, and has exposed the lack of welfare or consideration for the families. Another successful PPI indeed.
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 16:37
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Here's another version.. it seems the MQ has evolved a set of problems.

RAF Kinloss housing hailed as best - Press & Journal=

I cringe when I see dreadful MQs, such as those at Bze etc. But whats the real craic here I wonder? Didn't the chump see the carpet was poor before he signed for it? Didn't he notice the stains, didn't he see the windows were smashed. Christ, the place was fumigated within 24 hours too. Sorry, but I imagine these problems have been blown out of all proportion (has anyone seen digital pictures, aren't they all the rage?).. he's a disgruntled 'guin who is trying to work his ticket and she's a Jock who can't handle being away from home.

The RAF seems to have done everything possible to address this, but still thats not good enough for them is it? Sorry, sympathy nil for the way they've handled this. Mag to grid both of 'em. Give 'em what they want and I hope their new house is perfect for them.

And now she's suffering stress. Still, where there's blame.
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Old 5th Oct 2008, 05:46
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I tend to agree with Al R.

How many homes does DHE administer? It must be tens of thousands. Some are excellent, most are mediocre and, occasionally, someone will find one that is very poor. It seems the Campbells moved from an excellent SFA to very poor one, which (fleas notwithstanding) can only have hightened their sense of disappointment with their new abode.
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Old 5th Oct 2008, 07:54
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BUT THE SPROG IS A GWARR!!!

Nice to see Aaron is wearing his blues though.

Aaron? Sounds like the sort of name you'd expect to see on the Jeremy Kyle show.
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Old 5th Oct 2008, 08:08
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OK let’s look at this from a different angle. They are a young couple with a child of six months. Why post them in the first place. To them (especially the wife) St Athan might as well be the other side of the planet. If they were happy at Kinloss in a nice quarter why uproot them. And don’t give me the “life in a blue suit” cr$p. This is 2008 and the RAF is very small and situations like this can be managed. I wonder just how many young airmen/airwomen and their families from S Wales or even Sothern England are stuck at Kinloss or Lossi when they would rather been down south.

Don’t forget he is a young SAC. He can’t just pick up the phone to his desk officer and negotiate his next posting. Somebody in his chain of command should have been protecting him.

And finally, if he has got a definite civilian job lined up, how come the RAF won’t release him? The statement “if you have a definite job offer they will release you quicker” is often stated on this forum. Or does that rule only apply to people that have rights; because let’s face it SACs don’t have many.
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Old 5th Oct 2008, 08:12
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SRENNAPS, it may well be 2008 but for a military force to operate effectively, the needs of the service still come above the needs of the individual.
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