Operation Saif Sareea 2 Information
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Talking about accommodation, does anyone have any recommendations for hotels in Muscat? Will be spending some nights under canvas as well but would be good to know some alternatives.
Thanks
Thanks
Join Date: Mar 2001
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If money is no object try the Al Bustan Palace to the East of Muscat. The Intercontinental to the West, in the diplomatic area is very good too. A search on G**gle will give you a good choice. It must be tough for you Saif Sarrea guys - I did 6 years at Thumrait, but not recently and not in a tent I must admit!
Join Date: Jul 2001
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JHC,
I'm glad its not just me that feels this way. Things may well be pants, but its only by staying and fighting against the bad decisions do we stand any chance of improving the situation without an arse kicking by some mickey mouse military first.
I'm glad its not just me that feels this way. Things may well be pants, but its only by staying and fighting against the bad decisions do we stand any chance of improving the situation without an arse kicking by some mickey mouse military first.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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JHC
I agree. If we've got to go then at least lets learn something from it. if we can't achieve it in the way their Lordships want then at least have the guts to say so in the PXR. It won't necessarily be fun but it will be what we, at the coal face, make it.
I agree. If we've got to go then at least lets learn something from it. if we can't achieve it in the way their Lordships want then at least have the guts to say so in the PXR. It won't necessarily be fun but it will be what we, at the coal face, make it.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Lancashire, United Kingdom
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JHC
Thanks for the support. Thought it was only me putting in sh*tty ROPs!
It seems too many are happy to drip and not put their signature to it, then drip again over the same snags that they haven't even tried to change. As for those that say there is no point trying to change things, b*ll*cks!!!!
Try telling the whole truth instead of writing what others (of a higher rank perhaps) may want/expect to see. You may be surprised. At the very least you may get something to put on your cv to the airlines.......
Thanks for the support. Thought it was only me putting in sh*tty ROPs!
It seems too many are happy to drip and not put their signature to it, then drip again over the same snags that they haven't even tried to change. As for those that say there is no point trying to change things, b*ll*cks!!!! Try telling the whole truth instead of writing what others (of a higher rank perhaps) may want/expect to see. You may be surprised. At the very least you may get something to put on your cv to the airlines.......
Well done bloke!
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country!"
All those with tartan slippers and briar pipes get over there with the conchies...
The rest of you get down with the home team and start cheering for the big win.
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country!"
All those with tartan slippers and briar pipes get over there with the conchies...
The rest of you get down with the home team and start cheering for the big win.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Well said JHC. It is nice to hear something other than discussion over ATPLs. My best fun in this job has been going to the odd punch-up and it frustrates me no end watching others go off whilst I sit at my desk, despite the excitement of risking paper cuts. Choosing a life in the military has meant accepting the odd bit of hardship.
Anyway, I could ask you to pull up a sandbag and discuss the luxury of actually having light in tents, but that's not for here.
I think the need to train hard is summed up by the following:
"In war, there is no second prize for the runner-up" Omar Bradley
and
"History is littered with the wars which everyone knew would never happen." Enoch Powell
I shall now retreat into my staff job, although if anyone does want to swap, I'm sure I can dust off my flying suit and go to Oman for them...
[ 09 August 2001: Message edited by: airbreak ]
Anyway, I could ask you to pull up a sandbag and discuss the luxury of actually having light in tents, but that's not for here.
I think the need to train hard is summed up by the following:
"In war, there is no second prize for the runner-up" Omar Bradley
and
"History is littered with the wars which everyone knew would never happen." Enoch Powell
I shall now retreat into my staff job, although if anyone does want to swap, I'm sure I can dust off my flying suit and go to Oman for them...
[ 09 August 2001: Message edited by: airbreak ]
I shall refrain from further comment re Saif Sareea 2 save noting that others have made valid points for, but mostly against. The concept of a large scale OOA is one thing, the execution being compromised by fiscal restraint as has been widely noted is quite another.
At the end of the day, remember that it is an EXERCISE, it is neither TTW nor an OPERATION. All participants will therefore be constrained by their own orders for peacetime flying; temptation to push the limits for whatever reason must not be allowed to happen.
And JHC - many of the participants have been away on detachments around the globe in support of real operations for so long that the prospect of yet another detachment, but for merely a peacetime exercise, is hardly surprisingly being viewed with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Granted it will give those more used to Salisbury Plain, UK Military Training Areas etc, a bigger area in which to practise - but those who have been spending their time in the Balkans, Gulf, Turkey, Falklands, etc etc view things with a somewhat different eye!
[ 10 August 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]
At the end of the day, remember that it is an EXERCISE, it is neither TTW nor an OPERATION. All participants will therefore be constrained by their own orders for peacetime flying; temptation to push the limits for whatever reason must not be allowed to happen.
And JHC - many of the participants have been away on detachments around the globe in support of real operations for so long that the prospect of yet another detachment, but for merely a peacetime exercise, is hardly surprisingly being viewed with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Granted it will give those more used to Salisbury Plain, UK Military Training Areas etc, a bigger area in which to practise - but those who have been spending their time in the Balkans, Gulf, Turkey, Falklands, etc etc view things with a somewhat different eye!
[ 10 August 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]
Join Date: Jul 2000
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JHC well said my boy,nice to see someone with some good old fashioned values.
Go and enjoy yourselves people .. so it's a tent .. Batus(last year ) was the most enjoyable time i'd had at work for years,I wish I was going back to Oman .. smashing place . Say hi to the Gulf Air girls for me.
I can recommend the Al bustan and Intercon if anyone gets the chance. The Air France girls were v dirty at the Intercon in the 90's
Go and enjoy yourselves people .. so it's a tent .. Batus(last year ) was the most enjoyable time i'd had at work for years,I wish I was going back to Oman .. smashing place . Say hi to the Gulf Air girls for me.
I can recommend the Al bustan and Intercon if anyone gets the chance. The Air France girls were v dirty at the Intercon in the 90's
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Beagle
Chance would be a fine thing. We train for war - thats what we do. If that means coming out of an Op to go on Ex then so be it - won't these be the people with most to add to an Ex? Lend your current experience and "train hard, fight easy". Just don't turn up and gob off about how you should be home with your slippers and that you really are going to PVR, once you get home, honest. Might do some people good to stop thumping around at 130 kts and 20 ft with pax in the name of "operational necessity".
As for limitations and constraint - was that ever a question on this thread? I thought it was mainly people whinging about doing their job. Flight safety is paramount in any Ex or Op, but the job still has to be done and troops and equipment still have to be delivered. Some people perhaps favour the FS card a bit quickly and a bit too often, in the sake of having a bit more time in their pit, air conditioned or not. By all means, if you aren't happy THEN SAY SO!! At least look outside the tent before you refuse to go out.
Before I attract a barrage of abuse, I have seen the above examples and have been dismayed and disappointed at the attitude and lack of professionalism displayed.
Anyway, get a tan if you can, try and learn something and hope we don't get extended/diverted etc. After all, that is life in the Forces.
Chance would be a fine thing. We train for war - thats what we do. If that means coming out of an Op to go on Ex then so be it - won't these be the people with most to add to an Ex? Lend your current experience and "train hard, fight easy". Just don't turn up and gob off about how you should be home with your slippers and that you really are going to PVR, once you get home, honest. Might do some people good to stop thumping around at 130 kts and 20 ft with pax in the name of "operational necessity".
As for limitations and constraint - was that ever a question on this thread? I thought it was mainly people whinging about doing their job.
Flight safety is paramount in any Ex or Op, but the job still has to be done and troops and equipment still have to be delivered. Some people perhaps favour the FS card a bit quickly and a bit too often, in the sake of having a bit more time in their pit, air conditioned or not. By all means, if you aren't happy THEN SAY SO!! At least look outside the tent before you refuse to go out.Before I attract a barrage of abuse, I have seen the above examples and have been dismayed and disappointed at the attitude and lack of professionalism displayed.
Anyway, get a tan if you can, try and learn something and hope we don't get extended/diverted etc. After all, that is life in the Forces.
Join Date: Feb 2000
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Rude C'man
thanks for the encouraging words!
Personally, I can't wait to try out all my shiny new kit that Cotswolds Camping have been good enough to sell me. I suppose it wouldn't be nearly so much fun if Betty had given it to us all gratis. One good point I suppose is that I won't be getting letters from stores, three days after I get back, threatening to scalp my first born if I don't return the kit by last week!
And think of the tans we'll all have for Chrimbo!
Can't wait me.....oh no my mistake....
[ 10 August 2001: Message edited by: Autorev ]
thanks for the encouraging words!
Personally, I can't wait to try out all my shiny new kit that Cotswolds Camping have been good enough to sell me. I suppose it wouldn't be nearly so much fun if Betty had given it to us all gratis. One good point I suppose is that I won't be getting letters from stores, three days after I get back, threatening to scalp my first born if I don't return the kit by last week!
And think of the tans we'll all have for Chrimbo!
Can't wait me.....oh no my mistake....
[ 10 August 2001: Message edited by: Autorev ]
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Bloody hell chill out JHC I was just stating the obvious for our less experienced military types, didnt realise I would get such an intense reply!!!! You should realise the military has been and will always be the same !!!!! 
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Heard on the grape-vine that 2 chefs died of heat exhaustion the other day, somewhere in sunny Oman.
Surely if it's true, 'Duty of Care', Health and Safety at War, etc, etc, will be being buffed by some heinous conchy types who think these Arabian Sales Exercises aren't necessarily the best use of limited manpower?
Surely if it's true, 'Duty of Care', Health and Safety at War, etc, etc, will be being buffed by some heinous conchy types who think these Arabian Sales Exercises aren't necessarily the best use of limited manpower?
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I heard that they don't have enough light bulbs for one per tent (oh and they're short of bed spaces). The solution, head torches at the individuals expense. Good job that the troops are entiled to only 1 libary book between 4 per week, coz there won't be enough light to read 'em.
If you like camping so much you should've stayed in the brownies, and I don't mean AAC
If you like camping so much you should've stayed in the brownies, and I don't mean AAC
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Heard on the grape-vine that 2 chefs died of heat exhaustion the other day, somewhere in sunny Oman
It's scorpions I'm worried about! (the six legged variety, not the tracked type)
Join Date: Nov 2000
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If you don't like camping so much you should've joined the Brownies...
Tents and aircrew. The Warsaw Pact had an interesting spin on this - pilots (esp FJ) couldn't possibly be allowed to fly unless they'd spent the night asleep in a proper building and had a medical inspection before getting airborne. Saw this for myself on the first UK visit to Drawsko Pomorski (sp?) in Poland, where the deployment site for the nearest Fitter base was located. All the ancillary/admin/ATC/whoever lived in tents or holes in the ground, but the pilots had a white-painted 3-storey building in the middle of the training area.
Now, if I'd been a WP pilot, the balloon had just gone up and there was a risk of a visit from the boys at Upper Heyford or Hereford, the very last place you'd find me would have been in the only white-painted, 3-storey building in the middle of a military training area...
Sorry, FV Beags et al, I'll just have to weather the smelly-SH brickbats and disagree with you on this one.
Now, if I'd been a WP pilot, the balloon had just gone up and there was a risk of a visit from the boys at Upper Heyford or Hereford, the very last place you'd find me would have been in the only white-painted, 3-storey building in the middle of a military training area...
Sorry, FV Beags et al, I'll just have to weather the smelly-SH brickbats and disagree with you on this one.