Help focus the cuts on the right areas
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32 Sqn experts!
A few attacks on 32 Sqn on this thread. I think there's some ignorance about what it does and how it is funded. I understood the Royals pay for their usage themselves. Also that the annual running costs are very small and contribute enormously to efficiency - I personally would prefer the important decision makers to be able to whizz round efficiently to several appointments rather than stuck in traffic and ineffective. Then again, I also agree with the posts criticising rank inflation and the sheer numbers of Air Officers.
The fixed wing part of 32 Sqn was almost exclusively operating in theatre last time I asked, though that was not recently. I also heard that the rotary element (3 Agusta 109s?) had been chopped anyway.
Anyone shed any more light?
Regarding 'personal' chefs: last time I was on an aircraft carrier, the ship's Captain had his own personal chef as the Captain was not a member of the Wardroom so he could only eat with the other officers if invited by the Commander. Seemed barking to me, but said chef was kept busy catering for small evening soirees to which selected personnel were invited (mostly female, or was that co-incidence
?). Perhaps he mucked in with the other catering staff at other times or ran the Cockers-P by himself.
The fixed wing part of 32 Sqn was almost exclusively operating in theatre last time I asked, though that was not recently. I also heard that the rotary element (3 Agusta 109s?) had been chopped anyway.
Anyone shed any more light?
Regarding 'personal' chefs: last time I was on an aircraft carrier, the ship's Captain had his own personal chef as the Captain was not a member of the Wardroom so he could only eat with the other officers if invited by the Commander. Seemed barking to me, but said chef was kept busy catering for small evening soirees to which selected personnel were invited (mostly female, or was that co-incidence
?). Perhaps he mucked in with the other catering staff at other times or ran the Cockers-P by himself.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
We once had a doctor fast-tracked through to the unit bypassing Cranditz. It fell to us to teach him not only the customs and etiquette of the Service but also AvMed.
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Rank inflation
@162657 (hope I've got the number right ...
Rank (in both senses of the word) inflation isn't a new thing by any means: by the mid '60s it had bedome "usual" that Wing Commanders commanded squadrons - except in FEAF, with Confrontation going on, where a full-strength Canberra squadron, for example, was run by an excellent Sqn. Ldr Boss who later went on to great things as he rose up the ladder, very deservedly.
One reason given earlier than that for people spending their career always one level below the one they were ready for was that the rank structuire was designed when aeroplanes were simple, and complicated machines such as the Meteor were above a Squadron Leader's skill levels.
Such was (and still seems to be ?) the thinking in the Central London Branch of the Service ... Totally disregarding the fact that even before joining the Service, people likely to join had imbibed technical awareness and even knowledge far beyond that of those august personages who inhabited the dusty offices in which such things were decided.
(Rant not really over after decades ... !)
Rank (in both senses of the word) inflation isn't a new thing by any means: by the mid '60s it had bedome "usual" that Wing Commanders commanded squadrons - except in FEAF, with Confrontation going on, where a full-strength Canberra squadron, for example, was run by an excellent Sqn. Ldr Boss who later went on to great things as he rose up the ladder, very deservedly.
One reason given earlier than that for people spending their career always one level below the one they were ready for was that the rank structuire was designed when aeroplanes were simple, and complicated machines such as the Meteor were above a Squadron Leader's skill levels.
Such was (and still seems to be ?) the thinking in the Central London Branch of the Service ... Totally disregarding the fact that even before joining the Service, people likely to join had imbibed technical awareness and even knowledge far beyond that of those august personages who inhabited the dusty offices in which such things were decided.
(Rant not really over after decades ... !)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Jig P, then he got a second squadron and became our boss. He was then moved sideways and up one into an entirely different role before back one and getting a station. Then surprise surprise he next surfaced as the AOC of the first sideways shuffle if I have it right.
A highly capable officer.
A highly capable officer.
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What about Met Officers? Most aircrew are trained as forecasters so why can't we do it rather than having Forecasting Officers? If getting the aircrew to do it is a step too far then why do you need to be an Officer to forecast the Met? Would a WO be able to do it? We have some WO and some Chief Petty Officers doing the forecasting and so why then employ Lt Cdrs ?
MOD Police..... Good god how many of them do we have? What do they do all day?
MOD Police..... Good god how many of them do we have? What do they do all day?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
why do you need to be an Officer to forecast the Met? Would a WO be able to do it? We have some WO and some Chief Petty Officers doing the forecasting and so why then employ Lt Cdrs ?
MOD Police..... Good god how many of them do we have? What do they do all day?
MOD Police..... Good god how many of them do we have? What do they do all day?
The RAF only has commissioned Met Officers and non-commissioned observers in overseas theatres when it is desirable that they are under military discipline. Why commissioned? Because that is their equivalent civil service grade D, C or higher. If you dropped them a grade to E you would have to do the same across the entire civil service. Pay is low enough as it is so they need D or C grades to attract them.
MOD Police? First they have greater powers than Servicemen, and many civpol too, and they are part of the scheme to reduce the guarding committment foisted on to misemployed Servicemen.
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So why does the RN have non commissioned Met Officers and the RAF only have commissioned Met officers.... There is no Met Officer on most frigates and destroyers....they get their Met briefings from the Aircrew who are qualified Forecasters... Admittedly, we have cut down a lot on Met Officers recently with video conferencing met briefs which work very well....but if it can work at a UK Air Station then why not use it abroad as well?
Next branch to get rid of is Air Trafficers..... Why do we need to talk to 5 different Air Traffic people to recover VFR to an Air Base.....and why do each and every one of them ask you for your P.O.B ?
p.s. I'm not a Fishhead.... I'm a WAFU
Next branch to get rid of is Air Trafficers..... Why do we need to talk to 5 different Air Traffic people to recover VFR to an Air Base.....and why do each and every one of them ask you for your P.O.B ?
p.s. I'm not a Fishhead.... I'm a WAFU
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
They are either regular seamen employed as met forecasters or they are civilian met observers given NCO rank.
I refer the gentleman to my earlier answer.
provided they have done the course at Exeter they may be qualified. If not they are just briefing someonelses forcast.
often abroad is a long way from UK?
Admittedly the USAF Forecaster at Wideawake was based at Patrick however the USAF crews invariably visited the RAF Forecasters who, incidentally, were not uniformed. [/QUOTE]
smells fishy ..........
and the RAF only have commissioned Met officers....
There is no Met Officer on most frigates and destroyers....they get their Met briefings from the Aircrew who are qualified Forecasters...
Admittedly, we have cut down a lot on Met Officers recently with video conferencing met briefs which work very well....but if it can work at a UK Air Station then why not use it abroad as well?
Admittedly the USAF Forecaster at Wideawake was based at Patrick however the USAF crews invariably visited the RAF Forecasters who, incidentally, were not uniformed. [/QUOTE]
smells fishy ..........
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provided they have done the course at Exeter they may be qualified. If not they are just briefing someonelses forcast.
anyway, enough about the Met Ratings .....
I heard today that the RAF Merlins which Were (are) being offered to the RN may be retained by the RAF due to the early demise of the Puma force. It would appear that the entire Puma force is being offered up as a lamb for the SDR ....the result of which would mean that the RAF would need to keep the merlin.... anyone else heard that..?
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I heard today that the RAF Merlins which Were (are) being offered to the RN may be retained by the RAF due to the early demise of the Puma force. It would appear that the entire Puma force is being offered up as a lamb for the SDR ....
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Quote from adminblunty:
"Tie the Aircrew FRI amount payable to the number of airline posts advertised on the most popular pilot recruitment website, i.e more posts advertised and the FRI does down."
This is the best cost-cutting idea yet adminblunty. Lots of civvy jobs for aircrew so REDUCE the financial RETENTION incentive...that way more aircrew leave for civvy jobs. Less people to fly the aircraft so now we can reduce airframe numbers. Less airframes to maintain, now let's get rid of the engineers. Less engineers, less people to admin, so less admin blunties...
And there was I thinking the aircrew FRI was about retaining aircrew, not supplementing the income we could have received outside had the jobs been available...although as policies go it sounds a winner to me
"Tie the Aircrew FRI amount payable to the number of airline posts advertised on the most popular pilot recruitment website, i.e more posts advertised and the FRI does down."
This is the best cost-cutting idea yet adminblunty. Lots of civvy jobs for aircrew so REDUCE the financial RETENTION incentive...that way more aircrew leave for civvy jobs. Less people to fly the aircraft so now we can reduce airframe numbers. Less airframes to maintain, now let's get rid of the engineers. Less engineers, less people to admin, so less admin blunties...
And there was I thinking the aircrew FRI was about retaining aircrew, not supplementing the income we could have received outside had the jobs been available...although as policies go it sounds a winner to me
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Canny ploy maybe....deny Junglies the Merlins.....Seaking pays off in 2016....end of RN in SH....RAF take over JHC....job done.
I think thats the point. If the RAF are seen as having sacrificed an entire aircraft force then this is going to see the end of the CHF's part within JHC - maybe not such a bad thing. The CHF would have to stand alone. Could they do it?
I heard today that the RAF Merlins which Were (are) being offered to the RN may be retained by the RAF due to the early demise of the Puma force. It would appear that the entire Puma force is being offered up as a lamb for the SDR ....the result of which would mean that the RAF would need to keep the merlin.... anyone else heard that..?
Not necessarily Grim,
2 sqn's of Puma's were due to stay vs 2 sqn's of Merlins that may stay.
I don't buy any of this anyway. The RAF chopping helicopters to save FJ after the last few years would be a PR disaster......wouldn't be the first time though!
And who says the RAF wants JHC?
2 sqn's of Puma's were due to stay vs 2 sqn's of Merlins that may stay.
I don't buy any of this anyway. The RAF chopping helicopters to save FJ after the last few years would be a PR disaster......wouldn't be the first time though!
And who says the RAF wants JHC?
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I refer the gentleman ...
Probably apocryphal, but the story of a toastmaster whose opening remark at a formal dinner in London was "My Lords, Ladies, Gentlemen ... and Naval Officers" springs to mind.
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VVC,
If the RAF keep Merlin there will not be a CHF in 6 year's time.
Mini,
Torpy did...."if it flies it should be ours" mantra. I have not heard a change in this policy, although the current CAS is much quieter on the subject - but the Irish parrot behind Torpy still sits on Dalton's shoulder.
If the RAF keep Merlin there will not be a CHF in 6 year's time.
Mini,
Torpy did...."if it flies it should be ours" mantra. I have not heard a change in this policy, although the current CAS is much quieter on the subject - but the Irish parrot behind Torpy still sits on Dalton's shoulder.