Well done CAS
At the risk of repetition, this is a bit of what the Grauniad article said about CAS' interview (my bold)
Isn't that just the sort of stuff that we've been hoping some chief would say?
airsound
The first of the service chiefs to speak out about the current funding crisis, Dalton dismissed outright any suggestion that the RAF might be merged with the army or the navy to save money and said it was inconceivable that the RAF would ever want to scale back and lose its global reach.
He also acknowledged that morale had been affected by a massive reduction in the Ministry of Defence's budget – 8% in real terms.
"People do feel concerned. Of course they feel concerned, they have a professional pride in what they do. They don't join the RAF as if they are joining a bank or an insurance company. They join the RAF because they want to be part of something that does something much bigger and better and, most importantly, has some meaning and value for everyone," Dalton said.
"So of course they are concerned. The world has become a very much more unstable place and again we have seen that in the last few days.
"They also think there is a need to make sure the government, the public, understands what they do, and understands that they are prepared to do these things provided what they do is recognised."
He also acknowledged that morale had been affected by a massive reduction in the Ministry of Defence's budget – 8% in real terms.
"People do feel concerned. Of course they feel concerned, they have a professional pride in what they do. They don't join the RAF as if they are joining a bank or an insurance company. They join the RAF because they want to be part of something that does something much bigger and better and, most importantly, has some meaning and value for everyone," Dalton said.
"So of course they are concerned. The world has become a very much more unstable place and again we have seen that in the last few days.
"They also think there is a need to make sure the government, the public, understands what they do, and understands that they are prepared to do these things provided what they do is recognised."
airsound
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Airsound
yes, it is. Unfortunately, for many of us, it's way too late. Our aircraft have been shredded, our station is being dismantled around our ears and our role has been dismissed as suddenly irrelevant. Our past endeavours have been ignored in favour of cheap political gains today, our commitment and dedication have been rewarded with redundancy, or even worse, the silent threat of not being made redundant!
I attended 42R Sqn's 95th (and probably final) Anniversary this weekend and watched senior (and some not so senior) officers crying, and yes, I was one of those who
, as opposed to being a senior officer!
I felt immensely proud to have been part of the fleet for 20 years, worked with some of the finest professional aircrew and groundcrew I have ever had the pleasure of working with and was suitably moved by the sight of the Sqn standard being marched out of a dining-in night for the last time.
A big thank you to all on the team who organized an outstanding weekend of dignified celebration, commemoration and remembrance of an outstanding Sqn.
The answer is always 42.
Fortiter In Re
I attended 42R Sqn's 95th (and probably final) Anniversary this weekend and watched senior (and some not so senior) officers crying, and yes, I was one of those who
, as opposed to being a senior officer!I felt immensely proud to have been part of the fleet for 20 years, worked with some of the finest professional aircrew and groundcrew I have ever had the pleasure of working with and was suitably moved by the sight of the Sqn standard being marched out of a dining-in night for the last time.
A big thank you to all on the team who organized an outstanding weekend of dignified celebration, commemoration and remembrance of an outstanding Sqn.
The answer is always 42.
Fortiter In Re
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I still do not get it.....
HMG can do a U turn on forests and the NHS, and yet in direct contradiction to what the Prime Minister said during the SDSR (paraphased as 'the UK should reduce its commitments around the world and live within its means) then how can we continue with these cuts with our Prime Minister still getting involved in world events (in real terms I see UK Defence commitments and contingency planning increasing post SDSR - not reducing).
It did not take the brains of an Arch Bishop to forecast that global NEOs, civil unrest, disaster relief etc etc were all going to happen in the next 5 years.
Although I have always agreed that our leadership is by far superior to the other 2 services (they have conducted some extremely clever staff work in the last 5 years) I still am not slapping CAS on the back for a job well done.
We either live with in our (military) means and put into real practice the 8% budget cut and due to this funding/resource reduction make a compensatory reduction in commitments, or we continuing funding of British defence in line with our political masters (voted by the public) aspirations.
HMG and the British public cannot have it all - either cut defence and step off the world stage or resource and fund it properly.
I would like CAS (and all of the other service chiefs) to unite and get the SDSR reviewed akin to forests and NHS - Force 2020 looks a long way off from where I am sitting in this unstable world.
If it is too politically embarrassing to admit that the SDSR was rushed, then at least get HMT to cough up enough funding to see us through to the next SDSR - and lets start now to conduct a proper job that is not rushed through purely to satisfy the HMT myopic focus on rapidly reducing the national debt at all costs.
HMG can do a U turn on forests and the NHS, and yet in direct contradiction to what the Prime Minister said during the SDSR (paraphased as 'the UK should reduce its commitments around the world and live within its means) then how can we continue with these cuts with our Prime Minister still getting involved in world events (in real terms I see UK Defence commitments and contingency planning increasing post SDSR - not reducing).
It did not take the brains of an Arch Bishop to forecast that global NEOs, civil unrest, disaster relief etc etc were all going to happen in the next 5 years.
Although I have always agreed that our leadership is by far superior to the other 2 services (they have conducted some extremely clever staff work in the last 5 years) I still am not slapping CAS on the back for a job well done.
We either live with in our (military) means and put into real practice the 8% budget cut and due to this funding/resource reduction make a compensatory reduction in commitments, or we continuing funding of British defence in line with our political masters (voted by the public) aspirations.
HMG and the British public cannot have it all - either cut defence and step off the world stage or resource and fund it properly.
I would like CAS (and all of the other service chiefs) to unite and get the SDSR reviewed akin to forests and NHS - Force 2020 looks a long way off from where I am sitting in this unstable world.
If it is too politically embarrassing to admit that the SDSR was rushed, then at least get HMT to cough up enough funding to see us through to the next SDSR - and lets start now to conduct a proper job that is not rushed through purely to satisfy the HMT myopic focus on rapidly reducing the national debt at all costs.
Last edited by MaroonMan4; 6th Apr 2011 at 05:28.
There are no votes in Defence, simples!
The combined strength of both the RN and the RAF will soon not even fill one Premiership Football ground.
I am surprised that 'Dave' got involved in Libya. By doing so he has just proven himself to be 'Heir to Blair'. Another Liberal without a clue.
I was in the Westminster village three weeks ago and went to several meetings (inc 10 minutes with the man himself
). The level of ignorance is breathtaking.
But hey, that's politics. It's not about Ethos or Covenants, it's about power and holding onto it.
The combined strength of both the RN and the RAF will soon not even fill one Premiership Football ground.
I am surprised that 'Dave' got involved in Libya. By doing so he has just proven himself to be 'Heir to Blair'. Another Liberal without a clue.
I was in the Westminster village three weeks ago and went to several meetings (inc 10 minutes with the man himself
). The level of ignorance is breathtaking. But hey, that's politics. It's not about Ethos or Covenants, it's about power and holding onto it.
MaroonMan4,
Actually, I think the view of most politicians in power is that they CAN have it all. Yes, the military complain and moan, but ultimately they always get the job done. The only political risk is when loss of life can be traced DIRECTLY to lack of funding (thus the effort to get body armour and helicopters).
It will not be until we actually fail on a mission that we can really expect to get more funding.
HMG and the British public cannot have it all - either cut defence and step off the world stage or resource and fund it properly.
It will not be until we actually fail on a mission that we can really expect to get more funding.
Originally Posted by Red Line Entry
Actually, I think the view of most politicians in power is that they CAN have it all. Yes, the military complain and moan, but ultimately they always get the job done. The only political risk is when loss of life can be traced DIRECTLY to lack of funding (thus the effort to get body armour and helicopters).
It will not be until we actually fail on a mission that we can really expect to get more funding.
It will not be until we actually fail on a mission that we can really expect to get more funding.
