OCTU Briefing card
Don't knock it, I seem to recall that with the leadership card in ones top pocket, a few pine poles, a length of rope and an enthusiastic team of fellow cadets (anyone fancy a recourse) one could build the Eiffel Tower in the middle of Thetford Forest.
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I don't recall it at Jurby in 63. Being a serving airman, I only had to do Term 2, in which we learned how, when and in which circles to pass the Port.
I've been looking with wry amusement at its lack of usage in the NHS in my post-RAF days.
I've been looking with wry amusement at its lack of usage in the NHS in my post-RAF days.
one could build the Eiffel Tower in the middle of Thetford Forest
Myself and a fellow engineering graduate were called into the Sqn Cdr's office on IOT ("What have we done now?"); and informed that the King of Jordan was coming in two days, we could have two cadet flights, limitless pine poles and rope, barrels, etc, and we were to "Build something impressive".
King Hussein was duly impressed by a mini-version of the Golden Gate bridge - usable! (by very light cadets wearing 2 combat jackets each to look normal, and with rucksacks full of foam
).
I have several memories from my IOT flt commandeering days, but the abiding one is of a very cold bright morning on Salisbury Plain as my flight set off on their task -9 guys in front and one a few yards behind with 2 pine poles and several 40ft lashing ropes - sadly it was that cadet's lead - not an easy exercise report to write
Last edited by Wander00; 23rd Oct 2014 at 11:36.
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Thank you for all your help. I have copied the scanned card and checked out Mr Adair's website. I had forgotten how useful the leadership info was. Clear, simple and ultimately effective. And as one wag has suggested I should watch 12 o'clock High, not forgetting Yangtze Incident with Richard Todd.
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Leading from the front.......
I was at Henlow on 334 Cse (Blue Sqn) and my Flt Cdr was a Flt Lt Roebuck. We were his second course and it had been a wet and cold winter.....
During the camp at Stanta in Norfolk the local river (the Wissey) had burst its banks and water was practically everywhere. Sadly I can't claim the credit for what happened next but a recoursee (Keith W) had the lead and with "right flight, I'm not going to lead you anywhere I'm not prepared to go myself" proceeded to lead us deeper and deeper into the water. It got over our "privates" and nearly to our chests before it stared to get shallower.
Meanwhile, our illustrious Flt Cdr waited in the only dry patch as we all dutifully followed our leader for the exercise as we cracked on. (We had a one-for-all and all-for-one ethos in our flight...
.)
It was only when we had made it across that Flt. Lt. Roebuck, having no option than to follow us, duly did so. 3 months later at the end-of-course grad he confessed that it was the only time he'd got his feet wet inside his boots as a Flt Cdr, let alone 60% of his body. Naturally, he had no option but to commend the cadet lead for his leadership skills, even if Keith's navigation wasn't 100%. (Well Keith wasn't blame for that, we were both GD/P.....not GD/N after all.)
Happy days.
MB
I was at Henlow on 334 Cse (Blue Sqn) and my Flt Cdr was a Flt Lt Roebuck. We were his second course and it had been a wet and cold winter.....
During the camp at Stanta in Norfolk the local river (the Wissey) had burst its banks and water was practically everywhere. Sadly I can't claim the credit for what happened next but a recoursee (Keith W) had the lead and with "right flight, I'm not going to lead you anywhere I'm not prepared to go myself" proceeded to lead us deeper and deeper into the water. It got over our "privates" and nearly to our chests before it stared to get shallower.
Meanwhile, our illustrious Flt Cdr waited in the only dry patch as we all dutifully followed our leader for the exercise as we cracked on. (We had a one-for-all and all-for-one ethos in our flight...
.)It was only when we had made it across that Flt. Lt. Roebuck, having no option than to follow us, duly did so. 3 months later at the end-of-course grad he confessed that it was the only time he'd got his feet wet inside his boots as a Flt Cdr, let alone 60% of his body. Naturally, he had no option but to commend the cadet lead for his leadership skills
, even if Keith's navigation wasn't 100%. (Well Keith wasn't blame for that, we were both GD/P.....not GD/N after all.) Happy days.
MB
Gentleman Aviator
And as one wag has suggested I should watch 12 o'clock High,
Three times in one day IIRC!!
First time just to watch - then the "Functional Leadership" lecture(s).
Second time to make our own assessments of Gregory Peck and Gary Merrill's leadership.
Then the debrief and the "DS Solution".
And then a third time to see where we'd gone wrong!
NX593, may I steal your images of the FALA card to use for immoral and despicable purposes on my website? I'd hate for it to be lost forever. PM me your details so that I can credit you, please?
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As I remember, 12 o'clock high was used as an example of how to& how not to lead.
Also remember watching "War in the Air" series as part of the service history section of OPC at OCTU.
Also remember watching "War in the Air" series as part of the service history section of OPC at OCTU.
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Ahhh! Functional Leadership
Me,
Red Sqn. Henlow in 1970. Can't recall the course No.
One of our DS was a rock ape Flt.Lt.
After having done the lectures and watched 12 O'Clock High et al we were somewhere near a monument in Thetford. I can recall that it was dawn with snow and bloody cold.
Said rock ape got terribly upset about something or someone and proceeded to Bollock us all. During this bollocking he told us in no uncertain terms that functional leadership concepts were rubbish and the name of the game was to "get the bloody job done no matter what". I thought him to be a total tosser then and I still think that now.
I still use the concept to this day and guess what, it works.
Per Ardua Ad Loungebar
Red Sqn. Henlow in 1970. Can't recall the course No.
One of our DS was a rock ape Flt.Lt.
After having done the lectures and watched 12 O'Clock High et al we were somewhere near a monument in Thetford. I can recall that it was dawn with snow and bloody cold.
Said rock ape got terribly upset about something or someone and proceeded to Bollock us all. During this bollocking he told us in no uncertain terms that functional leadership concepts were rubbish and the name of the game was to "get the bloody job done no matter what". I thought him to be a total tosser then and I still think that now.
I still use the concept to this day and guess what, it works.
Per Ardua Ad Loungebar
FALA: is it still used?
And was/is it used at BRNC and Sandhurst?
I've been asked to teach a Btec unit on Leadership from the 'Uniformed Public Services' course at Level 3 (about equal to an AS Level).
It would be good if it were still used, especially at all three colleges of knowledges! Ta.
CG
I've been asked to teach a Btec unit on Leadership from the 'Uniformed Public Services' course at Level 3 (about equal to an AS Level).
It would be good if it were still used, especially at all three colleges of knowledges! Ta.
CG
Having spoken to an ex-pongo mate, sounds like it was used at Sandhurst. They got to watch 12 o'clock high too!
I gather Gregory Peck has now been replaced with Tom Hanks in Apollo 13. It seems that how to make something out of a complete clusterf#ck is deemed more appropriate for the modern RAF.
I gather Gregory Peck has now been replaced with Tom Hanks in Apollo 13. It seems that how to make something out of a complete clusterf#ck is deemed more appropriate for the modern RAF.
ISTR at some stage The Industrial Society went from using 12 O'clock High to the BBC Shackleton (the explorer, dummies) series. I taught using the "12 O'clock High" programme at the Towers 82-84
Last edited by Wander00; 10th Apr 2015 at 08:50.
I went through Cranditz after it went comprehensive in the early 80's when political correctness wasn't heard of and the big battle plan revolved around turning most of Eastern Europe into glass. I suspect FALA is a bit too direct for modern sensitive officer types and a more touch-feely fluffy bunny approach is more appropriate.
I know someone who I can ask though.
I know someone who I can ask though.
