What a waste, what a fool.
Thread Starter
What a waste, what a fool.
Thread Starter
BV, fair comment, you know the guy but the reputational damage to the RAF is immense.
AP
I disagree. An entire organisation can't be held responsible for the actions of one of it's employees.
Trying so hard not to get sucked into any forthcoming debate. I think I'll just keep schtum now.
BV
Trying so hard not to get sucked into any forthcoming debate. I think I'll just keep schtum now.
BV
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I disagree. An entire organisation can't be held responsible for the actions of one of it's employees.
Reputationally, this sad incident will not do the RAF any good; arguably more damage has been inflicted on us by the photograph of the chap carrying an M&S suit cover...the Army will have a field day!
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"Failure is a stepping stone to success"
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The story appears to be limited to the Daily Mail today. The others will probably jump on the bandwagon tomorrow but the 'news' will be lost in pages of shock, horror, we have had a storm. Mother Nature may provide damage limitation.
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I'm going along with BV and stowing the judgement, irrespective of the fallout. But given that it all appears a little clear cut, black and white, perhaps it is worth noting that quite often we get reminded that we are not the paragons of virtue, we think we are and we portray ourselves as.
I'm damn sure all of us that served saw behavior from time to time that made us stop in our tracks and think WTF!!??
Spectacular way to screw up his flying career for ever...lessons learnt might be more useful that wrathful condemnation.
I'm damn sure all of us that served saw behavior from time to time that made us stop in our tracks and think WTF!!??
Spectacular way to screw up his flying career for ever...lessons learnt might be more useful that wrathful condemnation.
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With the MoD anti-narcotic regime that is in place with the Armed Forces; specifically the Compulsory Drug Testing Team arriving on station without notice - locking down the unit - and randomly testing all ranks, he was dancing with the devil.
In nearly four decades of service, I have heard of the odd individual getting caught by CDT having used Marijuana but never any of the drugs more associated with guests of Jeremy Kyle on morning TV weekdays.
It is so irregular, that focus should be placed on why this situation developed to the point it has, setting individual personalities aside. It could as easy be symptomatic of one mans release from the stresses of a decade of warfare as it could the epitomy of individual arrogance. For sure it is better than suicide and if the story is accurately written (& I know how naive that sounds) it appears the individual was beyond caring.
In nearly four decades of service, I have heard of the odd individual getting caught by CDT having used Marijuana but never any of the drugs more associated with guests of Jeremy Kyle on morning TV weekdays.
It is so irregular, that focus should be placed on why this situation developed to the point it has, setting individual personalities aside. It could as easy be symptomatic of one mans release from the stresses of a decade of warfare as it could the epitomy of individual arrogance. For sure it is better than suicide and if the story is accurately written (& I know how naive that sounds) it appears the individual was beyond caring.
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A man, who in other circumstances would be considered a credit to his country, has behaved badly He has been punished and his peers and superiors will no doubt also be in an uncomfortable position.
However, the situation is what it is and the RAF will continue to be the RAF. Talk of 'damage limitation' and worry about how the Army will view the RAF just legitimises the concern that there maybe something more to hide. Contrary to what may appear in the Daily Mail, the British public aren't stupid. They know that humans fail - there are plenty of examples at the moment in politics, banking and commerce - but they also realise that organisations overcome those failings and life goes on.
However, the situation is what it is and the RAF will continue to be the RAF. Talk of 'damage limitation' and worry about how the Army will view the RAF just legitimises the concern that there maybe something more to hide. Contrary to what may appear in the Daily Mail, the British public aren't stupid. They know that humans fail - there are plenty of examples at the moment in politics, banking and commerce - but they also realise that organisations overcome those failings and life goes on.
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"An entire organisation can't be held responsible for the actions of one of it's employees"
In the same way the CIA are having to combat adverse publicity right now I suppose. I would think that this chap wasn't really thinking about the potential wider implications for the reputation of the RAF, if caught.
In the same way the CIA are having to combat adverse publicity right now I suppose. I would think that this chap wasn't really thinking about the potential wider implications for the reputation of the RAF, if caught.
Whilst his act deserved punishment. I suspect there was a trail of signs leading to this outcome. His colleagues may of noticed a change in behaviour or appearance. I would suggest an intelligent man does not go from zero to taking coke in his room in one step. The question for the hierarchy is "why and could we have prevented this"
Deserved everything he got. I'm amazed at some of the comments on the newspaper site condemning the young officer for reporting the incident. How long would it take before his actions started to put lives at risk.
FFS!
He took coke a few times, he is hardly a "junkie!!" and nowhere near an addict. Do you have any idea of just how wide spread the recreational use of this drug is?
It's like calling someone who has drunk a few glasses of whisky an alcoholic.
He was far more foolish in terms of blabbing about it and mentioning it in what seems to be a desire to impress, that, far more than anything else, would worry me about his judgement.
Change of behaviour, appearance? Oh please...............
You sound like you are discussing a heroin addict.
He took coke a few times, he is hardly a "junkie!!" and nowhere near an addict. Do you have any idea of just how wide spread the recreational use of this drug is?
It's like calling someone who has drunk a few glasses of whisky an alcoholic.
He was far more foolish in terms of blabbing about it and mentioning it in what seems to be a desire to impress, that, far more than anything else, would worry me about his judgement.
Change of behaviour, appearance? Oh please...............
You sound like you are discussing a heroin addict.
pr00ne
sounds like you know a lot about cocaine!!Wonder if the groundcrew that service the aircraft this officer flies in take the same amount ?Mind you a hangover is probably no different than taking"coke"but I have never tried it .
Without checking, I know there have been recent-ish threads about an officer who 'bigged up' his bravery to gain medals; one who allegedly climbed in a window to force himself on a fellow officer; and movers using the coffins of heroes to smuggle stuff.
The armed forces seem to have survived these revelations, and seem able and willing to perpetrate acts of outstanding gallantry as regularly as if they were putting out the rubbish.
I actually feel sorry for the guy (after my initial WTF outrage bus moment subsided)- is he a 'stable extrovert' who has started to struggle?
Very quickly old news I suspect.
CG
The armed forces seem to have survived these revelations, and seem able and willing to perpetrate acts of outstanding gallantry as regularly as if they were putting out the rubbish.
I actually feel sorry for the guy (after my initial WTF outrage bus moment subsided)- is he a 'stable extrovert' who has started to struggle?
Very quickly old news I suspect.
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pr00ne - Indeed. Sadly comments comparing him to being a 'junkie' or the type one might see on Jeremy Kyle are indicative of a forum where many of the users are either completely stuck in their "in the good old days" ways or are closed-minded to the realities of what goes on outside the wire.
In my day job I regularly meet functional recreational drug users and I'm sure the statistics would confirm that there is a high probability that a number of my colleagues are such individuals too. Just as many folk who work in high stress enviroments use alcohol to blow off steam so to do folk use illicit drugs recreationally. As 'pr00ne' alludes to, this doesn't make them junkies.
In my day job I regularly meet functional recreational drug users and I'm sure the statistics would confirm that there is a high probability that a number of my colleagues are such individuals too. Just as many folk who work in high stress enviroments use alcohol to blow off steam so to do folk use illicit drugs recreationally. As 'pr00ne' alludes to, this doesn't make them junkies.
Last edited by The Helpful Stacker; 10th Dec 2014 at 17:59.
