Resigning letter of a fighter pilot to his boss 2009
Gentleman Aviator
Indeed so MPN.
Fortunately, as a fully paid-up member of the SH Force, I could dress appropriately as a Joint SO2!
Colleagues in the HQ even decided I was an "Air Major" rather than a Sqn Ldr - confused the postmen a bit though
Fortunately, as a fully paid-up member of the SH Force, I could dress appropriately as a Joint SO2!
Colleagues in the HQ even decided I was an "Air Major" rather than a Sqn Ldr - confused the postmen a bit though
DPM what a pain that was....
.....as an Oggie in the early 2000s I was sent as a member of an exercise analysis team for a NATO exercise. It had been decided that we Oggies would wear DPM although none of the aircrew/groundcrew would.
Consternation reigned in the face of the German Navy Commander who was our team boss. After a day or two he came to me and said "You are/were aircrew, you think like a submariner but you dress like a soldier??? I shall call you The Ancient Mariner". He then proceeded to to quote from the "rhyme of the ancient mariner" by Mr S T Coleridge word perfectly. I objected to the line "grey bearded loon" but it was an impressive performance. (He was also pleased that I was the only one on the team prepared to be paired with the French Navy officer. The Canuck refused point blank!)
Hence my signature block below.
The Ancient Mariner
Consternation reigned in the face of the German Navy Commander who was our team boss. After a day or two he came to me and said "You are/were aircrew, you think like a submariner but you dress like a soldier??? I shall call you The Ancient Mariner". He then proceeded to to quote from the "rhyme of the ancient mariner" by Mr S T Coleridge word perfectly. I objected to the line "grey bearded loon" but it was an impressive performance. (He was also pleased that I was the only one on the team prepared to be paired with the French Navy officer. The Canuck refused point blank!)
Hence my signature block below.
The Ancient Mariner
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,812
Received 137 Likes
on
64 Posts
About the time my OH was there as IOT DS. There were several well-dressed gentlemen in those days 
As PMC at Stanley in 83, I presided over a Stn Guest Night with everyone in DPM and black tie.
Standards, old chap ... must maintain standards
As PMC at Stanley in 83, I presided over a Stn Guest Night with everyone in DPM and black tie.
Standards, old chap ... must maintain standards
Late 80s. SH had a reputation with the Pongos for wearing a wide variety of garments on exercise and The Powers That Be decreed that we should be more uniform in appearance when working with the army. As the first captain to have to enforce this I told my crew, in front of the authorising Flt Cdr, that I expected them to wear only issued flying clothing for our forthcoming sortie. Slight frown from auth and knowing smiles from the crew.....with a little collusion we ensured that not only were we differently attired, no garment appeared twice between the four of us! The directive was subsequently quietly dropped!
The dirty little secret behind those promotion messages
Major to LCol: Remove Heart
LCol to Col: Remove Spine
Col to General Officer: Remove Brain
After 36.5 years in the Mob as a Reserve officer, I got the PFO letter from the big guy. Had a great run, made it 3 ranks higher than I ever expected.
I have only one boast. Every higher ranking officer gets issued a magazine with 5 silver bullets. I will retire with "no rounds in my possession, sir"
Sadly far too many leaders will retire without the stones to fire even one silver bullet for the betterment of an individual grievously wronged or the organizational good...
Major to LCol: Remove Heart
LCol to Col: Remove Spine
Col to General Officer: Remove Brain
After 36.5 years in the Mob as a Reserve officer, I got the PFO letter from the big guy. Had a great run, made it 3 ranks higher than I ever expected.
I have only one boast. Every higher ranking officer gets issued a magazine with 5 silver bullets. I will retire with "no rounds in my possession, sir"
Sadly far too many leaders will retire without the stones to fire even one silver bullet for the betterment of an individual grievously wronged or the organizational good...
