New CDS Announced
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How do you justify that statement?
He is not the man that the MOD recommended.
He is a politicians choice.
That is not a universally recognised stamp of quality in military bosses.....
This thread would give the impression that the RAF finds him a universally popular choice and a generally all round good bloke.
I don't know the man, but I currently work with 95% ex RAF.
A little bit of asking the RAF/Army guys got these responses.
RAF chap 1:- "Tw@t. Typical F3 angry nav"
RAF chap 2:- "Quite clever, utter @~~t"
(personally, I find that latter response quite heartening since that is exactly what I do want running the military)
Army chap "Used to work with him and Admiral Z at different times when I was in PJHQ. Admiral Z is a lovely bloke, used to make me drink with him. Completely barking like Melchett off Blackadder. Mad as a fish. New CDS however is an awful arrogant ill-mannered human being"
The Army chap also had some very interesting info re the behind the scenes manoeuvring and why it has turned out like it has which I await with interest to see what the future holds. He thinks that the Marine might be being prepared for the top job.
He is not the man that the MOD recommended.
He is a politicians choice.
That is not a universally recognised stamp of quality in military bosses.....
This thread would give the impression that the RAF finds him a universally popular choice and a generally all round good bloke.
I don't know the man, but I currently work with 95% ex RAF.
A little bit of asking the RAF/Army guys got these responses.
RAF chap 1:- "Tw@t. Typical F3 angry nav"
RAF chap 2:- "Quite clever, utter @~~t"
(personally, I find that latter response quite heartening since that is exactly what I do want running the military)
Army chap "Used to work with him and Admiral Z at different times when I was in PJHQ. Admiral Z is a lovely bloke, used to make me drink with him. Completely barking like Melchett off Blackadder. Mad as a fish. New CDS however is an awful arrogant ill-mannered human being"
The Army chap also had some very interesting info re the behind the scenes manoeuvring and why it has turned out like it has which I await with interest to see what the future holds. He thinks that the Marine might be being prepared for the top job.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He is not the man that the MOD recommended
Why would any sensible politician accede to the MOD's advice?
Oh, and Tourist, I have served on the same sqn as Peachy and utterly refute your ex-RAF mates denigration of him.
I am with Courtney Mil: the best man for the job.
Tourist
If you're still serving you should PVR immediately in disgust. That'll show them.
After all, that's what many on the 'shop floor' demand our VSOs should do when they don't get what they want.....
If you're still serving you should PVR immediately in disgust. That'll show them.
After all, that's what many on the 'shop floor' demand our VSOs should do when they don't get what they want.....
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm, this is the MOD that has destroyed an airworthiness system, tried to blame the MoK pilots, attempted to procure the Nimrod AEW3 and MRA4 and, who's most recent track record is to prove its inability to manage a fleet of air cadet gliders.
Why would any sensible politician accede to the MOD's advice?
Oh, and Tourist, I have served on the same sqn as Peachy and utterly refute your ex-RAF mates denigration of him.
I am with Courtney Mil: the best man for the job.
Why would any sensible politician accede to the MOD's advice?
Oh, and Tourist, I have served on the same sqn as Peachy and utterly refute your ex-RAF mates denigration of him.
I am with Courtney Mil: the best man for the job.
Politicians are better than MOD at choosing military men!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The job of a CDS is to advise the Prime Minister.
The previous guys either put across bad plans for the wars or failed to dissuade ministers from employing bad plans.
Either way, it is not disgust they should resign in, but shame!
They have failed to do their primary task.
We know this because we lost.
Twice!
There is never an excuse for losing a war of our own choosing....
I, by contrast, do my task with an average amount of success, thus no impetus to resign whatsoever
Tourist,
I also served with him and I do think him to be the best man for the job. I also disagree with your ex-RAF chaps' comments: he's not quite clever, he's very clever. Apart from that, they're totally spot on!
I also served with him and I do think him to be the best man for the job. I also disagree with your ex-RAF chaps' comments: he's not quite clever, he's very clever. Apart from that, they're totally spot on!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: An Ivory Tower
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tourist, you seemed a little cynical about:
"Politicians are better than MOD at choosing military men!"
You do know who/what MOD is?
Chiefs of the Defence Staff are appointed on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Defence to the Prime Minister
"Politicians are better than MOD at choosing military men!"
You do know who/what MOD is?
Chiefs of the Defence Staff are appointed on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Defence to the Prime Minister
Join Date: May 2000
Location: UK and where I'm sent!
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tourist,
Your straw poll of EX-RAF mates is not representative of CURRENT mates, RAF or otherwise. I'm sure you will hear and beleive what you choose to hear and your obvious bitterness that it's not a RN guy will continue. All I can tell you is that the vast majority of currently serving "chaps" are delighted with the selection and seem, mysteriously, not to share the opinion of your cynical, retired has-beens that have lost touch with today's military - no offence intended to those retired "chaps" that post here with considerable knowledge.
Your straw poll of EX-RAF mates is not representative of CURRENT mates, RAF or otherwise. I'm sure you will hear and beleive what you choose to hear and your obvious bitterness that it's not a RN guy will continue. All I can tell you is that the vast majority of currently serving "chaps" are delighted with the selection and seem, mysteriously, not to share the opinion of your cynical, retired has-beens that have lost touch with today's military - no offence intended to those retired "chaps" that post here with considerable knowledge.
Perhaps the current chaps were not exposed to the new man when he was at Wg Cdr/ Gp Capt level.
Last edited by langleybaston; 30th Jan 2016 at 21:24.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Odiham
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tourist, you seemed a little cynical about:
"Politicians are better than MOD at choosing military men!"
You do know who/what MOD is?
Chiefs of the Defence Staff are appointed on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Defence to the Prime Minister
"Politicians are better than MOD at choosing military men!"
You do know who/what MOD is?
Chiefs of the Defence Staff are appointed on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Defence to the Prime Minister
I don't know any of them, I'm sure they are all equally good but it is a political appointment. Had the PM chosen someone else I'm sure others would say he was the best man over Peach. I think (?) this is the point Tourist is making which has been lost in an inter service slanging match.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: UK and where I'm sent!
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chinny, you are pretty much right, as is London Eye. The submissions go up, through the Secretary to the PM. The process this time was not as cut and dried as you may have "heard" and whilst there was some unofficial briefing, it did not necessarily reflect what was going on. What you may not be aware of is the balls of the PM in picking the man most likely to give the polis the biggest headache on behalf of the Armed Forces. A very interesting choice and not without its reasons.
As for tribalism, be a little careful about whom you level that accusation at.
Tourist should be able to speak for himself although he's a long time out of the Forces, so I doubt his familiarity with the process or the personalities involved.
As for tribalism, be a little careful about whom you level that accusation at.
Tourist should be able to speak for himself although he's a long time out of the Forces, so I doubt his familiarity with the process or the personalities involved.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Odiham
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
However it happened I hope the appointment is a success.
As for being careful, it's the Internet no one is careful on the Internet as some of the above posts show but it's not me flaming. Tourist I'm sure will be along in the fullness of time to comment on my assumptions about his opinions.
As for being careful, it's the Internet no one is careful on the Internet as some of the above posts show but it's not me flaming. Tourist I'm sure will be along in the fullness of time to comment on my assumptions about his opinions.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tourist,
Your straw poll of EX-RAF mates is not representative of CURRENT mates, RAF or otherwise. I'm sure you will hear and beleive what you choose to hear and your obvious bitterness that it's not a RN guy will continue. All I can tell you is that the vast majority of currently serving "chaps" are delighted with the selection and seem, mysteriously, not to share the opinion of your cynical, retired has-beens that have lost touch with today's military - no offence intended to those retired "chaps" that post here with considerable knowledge.
Your straw poll of EX-RAF mates is not representative of CURRENT mates, RAF or otherwise. I'm sure you will hear and beleive what you choose to hear and your obvious bitterness that it's not a RN guy will continue. All I can tell you is that the vast majority of currently serving "chaps" are delighted with the selection and seem, mysteriously, not to share the opinion of your cynical, retired has-beens that have lost touch with today's military - no offence intended to those retired "chaps" that post here with considerable knowledge.
Incidentally, where do you get the impression I am a long time out of the forces?
I have never met the new CDS, but it is obvious from the responses on here that the general trend if not the detail of my advisors is fairly accurate.
Chinny is basically correct. I don't think that it is a position that should be chosen by the PM, and I do think that rotation keeps the worst aspects of tribalism at bay.
The RN will always think their guy is the most suitable, the RAF their guy etc etc.
Personally I believe that tribalism is a good thing in the main, and helps to give something to strive for. Militaries which have gone single service have found it not very satisfying, and while jointery is always sold as fantastic by higher ups, it is often painful as operators for all concerned seemingly often ending up lowest common denominator rather than highest.
A good example is the RN and RM. Totally separate, fiercely tribal, but work fantastically well together
The simple fact is that after x years in a service, you are going to be institutionalised to some degree.
No RN Admiral is ever going to suggest that we should get rid of carriers.
No RAF Air Marshall is ever going to think that the Army are the best people to operate Apache etc etc.
Too much time with any one service at the top will inevitably cause bias at the political level.