RAF Strategy
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Wow, surprised so many are saying this is a good doc. I thought it was a shocker, poorly constructed with no common thread, jumps around from one topic or ambition or objective to another, repetitive but really says nothing at all of any substance. I think I gave up when i got to "Thinking to Win" - who thought that one up?
Hopefully something good will come of it for those actually serving.
Hopefully something good will come of it for those actually serving.
Actually (pedant mode on) it's been a lot worse than decimation.
In 1984 we spent 5.5% of GDP on Defence, now we spend (after some accountancy fudges) 2%. Each aircraft is also, proportionately, more expensive than those of the 1980s. So it's hardly a surprise the front line is radically smaller than that of yesteryear.
So what should our current leadership do? I suppose they could just sit on PPruNe and winge about how life is so unfair, but I far prefer it that they try to articulate how they intend to build a future with the resources they are being given.
In 1984 we spent 5.5% of GDP on Defence, now we spend (after some accountancy fudges) 2%. Each aircraft is also, proportionately, more expensive than those of the 1980s. So it's hardly a surprise the front line is radically smaller than that of yesteryear.
So what should our current leadership do? I suppose they could just sit on PPruNe and winge about how life is so unfair, but I far prefer it that they try to articulate how they intend to build a future with the resources they are being given.
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Guilty, I have not bothered to read the link for the simple reason that I judge the RAF on its results and unless one is highly optimistic about the future or on prozac the past 20 years reveals an organisation in decline.
Strategy is useless if Senior Officers lack the Balls and resources to deliver it. Bader had the courage or arrogance to declare his Sqn non operational in 1940 how many of today's Sqn Commanders would deliver that kind of news to Group?
Strategy is useless if Senior Officers lack the Balls and resources to deliver it. Bader had the courage or arrogance to declare his Sqn non operational in 1940 how many of today's Sqn Commanders would deliver that kind of news to Group?
I think there's a few posters here who seem to lack (or prefer to ignore) the state of public finances against the eye-watering costs of maintaining modern Armed Forces.
As I said above, the RAF and the RN are going from a period of managed decline to one of growth. Wehether you ike it or not, this requires buy-in from staff, as well as a strategy on how to deliver it.
I agree it's sad that we no longer have RAFG, Singapore, over 100 bases in teh UK etc, etc...but that's the reality of trying to run an expensive organisation within a budget. Oh yes, we also employ gays and women these days, so yes, the RAF is a dverse organisation.
As I said above, the RAF and the RN are going from a period of managed decline to one of growth. Wehether you ike it or not, this requires buy-in from staff, as well as a strategy on how to deliver it.
I agree it's sad that we no longer have RAFG, Singapore, over 100 bases in teh UK etc, etc...but that's the reality of trying to run an expensive organisation within a budget. Oh yes, we also employ gays and women these days, so yes, the RAF is a dverse organisation.
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I beg your pardon in advance for commenting on this purely UK-internal business. Looked at those slides just out of curiousity.
This document reminds me a collection of slogans from the communist party activists in 70's and 80's USSR. In reality, such docs usually start with a threat model (quantitative) analysis (e.g. scenarios such as "Russia", "failed state", "jihadist insurgency", "Argentina-2", etc.), then own forces state-of-the-art analysis vs. identified threats and scenarios, etc. etc. and ending up with the timeline to reach the required numbers of various kinds of equipment through the lookahead period.
I am sure such a real (and top secret) document exists and is regularly updated, while the published one is rather for a general public, kids and civil bureaucrats (like EU).
This document reminds me a collection of slogans from the communist party activists in 70's and 80's USSR. In reality, such docs usually start with a threat model (quantitative) analysis (e.g. scenarios such as "Russia", "failed state", "jihadist insurgency", "Argentina-2", etc.), then own forces state-of-the-art analysis vs. identified threats and scenarios, etc. etc. and ending up with the timeline to reach the required numbers of various kinds of equipment through the lookahead period.
I am sure such a real (and top secret) document exists and is regularly updated, while the published one is rather for a general public, kids and civil bureaucrats (like EU).
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigpants View Post
Guilty, I have not bothered to read the link for the simple reason that I judge the RAF on its results and unless one is highly optimistic about the future or on prozac the past 20 years reveals an organisation in decline.
Strategy is useless if Senior Officers lack the Balls and resources to deliver it. Bader had the courage or arrogance to declare his Sqn non operational in 1940 how many of today's Sqn Commanders would deliver that kind of news to Group?
That's easy.......None! Knighthoods and Pensions to worry about don't you know. They'd rather run their personnel ragged than admit what's staring them in the face. Sadly, the "can do" attitude of said personnel saves their ar$e every time.
Originally Posted by Bigpants View Post
Guilty, I have not bothered to read the link for the simple reason that I judge the RAF on its results and unless one is highly optimistic about the future or on prozac the past 20 years reveals an organisation in decline.
Strategy is useless if Senior Officers lack the Balls and resources to deliver it. Bader had the courage or arrogance to declare his Sqn non operational in 1940 how many of today's Sqn Commanders would deliver that kind of news to Group?
That's easy.......None! Knighthoods and Pensions to worry about don't you know. They'd rather run their personnel ragged than admit what's staring them in the face. Sadly, the "can do" attitude of said personnel saves their ar$e every time.
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Thanks, downsizer for the brief.
I think whenurhappy hit the nail on the head.
Also, how many people actually look at other corporate websites to compare and contrast about mission statements and all the rest of it?= I've just looked at Tesco, J Sainsbury and was quite impressed. Up to date info, quarterly results, the board.... the whole caboodle. Maybe all UK Armed Services should take a lead from them.
But the two banks I've just looked at as well...terrible as regards trying to glean what their strategy is... but no surprise there (Lloyds and Barclays).
Going to try and find the Navy website.
I think whenurhappy hit the nail on the head.
Also, how many people actually look at other corporate websites to compare and contrast about mission statements and all the rest of it?= I've just looked at Tesco, J Sainsbury and was quite impressed. Up to date info, quarterly results, the board.... the whole caboodle. Maybe all UK Armed Services should take a lead from them.
But the two banks I've just looked at as well...terrible as regards trying to glean what their strategy is... but no surprise there (Lloyds and Barclays).
Going to try and find the Navy website.
Last edited by Hangarshuffle; 18th Jan 2017 at 18:33.
Echoing my comment on a parallel thread - I bet the French don't put out waffle like that. In fact, I bet they don't even have VSOs sitting around writing stuff like that. In any case - as another poster pointed out - just who is the intended audience for that baloney?
no plan survives first contact with the enemy or treasury! I did like the bit about increasing ISR capability though (guess they had to put that in as we've gone and said we're buying lots of it...)
Andrewn
In other words, it is perfect for today's audience.
Had a presentation a few weeks ago regarding current recruiting strategy. Presenter started off by saying that what you are about to see is not aimed at those who have been in for a few years, those who have been in for more than a few years and definitely not for you civilians who retired years ago and are now back as CS/contractors. This is designed for the RAF of tomorrow and we need to encourage the 'popcorn society'. Youngsters who want to be able to absorb information in digital form, no great depth, attention getting and offers them the opportunity to be able to do more than one 'job' in what will probably be a maximum of 12 years in uniform.
Very apt and as the father of two who are in their 20s I can see where he is coming from.
Times aren't changing, they have changed and although the link is not to everyone's liking it is, IMHO, targeted very well at the actual audience it is intended for.
Had a presentation a few weeks ago regarding current recruiting strategy. Presenter started off by saying that what you are about to see is not aimed at those who have been in for a few years, those who have been in for more than a few years and definitely not for you civilians who retired years ago and are now back as CS/contractors. This is designed for the RAF of tomorrow and we need to encourage the 'popcorn society'. Youngsters who want to be able to absorb information in digital form, no great depth, attention getting and offers them the opportunity to be able to do more than one 'job' in what will probably be a maximum of 12 years in uniform.
Very apt and as the father of two who are in their 20s I can see where he is coming from.
Times aren't changing, they have changed and although the link is not to everyone's liking it is, IMHO, targeted very well at the actual audience it is intended for.
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I think there's a few posters here who seem to lack (or prefer to ignore) the state of public finances
But the two banks I've just looked at as well...terrible as regards trying to glean what their strategy is... but no surprise there (Lloyds and Barclays).
Government loses another £130m on Lloyds Bank bailout after cutting stake below 7% | The Independent
I've just read CAS's foreword.
"The future will inevitably present us with new challenges as our enemies adapt and it becomes harder to retain and recruit the people we need, but we control the levers to address these problems."
Is he saying that the remuneration package offered to servicemen is in his gift or maybe he's happy with the current experience levels of RAF personnel and doesn't need to pull this 'lever'?
A small further point
In the the penultimate paragraph there a space missing before the penultimate sentence. Pedantic perhaps but if you're going to publish such a document for public consumption at least proofread it first.
I'll get back to you when I've read more.
"The future will inevitably present us with new challenges as our enemies adapt and it becomes harder to retain and recruit the people we need, but we control the levers to address these problems."
Is he saying that the remuneration package offered to servicemen is in his gift or maybe he's happy with the current experience levels of RAF personnel and doesn't need to pull this 'lever'?
A small further point
In the the penultimate paragraph there a space missing before the penultimate sentence. Pedantic perhaps but if you're going to publish such a document for public consumption at least proofread it first.
I'll get back to you when I've read more.
An Air Force that is "growing"!!??
What an awful piece of doublethink rubbish.
It is only growing in the sense that the Luftwaffe was ripe for growth on 8 May 1945...and it did grow....from nothing.
What an awful piece of doublethink rubbish.
It is only growing in the sense that the Luftwaffe was ripe for growth on 8 May 1945...and it did grow....from nothing.
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Looks like the VSO overruled the consultant who produced it, and tried to make it into a Service paper.
I see several different audiences for various pieces of information contained in it - but never the whole lot to everyone.
I see several different audiences for various pieces of information contained in it - but never the whole lot to everyone.