Chief of the Defence Staff goes all PC
Chief of the Defence Staff goes all PC
Armed Forces head threatens to block promotions unless officers improve inclusivity | Daily Mail Online. Reminds one of the Monty Python sketch,' I suppose you don't want to be marching up and down, you'd rather be at the pictures? Off you go then!'. On a more serious note, I am surprised over the years that no one has challenged the RAFs age policy on flying training. Whilst one understands the reasons behind it, it does preclude a lot of individuals. FJ maybe not,but I would have thought older ME pilots were feasible? And not ones that have served previously.
Chief of the Defence Staff goes all PC
A very large number of officers have little or no responsibility for personnel and certainly don't have much say in the posting cycle of individuals. Their influence in the areas of LGBT and the rest of the diversity/inclusivity agenda is limited by the nature of the appointment in which they serve.
The services already suffer badly from the complaints procedure, which is regularly used to dispute lawful commands or to try to get 'revenge' when things don't go the way the complainant wants. The management of complaints is one of the few 'growth' industries within Defence and it would be interesting to know the numbers of personnel and their ranks who are involved in the management of the process and its cost to the Defence budget.
Unfortunately, General Carter is probably the wrong choice of CDS at this time IMHO and if the comments credited to him are true, he has just shown why.
Old Duffer
The services already suffer badly from the complaints procedure, which is regularly used to dispute lawful commands or to try to get 'revenge' when things don't go the way the complainant wants. The management of complaints is one of the few 'growth' industries within Defence and it would be interesting to know the numbers of personnel and their ranks who are involved in the management of the process and its cost to the Defence budget.
Unfortunately, General Carter is probably the wrong choice of CDS at this time IMHO and if the comments credited to him are true, he has just shown why.
Old Duffer
So does this mean that the Guards Division will have officers who don't have access to a private income?
https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal...sehold-cavalry
Well, we had an ethnic minority Flt Lt nav and a foreign born Sqn Ldr on a squadron on which I served in the sixties so perhaps the Army think they have a bit of catching up to do. 
so rather than starting at the bottom of the food chain, how many gay, ethnic diversified and LGBT people has he got at Service Board level and just below. cannot see his annual report looking too good in that respect.....
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He forgot to mention 'Leave will be cancelled until morale improves' . . .
He's another politician (despite the uniform) that will be totally unaffected by his own decisions.
Yep, more PC bollocks.
He's another politician (despite the uniform) that will be totally unaffected by his own decisions.
Yep, more PC bollocks.
On a more serious note, I am surprised over the years that no one has challenged the RAFs age policy on flying training. Whilst one understands the reasons behind it, it does preclude a lot of individuals. FJ maybe not,but I would have thought older ME pilots were feasible? And not ones that have served previously.
Finally, it is also a question of supply and demand - even with an age cap of 26, the RAF still has many thousands of applicants for just over a hundred vacancies; so why would it want to raise the age limit to attract older persons who may not have the reach for the higher ranks or are unable to give a full Service career length?
Anyway, those older ones aren’t precluded, they should have just applied when they were younger!
The B Word
I was 24 and ten days when I first tested an RAF instructor's sense of humour and courage. I felt then that I was an old guy and did wish that I'd started between 16 and 18.
I'm surprised that the max age limit is still 26 but I'm sure they know best.
I'm surprised that the max age limit is still 26 but I'm sure they know best.
That is where some of our old and bold from the helicopter and fast-jet fleet go, so if we took in direct entrants to fill those places, then that opportunity would go. Now that there are dwindling places on MFTS to go as an instructor as well, this problem is even more accute. So opening up to an older cadre would see us having no places for those that can’t deal with the 9g pounding on their bodies, being rattled to bits with NVGs+weight on their necks or the stress of getting shot down with a need to E&E until rescue.
Finally, it is also a question of supply and demand - even with an age cap of 26, the RAF still has many thousands of applicants for just over a hundred vacancies; so why would it want to raise the age limit to attract older persons who may not have the reach for the higher ranks or are unable to give a full Service career length?
Anyway, those older ones aren’t precluded, they should have just applied when they were younger!
The B Word
Finally, it is also a question of supply and demand - even with an age cap of 26, the RAF still has many thousands of applicants for just over a hundred vacancies; so why would it want to raise the age limit to attract older persons who may not have the reach for the higher ranks or are unable to give a full Service career length?
Anyway, those older ones aren’t precluded, they should have just applied when they were younger!
The B Word
I think it is still the case that ALL pilots are recruited as potential FJ pilots in that they have to satisfy the age, medical, anthropometric and fitness requirements. Those who, for one reason or another, don’t make that stream go to ME or RW. I would be surprised if the RAF broke that rule because someone had an ATPL
I only suggested that the age bar should he raised for ME pilots. Why should the RAF not look at pilots above 26 who are already hold an ATPL or CPL/IR, who would sign on for a minimum term? Legally it would I think be on very frail territory if it was ever brought to a test case and I am surprised it hasn't happened yet...
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I left the RAF some 10 years ago and, at that point, we were generally very well in touch with 21st century society. It seems like the general is probably trying to address his own personal weaknesses, not those of the 100+ thousand personnel who will serve under him and (generally) get along just fine.
So, not being promoted for failing to adopt a positively discriminative stance? I bet the Air Sec is already tearing her hair out at the thought of the pile of casework coming her way.
So, not being promoted for failing to adopt a positively discriminative stance? I bet the Air Sec is already tearing her hair out at the thought of the pile of casework coming her way.
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The services already suffer badly from the complaints procedure, which is regularly used to dispute lawful commands or to try to get 'revenge' when things don't go the way the complainant wants. The management of complaints is one of the few 'growth' industries within Defence and it would be interesting to know the numbers of personnel and their ranks who are involved in the management of the process and its cost to the Defence budget
Old Duffer
Old Duffer
The SC procedure is a fantastic system, albeit with some faults, however I have personally seen around 20 victories that were just, correct and prevented a dangerous precedent being set. 2 of these were my own, the first was the Chf Clk refusing to reimburse me for a long weekend abroad after a short notice deployment came up.
She refused to accept I had no knowledge of the det prior to booking my flights abroad. You see, I didnt have proof of me not knowing i didnt know anything... I kid you not! It turned out there were around 10 similar claims in the previous 18 months she had refused.
The second was a simple case of a 1RO who had mentally left the RAF and couldn’t be bothered putting even a token effort into my report. He had added great grades and words but nothing to join then up with any sensible structure. 2RO was too scared of rocking the boat but did write a great report. Long story short, previous reports from the 1RO over the previous few yrs were looked at and the problem was rectified.
I would have been £650 out of pocket and missed a promotion had I not had any other avenue to explore.