What would you like to see changed in MOD and across the Services?
Thread Starter
Good question, difficult answer. Each to his own.
I'd keep it simple at first:
Implement mandated Requirement Scrutiny rules. They're there to prevent waste, and make sure you get the right kit/capability at the right cost. The difficulty is that various Ministers/PUSs over the last 23 years are on record as disagreeing; and MoD has largely ignored the concept ever since. Perhaps a task for Captain Mercer MP, if Boris gives him the job.
Do that, and an awful lot falls into place.
I'd keep it simple at first:
Implement mandated Requirement Scrutiny rules. They're there to prevent waste, and make sure you get the right kit/capability at the right cost. The difficulty is that various Ministers/PUSs over the last 23 years are on record as disagreeing; and MoD has largely ignored the concept ever since. Perhaps a task for Captain Mercer MP, if Boris gives him the job.
Do that, and an awful lot falls into place.
NZWP
Here is the problem.
"People lie at the heart of operational capability..."
Some take this as a statement of what is at the core, others take it as an instruction to mislead others.
"People lie at the heart of operational capability..."
Some take this as a statement of what is at the core, others take it as an instruction to mislead others.
The Asst Under Secretary of State (Financial & Secretariat) issued a comprehensive questionnaire for each main domain. For example, RN aircraft and their equipment. Any negative answer stopped the process in its tracks. The very first question is 'Why is it needed?' It addresses things like War Reserves, training, contracting strategy, industrial capability, etc. It forced the Provisioning Authority to think. (A civilian engineer in a Service HQ in my day, but the work simply isn't done now).
I agree with those who have mentioned contractorisation. If one applied the RS rules, I can't see how many such proposals would get past first base. Nimrod would never have been considered for RMPA. Chinook Mk3 wouldn't have proceeded in the manner it did (access to source code is the obvious one). The list is endless.
Importantly, RS must be conducted from the User's point of view. It seldom is.
Hope this helps. I could e-mail a copy of one set of AUS(FS)'s instructions, from the last time they were used. Also, the 1996 report by the Director Internal Audit notifying PUS (the Chief Accounting Oficer) that RS wasn't being conducted properly. He didn't act and the report was scrapped. It was one of the key pieces of evidence to the MoK and Nimrod Reviews, explaining the background to the policy of savings at the expense of safety.
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Moray
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Offer
What you highlight explains everything....it almost gives people like that the auth to behave like that....worryingly so
I wonder how many here remember the instructions to the Orderly Officer which stated "The Orderly Officer is to drink in moderation...". If ever met with the question, "You are on duty, why are you in the bar?" You could refer the inquisitor to the aforementioned directive ;-)
Thread Starter
The Thirsd Annual Report of SDSR 2015 and NSS has just been published by the Cabinet Office:
https://assets.publishing.service.go...rt_-_FINAL.pdf
It's basically a stocktake of what HMG has been up to over the last year. It is quite a challengin read (60-odd pages) but it does sum up the extraordinary amount of effort there is in the defence and security areas. Section 4(c) pp 44-47 are well worth reading to see the amount of work being put into innovation across these sectors.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...rt_-_FINAL.pdf
It's basically a stocktake of what HMG has been up to over the last year. It is quite a challengin read (60-odd pages) but it does sum up the extraordinary amount of effort there is in the defence and security areas. Section 4(c) pp 44-47 are well worth reading to see the amount of work being put into innovation across these sectors.
As above re held account.
A limitation put on so called incidents of say 10 years to stop the likes of the NI troubles court cases.
A rebuilding of the Navy and a realisation across the board that no matter how capable one new model frigate is over three or four of the previous model frigates, that capability means squat if you need to be in two places at once, something the Gulf is showing to be true, insufficient vessels to cover the simplest of escort tasks.
RAF airshows, show the public what they are getting for their money, not just the three or four usually types, better for recruiting, better helping people understand where there money goes. Televise it again.
Bring all services back in house and military positions and not contracted as said, you may save some money having a civilian issuing blankets, but at the end of the day that civilian cannot carry arms so are combat ineffective.
A limitation put on so called incidents of say 10 years to stop the likes of the NI troubles court cases.
A rebuilding of the Navy and a realisation across the board that no matter how capable one new model frigate is over three or four of the previous model frigates, that capability means squat if you need to be in two places at once, something the Gulf is showing to be true, insufficient vessels to cover the simplest of escort tasks.
RAF airshows, show the public what they are getting for their money, not just the three or four usually types, better for recruiting, better helping people understand where there money goes. Televise it again.
Bring all services back in house and military positions and not contracted as said, you may save some money having a civilian issuing blankets, but at the end of the day that civilian cannot carry arms so are combat ineffective.
On a personal note, my best wishes to Whenurhappy on returning to the fold.
Jack
Focus on Defending at home rather than Expeditionary forces supporting overthrow attempts at Foreign Governments. Then wondering why Terry Taliban is getting a council house in London because 15 years ago you went in and destroyed his country and got him to start fighting you back.
Doing same **** every decade and wondering why outcome is the same should give you a clue.
Terry Taliban gets the nice house while the collection plate gets handed around so those who served in Uniform can get their bodies (sans limbs) or their (screwed up) minds looked after by Charity that everybody says os very worthy.
And the stupidity will continue.
Doing same **** every decade and wondering why outcome is the same should give you a clue.
Terry Taliban gets the nice house while the collection plate gets handed around so those who served in Uniform can get their bodies (sans limbs) or their (screwed up) minds looked after by Charity that everybody says os very worthy.
And the stupidity will continue.
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Moray
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Deliverable?
Whilst all the comments to this very interesting thread are of high value, important and thought provoking, maybe it simply comes down to the follow on question along the lines of is there a will at the top, and, if so, is the will deliverable?
If the will is there, there may be realistic and pragmatic constraint such that it proves to be undeliverable? If the will is not there....you have a role to play yourself perhaps through the Chain of Command or externally such that the will becomes the reality?
If the will is there, there may be realistic and pragmatic constraint such that it proves to be undeliverable? If the will is not there....you have a role to play yourself perhaps through the Chain of Command or externally such that the will becomes the reality?
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is a starter for 10.....
Accept not all officers want promotion, they just enjoy the job and hate the nonsense politics, stupid additional duties and games
Get rid of pointless tick chasing i.e. Corruption or Bias DLE, yearly swim test, CCS first aid, workstation risk assessment etc.
A JPA-type system that works
Abolish management and promote leadership
Stop meddling in pensions/allowances
The right to a private life i.e. you dont need to know my wife's name or how old my children are.
Cease the infuriating nonsense of "you are in the military" as an excuse to treat people badly, speak to them poorly and mess them around on a whim.
Abolish HRG for booking anything. It costs a fortune and is more expensive per booking.
Hold people of ALL ranks responsible for their action/decisions
Prevent senior officers involved in large procurements from serving on boards of those companies involved
The abolition of RRP(P) removal on PVR. It is immoral and punitive and causes those that should leave to stay and become toxic
OASC to look at medical issues for those commissioning from the ranks differently, rather than treat as a new joiner. I.e. If you are a SNCO signed to 55 yo, the fact you have had post-natal depression/bad back/poor eyesight/PTSD ETC is irrelevant, you are signed to 55 already anyway.
Flying pay for ALL aircrew
RRP for certified and chartered engineers
Beards and side burns allowed
SFA that is fit for purpose
SLA that is fit for purpose
Independent body that has the power and means to deal with all Service issues such as SLA without hot water for 2 months. This body should have public oversight and publish its trends.
Politicians constitutionally barred from interfering in military matters
Service chiefs granted autonomy to speak to the media with no consequences for their position.
Stopping of silly D&I mandatory you-will-conform-to-the-groupthink training. It has never changed anyones values or mindset, its just a waste of a day.
Service chefs
Real food - Not crappy, over-processed, cheap and poisonous franken-foods
Your own OJAR/SJAR is completed by 1RO with input from subordinates
IT system that works
IT contractors that are available 24/7 from anywhere on the planet.
Removal of golden handcuff contractors - £1,000 to move a Intranet tap 10ft... Really?!?
Abolishment of Travel Cells - They sit on bookings for weeks and then the cost soars or flights are no longer available
No requirement to pay hotel accommodation and claim back. Yes you CAN claim an advance of 90% of costs, which is not always convenient, possible or available. Give HRG something to do for their money, book the hotel and HRG can claim it from the MoD. We had an instance whereby 18 yo LACs were put in hotels for 2 months. They assumed the hotels were paid for until after a few weeks they were presented with a bill for £1,800. They were paid half of that as a monthly wage. Absolutely abhorrent.
That is all I can think of for now.....
Accept not all officers want promotion, they just enjoy the job and hate the nonsense politics, stupid additional duties and games
Get rid of pointless tick chasing i.e. Corruption or Bias DLE, yearly swim test, CCS first aid, workstation risk assessment etc.
A JPA-type system that works
Abolish management and promote leadership
Stop meddling in pensions/allowances
The right to a private life i.e. you dont need to know my wife's name or how old my children are.
Cease the infuriating nonsense of "you are in the military" as an excuse to treat people badly, speak to them poorly and mess them around on a whim.
Abolish HRG for booking anything. It costs a fortune and is more expensive per booking.
Hold people of ALL ranks responsible for their action/decisions
Prevent senior officers involved in large procurements from serving on boards of those companies involved
The abolition of RRP(P) removal on PVR. It is immoral and punitive and causes those that should leave to stay and become toxic
OASC to look at medical issues for those commissioning from the ranks differently, rather than treat as a new joiner. I.e. If you are a SNCO signed to 55 yo, the fact you have had post-natal depression/bad back/poor eyesight/PTSD ETC is irrelevant, you are signed to 55 already anyway.
Flying pay for ALL aircrew
RRP for certified and chartered engineers
Beards and side burns allowed
SFA that is fit for purpose
SLA that is fit for purpose
Independent body that has the power and means to deal with all Service issues such as SLA without hot water for 2 months. This body should have public oversight and publish its trends.
Politicians constitutionally barred from interfering in military matters
Service chiefs granted autonomy to speak to the media with no consequences for their position.
Stopping of silly D&I mandatory you-will-conform-to-the-groupthink training. It has never changed anyones values or mindset, its just a waste of a day.
Service chefs
Real food - Not crappy, over-processed, cheap and poisonous franken-foods
Your own OJAR/SJAR is completed by 1RO with input from subordinates
IT system that works
IT contractors that are available 24/7 from anywhere on the planet.
Removal of golden handcuff contractors - £1,000 to move a Intranet tap 10ft... Really?!?
Abolishment of Travel Cells - They sit on bookings for weeks and then the cost soars or flights are no longer available
No requirement to pay hotel accommodation and claim back. Yes you CAN claim an advance of 90% of costs, which is not always convenient, possible or available. Give HRG something to do for their money, book the hotel and HRG can claim it from the MoD. We had an instance whereby 18 yo LACs were put in hotels for 2 months. They assumed the hotels were paid for until after a few weeks they were presented with a bill for £1,800. They were paid half of that as a monthly wage. Absolutely abhorrent.
That is all I can think of for now.....
"Politicians constitutionally barred from interfering in military matters"
REALLY? As a sometime resident of S America I can tell you this is a very very very bad idea
REALLY? As a sometime resident of S America I can tell you this is a very very very bad idea
Thread Starter
Here is a starter for 10.....
Accept not all officers want promotion, they just enjoy the job and hate the nonsense politics, stupid additional duties and games
Get rid of pointless tick chasing i.e. Corruption or Bias DLE, yearly swim test, CCS first aid, workstation risk assessment etc.
A JPA-type system that works
Abolish management and promote leadership
Stop meddling in pensions/allowances
The right to a private life i.e. you dont need to know my wife's name or how old my children are.
Cease the infuriating nonsense of "you are in the military" as an excuse to treat people badly, speak to them poorly and mess them around on a whim.
Abolish HRG for booking anything. It costs a fortune and is more expensive per booking.
Hold people of ALL ranks responsible for their action/decisions
Prevent senior officers involved in large procurements from serving on boards of those companies involved
The abolition of RRP(P) removal on PVR. It is immoral and punitive and causes those that should leave to stay and become toxic
OASC to look at medical issues for those commissioning from the ranks differently, rather than treat as a new joiner. I.e. If you are a SNCO signed to 55 yo, the fact you have had post-natal depression/bad back/poor eyesight/PTSD ETC is irrelevant, you are signed to 55 already anyway.
Flying pay for ALL aircrew
RRP for certified and chartered engineers
Beards and side burns allowed
SFA that is fit for purpose
SLA that is fit for purpose
Independent body that has the power and means to deal with all Service issues such as SLA without hot water for 2 months. This body should have public oversight and publish its trends.
Politicians constitutionally barred from interfering in military matters
Service chiefs granted autonomy to speak to the media with no consequences for their position.
Stopping of silly D&I mandatory you-will-conform-to-the-groupthink training. It has never changed anyones values or mindset, its just a waste of a day.
Service chefs
Real food - Not crappy, over-processed, cheap and poisonous franken-foods
Your own OJAR/SJAR is completed by 1RO with input from subordinates
IT system that works
IT contractors that are available 24/7 from anywhere on the planet.
Removal of golden handcuff contractors - £1,000 to move a Intranet tap 10ft... Really?!?
Abolishment of Travel Cells - They sit on bookings for weeks and then the cost soars or flights are no longer available
No requirement to pay hotel accommodation and claim back. Yes you CAN claim an advance of 90% of costs, which is not always convenient, possible or available. Give HRG something to do for their money, book the hotel and HRG can claim it from the MoD. We had an instance whereby 18 yo LACs were put in hotels for 2 months. They assumed the hotels were paid for until after a few weeks they were presented with a bill for £1,800. They were paid half of that as a monthly wage. Absolutely abhorrent.
That is all I can think of for now.....
Accept not all officers want promotion, they just enjoy the job and hate the nonsense politics, stupid additional duties and games
Get rid of pointless tick chasing i.e. Corruption or Bias DLE, yearly swim test, CCS first aid, workstation risk assessment etc.
A JPA-type system that works
Abolish management and promote leadership
Stop meddling in pensions/allowances
The right to a private life i.e. you dont need to know my wife's name or how old my children are.
Cease the infuriating nonsense of "you are in the military" as an excuse to treat people badly, speak to them poorly and mess them around on a whim.
Abolish HRG for booking anything. It costs a fortune and is more expensive per booking.
Hold people of ALL ranks responsible for their action/decisions
Prevent senior officers involved in large procurements from serving on boards of those companies involved
The abolition of RRP(P) removal on PVR. It is immoral and punitive and causes those that should leave to stay and become toxic
OASC to look at medical issues for those commissioning from the ranks differently, rather than treat as a new joiner. I.e. If you are a SNCO signed to 55 yo, the fact you have had post-natal depression/bad back/poor eyesight/PTSD ETC is irrelevant, you are signed to 55 already anyway.
Flying pay for ALL aircrew
RRP for certified and chartered engineers
Beards and side burns allowed
SFA that is fit for purpose
SLA that is fit for purpose
Independent body that has the power and means to deal with all Service issues such as SLA without hot water for 2 months. This body should have public oversight and publish its trends.
Politicians constitutionally barred from interfering in military matters
Service chiefs granted autonomy to speak to the media with no consequences for their position.
Stopping of silly D&I mandatory you-will-conform-to-the-groupthink training. It has never changed anyones values or mindset, its just a waste of a day.
Service chefs
Real food - Not crappy, over-processed, cheap and poisonous franken-foods
Your own OJAR/SJAR is completed by 1RO with input from subordinates
IT system that works
IT contractors that are available 24/7 from anywhere on the planet.
Removal of golden handcuff contractors - £1,000 to move a Intranet tap 10ft... Really?!?
Abolishment of Travel Cells - They sit on bookings for weeks and then the cost soars or flights are no longer available
No requirement to pay hotel accommodation and claim back. Yes you CAN claim an advance of 90% of costs, which is not always convenient, possible or available. Give HRG something to do for their money, book the hotel and HRG can claim it from the MoD. We had an instance whereby 18 yo LACs were put in hotels for 2 months. They assumed the hotels were paid for until after a few weeks they were presented with a bill for £1,800. They were paid half of that as a monthly wage. Absolutely abhorrent.
That is all I can think of for now.....
Totally agree on the HRG point; luckily in my last MOD assignement, I was authorised to use my GPC for booking and paying for all work-related travel and had a dispensation not to use HRG. Got some cracking deals as a result. And saved the Authroity moeny by using Skyscanner etc.
Rant mode to "ON"...
1. Train personnel in Acquisition properly. I had a 1-day course and the "luxury" of a 5-day handover before becoming a Platform RM. Encourage more people to complete in-service degrees / masters and the Cranfield MDA to build knowledge - but then, crucially, employ them properly!
2. Incentivise personnel to gain and retain these SQEP skills. My RM tour was not seen as being "crunchy"; there was little/no incentive for me to apply the skills and knowledge I learnt in the next rank. Indeed, SO1s and above would sometimes arrive in the Cap area with zero experience and only a fleeting understanding of acquisition, mostly based on the utter boll*cks taught at ACSC. They merely wanted a "tick", to make a mark and not f*ck up. Many epitomised Boyd's "be-ers"; one of the things that made it easier for me to leave was the arrogance and short-sightedness of these people - proven by the fact they would invariably employ rank not knowledge to "win" arguments. Much of what I warned of has occurred. As usual, the shysters have achieved promotional MSD and the Front Line are left to pick up the pieces. In both Acquisition and Airworthiness we need to nurture SQEP that use these areas as career pillars and move in/out in successive ranks. Only then will we get informed outcomes in both areas….
3. Abolish the "Conspiracy of Optimism". Don't fear "failing fast". We tie too many PADR/OJAR KPIs to "success" in projects. It incentivises bad behaviours and sliding thresholds. Therefore, many are reluctant to pass on "bad news" and we haemorrhage cash trying to make some arbitrary date to meet an OF5s OJAR. Accept that we do OT&E for a reason and fund it - it's there to find out where the bodies have been buried, hence why PMs always seem keen to cut it out to "save money". I witnessed a number of cases where T&E crews were pressured to make the "right" call by the CoC and other interested parties, at the expense of ensuring the suitability of the kit for the Front Line.
4. Stop the apparent QQ monopoly on everything. Sort out the relationships between the FL, QQ, Dstl and broader industry. QQ are too monolithic to cope well with the small stuff (hence why they farm a lot of it out and merely slap their letter head, and a whole load of mark up, on other people's work….). Get them to do the "big stuff" and incentivise them to stay there - they have a lot of very talented people and world-class facilities but often they were simply unaffordable. PMs need to realise that the LTPA is not "free"…..Revitalise NiteWorks, but ensure it has the intellectual sea-room to answer the questions they are posed more broadly.
5. Apply TEPIDOIL properly. Don't just focus on the Equipment IOC….
6. Accept that we need to travel on business. With an increasing number of US-sourced platforms (P8, CH-47, F-35, C-17, E-7, RJ, C130 etc…) deal with the fact that we will have to pay to attend meetings. The 2* doesn't need , or want, to sign off on every meeting. Attending a one-day meeting in the US is not "a jolly". Stop making it a complete time-burgle to request, book then reclaim travel. It's one of the joys of running my own company - a complete 1 week visit to the US including flights, HOTAC and Hire Car booked in 10 minutes on Expedia, then an hour or so sifting receipts when I get back (with no inevitable JPA audit to follow….). Being treated as a freeloading gadabout by "the system" is unfair and definitely not retention positive.
7. A revolving door between full time and reservist service. Many of us outside still work in the sector, and could bring experience and knowledge to bear. What we won't do is be exploited or ripped off due to the pension implications of doing so, and we don't have the time to jump through the multitude of hoops (IRT, FT, etc) that seem to be expected. The VeRR scheme is great concept - expand it!
Ooooh, that rant has made me feel much better!!
1. Train personnel in Acquisition properly. I had a 1-day course and the "luxury" of a 5-day handover before becoming a Platform RM. Encourage more people to complete in-service degrees / masters and the Cranfield MDA to build knowledge - but then, crucially, employ them properly!
2. Incentivise personnel to gain and retain these SQEP skills. My RM tour was not seen as being "crunchy"; there was little/no incentive for me to apply the skills and knowledge I learnt in the next rank. Indeed, SO1s and above would sometimes arrive in the Cap area with zero experience and only a fleeting understanding of acquisition, mostly based on the utter boll*cks taught at ACSC. They merely wanted a "tick", to make a mark and not f*ck up. Many epitomised Boyd's "be-ers"; one of the things that made it easier for me to leave was the arrogance and short-sightedness of these people - proven by the fact they would invariably employ rank not knowledge to "win" arguments. Much of what I warned of has occurred. As usual, the shysters have achieved promotional MSD and the Front Line are left to pick up the pieces. In both Acquisition and Airworthiness we need to nurture SQEP that use these areas as career pillars and move in/out in successive ranks. Only then will we get informed outcomes in both areas….
3. Abolish the "Conspiracy of Optimism". Don't fear "failing fast". We tie too many PADR/OJAR KPIs to "success" in projects. It incentivises bad behaviours and sliding thresholds. Therefore, many are reluctant to pass on "bad news" and we haemorrhage cash trying to make some arbitrary date to meet an OF5s OJAR. Accept that we do OT&E for a reason and fund it - it's there to find out where the bodies have been buried, hence why PMs always seem keen to cut it out to "save money". I witnessed a number of cases where T&E crews were pressured to make the "right" call by the CoC and other interested parties, at the expense of ensuring the suitability of the kit for the Front Line.
4. Stop the apparent QQ monopoly on everything. Sort out the relationships between the FL, QQ, Dstl and broader industry. QQ are too monolithic to cope well with the small stuff (hence why they farm a lot of it out and merely slap their letter head, and a whole load of mark up, on other people's work….). Get them to do the "big stuff" and incentivise them to stay there - they have a lot of very talented people and world-class facilities but often they were simply unaffordable. PMs need to realise that the LTPA is not "free"…..Revitalise NiteWorks, but ensure it has the intellectual sea-room to answer the questions they are posed more broadly.
5. Apply TEPIDOIL properly. Don't just focus on the Equipment IOC….
6. Accept that we need to travel on business. With an increasing number of US-sourced platforms (P8, CH-47, F-35, C-17, E-7, RJ, C130 etc…) deal with the fact that we will have to pay to attend meetings. The 2* doesn't need , or want, to sign off on every meeting. Attending a one-day meeting in the US is not "a jolly". Stop making it a complete time-burgle to request, book then reclaim travel. It's one of the joys of running my own company - a complete 1 week visit to the US including flights, HOTAC and Hire Car booked in 10 minutes on Expedia, then an hour or so sifting receipts when I get back (with no inevitable JPA audit to follow….). Being treated as a freeloading gadabout by "the system" is unfair and definitely not retention positive.
7. A revolving door between full time and reservist service. Many of us outside still work in the sector, and could bring experience and knowledge to bear. What we won't do is be exploited or ripped off due to the pension implications of doing so, and we don't have the time to jump through the multitude of hoops (IRT, FT, etc) that seem to be expected. The VeRR scheme is great concept - expand it!
Ooooh, that rant has made me feel much better!!
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Dundee
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A completely independent review of the number of OF5 and above in their roles and why they need so many. Either we extol the virtue of mission command or we remain a slave to the misaligned directions of some senior officers feathering their nests for their post-military jobs.
edited to add
Trump also appeared to double down on his recent proposal to ban defense contractors from hiring former Pentagon acquisition officials, criticizing the industry's revolving door.
"The people that are making these deals for the government, they should never be allowed to go to work for these companies," Trump said on Fox. "You know, they make a deal like that and two or three years later, you see them working for these big companies that made the deal... they should have a lifetime restriction."
have at that !!
Last edited by weemonkey; 23rd Jul 2019 at 15:11.
Thread Starter
Rant mode to "ON"...
1. Train personnel in Acquisition properly. I had a 1-day course and the "luxury" of a 5-day handover before becoming a Platform RM. Encourage more people to complete in-service degrees / masters and the Cranfield MDA to build knowledge - but then, crucially, employ them properly!
2. Incentivise personnel to gain and retain these SQEP skills. My RM tour was not seen as being "crunchy"; there was little/no incentive for me to apply the skills and knowledge I learnt in the next rank. Indeed, SO1s and above would sometimes arrive in the Cap area with zero experience and only a fleeting understanding of acquisition, mostly based on the utter boll*cks taught at ACSC. They merely wanted a "tick", to make a mark and not f*ck up. Many epitomised Boyd's "be-ers"; one of the things that made it easier for me to leave was the arrogance and short-sightedness of these people - proven by the fact they would invariably employ rank not knowledge to "win" arguments. Much of what I warned of has occurred. As usual, the shysters have achieved promotional MSD and the Front Line are left to pick up the pieces. In both Acquisition and Airworthiness we need to nurture SQEP that use these areas as career pillars and move in/out in successive ranks. Only then will we get informed outcomes in both areas….
3. Abolish the "Conspiracy of Optimism". Don't fear "failing fast". We tie too many PADR/OJAR KPIs to "success" in projects. It incentivises bad behaviours and sliding thresholds. Therefore, many are reluctant to pass on "bad news" and we haemorrhage cash trying to make some arbitrary date to meet an OF5s OJAR. Accept that we do OT&E for a reason and fund it - it's there to find out where the bodies have been buried, hence why PMs always seem keen to cut it out to "save money". I witnessed a number of cases where T&E crews were pressured to make the "right" call by the CoC and other interested parties, at the expense of ensuring the suitability of the kit for the Front Line.
4. Stop the apparent QQ monopoly on everything. Sort out the relationships between the FL, QQ, Dstl and broader industry. QQ are too monolithic to cope well with the small stuff (hence why they farm a lot of it out and merely slap their letter head, and a whole load of mark up, on other people's work….). Get them to do the "big stuff" and incentivise them to stay there - they have a lot of very talented people and world-class facilities but often they were simply unaffordable. PMs need to realise that the LTPA is not "free"…..Revitalise NiteWorks, but ensure it has the intellectual sea-room to answer the questions they are posed more broadly.
5. Apply TEPIDOIL properly. Don't just focus on the Equipment IOC….
6. Accept that we need to travel on business. With an increasing number of US-sourced platforms (P8, CH-47, F-35, C-17, E-7, RJ, C130 etc…) deal with the fact that we will have to pay to attend meetings. The 2* doesn't need , or want, to sign off on every meeting. Attending a one-day meeting in the US is not "a jolly". Stop making it a complete time-burgle to request, book then reclaim travel. It's one of the joys of running my own company - a complete 1 week visit to the US including flights, HOTAC and Hire Car booked in 10 minutes on Expedia, then an hour or so sifting receipts when I get back (with no inevitable JPA audit to follow….). Being treated as a freeloading gadabout by "the system" is unfair and definitely not retention positive.
7. A revolving door between full time and reservist service. Many of us outside still work in the sector, and could bring experience and knowledge to bear. What we won't do is be exploited or ripped off due to the pension implications of doing so, and we don't have the time to jump through the multitude of hoops (IRT, FT, etc) that seem to be expected. The VeRR scheme is great concept - expand it!
Ooooh, that rant has made me feel much better!!
1. Train personnel in Acquisition properly. I had a 1-day course and the "luxury" of a 5-day handover before becoming a Platform RM. Encourage more people to complete in-service degrees / masters and the Cranfield MDA to build knowledge - but then, crucially, employ them properly!
2. Incentivise personnel to gain and retain these SQEP skills. My RM tour was not seen as being "crunchy"; there was little/no incentive for me to apply the skills and knowledge I learnt in the next rank. Indeed, SO1s and above would sometimes arrive in the Cap area with zero experience and only a fleeting understanding of acquisition, mostly based on the utter boll*cks taught at ACSC. They merely wanted a "tick", to make a mark and not f*ck up. Many epitomised Boyd's "be-ers"; one of the things that made it easier for me to leave was the arrogance and short-sightedness of these people - proven by the fact they would invariably employ rank not knowledge to "win" arguments. Much of what I warned of has occurred. As usual, the shysters have achieved promotional MSD and the Front Line are left to pick up the pieces. In both Acquisition and Airworthiness we need to nurture SQEP that use these areas as career pillars and move in/out in successive ranks. Only then will we get informed outcomes in both areas….
3. Abolish the "Conspiracy of Optimism". Don't fear "failing fast". We tie too many PADR/OJAR KPIs to "success" in projects. It incentivises bad behaviours and sliding thresholds. Therefore, many are reluctant to pass on "bad news" and we haemorrhage cash trying to make some arbitrary date to meet an OF5s OJAR. Accept that we do OT&E for a reason and fund it - it's there to find out where the bodies have been buried, hence why PMs always seem keen to cut it out to "save money". I witnessed a number of cases where T&E crews were pressured to make the "right" call by the CoC and other interested parties, at the expense of ensuring the suitability of the kit for the Front Line.
4. Stop the apparent QQ monopoly on everything. Sort out the relationships between the FL, QQ, Dstl and broader industry. QQ are too monolithic to cope well with the small stuff (hence why they farm a lot of it out and merely slap their letter head, and a whole load of mark up, on other people's work….). Get them to do the "big stuff" and incentivise them to stay there - they have a lot of very talented people and world-class facilities but often they were simply unaffordable. PMs need to realise that the LTPA is not "free"…..Revitalise NiteWorks, but ensure it has the intellectual sea-room to answer the questions they are posed more broadly.
5. Apply TEPIDOIL properly. Don't just focus on the Equipment IOC….
6. Accept that we need to travel on business. With an increasing number of US-sourced platforms (P8, CH-47, F-35, C-17, E-7, RJ, C130 etc…) deal with the fact that we will have to pay to attend meetings. The 2* doesn't need , or want, to sign off on every meeting. Attending a one-day meeting in the US is not "a jolly". Stop making it a complete time-burgle to request, book then reclaim travel. It's one of the joys of running my own company - a complete 1 week visit to the US including flights, HOTAC and Hire Car booked in 10 minutes on Expedia, then an hour or so sifting receipts when I get back (with no inevitable JPA audit to follow….). Being treated as a freeloading gadabout by "the system" is unfair and definitely not retention positive.
7. A revolving door between full time and reservist service. Many of us outside still work in the sector, and could bring experience and knowledge to bear. What we won't do is be exploited or ripped off due to the pension implications of doing so, and we don't have the time to jump through the multitude of hoops (IRT, FT, etc) that seem to be expected. The VeRR scheme is great concept - expand it!
Ooooh, that rant has made me feel much better!!
Surely you don't mean RPAS Operators?
(Good luck keeping Ministers' sticky fingers out of the till and their 2000-mile screwdriver at bay! Especially as we have an uncodified constitution).
If the Military don't report to Politicians who DO they report to?
The Monarch? Last time that happened Charles I took a morning walk in Westminster and didn't come back for lunch.............
Perhaps The LEADER - well we all know how that works out...............
Themselves - again - we know where that ends...
The Monarch? Last time that happened Charles I took a morning walk in Westminster and didn't come back for lunch.............
Perhaps The LEADER - well we all know how that works out...............
Themselves - again - we know where that ends...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you may have misunderstood me. I am not advocating the military can start wars on their own, more that the politicians set the Ends and the military are left to work out the Ways and Means without meddling from halfwit, uneducated under-qualified politicians with their latest pet project. Let the military do what they know how to do, fight wars and provide security.