If you disapprove of the beard policy do not read further....
Oh I think that the tie is a ridiculous and totally pointless item of clothing, and haven't worn one now for over a decade.
There is in fact no reason at all to dismantle service traditions and customs, such as many on here have grown up with and recognise. The only argument for the radical changes being authorised at the top of the chain and being defended by some posters is change sake itself, nothing otherwise. Its an attempt to be down with the latest trends, of course the dividend is expected to be an easing of the recruitment crisis which seems to be present. But none of the Armed Forces exist to mimic or struggle to keep up with the latest styles, many of which represent a disagreement with any kind of established authority. But I will point out again, what will be, will be.
FB
FB
Equally there is no case to RETAIN service traditions and customs. They have been changing and adapting in the RAF since 1918, and they will continue to do so.
Or, Finningley Boy, would you prefer that the RAF still wore puttees, boots, collarless shirts and a uniform seemingly made out of cardboard? Would you prefer it if you could not get married until 25 and then only with your commanding officers permission? Would you prefer it if you still lived in a lino floored wooden hut with a stove and beds all lined up against the wall and bed packs made up every morning with inspections twice a week? Would you rather still work a five and a half day week with compulsory Church parade on Sunday mornings? I think you'll find that not everything in the past was as hunky dory as some may make out.
.....uniformity in the military has played a vital role in establishing ethos, unity, respect, discipline and the necessary esprit de corp that we will desperately need if we ever find ourselves fighting for our survival again."
What? Have you seen the differing British Army Regimental dress, hats, badges, marches, habits and customs? NO uniformity there!
What? Have you seen the differing British Army Regimental dress, hats, badges, marches, habits and customs? NO uniformity there!
pr00ne
Have a read of Air Cdre Dr Fin Monahan’s doctorate thesis on RAF Culture: https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint...nahan18PhD.pdf
Fascinating stuff, I agree to some extent with what you are saying, but some things need to endure too - ie. the blue in our uniform, the rank structure, the roundel, the flying badges, the squadrons, the flights, the station ethos, the Messes, etc... etc... Granted they can take a modern twist, but the basis of them endure. It is the very “Air Force Spirit” that Trenchard saw as so very important; it is that feeling of collectively belonging to something that is so very important. Read Fin’s fascinating research to see what he found.
Air Cdre Fin is also leading some cultural research with 2 Wg Cdrs and an academic Dr (2 males, 2 females) to report on what Astra should do for the “Air Force Spirit” or its culture by mid 2021. I would hope that there is something in his previous research that will shine through - yes, the RAF adapts but it does so by bringing with it artefacts, practices and processes that it subtly changes. That is a good thing.
Have a read of Air Cdre Dr Fin Monahan’s doctorate thesis on RAF Culture: https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint...nahan18PhD.pdf
Fascinating stuff, I agree to some extent with what you are saying, but some things need to endure too - ie. the blue in our uniform, the rank structure, the roundel, the flying badges, the squadrons, the flights, the station ethos, the Messes, etc... etc... Granted they can take a modern twist, but the basis of them endure. It is the very “Air Force Spirit” that Trenchard saw as so very important; it is that feeling of collectively belonging to something that is so very important. Read Fin’s fascinating research to see what he found.
Air Cdre Fin is also leading some cultural research with 2 Wg Cdrs and an academic Dr (2 males, 2 females) to report on what Astra should do for the “Air Force Spirit” or its culture by mid 2021. I would hope that there is something in his previous research that will shine through - yes, the RAF adapts but it does so by bringing with it artefacts, practices and processes that it subtly changes. That is a good thing.
^^^^I was at some conference or other at Cranwell maybe 3 years ago, and as a Gp Capt, he gave a pres on RAF Culture.
I was skeptical and rolling my eyes as I went in thinking how soon can we blow this waste of a day off....
But it actually was really good and interesting....and he certainly had the crowd eating out of his hand.
I was skeptical and rolling my eyes as I went in thinking how soon can we blow this waste of a day off....
But it actually was really good and interesting....and he certainly had the crowd eating out of his hand.
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^^^^I was at some conference or other at Cranwell maybe 3 years ago, and as a Gp Capt, he gave a pres on RAF Culture.
I was skeptical and rolling my eyes as I went in thinking how soon can we blow this waste of a day off....
But it actually was really good and interesting....and he certainly had the crowd eating out of his hand.
I was skeptical and rolling my eyes as I went in thinking how soon can we blow this waste of a day off....
But it actually was really good and interesting....and he certainly had the crowd eating out of his hand.
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pr00ne
Have a read of Air Cdre Dr Fin Monahan’s doctorate thesis on RAF Culture: https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint...nahan18PhD.pdf
Fascinating stuff, I agree to some extent with what you are saying, but some things need to endure too - ie. the blue in our uniform, the rank structure, the roundel, the flying badges, the squadrons, the flights, the station ethos, the Messes, etc... etc... Granted they can take a modern twist, but the basis of them endure. It is the very “Air Force Spirit” that Trenchard saw as so very important; it is that feeling of collectively belonging to something that is so very important. Read Fin’s fascinating research to see what he found.
Air Cdre Fin is also leading some cultural research with 2 Wg Cdrs and an academic Dr (2 males, 2 females) to report on what Astra should do for the “Air Force Spirit” or its culture by mid 2021. I would hope that there is something in his previous research that will shine through - yes, the RAF adapts but it does so by bringing with it artefacts, practices and processes that it subtly changes. That is a good thing.
Have a read of Air Cdre Dr Fin Monahan’s doctorate thesis on RAF Culture: https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint...nahan18PhD.pdf
Fascinating stuff, I agree to some extent with what you are saying, but some things need to endure too - ie. the blue in our uniform, the rank structure, the roundel, the flying badges, the squadrons, the flights, the station ethos, the Messes, etc... etc... Granted they can take a modern twist, but the basis of them endure. It is the very “Air Force Spirit” that Trenchard saw as so very important; it is that feeling of collectively belonging to something that is so very important. Read Fin’s fascinating research to see what he found.
Air Cdre Fin is also leading some cultural research with 2 Wg Cdrs and an academic Dr (2 males, 2 females) to report on what Astra should do for the “Air Force Spirit” or its culture by mid 2021. I would hope that there is something in his previous research that will shine through - yes, the RAF adapts but it does so by bringing with it artefacts, practices and processes that it subtly changes. That is a good thing.
Having worked with several PhD grads, I know it's a lot of work and it's commendable even for a 26/27-year-old who was only doing that, full-time... never mind a serving Air Commodore with a mountain of responsibility.
I think that's a testament to the kind of person I think he is. What a legend!
I attended a talk at the start of the year from an RAF Officer engaged in cyber security. He said there was no way we could keep pace with the likes of China who had thousands and thousands of people working in cyber warfare. All we could do was match their quantity with quality. To do this, the service needed to attract the next generation of Alan Turings, who might not necessarily be all that bothered about shooting a gun / having short hair / going on exercise / and wearing a uniform. He hinted at a new sort of contract and 'service experience' for these individuals, whereby they would be in the RAF, but able to carry on like civvies! The comparison was made with the police who have uniformed and non-uniformed officers.
There was [and maybe still is] a nod towards half-in/ half out specialists with long hair and scruffy shoes. Alan Turings they were not, but they spent a lifetime WITH the RAF not IN the RAF, and resisted all attempts to move them from their posts to Civil Aviation, Public Services or HQ.
Mess membership, mess fees, no mess vote, no worries. Called senior officers "Sir" and stood up. Rarely late, rarely off sick, often the only people on the station fully awake at Zero Dark Hundred.
The concept is not new, and it does work, but both sides need to show respect.
Mess membership, mess fees, no mess vote, no worries. Called senior officers "Sir" and stood up. Rarely late, rarely off sick, often the only people on the station fully awake at Zero Dark Hundred.
The concept is not new, and it does work, but both sides need to show respect.
I attended a talk at the start of the year from an RAF Officer engaged in cyber security. He said there was no way we could keep pace with the likes of China who had thousands and thousands of people working in cyber warfare. All we could do was match their quantity with quality. To do this, the service needed to attract the next generation of Alan Turings, who might not necessarily be all that bothered about shooting a gun / having short hair / going on exercise / and wearing a uniform. He hinted at a new sort of contract and 'service experience' for these individuals, whereby they would be in the RAF, but able to carry on like civvies! The comparison was made with the police who have uniformed and non-uniformed officers.
FB
I'd say the comparison with CID or whoever, is misleading. Detectives they may be, but I understand the origin of the plain clothes tec is to avoid drawing attention when out on the street, especially so with the Flying Squad. We've all seen the Sweeney and the Professionals, now oft repeated on ITV4. These folk aren't one foot in one out, they're fully fledged cops and intelligence operatives in the field, they still wear the uniform when the occasion calls, and hair neatly trimmed as well.
FB
FB
I attended a talk at the start of the year from an RAF Officer engaged in cyber security. He said there was no way we could keep pace with the likes of China who had thousands and thousands of people working in cyber warfare. All we could do was match their quantity with quality. To do this, the service needed to attract the next generation of Alan Turings, who might not necessarily be all that bothered about shooting a gun / having short hair / going on exercise / and wearing a uniform. He hinted at a new sort of contract and 'service experience' for these individuals, whereby they would be in the RAF, but able to carry on like civvies! The comparison was made with the police who have uniformed and non-uniformed officers.
