‘Stop choosing useless white male pilots’, RAF told
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‘Stop choosing useless white male pilots’, RAF told
Telegraph 31 May 2023:
‘Stop choosing useless white male pilots’, RAF told
I thought I read something somewhere about it being best to judge someone by the content of their character rather than the colour of their skin?
‘Stop choosing useless white male pilots’, RAF told
The RAF instructed staff to stop choosing “useless white male pilots” for training courses in a leaked email seen by The Telegraph.
In an email dated Jan 19, 2021, Squadron Leader Andrew Harwin, who worked in the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre, sent an email to his colleagues, he discussed the boarding process where candidates are chosen to pursue certain training courses, he wrote: “I noted that the boards have recently been predominantly white male heavy.
“If we don’t have enough BAME and female to board then we need to make the decision to pause boarding and seek more BAME and female from the RAF.
“I don’t really need to see loads of useless white male pilots, let’s get as focused as possible, I am more than happy to reduce boarding if needed to have a balanced BAME/female/male board.”
In an email dated Jan 19, 2021, Squadron Leader Andrew Harwin, who worked in the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre, sent an email to his colleagues, he discussed the boarding process where candidates are chosen to pursue certain training courses, he wrote: “I noted that the boards have recently been predominantly white male heavy.
“If we don’t have enough BAME and female to board then we need to make the decision to pause boarding and seek more BAME and female from the RAF.
“I don’t really need to see loads of useless white male pilots, let’s get as focused as possible, I am more than happy to reduce boarding if needed to have a balanced BAME/female/male board.”
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31st May 2023, 15:54
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A bunch of ‘useless white male pilots’ waiting to scramble against the Luftwaffe, circa 1940….
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That's his career dead in the water now that Wigston isn't providing top cover.
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Hey....all ya'll don't leap to conclusions here....please!
Unless and until you know what the Squadron Leader defined as "useless white male pilots" is defined as being.....the Squadron Leader might be onto something.
First we (am I allowed to use such a pronun to refer to the collective meaning every person) must first define the terms "Male" which is going to be a challenge itself....as few of us are Biologists.
Then we have to deal with the notion of "White" and whether that is a distinct narrative as some Hispanics are considered to be "White" and that ignores what degree of "White" determines if one. is "White" or not.
Now as to the "useless" part of the category being cited.......I suppose asking the Other Ranks for an opinion might be fraught with peril as to the outcome of that survey.
So don't be quick to anger over such a comment as figuring out exactly what was meant might take some time if done fairly and appropriately.
I suppose a formal Board of Inquiry, complete with Pitchers of Water and pristine Glasses waiting use might be in order.
Put the Squadron Leader under Oath and ask for clarification.....and determine if the Squadron Leader has somehow found the Squadron Leader's own inclusion in the "useless" group .
Unless and until you know what the Squadron Leader defined as "useless white male pilots" is defined as being.....the Squadron Leader might be onto something.
First we (am I allowed to use such a pronun to refer to the collective meaning every person) must first define the terms "Male" which is going to be a challenge itself....as few of us are Biologists.
Then we have to deal with the notion of "White" and whether that is a distinct narrative as some Hispanics are considered to be "White" and that ignores what degree of "White" determines if one. is "White" or not.
Now as to the "useless" part of the category being cited.......I suppose asking the Other Ranks for an opinion might be fraught with peril as to the outcome of that survey.
So don't be quick to anger over such a comment as figuring out exactly what was meant might take some time if done fairly and appropriately.
I suppose a formal Board of Inquiry, complete with Pitchers of Water and pristine Glasses waiting use might be in order.
Put the Squadron Leader under Oath and ask for clarification.....and determine if the Squadron Leader has somehow found the Squadron Leader's own inclusion in the "useless" group .

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Once these cats get out of the bag, they won't go back. If I was a young white male looking for a rewarding career I would be wary of joining an organisation which I suspected would treat me differently because of my race, sex or sexual orientation. I would wonder about postings, promotions, allocation of quarters, training opportunities and other career related aspects. Conversely, if I was a young black female I might wonder if my impending career would be stellar because of my race, sex or sexual orientation and not due to my ability and personal qualities. Perhaps this will result in white males doing everything they can to get in, get trained, fly, have fun and get out as soon as possible.
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It needs to be called out for what it is - racism. Deeply ingrained racism.
But because it is aimed, in this instance, at white males, I doubt anything will be done. Nevertheless, it is clear that Sqn Ldr Andrew Harwin is a racist.
But because it is aimed, in this instance, at white males, I doubt anything will be done. Nevertheless, it is clear that Sqn Ldr Andrew Harwin is a racist.
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it is clear that Sqn Ldr Andrew Harwin is a racist.
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Ken that does do a bit of disservice to those pilots that were not white during ww2... Just saying.
https://media.nationalarchives.gov.u...fliers-europe/
https://media.nationalarchives.gov.u...fliers-europe/
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I wouldn't be so sure. More likely adopting the PC/equality at all costs culture aligns with potential promotion (meeting artificial targets etc). Many folk go overboard on this issue not because of any inherent racist tendencies (either way) but because they see some personal advantage to be gained out of it.
Surely the most important word here is 'useless' - does the RAF have selection panels which selects people who look like themselves rather than getting the best people for the job?
Switch this around and you get what has been happening for how many years? Lets face it, for as long as any of us can remember white males have had an advantage
Once these cats get out of the bag, they won't go back. If I was a young white male looking for a rewarding career I would be wary of joining an organisation which I suspected would treat me differently because of my race, sex or sexual orientation. I would wonder about postings, promotions, allocation of quarters, training opportunities and other career related aspects. Conversely, if I was a young black female I might wonder if my impending career would be stellar because of my race, sex or sexual orientation and not due to my ability and personal qualities. Perhaps this will result in white males doing everything they can to get in, get trained, fly, have fun and get out as soon as possible.
Switch this around and you get what has been happening for how many years? Lets face it, for as long as any of us can remember white males have had an advantage
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Ukraine seem to be doing ok with an airforce made from useless white male pilots. Perhaps those RAF training courses are not going to be quite as useful as Ukraine had hoped . . .
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I've got a revolutionary idea. Since we are talking about the people who we will ask to defend our freedom, how about picking the best person for the job? On second thoughts, bad idea; forget it.
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Stop being revolutionary Herod, a sensible and logical conclusion will never pass muster...
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I wouldn't be so sure. More likely adopting the PC/equality at all costs culture aligns with potential promotion (meeting artificial targets etc). Many folk go overboard on this issue not because of any inherent racist tendencies (either way) but because they see some personal advantage to be gained out of it.
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If Ukraine had some black female pilots they might be operating a few squadrons on F16s by now.
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Surely the most important word here is 'useless' - does the RAF have selection panels which selects people who look like themselves rather than getting the best people for the job?
Switch this around and you get what has been happening for how many years? Lets face it, for as long as any of us can remember white males have had an advantage
Switch this around and you get what has been happening for how many years? Lets face it, for as long as any of us can remember white males have had an advantage
You can't fight racism with racism. If you try to do this you are a racist.
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