"The business of the Royal Air Force..."
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"The business of the Royal Air Force..."
I remember seeing on a T-shirt in a not so secret Lincolnshire air base..."The business of the Royal Air Force is Flying and Fighting.....The business of those who don't is to SUPPORT those who do!" Never a truer word said in jest I'm sure but what on earth happened to "Front line First "etc...
The above, I have no doubt, applies equally to all services but why are our commanders allowing us to be dictated to and run by the Guins? This is not by the way only about the aircrew, I have been deploying for the 22 years I have worked for Auntie Betty and alongside some very fine scribblys, stackers, caterers...etc but on the whole the Rocks and Aircrew (plus engineering support et al) do go away most often short or long term.
BUT why can the dentists and medics tell you, from their 9-5 mon-fri (with T breaks and lunch hours) existence, that you can have an apointment or book a PME/AME/Dental cx or worse a Hygenist appointment in 6-8 weeks time. I am not even sure what or when I will be doing whatever in the next few days. ("Please note all slot, task or take off times may come forward as well as move back dependant upon market forces and you may lose your hygenist appointment since it is not guarenteed...."(sorry I used to sell mortgages)
The above, I have no doubt, applies equally to all services but why are our commanders allowing us to be dictated to and run by the Guins? This is not by the way only about the aircrew, I have been deploying for the 22 years I have worked for Auntie Betty and alongside some very fine scribblys, stackers, caterers...etc but on the whole the Rocks and Aircrew (plus engineering support et al) do go away most often short or long term.
BUT why can the dentists and medics tell you, from their 9-5 mon-fri (with T breaks and lunch hours) existence, that you can have an apointment or book a PME/AME/Dental cx or worse a Hygenist appointment in 6-8 weeks time. I am not even sure what or when I will be doing whatever in the next few days. ("Please note all slot, task or take off times may come forward as well as move back dependant upon market forces and you may lose your hygenist appointment since it is not guarenteed...."(sorry I used to sell mortgages)
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Front line first is ceasing to exist. I recently did SDO on my unit but was unable to complete the full handover with the offcoming guy (Sqn mate) as I was in the Sim from 0700. I'd signed on 24hrs before to say I would be doing the duty and from 0800 had the pager. Turns out this wasn't sufficient and had a 10 min "conversation" with the Stn Adj about how the handover wasn't carried out correctly. Trying to explain the duty was covered and the fact I was in the Sim was irrelevant to him. The snivelling wretch had passed all this onto my Boss as well. The Boss's thought's? "What is their problem?". Thank God there are still some Sqn Boss' out there who will protect Aircrew from the increasingly petulant, inflexible, jobsworth Admin types that are blighting our lives (not supporting the font line).
Any Admin scum out there can bring it on!
Any Admin scum out there can bring it on!
Last edited by difar69; 4th Oct 2002 at 13:29.
The previous entry smacks of a nasty 'them and us' flavour. I'd like to say it wasn't like that when I was in the RAF, but of course there were times when it was exactly that way. However, its not all one way. Sometimes us aircrew can be a bit shirty and arrogant (not always a bad thing) and sometimes the admin type sees the problem from his perspective without thinking about yours. But, a public rant about admin scum is NOT the way to sort out this kind of problem. Admin types also have a job to do and also deploy to some unpleasant places, without the joys of flying to offset the routine.
And remember, if they were as clever as you, they'd be in a cockpit too, so cut them some slack.
And remember, if they were as clever as you, they'd be in a cockpit too, so cut them some slack.
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Axel-Flo
Have no problem with most of your sentiments, however, from where I'm sitting, you need to pop down to your SMC and apologise for inferring that the medics lives are so rosy. Then again, there will be nobody there as they're probably away on another OOA.
Have no problem with most of your sentiments, however, from where I'm sitting, you need to pop down to your SMC and apologise for inferring that the medics lives are so rosy. Then again, there will be nobody there as they're probably away on another OOA.
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....more importantly Training is the foundation on which a strong front line is based
- still it is an easy place to make some lovely short term savings hurraah!
PS Axel - seemed to be plenty of Dentists + Hygenists at the last lot of tented accomodation I stayed in - guess its not just us then.
- still it is an easy place to make some lovely short term savings hurraah!
PS Axel - seemed to be plenty of Dentists + Hygenists at the last lot of tented accomodation I stayed in - guess its not just us then.
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MAXBURNER, I take your point about a public rant not solving anything. You are right. My blood was just boiling. However these sort of occurences seem to be becoming more and more prevalent in much of my colleagues' day to day business.
Far from having a them and us attitude, during the same SDO I had the pleasure( and I mean that!) of working with a very professional pair of duty clerks in PSF. I'll take people as they are and judge accordingly. Some admin characters aren't doing too well so far, that's all.
Far from having a them and us attitude, during the same SDO I had the pleasure( and I mean that!) of working with a very professional pair of duty clerks in PSF. I'll take people as they are and judge accordingly. Some admin characters aren't doing too well so far, that's all.
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The Business of the Royal Air Force....
............is to apply Air Power wherever Her Brittanic Majesty's Government determines that it should be applied for the benefit of Her Majesty's subjects and dominions.
All members of the Royal Air Force have a part to play - and, in my experience, most links in the chain (both serving and civilian members) both recognise and accept that part, and, more importantly, are proud of their individual contribution to delivering that Air Power. Sometimes, the interests of one area impinges on the interests of another - is this such a surprise? Aircrew are hampered by an adminer who tries to stick to the regulations he is given; Engineers are hampered by a jock who dropped a Bic biro in the cockpit; Suppliers are hampered by a medic who unthinkingly left a lighter re-charging canister in his luggage, ATC are hampered by the Fire Crews who take longer than expected to complete a practice 'hot brakes' incident.
Dare I say it, we are all on the same team. We need to be clear on what our role is - The business of the Royal Air Force is not to make aircrew lives as easy as possible.
All members of the Royal Air Force have a part to play - and, in my experience, most links in the chain (both serving and civilian members) both recognise and accept that part, and, more importantly, are proud of their individual contribution to delivering that Air Power. Sometimes, the interests of one area impinges on the interests of another - is this such a surprise? Aircrew are hampered by an adminer who tries to stick to the regulations he is given; Engineers are hampered by a jock who dropped a Bic biro in the cockpit; Suppliers are hampered by a medic who unthinkingly left a lighter re-charging canister in his luggage, ATC are hampered by the Fire Crews who take longer than expected to complete a practice 'hot brakes' incident.
Dare I say it, we are all on the same team. We need to be clear on what our role is - The business of the Royal Air Force is not to make aircrew lives as easy as possible.
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Speaking as a civvie dentist, who used to fly with the words 'Fang farrier' on his bonedome, [in the days when the dayglo tape did not react with the chemistry of the bone dome!] [and how come the 'Arrows were always allowed to decorate theirs...] I am intrigued by the example that drove this thread.
Take it from me, the morale in the defunct RAF Dental Branch is no different to the morale amongst the GD[P]. The Defence Dental Agency [ part of the Defence Medical Services in many respects] has caused all 3 services to LOSE THEIR IDENTITY. Pilots who lose their identity are either lost, or shot down, or both. I rest my case.
Funding for the DDA is as big an issue as it is for all areas, but being support in nature has probably suffered as much as any. Marry that to employment market in civilian dentistry, allied to the known problems in the services, along with the political burying of any public recognition of the military and their achievements, means that attracting medical and dental staff to the services is nigh impossible. When I last checked one service was down by some 20 hygienists.
IMHO The boys with lots of thick rings and gold braid have failed to fight off the poiliticans over the years, and have allowed the Shangri La of contractorisation and the creation of management Agencies to take over. When you are contactorised, or 'agency-ised' your primary focus becomes the chain of command immediately to your front.
So for all the 'benefits to the taxpayer' of all these wizzo management ideas, the fact is that that large parts of the military force structure in the UK are being allowed to forget who they really work for.
Dentists are just one very small microcosm of this problem, and the way they work illustrates the problem. Aircrew are now just another customer and it is of course politically very incorrect to show favouritism. We must all have a huddle and recognise that we are all just as important. Cr@p - the people who operate the hardware are more critical than the rest of us, because if they were not there, we would all be out of a job and the Air Forces job would not get done. Period.
So when you find your schedule being planned in 8 weeks time by an arrogant 9-5 +mealsbreaks hygienist, be gentle with them because they are only doing what the great DDA has said they should do. Simply diary in a call for the previous day to let them know why you cannot make it, and ask for a cancellation when its raining or the fog has closed in.
Most of all, remeber, they can hurt you more than you can hurt them
This all reminds me of the story that when the secret Mighty Hunter operators at Wyton hat yet to relocate, but a zillion blunties had arrived from 'oop Noorth like' to take up work on an area of old 543 parking , a formal complaint about the noise was made to Staish.
I think I am right in saying that double glazing was aurthorised for the new build to a higher spec to keep out aircraft noise....
Take it from me, the morale in the defunct RAF Dental Branch is no different to the morale amongst the GD[P]. The Defence Dental Agency [ part of the Defence Medical Services in many respects] has caused all 3 services to LOSE THEIR IDENTITY. Pilots who lose their identity are either lost, or shot down, or both. I rest my case.
Funding for the DDA is as big an issue as it is for all areas, but being support in nature has probably suffered as much as any. Marry that to employment market in civilian dentistry, allied to the known problems in the services, along with the political burying of any public recognition of the military and their achievements, means that attracting medical and dental staff to the services is nigh impossible. When I last checked one service was down by some 20 hygienists.
IMHO The boys with lots of thick rings and gold braid have failed to fight off the poiliticans over the years, and have allowed the Shangri La of contractorisation and the creation of management Agencies to take over. When you are contactorised, or 'agency-ised' your primary focus becomes the chain of command immediately to your front.
So for all the 'benefits to the taxpayer' of all these wizzo management ideas, the fact is that that large parts of the military force structure in the UK are being allowed to forget who they really work for.
Dentists are just one very small microcosm of this problem, and the way they work illustrates the problem. Aircrew are now just another customer and it is of course politically very incorrect to show favouritism. We must all have a huddle and recognise that we are all just as important. Cr@p - the people who operate the hardware are more critical than the rest of us, because if they were not there, we would all be out of a job and the Air Forces job would not get done. Period.
So when you find your schedule being planned in 8 weeks time by an arrogant 9-5 +mealsbreaks hygienist, be gentle with them because they are only doing what the great DDA has said they should do. Simply diary in a call for the previous day to let them know why you cannot make it, and ask for a cancellation when its raining or the fog has closed in.
Most of all, remeber, they can hurt you more than you can hurt them
This all reminds me of the story that when the secret Mighty Hunter operators at Wyton hat yet to relocate, but a zillion blunties had arrived from 'oop Noorth like' to take up work on an area of old 543 parking , a formal complaint about the noise was made to Staish.
I think I am right in saying that double glazing was aurthorised for the new build to a higher spec to keep out aircraft noise....
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Just a mini Rant - Honest
Reheat
Agree whole heartedly with your reasoning but its solutions we are after not this cuddly subversive behavior and its not favoritism we are looking for but an understanding of the different problems/senarios faced by the front line deploying assets on a station. In defence of the medics/dentists when you actually get to see a specialist the service I have received has been invariably excelent and I have no complaint of that at all. (Hygenists on the other hand who have 8 week waiting lists or the like perhaps need to work longer hours or the occasional weekend. If our techies have no jets for the monday Flypro its not uncommon for them to work the weekend to fill all the task slots on the monday or even for the weekend flypro cos we regularly have those too. )Perhaps therefore its the interface between what we are asking for and what SMC/DC front desk staff are prepared to give or compromise to. As has been said we are in theory, even though it sometimes does not seem so, trying to achieve the same goal.(GLOBAL DEPLOYMENT OF UK AIR POWER...AKA "FLYING AND FIGHTING")
It would be ideal if we could book things months/weeks in advance cancel at the last minute and then hope for a short notice cancelation, unfortunately as you get closer to the due date for vaccinations you start being threatened with the "You FAILED" to keep your self suitably innoculated stigma. Programmes are often known 1-2 weeks ahead it really does not seem unreasonable to be expected to be fitted in with a time frame period where you have the required 24 hours free to be off flying duties post innoculation/invasive and pain free dental treatment. This means the planner gets first pick of his assets and the station support elements support that by helping these deploying individuals to stay active on the front line.
I acknowledge its not only the aircrew who are deployed etc and this thread applies equally to any service personnel going out and globally prosecuting UK defence policy by the projection of Air Power.(But since its an aircrew forum we should be well up at the top of any list of priorities for pleasant and positive special treatment! CAST............................................"Splash" and wait..
4fitter Appologise or prostrate myself befor them and beg forgiveness? Have a word with yourself and come back to earth!
Agree whole heartedly with your reasoning but its solutions we are after not this cuddly subversive behavior and its not favoritism we are looking for but an understanding of the different problems/senarios faced by the front line deploying assets on a station. In defence of the medics/dentists when you actually get to see a specialist the service I have received has been invariably excelent and I have no complaint of that at all. (Hygenists on the other hand who have 8 week waiting lists or the like perhaps need to work longer hours or the occasional weekend. If our techies have no jets for the monday Flypro its not uncommon for them to work the weekend to fill all the task slots on the monday or even for the weekend flypro cos we regularly have those too. )Perhaps therefore its the interface between what we are asking for and what SMC/DC front desk staff are prepared to give or compromise to. As has been said we are in theory, even though it sometimes does not seem so, trying to achieve the same goal.(GLOBAL DEPLOYMENT OF UK AIR POWER...AKA "FLYING AND FIGHTING")
It would be ideal if we could book things months/weeks in advance cancel at the last minute and then hope for a short notice cancelation, unfortunately as you get closer to the due date for vaccinations you start being threatened with the "You FAILED" to keep your self suitably innoculated stigma. Programmes are often known 1-2 weeks ahead it really does not seem unreasonable to be expected to be fitted in with a time frame period where you have the required 24 hours free to be off flying duties post innoculation/invasive and pain free dental treatment. This means the planner gets first pick of his assets and the station support elements support that by helping these deploying individuals to stay active on the front line.
I acknowledge its not only the aircrew who are deployed etc and this thread applies equally to any service personnel going out and globally prosecuting UK defence policy by the projection of Air Power.(But since its an aircrew forum we should be well up at the top of any list of priorities for pleasant and positive special treatment! CAST............................................"Splash" and wait..
4fitter Appologise or prostrate myself befor them and beg forgiveness? Have a word with yourself and come back to earth!
Last edited by Axel-Flo; 5th Oct 2002 at 13:56.
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some changes
heres a few ideas. why doed the raf still have sdo's orderly sergeants and orderly corporals? i thought that the police taking back the guardrooms meant an end to a lot of the duties, or did the plods realise what a lot of **** theyd taken on and manage to palm it off? as to the admin side of things, why should you go to the dentist/medics/gen office, why dont they come to you? as sqns have there own uin's they are in fact divorced from the station, so why not have the dentist and doc visit the sqn to do dental work pmes etc. and lets not forget that its difficult for the non aircrew to get away as well. im now having deja vu cos when i was at gutersloh this used to happen! and as for our air officers and station commanders being aircrew well maybe the next cas should be from the admin branch and maybe we might see some changes!!!!!
