Sir Jock to be new CDS
 

Apparently Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup takes over from Gen Sir Michael Walker as CDS today.

Sir Jock strikes me as a great leader who struggles to maintain a strong RAF despite Buff's pacifist- and Treasury-pleasing slashing of our Armed Forces. Every time I see him (Sir Jock, not The Lone Braincell) I'm impressed by the way he deals with the media - a great ambassador for the Service. And this time, I think we can be sure we have an RAF CDS who will not resign his Commission for playing around...

Good luck, Sir Jock!

(I wait with bated breath for TotalWar to rise up in defence of Buff...)

Oh... who for CAS?

Just a small point - Sir Mike Jackson is CGS; Sir Michael Walker is CDS.

I can't find any mention of this on the MoD website, and it is about that time for CDS handover and it is the turn of the light blue.

New CAS - Burridge is surely out of the picture for his sh@gging around, or if no notice was taken of his dalliances it would send a clear message to everyone in a blue suit about core values and standards! What about Torphy - is he a 3* yet?

Good point, Archimedes - I hang my head in shame, having corrected someone at breakfast for making exactly the same mistake! Really, the pongos should know better than to employ two officers in close proximity who share the same christian name. If it can confuse an RAF officer, imagine what it must be like for the squaddies... :E

We also discussed Burridge at breakfast. I'm sure he would be in the frame if it wasn't for his... err... transgressions, especially given the record of the last light blue-wearing CDS. All the same, he defended himself well, declaring that thanks to AP1 he was entitled to a private life... I wouldn't write him off just yet.

Sir Glenn Torpy - now, there's someone we didn't think of! As CJO he definitely has the command experience required for the highest office in the Service. But isn't he still only an Air Marshal? Maybe he'll get it next time round.

Yesterday I read a reply, penned by Sir "Strap" himself, to a series of searching questions posed by a colleague. The one page reply did nothing to address the original questions and merely trotted out the usual platitudes whilst attempting to spin in typical political style. Whilst reading it the I was reminded of "Bliar" at the despatch box during PMQ's, so it's a real comfort to know we have the right bloke at the top looking after our interests:rolleyes:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

Has Sir Malcolm Pledger left yet.

Interesting to see if CVF makes it through Initial Gate with an RAF chap at the top .....

Oggin

Why wouldn't it? We are going to putting aircraft on it after all.

Its just my cynical nature. I will only believe we are getting these ships when I see them launched by Queen Camilla.

Camilla - The face to launch a thousand ships?

Oggin,

fair point. I personally have the same thought about the STOVL JSF, but that is another matter. As an aside, maybe we could re-introduce nose art, and feature Camilla! It could be an interesting physchological warfare tool?

:ok:

Air Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy is to be the new CAS. Top bloke. :ok:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/news_0503_09.html refers for both CDS and CAS appointments

AVM to CAS in two years! Yeap Torpy is a top chap...

Always Broken,

That's the opposite of my experience with Sir Jock, who struck me as being the highest calibre senior bloke I've ever spoken to, and the most open, honest, and straight talking. Charisma by the bucketload, an inspirational speaker and decent to his core.

I don't think there will have been as good a leader as CDS for decades.

And I last spoke to him when I also met AOC 1 Group (Moran) who seems similarly impressive.

Congratulations Sir Jock!

Glenn Torpy?!! I shouldn't have left!:{

So,,, Adultering Sh@@ger Berridge is finally getting his comeuppance and the order of the boot!! He'll probably stay long enough to get best pension rights and then PVR.. Proved he could fool some of the people at the top some of the time but not all of them all of the time!!!!!!
Berridge and Harding are/were complete disgrace to the uniform. Good riddance.. Hope Lady B sues him for every penny of his pension and gratuity!

Jackonico,

Moran wasn't called TCM when staish at Witt for no reason!

According to some senior friends of my staish, Sir Jock runs rings around the other service chiefs and civil servants in meetings. Gen Walker was a decent chap, but we definately need more CDSs of the calibre of Sir Jock and Adm Boyce with a prat like Buff in Whitehall. We've been lucky with our recent CAS chappies - having met Sir Peter Squire I can vouch for his eloquence and leadership. Not met Sir Jock, but he strikes me as the man for the job.

He certainly won't meekly accept whatever the government throws at him, as did Gen Guthrie.

Shjustme,

The vitriolic manner of your post must be of a personal nature. I have worked with Burridge and found him a very capable officer and man. What has he done to you to deserve your ranting? :confused: