RAF Meltdown - Has it begun?
 

Over several months now, I have heard many rumours that a large amount of RAF personnel are/were sitting on their PVRs just waiting (perhaps for the recent redundancy announcement). I’ve also heard (albeit over a beer, about a friend of a friend who knows someone else), who is having trouble confirming his out date after submitting such a request. He actually wants to go that little bit earlier than his 12 month waiting time, but the excuse being given is that since the redundancy announcement date, some 700+ SNCOs have PVR’d and the authorities are snowed under! If that is true, I wonder what the official PVR figure is for the whole Air Force since the announcement, not just the SNCOs. Are we in danger of meltdown, and as a consequence, could others be offered extention of service in order to cover the mass exodus?

Anyone else heard such stories?

Still the Airforce could fill all the gaps with C grade candidates off the PSL.

Surely things couldn’t get that bad. !!!!!!!!!!! :oh:

If that were the case, would any one in their right mind want to extend? If you think it's bad now with overstretch, think what it would be like for those left behind trying to cover several hundred extra gapped posts - you don't for one minute think they would bring more people in to cover the gaps do you?

The last AFPRB was very concerned about recruitment and retention specifically in the RAF. The light blues turned in the worst figures, even though they were masked by drawdown. If this rumour is true, it would appear that the writing was already on the wall.

Chox,

I'm sure a direct question to PMA under the FoI Act will provide you with a specific answer for the PVR question.

WC

'Still the Airforce could fill all the gaps with C grade candidates off the PSL.

Surely things couldn’t get that bad. !!!!!!!!!!! '

Well actually.. Not a c grade but I know a chap who has been given the nod on getting his third despite in his last 5 appraisals having had two likely to become fits- I know because I wrote them! (I didnt write the rest). Not so long ago you wouldnt get looked at until you had a full portfolio of positive, usually high recommendations. I have seen many getting picked up already who are dubious to say the least. He is also nearly 3 stone overweight but that is another thread

Begun? you are having a laugh aren't you? meltdown well in progress! I think we will grind to a halt within five years.

The AFPRB said that there are 40 specific manning ares that are in a shortfall. They include areas such as Operations, Aircrew, Engineering Admin and other trade groups so I guess that about covers the whole of the RAF.

just waiting
 

How many more of us are just putting up with it all, because we've only got a few years before our pension?
Do you think they have factored that number into their big sums?
I wonder what the FRI will look like when they do realise?
Will it be enough to encourage us to sign on......?
It would have to be a :mad: big number.......

I refer the gentleman to the answer I gave earlier......


http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=247209

Anecdotal evidence of PVR rates is way above the 4-5% quoted by PMA, and that is only one side of the story, how many are leaving at option points. In one unit I know of 60% of the Sgts are leaving in the next year!

There are ways around answering under FoI. If you really are interested to know the answer, ask your MP to find out.

last figure I heard for Sqn Ldr pilot was 87% leaving at 38/16. RAF is taking delivery of hundreds of single seat ac but does not appear to have a through put of career pilots.

Like they had to do in 1996 after the "Options for Change" redundancies?

For the secret Wiltshire airbase, that's nearer 100%!

Many of the JOs that took PAS when it came in are only waiting for their 5 years amortisation of their FRI to be complete before also leaving. Perhaps the rumoured new FRI for Sqn Ldrs needs to be spread further still?

Shawtarce said:
 

Thats me:) My time has been done, and whilst I can cope with crap detachments and unaccompanied service, as soon as it even vaquely fails to suit ME, I am off. Post 30 years service and 6 months is all it takes. Loyalty is either 2 way or not at all, and I have been around long enough to know that UK Military plc do not give a toss about any one person.

I am refreshed though at some of the people presently in my chain of command. The Army mate who gave the bird to Tony on behalf of me and mine gets utmost respect, and at a service dinner recently, I listened to a speech by a senior officer in my particular chain of command that assured me that the people at the top are very aware that elastic can only be stretched so far before it snaps, and that we are pushing our luck.

I am optimistic that the recent US elections will send a shockwave through the British Parliament, and that a reality caption may be in sight. I sincerely hope so for all our sakes.

Most of the SNCO's I know are waiting for their pension point. In fact, I know of only one who isn't!

We have guys being picked up for their third after only two years as cpl. And there was me thinking you had to do 5 in rank before being eligable!:rolleyes:

You know this may actually be exactly what the RAF want. Join at age 18, leave (through choice) at 40, and have a young (fit) fighting force without any accusations of ageism. With the present (& future?) workloads, everybody will be burned out by 40 anyway, if not before. If you want a job with long term potential, join as a physiotherapist / trick cyclist.

You could then get ex-military (civilians) to do the instructional work and second line duties. Oh.... silly me; we already do.

The weak link would then be recruitment, not retention. I think the days of short term solutions (FRI) may well be over.

Who is 'we'? UK plc?

Beg to differ there Yoz. Take a look at these figures;

Aussies 2 X J model and @ 120 ground crew
Brits 4 X J model and 16 ground crew!

In theatre a few weeks ago. Barely enough engineers to do the job. Same goes for other aircraft eng dets, the Aussies can't believe it. They get paid tax free and an Iraq bonus. Any clues as to why they are so well staffed?

Overstretch to snapping point or just stretched?

Nige,

Correct about the numbers, however, the 120 ground crew aren't there just to support a det of 2xC-130s.

Tax & det bonus is a laughable issue isn't it.