I always used the rule that you could always tell when your DO was lying to you because you could hear him down the phone. I had "duff gen" on 2 occassions early on in my career which led to me not buying a house during my first tour - had I done so I would not have had a mortgage for many years now!

The "contingencies of the Service" was quoted to me with the suggestion of a dismissive shrug. I've not trusted them since, and do not see any evidence to do so in the future.

Some 20+ years ago, my DeskO told me that my next posting would be what I'd asked for... However, months later I received a posting to a CFS course. I rang him and gave him my "WTF??" comments, but he played the 'exigencies of the Service' trump card. But he told me that I would be posted to somewhere reasonably nearby, which sweetened the pill considerably.

However, on arrival at CFS I found that a colleague had been given the promise of the same posting which grated somewhat. CFS also said that Barnwood couldn't make such a promise anyway. However, my colleague and I agreed not to fall out over it; whoever did best on the course would get the choice. But the RN people on the course asked who this 'Barny Wood' person was who we kept moaning about!

In the end it worked out OK; although I was lucky enough to get the posting in question, Barnwood engineered things so that my colleague wasn't disadvantaged by the allowances regime by 'detaching' rather than 'posting' him; he had 12 months of weekly commuting but his squadron let him stack early and start late - and as he worked a 'Christian' week rather than our Wed-Sun week, he actually saw more of his family than he would have done if he'd had the other posting. But Barnwood looked after him and he was reposted somewhere nearby as soon as he'd got his B1 and a slot came up.

The moral of the story being that DeskOs can be flexible - or rather they could back then. There are many tales of being 'stitched' by a DeskO, but I'm quite certain that they will always do the best they can for an individual. Although whilst I was doing some PVR-porridge time at Barnwood, a DeskO commented "You lucky $od, I b****y well wish I was leaving!":eek:

BEagle, you are right about DOs helping where it doesn't actually affect their plot.

When I married he helpfully rearranged detachements to become a posting thus entitling me to a MQ. Later, escaping from ISL on a 6-month sentence pre-release, he initially detatched me but on representing my circumstances I was posted and then detached. This was as money issues started to bite - 25 years ago! and it needed the agreement of my new unit to have me non-productive on the books for 6 months.

Quote:
A note on Pilot recruitment:

it is not envisaged that any new recruit pilots will commence employment in the RAF before July 2012. Potential "
So what happens to the basic training empire? Will this mean Basic training almost completely stops for 18 months?


bb


My civvy mate at Linton on Ouse said there was a big hush,hush meeting with the contractors this week, feasability study etc etc.
The end is near I fear!!!!!!

Don't think the meeting was hush hush. I heard Harry got the whole stn in the auditorium and told everyone there is a feasibility study going on.

Latest top level messages from high does not mention 'voluntary redundancies' only compulsory.

"An Armed Forces redundancy programme will aim to reduce the number of Service personnel while maintaining a satisfactory balance of skills, experience, ability and seniority in rank throughout the Armed Forces to enable delivery of operational requirements.
• A compulsory redundancy programme will be developed under the terms of Armed Forces Redundancy Scheme 2006 (AFRS 06) and AFRS 10.
• A comprehensive implementation programme will be developed. The single Services will publish details as soon as they have identified redundancy fields.
• Decisions on those selected for redundancy will be made by the single Services, and may include applicants (from the identified redundancy fields) as well as non-applicants.
• Transition of those selected for redundancy will be managed through the appropriate resettlement package.
• The value of redundancy payments will depend on which Armed Forces Pension Scheme individuals belong to."



Are they leaking out subtle changes bit by bit so come March 2011 the rules will have changed again?

Jlider,

It's all about management speak.

I'm about 99% certain that I saw somewhere recently that, in terms of the SDR decreases in manpower, you can "volunteer" to be made compulsary redundant....work that one out!

This is pretty standard. For Applicants read volunteers. For redundancy fields means don't bank on it yet.

In the 70s F4/Bucc navs were not allowed to volunteer whereas Canberra navs were.

Feasibility study at Linton has three outcomes (i was told by someone who was there)
A: move Tucano to Leeming by 2013
B: move future training with new a/c to Valley by 2016
C: there is no option C
bye bye Linton

This marks the RAFs complete withdrawl from N Yorks.

oh apart from 100sqn at Leeming.

How long before 100 Sqn goes the same way that 45/58 Sqns did at Wittering in 1976?

I'm surprised that some beancounter hasn't yet called time on 100....:(

Well, whatever that drivel is supposed to mean, they must be offering some pretty good salaries, terms and conditions if they expect to attract all those Flight Instructors to Anglesey....:\

Quote:
Don't think the meeting was hush hush. I heard Harry got the whole stn in the auditorium and told everyone there is a feasibility study going on.

Whole Station? Only blue suits were invited, the many many civilians (many ex RAF) who do 80% of the the jobs at Linton were not invited!

The prev poster (yaffle) has got it about right!

Those civvies at the back must have sneaked in then. I understand it was Babcock who told their employees not to attend.