Squadron 'Uncles'
 

I see that the reserve are advertising for Squadron 'Uncles' for Typhoon Squadrons - RAF Reserves - FTRS Vacancies List

I think the Squadron Uncle is a great scheme and I remember the great Furze Lloyd taking this role on during the 90s. If only I lived near Lossie/Leuchars! :{

BTW - for the Loadies, a Squadron 'Uncle' is different to a Squadron 'Auntie' which is an entirely different thing! :E

Any takers?

LJ

Never heard of a Sqn Uncle before.

Looking at the job spec though, sounds more like a Gofer than anything else. :confused:

Typical duties may include assisting the Sqn Executive Officer with Ops and Planning tasks.

Exposure to sqn support functions and reports/returns (such as AFT & CFT compilation, SAPPHIRE, F540 etc).

Three reasons why recruitment may be harder than for some other jobs.

Is that "Uncle" as in the Adj in "Aces high"

airpolice,

Several good reasons not to sign up but it could suit a 55 year old newly retired aircrew bod living locally, that has no idea what to do in life for the next 5 years. On the understanding that FTRS posts run till age 60.

Interesting that new jobs are still being created though in this era of cuts, slash, cuts, burn and more cuts everywhere else.

Each to his own. Full-time holding Officer:uhoh:.

OAP

"Three reasons why recruitment may be harder than for some other jobs."

Agree loss of flying pay might be one, But I completely disagree with the other two. I am a 51 year old FTRS who has eased through his latest fitness test and recently completed CCS (it's not how it used to be by a long shot).

Furze Lloyd - now there was a guy. Did I hear that sadly he had died before his time?

I find this concept of squadron consiglieri quite astonishing.

Is the RAF really so understrength that it cannot meet these requirements from within conventional manning sources?

Would it not be a good idea to seek Dutch ones while they're at it?

Squadron 'Uncle'? Sounds a bit Yewtree to me.....

Only if properly dressed, complete with Dutch cap.

Or an Indian Auntie

In these financially constrained times, maybe what they really need is a ......

Sugar Daddy!

Or perhaps, "Punka Wallah", all waft and no luft. Wouldn't the job fall under the remit of the FOO mentioned elsewhere?

NutLoose,

It used to, certainly there were posts on 3(F) and 11 called OC Mission Support Flight that looked after Ops, Int and Admin (plus visits, bogs and drains, F540, AFT/CFT etc). These were deployable posts and created to replace the old Harrier Sqn "Uncles" (certainly on 3(F) anyway). Not sure if they are binning the OC MSF post and going back to the "Uncle" concept or keeping the OC MSFs and effectively duplicating 90% of the post.

Why P or WSO?
 

Not sure why so restrictive as no flying involved and more of an extra exec level post to do all of the tasks that the old uncle posts did. Half of the jobs they do will prob require more broadened experience than they perhaps envisage.

My guess is so they can be an Auth and Duty Exec, which were the only things OC MSF couldn't do.

Tailchase, it's probably about the fact that the aircrew omnt he squadrons concerned will be Pilots only. I don't see an ex nav mentoring a newbie typhoon driver.

Party Animal, I was thinking that repaying your lump sum might put recent;y retired people off.

Furz Lloyd - 20 Sqn Uncle & my Dad
 

In response to the question from Wanderl00, I am sorry to confirm that my Dad, Furz, passed away in 2010 after a long battle against multiple injuries after a major car accident the year before.

He loved his time as a sqn uncle - he was a great mentor, source of support & mine of information to them, as well as wearing a groove in the counter of the bar.

I stayed one night after being marooned by East Coast trains at Grantham - seeing the affection that the sqn & other mess members had for him was great - his calling card of 'my dear chap' ringing out as we entered the bar.

I miss him so.