Calling redundant WSOps and WSOs!
 

So have any WSOps or WSOs who were made redundant post SDSR '10 had any feelers from the RAF yet? Heard a snippet today that this may be about to happen....

Personally I'd tell them to poke it, can't imagine many would want to come back.:\

They must be getting worried given the number of people offered PA this year.

Presumably 5 odd years on most of those involved will have found new careers, settled in new locations, etc, and what can the RAF offer in terms of longevity of career?

I believe one of the issues is shortage of GR4 WSOs, surely if you can persuade anyone to rejoin they have the prospect of only 5 odd years of the aircraft still being in service?

I thought it might be more related to a (hopefully) new platform....

A good number were Nimrod aircrew so maybe they want P8 crews? I doubt their offer (T&Cs) would be that attractive to lure many folk back.

It makes I laarrff!

A number of years ago, those at the sharp end told the VSOs not to shut off Nav training. Why? Because OSDs always slip to the right and the RAF would catch a cold.

Funny old thing, that is now happening with the GR4 and - surprise, surprise - they are critically short of Navs, to the extent that they are re-recruiting well-known, back seat drongos, which the RAF was more than happy to get rid of of some years ago.

Life is certainly better on the outside looking in!:)

The first few have already started.

Any WSOps had an offer?

In the late '80s it was almost the norm for people leaving at 38 to rejoin a few years later for BSA. Now, with CEA being a rarity, and possibly not Service to 55 what is the attraction?

The sense of feeling valued? :hmm:

FWIW, I understand from a contact that GCHQ is now recruiting 'Radio Staff', for which read 'Electronic Wizards'. If applicable it could be a new career in which Service time adds to Civil Service pension.


But don't quote me on this - I don't have chapter and verse.

Met one yesterday who's back in, having been redunded post SDSR.

Personally, I cannot wait for my phone call/letter/email just so I can tell them to ram it. Once bitten twice shy and all that and as others have said, there is little they can offer to tempt me back in. The Air Force I joined in 1988 is long gone and the one I left in 2011 had little going for it when I departed and I seriously doubt it has improved in the last 4 to 5 years!

Still I can see why for some who didn't apply for or want redundancy, they may give it some serious thought if approached.

I PVR'd and left last year. I'm not holding my breath on that phone call!

Camelspyder,

What has he/she been drinking? :cool:

Val, IIRC, all I got was the higher annual holiday allowance and started a new pension . Roughly the CS pension, rank for rank, is about 15-20% less but then I was spec aircrew.

PP, some people may like it.

Me, I liked it,but I don't know how I found time to squeeze work in.

Just wondering what the ToS are? Do they have to pay back any redundancy money, what is the seniority, promotion prospects?

I am looking for a job. Left the RAF in 94 having served 24 years as an AEO/Op. Am only 62 so have I a chance:D. Oh I also live in New Zealand.;)

^^ You can **** off to the back of the queue pal. I'm 58 and already living in the people's republic of nicolastan. I scored 3 DCS in 2 minutes on my last beep test and the local garage reckon they can cut'n'shut two best blues into one tent-sized close fitting garment once they have steam cleaned the smell of p1ss out of them.

I'll work for keep, assuming full breakfast allowance, hire cars, single rooms and a lifetime pass to hooters.

I'm good to go as long as you don't want me to fly on weekends, bank holidays, or after 4pm on a Friday (I'm ex 42, so no change there then)

Thank you OFO.

That's the single best post I've read in the last Christ knows how many years of Pprune mediocrity.

Now thats not very nice TOFO I am sure there is more than enough jobs for both of us. Unless of course those DCS have migrated to your waist. I was on 201 one of the working squadrons so understand your requirements re working sorry non working hours.;):)

Janda, although ex201 I am with OFO with the additions of no secondary duties, no duty officer etc (let the young thrusters get the full benefit of the learning opportunities).

No working weekends to please the ungrateful unwashed.

To no hooters I would add no practise bleeding. I never needed to spend hours in an NBC suit and respirator to know it was uncomfortable.

I would like to be asked if I would do something, like the Dutch, rather than shafted.

In my last week in the Air Force a prat put me on nights! Told him where to put it. Sadly night flying was cancelled.

Janda

Be careful what you wish for...:hmm:

No going back
 

Retired 2 years ago....loving it! Busy doing what I want to do. No Airshows, no Gas Masks, no AOCs, no bullsh*t. I have kept some uniform in the cupboard but mainly as a happy reminder that I don't have to wear it anymore.


I did meet a Sqn Ldr chap recently who was offered service to 60 and moved onto PA Spine even though he is in a desk job and will never fly again!


As for getting an pound of flesh.....In my last few months in I was giving the task of hosting a 3-star visit! Nice chap though and it was quite relaxed.


As I never fail to mention to all my working friends...."Every day is a Saturday!"...

Thinking about it more I suppose the 30plus hour commute may be a bit of a drawback. However, I could easily be available for all the sunny climate detachments where hotels are included. But not for the ones where camping gear provided.

On one of the Kipper Fleet FB pages there are some already claiming that they have already been approached to come back, and its not just for maritime positions, T&Cs same as when they were forced to leave which is having cause for amusement. Many are saying that they are just waiting for the call (if it ever comes) to say "Shove it".

^^

That's a no brainer. We are talking talented guys and girls who had to go through a pretty torrid time to reinvent themselves. People who can, and do, do that, never look back.

There will be a few for whom it would make sense - older, well set, up semi-retired guys who live locally for example. Maybe some of the younger peeps chasing the dream who never really got started.

All this is (if it is true) is casting a very wide net in the hope of catching one or two fish to bolster experience. The manning bods will know that.

TOFO,

You say... "There will be a few for whom it would make sense - older, well set, up semi-retired guys who live locally for example". Live locally to where I would ask?

Since you seem to be responding to "bluetails" post referring to ex-Kipper Fleet personnel, its not much point trying to recruit semi-retired guys living in the Moray area if your aircraft (P-8?) is going to be based at Waddington!! Maybe some ex-51 with maritime experience living near Waddington? But that's going to be a very small pool.

After so long, and so much bitterness (rightly?), I can't see many ex-maritime guys being tempted surely?

ValMORNA said
Sorry ValMORNA, it does not work that way. My 12 years RAF service (1959-73) did not count towards my 30 year (1973-2003) Civil Service (GCHQ Radio Officer) pension. And a few years before I retired all the Morse training was dropped.

Effort should also be spent on retaining the precious few that are left. It would be interesting to see the numbers on how many are at, or approaching pension point. The opportunities outside are proving to be very attractive.!!

This is all shades of the medical and nursing drawdown post GW1, a friend who was a Squadron Leader nurse in charge of operating theatres at various locations, on a PC from an SSC, called into office. Brown envelope and goodbye, no pension nothing. Cr***d on from a great height.

When they discovered they did not have enough specialist nurses for GW2, his comment was 'if they want me back they'd better send two snowdrops and tell them to bring handcuffs'.

The RAF has like the NHS pi**ed too many people off over recent years and are now reaping the benefits or lack off because senior management has let them down.

MACR, PAS and a contract to age 60+ and I'll consider it.

In my last week at Marham, I flew 3 night bombing comp navex's followed by dropping make believe bombs at Tunby bomb plot. The navigation was by astro with each 3 star fix taking 9 shots. I got Friday to hand in my kit and warn out from the station. What fun it was ! I started a new career in London on the Monday; it was 1976 and the sun came out in May and stayed to September, the totty in London pubs was a cut above that found in Swaffam or Downham. Sad to see what the government has done to the RAF over the
years.

I fear my list of rejoin 'riders' would be considered unacceptable (to say the least).

I'm 58, ex Puma loadie, and already have short hair. Should I be sitting by the phone?

CG

TOFO; I am ex 42 (TB) Sqn and if I was still on the Sqn after lunch on a Friday I would be having serious words with myself.

CG,

Not unless you can operate the kit in the back seat of a GR4!

Right. So it's not just 2 tvs and a few knobs then? (And yes, I'm giving you that one!)

I was thinking more of a 3 day week at a secret base in Salopshire. No Mondays or Fridays if at all poss.

CG