Jayant.
Lance Corporal isn't a rank in the RAF Regiment.

Having watched the flame procession a couple of times on the news I was suprised not to see the runners from the MET wearing pedometers, so they could file their mileage claims... :E

.

Oh yes it is. Has been for a few years now.

Blimey. I must have been out for too long!

Olympic security:
G4S has had its fee for managing civilian security staff for the Games rise from £7.3 million to £60 million.

Its just not worth it financially to volunteer.

Job he is doing and where = Correct
Lieutenant Corporal = Does not exist SFAIK
Too much for the Beeb to get names, jobs , ranks and aircraft types correct at the same time.

Olympic Fiasco

Do you remember the huge problems we had at the time of the foot and mouth epidemic when the military were called in and sorted things out in commendable style. We have an evolving problem once again with the security situation at the Olympics and I feel sure as a civilian that our armed foces will once again step in and do a fantastic job.

Should you have to ? Almost certainly not but at the end of the day the armed forces are more highly regarded than the unionised fire service and the pampered and overpaid police.

:\

To reciprocate perhaps next time we're a bit short on the frontline G4S can send some of their management across to Helmand to make up numbers. The Fire Brigades Union owe us many favours as well.

Winco,

We clearly don't agree, but to flesh out my point. Bailing out a security firm is nothing to do with defence business. Unless, that is, the government was counting (naively, stupidly - whatever you fancy) on the security firm for something it considers very important and which it now cannot deliver.

Now we enter the realms of MACA which is a fundemental role of the armed forces. I assume you don't disagree?

I concur absolutely that it shouldn't have been needed in this case. But actually the MACA guidelines point out that planners shouldn't plan on/ count on military help - we're there as the Alamo/ last resort/ back stop CAP.

What I fail to see (and again we disagree) is why someone pinged for extra duties in London for a fortnight should expect recompense when someone given a crash move to Faslane wouldn't.

And yes I know that stacks of boys and girls are in or about to go to, or have just got back from the sand pit. And I too have had my fair share of 'rather cross wife'. It goes with the turf. Doesn't make it any easier to swallow but it's a rule of the game.

Last point and I really do mean it genuinely is we're all human and we all differ significantly. I respect your opinions, just don't share them on this occasion. Eyes out, fly safely.

Slight tangent, but one of my former colleagues posted a notice on farcebook which read "British servicemen in Afghanistan are threatening to go on strike next week. Firemen and dustmen are being drafted in to fill the gap"

Made I larff

Said on last night's news that G4S admitted they had blown it and were going to lose £50M on the Olympic contract. My hearr bleeds warm p1$$ for them. They'll get it back on plice contracts later, no doubt helped by the incoming Chief Inspector of Plods

orca,

Thank you for your reply and let me say how nice it is to have reasoned response without (as we are all guilty of) resorting to slagging each other off; Thank you.

OK, so we clearly disagree and I would concede that in the main, you are correct in your comments. Yes, we are there as a backstop, Yes to your points on MACA and to all of the others, but where I still disagree strongly is your point about someone getting a short-notice, crash move to Faslane or anywhere else.

They get a short-notice posting because of service reasons, whether we like it or not.Someone has gone sick, someones Wife is sick, there is an urgent op reason, whatever. They don't get a short notice posting to Faslane, because the NAAFI manager has quit his job, and they can't get a replacement. (Do we still have NAAFI?) And I think that is the fundamental point I would wish to make strongly out of all this.

These 3500 boys and girls aren't getting a last minute posting because we are off on another Op Corporate. We are not going off to invade some third world dictatorship. Indeed, they are not even going off to provide essential fire cover for our wonderful civilian fire service. They are going off to prop up a civilian company, who were supposed to provide security for a civilian event at a time when the Armed Forces are hurting more than they have ever hurt before.

I am absolutely furious about it all I have to say.

I am sick to death of the Armed Forces of this Nation being regarded and treated as little more than pond-life by the government, CS's, MP's and all-un-sundry each and every day and yet, as soon as there is a problem, 'Lets bring in the troops'

All I am saying is that whilst they don't have an entitlement or ligitimate claim to a financial reward (and I accept they don't have a legal entitlement) I just think it's time that someone stood up and said, 'hey, if we are going to screw over our Armed Forces for crap like this, let's at least show them we are grateful'. And that NEVER happens.

Wives do put up with a lot and in the main they get on and 'suck it up' However, they will be less willing to accept another separation simply to help out a civilian company that has charged us all (and been paid already!) millions of pounds and delivered nothing.

I seem to remember that when I came back from Corporate, I was given 2 tickets to the FA Cup final that year! As it happens, I gave them away because I couldn't make it! But it was a nice thought. Does the same happen now?? I somehow doubt it.

Maybe G4S should pay to send them and their families away for a fortnight to Centre Parks or somewhere else.

Rant over for another day, just about to launch into the wide blue yonder!!
Be safe

Winco

I couldn't agree more with Winco, I hate the "it's life in a blue suit" brigade and "just get on with it" people have had enoughof this BS, pointless wars and deaths in a country far from home that we don't understand and won't change, unprecedented cuts and spiralling morale mean "just get on with it" doesn't cut the mustard anymore.
People thought they were spending their summer doing x and suddenly they get stiffed to fill in for a poorly organised, unsupervised civvy company.
It's called taking the piss!!!

From the BBC:

Now, G4S stand to lose £50M and there are 11000 servicemen due to be 'inconvenienced' by this ridiculous overblown indulgence of a few sweaty oafs running, jumping, splashing about and throwing things.

50 000 000 / 11 000 = £4545 per head?

If G4S are going to forgo £50m why not spend it on the defence housing estate? Benefit goes in the right direction and not just back into government coffers.

It just keeps getting better...

Olympics: 'I don't know if guards speak English', says G4S chief - Telegraph

There have been complaints earlier in the week about MPs being given complimentary tickets for some of the blue riband events at the games.

Wouldn't it be a pleasant surprise if the MPs donated these tickets to off duty members of the armed forces providing security so that they could actually see some of the games and provide something of a carrot to the armed forces after recent severe applications of the stick.

"Twenty-Twelve"
 

You really couldn't make all of this up unless you were writing a script for a typical British comedy show. It's my guess that the "Twenty-Twelve" TV show must be gleaning all of their material from PPrune!

I hope that there's been an adequate risk assessment and that the DDH has made his "handshake" with the UK Gov... dots the I's and crosses the T's!

TCF