4 Month Dets For TCW - And No R&R!!

[chumpzilla]

Also, on the planning side....

If you have worked in KAF and done the silly x days, x nights, 1 sleep and 3 boost (where you almost always get roped in!) like the lads have, then you would appreciate that you are so exhausted by the end of your 10 weeker you really appreciate seeing your plane! Adding a few more weeks onto that is going to screw up the lads even more.

What is required is careful re-structuring of what shifts are done to allow for some kind of down time to recuperate. But, like I said, you aren't here, so can't pass judgement effectively.

I do, however, understand what you are saying about continuity of customer service, it's just a sham it's at the expense of some already threaders guys and gals!

I'll take back the tube comment...!DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[BillyBunter]

Sounds a ****y deal

Just do what thousands of other people do , fake an illness so you cant go OOA, failing that PVR

Serious side though , I thought the rules were written for 120 days away you are entitled to R&R.

If they are changing the rules without any compramise then it will only end up in people getting fed up and quitting.

Good luck and hope it gets resolved

 

[OK..Igiveup]

my opinion

my opinion

I prefer the 10 weeks, I liked 10 weeks, I thought 10 weeks worked best, i would volunteer to do 10 weeks, I would look forward to going somewhere different for 10 weeks, I would find it an interesting challenge for 10 weeks.

I think 4 months are bad, I think 6 months (even with r+r are bad),I would be appalled at the thought of 6 or 12 months.

If they want continuity and minimal movement then employ a civvie as that seems to be the plan elsewhere.

The ARGUMENTS have been around for many many years, but always come from those higher up, but I guess most of the reason is to bring us into line with the army, however they have better promotion and more specialised trades. And after all I still have the opinion IT IS THERE JOB.

I don't mind setting up the odd DOB but don't want to be joint.

Several of my last postings have gone civvie and the morale is always an issue when you see your jobs going to less capable more highly paid individuals the issue is RAF wide.

 

[techie_tubby]

Don't worry yourself, my rotund princess, it's just the FC Sqn's and some ERAS types getting ballsed around. So you can go on your 4 monther and get R & R.

Just as an aside, they top brass (minus the BR!) are talking about ALL formed units not having R & R. I hope this won't stick, but finding it difficult to see how they can sort out the manning because you will effectively get very light on the man power mid tour!

What the OP failed to add, is that the 3 FC Sqn's are getting shaved off the top with a multitude of different levels of experience to creat the new 1 FC Sqn.

From what I gather, if there is a structure that is meant to be put in place, then there WILL be time for AT..... About a week a cycle I think! Yip (funking) ee!

cheeky git lol. I meant has there been a decision about wether Main is staying as a section or wether it is getting folded into the FCS

 

[chumpzilla]

From what i remember, 5 Sqn gimps are getting rolled into the FGW dustbin, and there may be a slight restructuring "in house". The main movement is happening to 1,2,3 and 4 as they amalgamate the 4 sqn's and distribute the man power/experience evenly to satisfy the new det idea.

You can settle down now petal, your ivory tower will not be muddied by the real wing! DT_Xtremez_30:

P.s, You know you're just jealous!

 

[chumpzilla]

cheeky git lol. I meant has there been a decision about wether Main is staying as a section or wether it is getting folded into the FCS

1. I am a cheeky git, it comes naturally along with wit and charm!

2. I don't know who Main are! Are you boys in Maint. experiencing an ill-gotten sense of grandeur?

3. We can't have you pink, fluffy and weighty types "folded" into our beloved corps. We aren't a ruddy souffle, you know!!!!

Ha ha, I know what you're thinking. Something along the lines of, "what a cnut!"

Ciao!!!! x

 

[greenblue]

4 months ?

4 months ?

My four-penneth. 10 week tours are fine, on minimum manning, 7 days a week and then home. One could not keep that level of work up, in somewhere like KAF, for 4 months. It is physically draining, in the hotter months. It takes one injury or one sickness and the dets are f*cked for manpower.
Lean team, bollox, cut to the bone team more like.

Basically for the wing, too many jobs, too few people, a handful of NFUs, a smaller handful of reservists and um............ where is everyone ???

 

[techie_tubby]

We had a meeting with the Groupie in our tea bar on Wednesday morning. From what he said ref R&R, because TCW will be deploying as a FU (Formed Unit) the R&R policy is decided locally under the current rules. If you go out on a DWR you will go out to be part of a NFU (Non Formed Unit) and that is when the 120 day policy applies.

Air Command are currently deliberating as to the policy for 90SU and R&R with an announcement to come before the first 4 month det.

 

[chumpzilla]

R & R decision....

R & R decision....

Oh, well. That is wonderful news! Finding out that we won't be getting R & R for our 4 monthers (you can see it happening!) will be a real boost for morale at all ranks!

Can't wait for all the pi$$y whining when we get out there! Joy!

 

[the silver glove]

we had our tea bar chat with el group captain this week also.

he was sayin that the R&R would be probably sacked off in favour of a weeks stand down at the end of the det, he did a show of hands to see how many would prefer R&R and how many would rather at the end. There was about 2 people who would have taken it in the middle. also mentioned was they were looking at a few days downtime in minad, depending on transport availibilty.

so thats TCW probably been seen off, but it was also mentioned that the airships are looking into sacking off R&R for everyone on 4 month dets, regardless of FU or NFU, not that we will have much NFU support anyway come december.

 

[gotthetshirt]

Running the risk of a barage of abuse here goes, the four month tours in my opinion may well increase the already high PVR rate. If you are daft enough to believe that once this proposal has been implimented that you'll do only one 4 month det in 16 months think again.

If you have been on TCW long enough you will know that will change, I agree everyone needs to get their days up and that should mean exactly that Everyone.And not just the guys on the field squadrons it should include all personnel. How many times have you heard of someone dropping out last minute because of some ****y little excuse? And some poor mug getting jiffed to go away in their place in addittion to any other dets done already.

The original tour lengths of say 10 weeks is ideal, especially if you have been to the same place time and time again. How can you expect to generate morale or motivation whilst continually re-inventing the wheel every 2 years!!!! A practice has been going on for years and nothing new for the tick in the box boysand is nothing new!!!!..........DT_Xtremez_42:

As for the no R&R well !!!! I bet the RFW's will get they're R&R though and you'll be expected to cover their shifts and do your own work as well!!!

TCW cannot be compared to the blue Airforce the lifstyle is completely different, this should be recognised and these boys & girls do above and beyond their Blue Airforce counterparts. And usually dammed good at their jobs getting the job done for very little praise or recognition...

 

[hairyback]

I'm already thinking of ****ting out. Now I expect a barrage of "get some time in", "back in my day" and "I did BRUTUS you know" to be hurled at me - I have nothing but respect for the old guard, you all did what needed to be done and you still clearly love it But I joined up at fairly senior age, as a sort of kick up the arse, and whilst I have enjoyed the Service life immensely, there's only so much crap you can take before you think "I'll be 30 soon, do I really want to be sweeping hangars and answering helpdesk?"

This 4 month thing hasn't exactly encouraged me, and though I'll go around waving my finger at young 'uns and saying "I was in the RAF you know!", I'll probably be wearing a slightly more civvie shade of shirt as I do it

Saying that, it could all go tits and I'll become a penison prisoner just like every other big-mouth I change my mind every 5 minutes as is...

 

[delboy]

im off up there in 2 months, posted on 1 sqn w/man bay but no sure what the crack is with 1 sqn being dissolved into 4 sqns, anyone know any gen on this? im thinkin worst case I get there and im off to KAF in december for 4 months but if so then hopefully WITH R+R

 

[techie_tubby]

On ERAS, the 3rd line guys are being moved into ESF with the rest of the equipment being moved onto each of the 4 comms squadrons.

So effectively each squadron will have 3 flights, 2 of them being comms and the other being airfields.

I'm being moved onto 3 squadron on the 1st of October so if all goes to plan I should be going out on the 6th of December to do the first 4 months TCW det

 

[Dragoon]

Gosh, seems like the place is falling apart in my absence! DT_Xtremez_14:

No doubt in around 2 years (strangely, when my new posting will have reached its end) I'll be called up to come back and fix it all... DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[delboy]

On ERAS, the 3rd line guys are being moved into ESF with the rest of the equipment being moved onto each of the 4 comms squadrons.

So effectively each squadron will have 3 flights, 2 of them being comms and the other being airfields.

I'm being moved onto 3 squadron on the 1st of October so if all goes to plan I should be going out on the 6th of December to do the first 4 months TCW det

so avoid 3sqn like the plague is what ur saying? nice 1 mate i'll keep that in mind

 

[Wing boy]

so avoid 3sqn like the plague is what ur saying? nice 1 mate i'll keep that in mind

Avoiding 3 sqn won't help you. There will still be the other 3 squadrons to trap you.

 

[the silver glove]

On ERAS, the 3rd line guys are being moved into ESF with the rest of the equipment being moved onto each of the 4 comms squadrons.

So effectively each squadron will have 3 flights, 2 of them being comms and the other being airfields.

There will be 2 flights on each squadron, within one of them will be the 7 lonely navaid peeps, the remainder of the 2 flights will be comms and a few riggers and TG5. Some of the 1 sqn kit will be held forward to play with, the remainder will stay with the support team for maintenance



Delboy. I wouldn't give any thought to going on any 4 monthers with TCW, the bays are going into FGW and will be a totally seperate entity from TCW, you'll be mon - fri 8 til 5, with a some little jollys round the country doin annuals on the watchman. Word of advice tho, the hotels have dried up for the service lads in the bays, you are expected to be in the block up to 30 miles away from the job, a right pain in the bum . Top Tip, Portland, West Freugh, HMS Cambridge and st.kilda are the top jobs to get if one enjoys a pint!

 

[delboy]

Delboy. I wouldn't give any thought to going on any 4 monthers with TCW, the bays are going into FGW and will be a totally seperate entity from TCW, you'll be mon - fri 8 til 5, with a some little jollys round the country doin annuals on the watchman. Word of advice tho, the hotels have dried up for the service lads in the bays, you are expected to be in the block up to 30 miles away from the job, a right pain in the bum . Top Tip, Portland, West Freugh, HMS Cambridge and st.kilda are the top jobs to get if one enjoys a pint![/QUOTE]

cheers for the gen mate i'll keep it in mind. Just had myself ready to be put on FCS but also thought that there's still alot of work in the U.K to do so knew it would be 1 or the other. a good mate of mine who PVR'd from the bay late last year says it's not bad but the civvy lads who run the place sort themselves out since they're in for the extra rates on the good away jobs, no doubt they'll take cyprus/gib, and the blue suits will take the falklands and jockland. know anything about this?

 

[the silver glove]

the civvies will do gib, you can guarantee that, they generally do the falklands as well, and odiham for some reason. all else is fair game, usually a mix between blue suits and civvies, they are a good bunch, and might even shout yer a curry on their expenses from time to time.

there's no pattern to who goes where, just who's available at the time.

pm me if you need any info fella, be happy to help yer out