Fitness/Gym during work

[Jayan]

Thanks for all the answers, it looks like high level encourage fitness but leave it to the local commanders to make specific rules. I will have to have a look through SSO's on the off chance.

Hopefully he will be told to wind his neck in at the local big wigs meeting this week

DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[HotspurIDO]

I'm one of the lucky ones.

Tuesdays and Thursdays the Unit doesn't start work til 1000. 0800-0930 is gym time. Tuesdays are do-what-you-want, Thursdays are circuits. It's compulsory to attend for SO3 and below.

And it works a treat.

There's good flex towards taking extended lunch / knocking off early for Phys too if/when primary duties allow.

We have no-one on remedial fitness. (Admittedly we're a small Unit).

If I was AOC everything, the whole RAF would phys Tuesday and Thursday mornings as above.

 

[HotspurIDO]

Oh, and don't forget, we can get our own folk on PTL courses now so they can take the section for circuits without relying on the mirror techs.

The course places seem to be few and far between, and I don't think some of the mirror techs are too happy about it - lets face it, the writing's on the wall for them blokes. However, it's a godsend to have a PTL in the section, makes sorting out Squadron PT a lot more flexible.

 

[muttywhitedog]

I'm one of the lucky ones.

Tuesdays and Thursdays the Unit doesn't start work til 1000. 0800-0930 is gym time. Tuesdays are do-what-you-want, Thursdays are circuits. It's compulsory to attend for SO3 and below.

And it works a treat.

There's good flex towards taking extended lunch / knocking off early for Phys too if/when primary duties allow.

We have no-one on remedial fitness. (Admittedly we're a small Unit).

If I was AOC everything, the whole RAF would phys Tuesday and Thursday mornings as above.

We get circuits 3 times a week - no "fun" PT, no organised sports challenges - just beastings. In fact, there was one "Battle PT" session the other week, which resulted in one badly swollen thumb, one 28-day injury chit and one admission to hospital!

 

[Evil Stan]

There is a clear lack of cohesive policy regarding PT session in work time. At the end of the day we are obliged by our employers to undertake a mandatory fitness test twice a year. Failure to pass it can result in MAA, formal warning, and ultimately discharge. For me personally, it is a lack of management backbone to force the issue. I agree that not all types of employment lend themselves to PT during working hours, however, many do. I do 3 sessions of PT a week in work time, do my line managers - no. Do I care - no. Are they really going to have a go at me for having a positive attitude to fitness, I doubt it very much. At the end of the day, if I fail my fitness test it's a shed load of paperwork for them and compulsory PT, er, that would be during work time then! The prevention is better than the cure isn't it? We have too many fatties in the Service, PT should be compulsory 3 times a week, during work-time and the only valid excuses should be absence from work or a med chit. Stop fannying around with this "encouraged to attend" nonsense, it's an easy get out clause for all those who would rather stay in the office eating doughnuts.

 

[Realist78]

There is a clear lack of cohesive policy regarding PT session in work time. At the end of the day we are obliged by our employers to undertake a mandatory fitness test twice a year. Failure to pass it can result in MAA, formal warning, and ultimately discharge. For me personally, it is a lack of management backbone to force the issue. I agree that not all types of employment lend themselves to PT during working hours, however, many do. I do 3 sessions of PT a week in work time, do my line managers - no. Do I care - no. Are they really going to have a go at me for having a positive attitude to fitness, I doubt it very much. At the end of the day, if I fail my fitness test it's a shed load of paperwork for them and compulsory PT, er, that would be during work time then! The prevention is better than the cure isn't it? We have too many fatties in the Service, PT should be compulsory 3 times a week, during work-time and the only valid excuses should be absence from work or a med chit. Stop fannying around with this "encouraged to attend" nonsense, it's an easy get out clause for all those who would rather stay in the office eating doughnuts.

Either that or bin the whole idea, no point being half hearted.

 

[bubblebutt]

There is a clear lack of cohesive policy regarding PT session in work time. At the end of the day we are obliged by our employers to undertake a mandatory fitness test twice a year. Failure to pass it can result in MAA, formal warning, and ultimately discharge. For me personally, it is a lack of management backbone to force the issue. I agree that not all types of employment lend themselves to PT during working hours, however, many do. I do 3 sessions of PT a week in work time, do my line managers - no. Do I care - no. Are they really going to have a go at me for having a positive attitude to fitness, I doubt it very much. At the end of the day, if I fail my fitness test it's a shed load of paperwork for them and compulsory PT, er, that would be during work time then! The prevention is better than the cure isn't it? We have too many fatties in the Service, PT should be compulsory 3 times a week, during work-time and the only valid excuses should be absence from work or a med chit. Stop fannying around with this "encouraged to attend" nonsense, it's an easy get out clause for all those who would rather stay in the office eating doughnuts.

I believe that generally the Army have compulsory PT 3 x PW. Although our Army brethren do have a lot of bad ideas this one seems a good un', even an early stack on Fridays post CO's PT (that's if your not on guard or something).

 

[superstacker]

I believe that generally the Army have compulsory PT 3 x PW. Although our Army brethren do have a lot of bad ideas this one seems a good un', even an early stack on Fridays post CO's PT (that's if your not on guard or something).

I believe a lot of the Army don't actually have a job to do during the day though

 

[iainrm]

delay management posting

delay management posting

If all management level posting were delayed until the Flt/section etc reached the required fitness pass rate it would generate some input to the problem!!

 

[Realist78]

If all management level posting were delayed until the Flt/section etc reached the required fitness pass rate it would generate some input to the problem!!

See what your saying but that would be impossible to manage and would deliver a headache for manning.

 

[dozyscopie1]

There is a clear lack of cohesive policy regarding PT session in work time. At the end of the day we are obliged by our employers to undertake a mandatory fitness test twice a year. Failure to pass it can result in MAA, formal warning, and ultimately discharge. For me personally, it is a lack of management backbone to force the issue. I agree that not all types of employment lend themselves to PT during working hours, however, many do. I do 3 sessions of PT a week in work time, do my line managers - no. Do I care - no. Are they really going to have a go at me for having a positive attitude to fitness, I doubt it very much. At the end of the day, if I fail my fitness test it's a shed load of paperwork for them and compulsory PT, er, that would be during work time then! The prevention is better than the cure isn't it? We have too many fatties in the Service, PT should be compulsory 3 times a week, during work-time and the only valid excuses should be absence from work or a med chit. Stop fannying around with this "encouraged to attend" nonsense, it's an easy get out clause for all those who would rather stay in the office eating doughnuts.

Would get my vote; luckily I work in a tri-service section where my boss, who is Army, is quite happy for me to leave early and go to the gym, as long as all my work is done. I do get the feeling though if my boss was RAF it would be a different matter.

 

[muttywhitedog]

as long as all my work is done.

If they expect us to do 3 PT sessions per week, then something's got to give.

I'm not aware of anyone who has been sacked for not completing their core tasks but being up to date with their fitness - however I know at least 3 people who were sacked for not being up to scratch fitness-wise, even though they did their core duties very well.

If its a straight choice between getting a job done and training for the FT, then the core task should win every time - however these days people are so scared of the ramifications, they'd feel they should be down the gym than writing appraisals, fixing things etc etc.

 

[Max]

Would get my vote; luckily I work in a tri-service section where my boss, who is Army, is quite happy for me to leave early and go to the gym, as long as all my work is done. I do get the feeling though if my boss was RAF it would be a different matter.

I've never had a problem with my RAF management encouraging us to do PT as it is their stats that are affected by the gym monkey tests. The problems I have had with the army is that they don't understand our real purpose and as they only work when they go to war or are on exercise can all swan off to do as much as they can down the gym. If you don't believe me just try watching the British army Broadcasting Service and see how many army personnel there are at any point doing charity work for a week or 2 in works time.

I do my phys in my own time and don't have a problem with that because I do it for me and not the unit stats. Pass level every time as I have nothing to prove to the mirror techs.

 

[Noidea]

I'm not aware of anyone who has been sacked for not completing their core tasks but being up to date with their fitness - however I know at least 3 people who were sacked for not being up to scratch fitness-wise, even though they did their core duties very well.

etc.

I know of plenty of instances where individuals have been dismissed for trade inefficiency even though they have been in date for RAFFT. However, generally those who are trade inefficient are also poor in other areas like fitness and discip matters as well.

 

[Noidea]

I've never had a problem with my RAF management encouraging us to do PT as it is their stats that are affected by the gym monkey tests. The problems I have had with the army is that they don't understand our real purpose and as they only work when they go to war or are on exercise can all swan off to do as much as they can down the gym. If you don't believe me just try watching the British army Broadcasting Service and see how many army personnel there are at any point doing charity work for a week or 2 in works time.

I do my phys in my own time and don't have a problem with that because I do it for me and not the unit stats. Pass level every time as I have nothing to prove to the mirror techs.

Max I see your point here but it is not worthwhile to compare Army barrack routine to how we operate on a base. A senior army bod once said to me that if they didn't do extra activity like charity stuff when on barrack duties then the boys would get bored, get drunk, get stupid and get into a lot of trouble. It's a means to an end for the Army. It allows an Army CO to look good (I am a cynic) and the RSM an opportunity to keep the boys busy and out of trouble.

 

[Max]

Max I see your point here but it is not worthwhile to compare Army barrack routine to how we operate on a base. A senior army bod once said to me that if they didn't do extra activity like charity stuff when on barrack duties then the boys would get bored, get drunk, get stupid and get into a lot of trouble. It's a means to an end for the Army. It allows an Army CO to look good (I am a cynic) and the RSM an opportunity to keep the boys busy and out of trouble.

I was merely comparing the difference between the army being not busy most of the time and having to make up things to do and us in the RAF who are pretty busy in most areas as our man power has been chopped time and time again and it would appear that your experience backs this up. The problem being that when they are put in charge of us they don't understand why we can't swan about like they do and spend lots of time in the gym.

 

[Barch]

I was merely comparing the difference between the army being not busy most of the time and having to make up things to do and us in the RAF who are pretty busy in most areas as our man power has been chopped time and time again and it would appear that your experience backs this up. The problem being that when they are put in charge of us they don't understand why we can't swan about like they do and spend lots of time in the gym.

Reminds me of the Army saying ..,
'Hurry up and wait'.

 

[vim_fuego]

I know of plenty of instances where individuals have been dismissed for trade inefficiency even though they have been in date for RAFFT. However, generally those who are trade inefficient are also poor in other areas like fitness and discip matters as well.

How many is plenty? Unless I've been surrounded by pure gebius my whole time in I can't recall a single sacking for trade work...I've seen one or two assigned to bay duties because they were more 'suited' to that kind of steady work...

 

[Realist78]

How many is plenty? Unless I've been surrounded by pure gebius my whole time in I can't recall a single sacking for trade work...I've seen one or two assigned to bay duties because they were more 'suited' to that kind of steady work...

Beat me to it, I was going to say the same. I have never heard of someone being dismissed for trade inefficency. Go on then Noidea, post some details.

 

[KingGuin]

Whilst I am aware of personnel being (historically) discharged for Trade Inefficiency, I would suggest cases are few and far between given invariably trade inefficiency is only a small part of the bigger problem.