Future of FD?

[MontyPlumbs]

In days gone by it was known as GSK (general service knowledge) and you were examined on it.

GSK was an element,if I recall correctly,of the old part 1 promotion examination.

The onus was on the individual to learn about their service. Thursday evenings were put aside for GSK and trade training. Lessons were given by Corporals and attendance was mandatory.

Perhaps something has been lost along the way. Certainly it would seem to be a lot cheaper than shipping people here there and everywhere to produce the same result.

But the Army and Navy don't have these GSK sessions (once out of training) any more than the RAF does, so why do their junior ranks tend to know more about their service than ours?

GSK still exists, but only within training, I see no benefit to having it out in the wide RAF, it will be seen as another load of 'bullsh1t' for people to go through.

 

[dkh51250]

So, how difficult would it be to get it incorporated into the formal training element?

Twenty years ago those who presented themselves at the CIO (as was) were expected to know, aircraft types operated, potential postings, and where in the world the service operated.

Is this still the case? Twould appear not.

Most employers expect potential employees to have done some research into the company background. Why does it appear the service is out of step in this regard.

The other two services put considerable emphasis on GSK during basic training, the RAF, it seems, does not.

Foot, and shot, spring to mind.

 

[MontyPlumbs]

So, how difficult would it be to get it incorporated into the formal training element?

Twenty years ago those who presented themselves at the CIO (as was) were expected to know, aircraft types operated, potential postings, and where in the world the service operated.

Is this still the case? Twould appear not.

Most employers expect potential employees to have done some research into the company background. Why does it appear the service is out of step in this regard.

The other two services put considerable emphasis on GSK during basic training, the RAF, it seems, does not.

Foot, and shot, spring to mind.

No, you are still expected to know about the RAF when you join. The problem is, many have no real interest in it, so its a mere 'learn and dump' exercise.

You study GSK during basic training, and undertake an exam testing your knowledge.

The methods are in place during training, but there seems to be a more basic, fundamental problem behind it all.

 

[I`m Ron Burgundy?]

Yes yes im sure it does contribute in a small way to making a more rounded arirman etc but in case no-one has noticed and to re-iterate, we are, to quote blackadder, poorer than a church mouse who's wife has run off with another mouse taking all the cheese! There isnt even the money to finish project SLAM which was a promise!

Think about it, if this was a business would you authorise field trips to learn about the history of the company during dire economic times? of course not, you would start with the activities which would have the very least impact on your ability to conduct business - and in our world FD is at the very bottom.

 

[MontyPlumbs]

Yes yes im sure it does contribute in a small way to making a more rounded arirman etc but in case no-one has noticed and to re-iterate, we are, to quote blackadder, poorer than a church mouse who's wife has run off with another mouse taking all the cheese! There isnt even the money to finish project SLAM which was a promise!

Think about it, if this was a business would you authorise field trips to learn about the history of the company during dire economic times? of course not, you would start with the activities which would have the very least impact on your ability to conduct business - and in our world FD is at the very bottom.

• Below having 1 manager for every 3 workers?

• Below paying millions of pounds on poorly thought out contracts negotiated by people with all the commercial acumen of a slug?

• Below wasting millions reinventing the wheel and renaming every section on camp at least twice a year?

• Below gold plated pension and salary schemes for senior officers and senior civil servants?

FD is a small drop in the ocean compared to the current waste going on in the military. If it gets canned, it will only affect the rank and file. Do you think Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Massingbird-Massingbird will give up his jollies around the world on 'official' business? I doubt it!

FD is one of those things that makes being part of the military unique. Give up these things, and you're just in another PLC, although by the tone of your post, you already think you are.....

 

[I`m Ron Burgundy?]

• Below having 1 manager for every 3 workers?

• Below paying millions of pounds on poorly thought out contracts negotiated by people with all the commercial acumen of a slug?

• Below wasting millions reinventing the wheel and renaming every section on camp at least twice a year?

• Below gold plated pension and salary schemes for senior officers and senior civil servants?

FD is a small drop in the ocean compared to the current waste going on in the military. If it gets canned, it will only affect the rank and file. Do you think Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Massingbird-Massingbird will give up his jollies around the world on 'official' business? I doubt it!

FD is one of those things that makes being part of the military unique. Give up these things, and you're just in another PLC, although by the tone of your post, you already think you are.....

Cant disagree with your bullet points there...if only we could address those issues then perhaps we wouldnt be quite so skint! but you know as well as I do they will never change - apart from maybe the pensions for civil servants, as i've heard their days may well be numbered...

But you have to admit, if we lost FD permanently what drastically negative effect would it have, really? I happen to enjoy them when I can get off work, but objectively I would say that they could disappear, and we would still be no noticeably worse off. It is a business now unfortunately where the finances are concerned, and has been for a while, but i'd rather lose FD than say, R&R in Theatre....oh hang on..

 

[MontyPlumbs]

Cant disagree with your bullet points there...if only we could address those issues then perhaps we wouldnt be quite so skint! but you know as well as I do they will never change - apart from maybe the pensions for civil servants, as i've heard their days may well be numbered...

But you have to admit, if we lost FD permanently what drastically negative effect would it have, really? I happen to enjoy them when I can get off work, but objectively I would say that they could disappear, and we would still be no noticeably worse off. It is a business now unfortunately where the finances are concerned, and has been for a while, but i'd rather lose FD than say, R&R in Theatre....oh hang on..

I know what you are saying mate, but losing FD is the tip of a very very large iceberg.

At the end of the day, things like FD make a military career what it is, if you strip away all of the perks all you are left with is a poorly paid/very well paid job (depending on your trade!!)

 

[MrMasher]

did you hear about the SR that was planned for Pearl Harbour...subsequently binned as it was costing a fortune!

If its the same one I know about, it is happening next year, mostly higher ranks I'm led to believe.DT_Xtremez_42:

On the subject of FD, we tried to get a contribution for going to the RAF Clay Pigeon Shooting Club for a morning of 1st timers shotgun shooting. Got turned down by FDS. It wasn't about the money, it was cheap as hell, it was the principle. If paintballing gets money why not proper live shooting?

 

[Joe_90]

So, how difficult would it be to get it incorporated into the formal training element?

Twenty years ago those who presented themselves at the CIO (as was) were expected to know, aircraft types operated, potential postings, and where in the world the service operated.

Is this still the case?

Yes it is!

 

[8:15fromOdium]

Monty just to answer your question:

I would ask what Pearl Harbor had to do with the UKs Armed Forces?

I can think of a couple of related Qs off the top of my head: What did the Japanease learn from the FAA raid on Taranto Harbour? What is the value of Aircraft Carriers in projecting power? Although I have to admit these Qs could be asked a little closer to home.

I have got to agree with the majority of posters on this thread Staff Rides are a small cost and if done right can add a lot to our education. I have done a couple - both to northern europe and found them interesting and informative. The question I have though is why can't we do them closer to home? There is a stack of RAF history in our own back yard that can get a lot of the same lessons across.

 

[raflad67]

I have got to agree with the majority of posters on this thread Staff Rides are a small cost and if done right can add a lot to our education. I have done a couple - both to northern europe and found them interesting and informative. The question I have though is why can't we do them closer to home? There is a stack of RAF history in our own back yard that can get a lot of the same lessons across.

Unfortunately it is not always a small cost and when you add up what it actually costs and then with T&S thrown in it is difficult to justify in some cases. I know it has cost around 150K for one unit alone this year, and the trouble is when you multiply this by x it is difficult to justify when all we see in the papers is lack of this and that...

Don't get me wrong SR are great and serve their purpose but do a bunch of officers have to go to Hawaii.....I don't think so - try Italy!

Trouble is, does RAF Lincolnshire have the same appeal......how many will volunteer for these? Perhaps FD needs to be pushed more and the 2 x FD activities a year enforced.

 

[MontyPlumbs]

Unfortunately it is not always a small cost and when you add up what it actually costs and then with T&S thrown in it is difficult to justify in some cases. I know it has cost around 150K for one unit alone this year, and the trouble is when you multiply this by x it is difficult to justify when all we see in the papers is lack of this and that...

Don't get me wrong SR are great and serve their purpose but do a bunch of officers have to go to Hawaii.....I don't think so - try Italy!

Trouble is, does RAF Lincolnshire have the same appeal......how many will volunteer for these? Perhaps FD needs to be pushed more and the 2 x FD activities a year enforced.

Even a week long SR to France failed to attract more than 2 volunteers from my last Squadron - which kind of proves the apathy to history the majority of RAF personnel show.