TCW Bunch of Cowboys??

[kev827]

One of the most common statements made during any thread about TCW/90SU is that they are a bunch of cowboys.

Can anyone give examples of what makes them seen in this way. We have all been places and had jobs that when we look back at that them were carried out in a bit of a cowboyish way.

I've seen installations done by non 90su people in the past that were shocking, people who used to fault find on large AD radars by looking at a CCTV screen to see if a bar went across the screen if it did then the radar was working....to name but a couple

 

[KingGuin]

I've done many dets with TCW/90 SU and could never fault their (technical) professionalism. What I have noticed over the years is an increasing tendency towards arrogance in the younger troops with most believing they are ("cos we're the det innit" as one said to me recently) exempt the rules which apply to the rest of us.

 

[commsordeath]

When I was away in Gioia just after Kosovo had kicked off, my Tech was so proud of using so much Chock Block to fix some Don 10 that it could pick up local radio, that we made him some bodge tape spurs for his boots (we also bought him a cowboy hat, a sheriffs badge and a cap gun)

The look on the rest of the Det's faces, and the Italian conscripts faces as he was walking round was priceless - even the DetCo just shook his head

Off Topic: We had lots of fun "shooting" people with the cap gun when they came to the hatch to collect signals, but that stopped when one of the IntO's pulled on of the Harrier pilots PPK's on me late one night !!

 

[The Masked Geek]

Breaking a watchman for a start. Then bodging it. Then not telling anyone.

And that was an R2 watchman.


Then you have the old sweats getting the youngsters all whipped up before deploying. They're shaving heads and acting like they're going out to die.


TCW has lost its way.

 

[Very Heavy very Humble]

I served twice on the wing 81-83 and 84-86 albeit as a Heavy, cant say the Wing was cowboy then. The job got done and generally very well.
I cant comment on how the Wing is now but know some of the guys I served with were recently back on the Wing as SNCOs or Warrant Officers. People either liked the Wing or couldnt wait to get off it so guess that part hasnt changed.

 

[Dragoon]

What I have noticed over the years is an increasing tendency towards arrogance in the younger troops with most believing they are ("cos we're the det innit" as one said to me recently) exempt the rules which apply to the rest of us.

I noticed that creeping in when I left the Wing back in 2007, I think it's down to the generation of kids that were coming in mainly, there was an influx of young & arrogant types arriving, and finding one that was happy to listen to the senior SAC's, and not have the attitude of "You're the same rank as me, I don't have to listen to you" was rare.

As for a cowboy section, well, we knew how to fix things, sometimes without the proper tools or supplies, but like anywhere, you get people who make a professional effort of a bodge, and those that just plain bodge.

Perhaps the way the Wing worked in a way that encouraged those who were likely to bodge badly to act in such a way.

 

[chipper]

I served twice on the wing 81-83 and 84-86 albeit as a Heavy, cant say the Wing was cowboy then. The job got done and generally very well.
I cant comment on how the Wing is now but know some of the guys I served with were recently back on the Wing as SNCOs or Warrant Officers. People either liked the Wing or couldnt wait to get off it so guess that part hasnt changed.

i left early 81, any of the flotsam i might have known make it to snco or the dizzy heights of wo?

 

[mad_collie]

Watching a FEPS skidding across a car park at Waddo off the back of a 4 tonner. Not been hooked up to the wagon properly. Driver thought it would be a good idea to put his foot down & jump the kerb into the car park. Once the dust settled, rest of the convoy went to set off & they dropped another FEPS before they left the grassed area.******

 

[Kim Wipe]

When one one of them announced recently,

''As the most important Squadron in the RAF''

Pretty much summed it up to me!

 

[mad_collie]

When one one of them announced recently,

''As the most important Squadron in the RAF''

Pretty much summed it up to me!

Must have been 2(FC) Sqn.

 

[Dilbert]

I've done many dets with TCW/90 SU and could never fault their (technical) professionalism. What I have noticed over the years is an increasing tendency towards arrogance in the younger troops with most believing they are ("cos we're the det innit" as one said to me recently) exempt the rules which apply to the rest of us.

Can't particularly comment as I've not had that much to do with their techie skills, however, KingGuin made a good point.

When I was at the top secret Lincs base a few years ago, a team from the mighty 90 arrived to do some work. I was informed by the team leader (TG4 JNCO) that they were in civvies "'coz it's my decision and I'm the Team Leader". The fact that he wouldn't speak to any of my troops (fellow TG4's) also speaks loads. I did try the pink and fluffy approach with him, but when that got me nowhere, I told him what I thought of his attitude and phoned his WO...

 

[Very Heavy very Humble]

Can't particularly comment as I've not had that much to do with their techie skills, however, KingGuin made a good point.

When I was at the top secret Lincs base a few years ago, a team from the mighty 90 arrived to do some work. I was informed by the team leader (TG4 JNCO) that they were in civvies "'coz it's my decision and I'm the Team Leader". The fact that he wouldn't speak to any of my troops (fellow TG4's) also speaks loads. I did try the pink and fluffy approach with him, but when that got me nowhere, I told him what I thought of his attitude and phoned his WO...

Care to enlighten us of the response from him and his WO ?

 

[crap_prop]

When did the wing have any large AD radars?

When on the wing we did the best with what we had, which during the 90,s was very little, ie resources and proper training. Towards the end of my first tour someone came up with the idea of standards and training flight so we did eventually get trained how to operate and fix the equipment we had.

But this never stopped (in my opinion) the necessity to get the kit up and running on a det as quick as possible by whatever means necessary before the Sqn W@nkers moaning that they couldn't get their GOALS call home. After it was up and running then we could concentrate on consolidating the installation and doing a proper job.

None of us were properly trained installation techs, which wouldn't have surprised some people on inspection of some of our work but then I have worked with some installation techs whose work rate is simply glacial, an approach which on some jobs just wouldn't cut the mustard. This however does in no way mean that you shouldn't take pride in your work and do the best you can!

AD radar was either 1ACC (never on) or Rapier (on and miss).

 

[Very Heavy very Humble]

When did the wing have any large AD radars?

We deployed down south with a radar from Wattisham Type 259 as there was nothing like this on TCW then.
Ended up using it in conjunction with the Argie TPS-43 I . I seem to recall after 82 some sort of AD radar being used on the Wing but I may be mistaken.

 

[LCMOTPET]

TCW had an (ex Argie TPS-43 aquirred after the unpleasantness in 82) Type99 AD radar for several years at Brize. Belive it also spent time at Wattisham and Henlow prior to that.
It ended up at RAF Boulmer in 1995 with a handful of ex TCW when 1 Air Control Centre (1ACC) was reformed and held the fort till the Type 101 took over in 97ish.

 

[crap_prop]

I tip my hat to you gents, every day is after all a school day! I was making the mistake of thinking that everything is as it is now.

 

[MAINJAFAD]

TCW had an (ex Argie TPS-43 aquirred after the unpleasantness in 82) Type99 AD radar for several years at Brize. Belive it also spent time at Wattisham and Henlow prior to that.
It ended up at RAF Boulmer in 1995 with a handful of ex TCW when 1 Air Control Centre (1ACC) was reformed and held the fort till the Type 101 took over in 97ish.

TPS-43 (Type 99) was at Henlow from 82-84/5, 144 SU at Wattisham from 84/5 to 89 as part of the 11 Group Mobile Radar Reserve (with a few S295s (Type 95) and an AR-3D (Type 94)). Moved to TCW in early 89 to be used as a 38 Group Assest. moved to Boulmer in 95, ended up on Cyprus and was then sold.

 

[GrumpyTech]

TCW aren't all cowboys, but they do have to do quick installations in rubbish conditions, then it takes a few det's to get every thing done properly?
The SF arrogance has come from being able to come to TCW direct from training these young boys and girls don't know the proper air force and get to think cos they go camping they are better than anyone else.
This all works round everyone doing a green and blue tour, seeing how the other half live so to speak
DT_Xtremez_19:DT_Xtremez_35:

 

[mad_collie]

TCW aren't all cowboys, but they do have to do quick installations in rubbish conditions, then it takes a few det's to get every thing done properly?
The SF arrogance has come from being able to come to TCW direct from training these young boys and girls don't know the proper air force and get to think cos they go camping they are better than anyone else.
This all works round everyone doing a green and blue tour, seeing how the other half live so to speak
DT_Xtremez_19:DT_Xtremez_35:

So what is the point of the MRX that is held before they go onto their Ops phase?

 

[ITgeek]

Doesnt help when they are going through trade training and are pretty much told TCW is SF every single day. And that if you dont put down TCW for your first posting then there is something wrong with you and u should probibly PVR or retrade.

TCW aren't all cowboys, but they do have to do quick installations in rubbish conditions, then it takes a few det's to get every thing done properly?
The SF arrogance has come from being able to come to TCW direct from training these young boys and girls don't know the proper air force and get to think cos they go camping they are better than anyone else.
This all works round everyone doing a green and blue tour, seeing how the other half live so to speak
DT_Xtremez_19:DT_Xtremez_35: