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TG17 OOA Dets

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vinnyvx

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The TG17 Forum has been quiet for a while and I heard the following rumours which made my blood boil. I had to share them.

1) Drafters are exmept OOA at the moment! Why? Please don't tell me they are busy, aren't we all at the moment.

2) I see the Sgt TG17 OOA TRT is down to 24 months, yet I heard the former TG17 Sgt drafter has only just gone on his first OOA det, ever! WTF is going on? First OOA det in how many years (15-18ish) and where does he go, the Falklands! They say PMA don't look after their own....

And people wonder why TG17 isn't a happy place to be and the FMDL is in a dive.

Comments?
 
vinnyvx said:
The TG17 Forum has been quiet for a while and I heard the following rumours which made my blood boil. I had to share them.

1) Drafters are exmept OOA at the moment! Why? Please don't tell me they are busy, aren't we all at the moment.

2) I see the Sgt TG17 OOA TRT is down to 24 months, yet I heard the former TG17 Sgt drafter has only just gone on his first OOA det, ever! WTF is going on? First OOA det in how many years (15-18ish) and where does he go, the Falklands! They say PMA don't look after their own....

And people wonder why TG17 isn't a happy place to be and the FMDL is in a dive.

Comments?
Click to expand...

I take it you are looking for a good bite here?

I hadn't heard the rumour TBH, though it may be correct and it could have something to do with the impending move to High Wycombe. Just a thought, I know when I was involved in a unit move and the request was submitted for me to be screened for a certain period.

So where are they sending you then Vinny? Knowing the current drafter I don't think that any flex would been given in where any ex drafters would have been sent. I take it what you want to see is for any ex drafters to be sent to the front as standard cos they have it easy? TBH I can show you a WO who is due to retire soon who has never been anywhere other than Germany and Cyprus, hadn't engineered that he wouldn't go anywhere just happened that way.

Oh well good rant I suppose
 
As Kernow said drafters are probably screened at the moment due to the move to High Wycombe. This can surely be understood as stability in the drafters posts are paramount if they are to deliver an acceptable level of service , and during the time that the relocation is taking place a constant could only be a positive thing.

I for one know that if my drafter was to be deployed for 4 months at the minute with (hopefully) the trade review imminent I would not be overly impressed. Yes we are all busy but I would not like a drafters job, they seem to be fighting a losing battle with not much thanks.

As for the Sgt who has apparently just gone on his first OOA to MPA, good luck to him. We do not know his personal circumstances so therefore to comment would be both unfair and unsubstansiated wihout the full history surrounding his career.
 
Not sure, but it may be me he's referring to. My dets are listed below if it helps:

96 Italy
98 Ali Al Salem
01 Saudi Arabia

Due to deploy (To MPA) in 05, but had major surgery on my neck following injuries sustained whilst playing rugby. As soon as I was upgraded I was placed on DWR by the desk. I went to the Falklands because that's where they sent me. Hope these details clear a few misunderstanding up.
 
I know a Cpl (hopefully soon to be Sgt) Pers Admin who has not done an OOA for years. Not because he's a war-dodger, he's quite keen to go somewhere on det, but ever since he got DV'd years ago he's been posted from one screened tour to another.

I was replaced in Bosnia by a Cpl from an AFCO because their screening had been lifted. After she got warned for det the screening was replaced so she lucked out. How many shineys do we have in AFCO posts? More than a few.

I know drafters who have been OOA in the last year or 2 so if they are screened again I would surmise that Kernow is right - it is temporary to cover the unit move (Laarbruch got a blanket screening in its last 18 months so it's not unusual). And if they get the cushy dets, so what? There are few enough perks left in this job - don't begrudge those who take advantage of it when they can. Take your anger out on the idle gits with Twisted Sock Syndrome.
 
As a few others have said there as clerks out there who have not done an OOA tour through no fault of their own, I myself have only done two in 16 years (MPA and Iraq) it's not their fault they've been lucky whilst others appear to have been shafted it's just an unfortunate fact. The one's that bug me are the real detachment dodgers who on finding out they are either soon to be nominated for Det or on being DWR'd suddenly find a way of getting downgraded/deferred on PT cases (constantly) so some other poor bugger has to go (it happened to me on both my tours, the 1st time I was brought forward 4 mth's the second resulted in going 4 mths early and to a different location). These are the ones we should be getting rid of and having a go at not the ones who through no fault of their own have been lucky.
 
Sorry to butt in on a shineys forum, but what you are discussing is broadly relevant to every trade, obviously there are some specifics to you guys only though.

I would thnk that the vast majority of you have served your time on PD points etc and are therefore more than familiar with the fact that almost every trade is scrabbling around trying to find manpower to cover OOA's, some are in a worse state than others.

I quite agree that everyone should try and take the most out of the RAF, and therefore if you can get yourself into a position that is out of the ordinary then great.

However it's the guys running to the medical centre with a cracked eyelash that annoy me. WTF did these layabouts think they joined?
 
It is not always the individuals fault that they are downgraded. When I got 10 days notice to go to MPA in 2003 I went to med centre with my preps at a large unit just south of Lincoln and the SMO (a Civvy) asked me what would I like wrong with me so I could get out of going. Needless to say I went straight to OC Admin who did naff all about it! With medics like that it's no wonder the turnaround times are short.

It's about time personnel who are downgraded have the X Factor stopped from their pay (dependant on circumstances). That MIGHT help?
 
I have heard that only one Drafter from each desk will be sent OOA at a time. I agree with vinnyvx and believe this is due to the move to High Wycombe and also the extra workload created by JPA. I deal with a couple of the Drafters on a weekly basis and know how busy they are so I don't really mind that they have this screening at the moment. What does hack me off is how the Drafters seem to get the cushy locations and/or jobs. Now before any current or ex Drafters have a pot at me, I know there are exceptions to this, but admit it in the main you 'cherry pick' the best ones.

I also agree with tobytyke and strongly believe that personnel who cannot fulfil their service obligations either due to long-term medical downgrading or long-term PT should have their X factor removed. I'm pretty sure that if the malingering sods were hit where it hurts - the pay packet - the turn-around time for sgt Pers Admin would increase to a more realistic time-frame.
 
sorbs said:
I have heard that only one Drafter from each desk will be sent OOA at a time. I agree with vinnyvx and believe this is due to the move to High Wycombe and also the extra workload created by JPA. I deal with a couple of the Drafters on a weekly basis and know how busy they are so I don't really mind that they have this screening at the moment. What does hack me off is how the Drafters seem to get the cushy locations and/or jobs. Now before any current or ex Drafters have a pot at me, I know there are exceptions to this, but admit it in the main you 'cherry pick' the best ones.

I also agree with tobytyke and strongly believe that personnel who cannot fulfil their service obligations either due to long-term medical downgrading or long-term PT should have their X factor removed. I'm pretty sure that if the malingering sods were hit where it hurts - the pay packet - the turn-around time for sgt Pers Admin would increase to a more realistic time-frame.
Click to expand...

Only one at a time? I thought there was only one for each trade, must be just mine thats shafted then?

personally i dont blame these people for 'cherry picking' after all they 'should' have done their fair share on the way up the promotion ladder.

but x-factor, other than beinga crap show is a whole new matter.

Everyone should get paid their daily wage.

The X-Factor should then be added

If your not deployable then your 13% should be removed.

END OF.
 
sorbs said:
I have heard that only one Drafter from each desk will be sent OOA at a time. I agree with vinnyvx and believe this is due to the move to High Wycombe and also the extra workload created by JPA. I deal with a couple of the Drafters on a weekly basis and know how busy they are so I don't really mind that they have this screening at the moment. What does hack me off is how the Drafters seem to get the cushy locations and/or jobs. Now before any current or ex Drafters have a pot at me, I know there are exceptions to this, but admit it in the main you 'cherry pick' the best ones.

I also agree with tobytyke and strongly believe that personnel who cannot fulfil their service obligations either due to long-term medical downgrading or long-term PT should have their X factor removed. I'm pretty sure that if the malingering sods were hit where it hurts - the pay packet - the turn-around time for sgt Pers Admin would increase to a more realistic time-frame.
Click to expand...

Which part of Vinnys post did you agree with? The fact that Drafters aren't busy or that the ex-TG17 SNCO Drafter has cherry picked his current (and apparently only) OOA. Vinny has gone for a rant based on loose rumour and been slapped down, in particular by the very person he was ranting about!

WRT X-Factor, this subject has been discussed to death many many times on here and in the crewrooms. It is a non-starter, why should we be punishing people for being downgraded. There are many who whilst they cannot deploy OOA can fulfill every task at home. A good example is there a couple of pers who have a severe fear of flying, they are working on over coming that fear but because of it they cannot deploy. Although they cannot sample the delights of the sandpit, they do carry out every other duty at home be it guard or supporting the numerous unestablished commitments. Yes there are a few who have twisted a sock or broken an eyelash, but TBH if you can identify those who are then they would be deploying!
 
I'd like to know how many drafters/career managers, regardless of current exemptions and rank, have actually ever been OOA to anywhere remotely dodgy such as Bas/Baghdad/Kabul/Kandahar while they've been at PMA???
 
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ReluctantClerk said:
I'd like to know how many drafters/career managers, regardless of current exemptions and rank, have actually ever been OOA to anywhere remotely dodgy such as Bas/Baghdad/Kabul/Kandahar while they've been at PMA???
Click to expand...

You could phone and ask them.
 
Kernow said:
There are many who whilst they cannot deploy OOA can fulfill every task at home. A good example is there a couple of pers who have a severe fear of flying, they are working on over coming that fear but because of it they cannot deploy. Although they cannot sample the delights of the sandpit, they do carry out every other duty at home be it guard or supporting the numerous unestablished commitments. Yes there are a few who have twisted a sock or broken an eyelash, but TBH if you can identify those who are then they would be deploying!
Click to expand...

I take it this is a line to get some people going, IMO, all should take their turn at the termoil, disruption and danger that a proper DWR brings. If there is a Service reason for some people not to go away for a short period then fine, but personal reasons are personal reasons and should not be accepted by the RAF as a permanent excuse.

If the're medically downgraded, then give them the medical boot with a medical pension and a chance to get on with their lives where medical reasons will not put a burdon on their colleagues, fair dinkum I think.
 
You are right but I believe it's too early in the day for phones to be answered. I thought someone on the forum may heve a good idea (Thomo!!!). I'm just curious, it is only a question and not based on any unfounded rumour. :PDT_Xtremez_26:
 
As I said, they were rumours, although the source appeared to be impeccable (ex drafter). Some people have suggested that PMA maybe exempt because of the move, may be so. However they don't move here until NEXT YEAR and the exemption has been in place since the beginning of this year! Admittedly the advance party arrives in Oct 07. Moreover, I don't remember 2MT or 1ACC or TSW getting a DWR exemption when they moved stations. I also doubt TCW will get an exemption when they finally move. If these operationally focussed units can move without a DWR exemption why can't PMA? So in the interim we have umpty ump drafters exempt DWR and a 24 mth TRT.

It stinks as far as I'm concerned. I know too many people in our trade who have never been OOA and too many who are going OOA for the fifth time.
Admittedly it's worse in some trades, Medics to name but one, however it doesn't make it right. Finally if they can be exempt OOA for so long why do we bother having people in uniform doing the job...
 
Does it matter if drafters (former or current) get the cushy OOAs (I still don't think MPA is "cushy" but at least you don't get mortared)? As long as they are going somewhere, nobody is getting spammed to go in their place.

1ACC etc didn't get a DWR exemption when they moved for 2 reasons as far as I can see (there may be others): they are deployable units; although they moved as a unit, their previous units didn't close. Laarbruch was blanket-exempted DWR for the last 18 months of its life; assuming Innsworth closes on time then it's right that they should be exempt at the moment. If you have ever been involved in a station drawdown you will know how much is involved and why you need everybody on the station strength to pull their weight.

Vinny, it looks as though you have taken a rumour and got yourself all worked up about it for no good reason. Take a chill pill.
 
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