Times Report - Cut to the Bone?

OK Guys, direct from the journo's mouth. Things they are a changing.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6917297.ece

Looks like a whole new air force.

 

[lazyrs1]

Essentially folding the MR2 fleet without standing up the MR4 force will in some ways be like closing the station as what else will people do with no aircraft to operate? 2 sqns of aircrew milling around idly waiting for the white elephant that is Nimrod 2000 to become something like close to operational...This might be a canny way of closing ISK very slowly without seeming to make unpopular, vote losing statements on top of what has already been said...

Ainsworth is terrible...he's still stumbling along avoiding giving answers to any decent questions by attacking the question askers party politics then sitting down with the question ignored...knob!

I cant remember an ASW phase on the herc OCU - is bob popping down to lyneham to let us know how to track subs!!! The stupidest statement i have heard in ages. By the way he now calls afghan "afgarnistarn" like he has a posh accept. The bloke used to work in a a car factory in coventry ffs.

 

[broadsword]

The bloke used to work in a a car factory in coventry ffs.

I would argue that was the limit of his capability.

I met Portillo in the 90's on a station tour and thought HE was a throbber. Compared to Ainsworth he was up there with Winston...

 

[Stingray]

Report???????

Report???????

I have only heard something on BFBS radio....has there been any official release as yet....if so can someone provide a link please?????

 

[MontyPlumbs]

To be fair, its long been stated Cott will close (originally when the Harrier retires) as you can't fly the F-35 from there due to noise.

That's basically what the Force Commander said on his forum when one of the lads asked about money to improve the blocks....

 

[Downsizer]

So after the mass briefing at Cottesmore today...what is the timeline for its closure...and which leaping heap sqn is to be canned?

 

[MontyPlumbs]

So after the mass briefing at Cottesmore today...what is the timeline for its closure...and which leaping heap sqn is to be canned?

All the RAF are probably hoping NSW! DT_Xtremez_14:DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[MrMasher]

So after the mass briefing at Cottesmore today...what is the timeline for its closure...and which leaping heap sqn is to be canned?

Move to Witt by apr 2011. Non committal on which sqn but it looks like IV.
Cott to close by 2013.

 

[stacker1195]

Harriers to go to Witt by Apr 2011, Cott to close by Apr 2013. 1 RAF Sqn to go though which one has not been decided yet. Basically what he said DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[rest have risen above me]

Did anybody pick up on the manpower reductions? As I'm sure Bungling Bob stated something about letting people go within their terms of employment or something along those lines. Now that smacks of just letting you go for three months pay. I wouldn't put it past the miserable gits.

 

[MrMasher]

Did anybody pick up on the manpower reductions? As I'm sure Bungling Bob stated something about letting people go within their terms of employment or something along those lines. Now that smacks of just letting you go for three months pay. I wouldn't put it past the miserable gits.

Unless you fancy Odiham! 22 more chinnies will need lots more manpower.

 

[busby1971]

Politico Headlines

Politico Headlines

Newspaper Headlines:

I'm spending millions on stopping IEDs and Helicopters, just what the troops are asking for on the ground.

This might make the back page of Jaynes

I'm running the rest of the forces down/into the ground to fund it.

I don't know he spends one night in theatre with the Army and he goes crazy.

 

[petesdragon]

So where does bungling bob want us to store the winders and HE bombs here at Wittering, as the dump is a bit full and the 47 is too close

 

[Old Chief]

FFS what a bloody shambles. really sorry for you guys, it's not much of a career any more.
BTW a huge secret airbase in Oxfordshire was unable to supply just one person in uniform to attend the repatriation of bodies as they pass the on the A420.
The reason from the unit press officer is that they are maxed out running the airbridge. They did manage to hav 5 people sleep rough in Oxford to demonstrate solidarity with the homeless however!

:0

 

[NotaStroppyJock]

Did anybody pick up on the manpower reductions? As I'm sure Bungling Bob stated something about letting people go within their terms of employment or something along those lines. Now that smacks of just letting you go for three months pay. I wouldn't put it past the miserable gits.

2,500 announced on MOD website under defence news, although it doesn't say what the spread is it does say no redundancies, probably scared by the response

 

[Realist78]

2,500 announced on MOD website under defence news, although it doesn't say what the spread is it does say no redundancies, probably scared by the response

Probably more than the rumoured 10000 they're after!

 

[monobrow]

Just watched Ainsworth stammering, er'ing and um'ing his way through telling us that their will be no capability gap when the MR2 goes out of service early because we have Merlins and Hercules...This man just has no idea whatsoever.

The Mastiff and Viking armoured vehicles are also rumoured to be filling the gap whilst the Navy ships are still being paperworked to death.

 

[Teh Wal]

Just watched Ainsworth stammering, er'ing and um'ing his way through telling us that their will be no capability gap when the MR2 goes out of service early because we have Merlins and Hercules...This man just has no idea whatsoever.

Hmmm, I definately can't imagine either of those types providing top cover for any RAF SAR Sea King that's on a rescue 350 miles out into the Atlantic DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[fatboystillnotslim]

Any idea if this means that stopping signing on will be the first move?

 

[vim_fuego]

Hmmm, I definately can't imagine either of those types providing top cover for any RAF SAR Sea King that's on a rescue 350 miles out into the Atlantic DT_Xtremez_09:

Nor could they effectively do ASUW or anything other than littoral ASW for very short periods of time...

Since the primary role of the MR2 was providing protection to the V boats who takes over that mantle?

 

[Downsizer]

Any idea if this means that stopping signing on will be the first move?

I would say that is a safe bet. Oddly enough I have been encouraging my lads to sign on ASAP for some time now...

Edited to add:

Just found this on the MoD website

The number of Service personnel, who are not critical to current operations, will be reduced by 2,500. This will be achieved by slowing recruitment and preventing extensions to service rather than through redundancies.

From here