Hot off the press

[2nd time round]

Just thought that people may like to know what I have just read in one of the 'quality' papers today. All armed forces are to be cut (which we knew), and that it will start as of next week with the Governments spending review.

The RAF is to undergo 'substantial' cuts which will result in losing airfields, fast jets and thousands of personnel.

I know that most of you will already know this but, the shear scale and impending nature of this news is not good for those of us stuck in the tail end of the recruiting system.

As has been said in previous posts, those short listed have what it takes, its just the numbers aren't there to be filled.

A sad indicator of the times we live in at the moment me thinks !.

[Stu-]

this government is farcicle (spelling?) farcical El Kind Prez

firstly we cannot afford to recruit for the general army and now raf are having cuts made?

absolute disgrace to be honest.

[Guest]

Election coming up chaps, make the spending cuts re useless Typhoon fighters to make way 'for jam tomorrow' to treat the electorate

[Biggles1211]

The decision is a disgrace. Ultimately, it will involve replacing many RAF Support personnel with Civil Servants and contractors. The idea to centralise the RAF onto 'super-bases' is financially driven - fine unless the UK is ever attacked and we have all our eggs in one basket. It is purely about saving money so that the government can splash more cash in areas (immigration, NHS etc) where it is wasted by fat, lazy civil servants.

[icklecathy]

Just thought that people may like to know what I have just read in one of the 'quality' papers today. All armed forces are to be cut (which we knew), and that it will start as of next week with the Governments spending review.

The RAF is to undergo 'substantial' cuts which will result in losing airfields, fast jets and thousands of personnel.

I know that most of you will already know this but, the shear scale and impending nature of this news is not good for those of us stuck in the tail end of the recruiting system.

As has been said in previous posts, those short listed have what it takes, its just the numbers aren't there to be filled.

A sad indicator of the times we live in at the moment me thinks !.

I've got to be honest and say i'm having second thoughts about my career in the RAF. Not only has the recruitment process disheartened me, but all this news of future cuts makes me think even if I did get in, how long is my job secure for ?

Also Supply and Admin are 2 of the branches which could be under threat - many RAF bases alredy have civvy supply, and Admin may be going to a tri-service post.

Maybe it's cos now I have the chance to do something else, but the downsides of a career in the forces are becoming more and more apprent to me.

[rawli]

Lessens will be learnt as they were in the 1918-39 interwar period where the armed forces were cut and cut until good old Adolf became a threat and then they decided that the country needed people like us. At the end of the day it won't be until the shit hits the fan that everybody on civvie street will stop and think. What is important, the amount of foreigners gracing our streets or being invaded where no one will be walking down the streets? (Sorry about the BNP soap box thing!)

[2nd time round]

Rawli,

I don't think your comment was in any way BNP related, its the way that most of the electorate are thinking at the moment !.

The problem is that there is only so much money to go round and which is more palatable to the voter, spend more on health and education or spend some on the armed forces ?. Unfortunately the armed forces lose every time. There was an interesting article yesterday in the Telegraph about this subject and it quoted PM Blair's statement about value for money, efficiency and community spirit. The Telegraph writer backed the armed forces tothe hilt saying it providing excelent value for money, being very efficient in achieving what it is sent to do and has the best community spirit around. It said PM Blair should use the armed forces as a glowing example of what is good in Britain today and promote it. not try and dismantle it.

With some 35,000 pen pushers taken on by the NHS last year that is a glowing example of how this government is spending my hard earned tax contributions. As for education, nothing like putting things backto how they were when you first came into office is there ?.

Political rant over !.

[Biggles1211]

I've got to be honest and say i'm having second thoughts about my career in the RAF. Not only has the recruitment process disheartened me, but all this news of future cuts makes me think even if I did get in, how long is my job secure for ?

It is secure for the terms which you sign up to (i.e. SSC or PC).

Also Supply and Admin are 2 of the branches which could be under threat - many RAF bases alredy have civvy supply, and Admin may be going to a tri-service post.

Personnel Management is going to a Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system. That will only cover PSF type functions (Pay & Allowances etc). Works Serice is a growing are for Admin (Sec). Also, the Out-Of-Area(OOA) functions of Admin (Sec) will increase because Civil Servants don't do operational stuff. The same goes for Supply/Logistics contractors.

Maybe it's cos now I have the chance to do something else, but the downsides of a career in the forces are becoming more and more apprent to me.

For those that get in, you will be part of a smaller, more functional team. You will travel more and conduct more operational duties - rather than sitting around on boring tours in the UK. Basically, it is the boring jobs that will go to contractors/civil servants - leaving Service personnel to do the overseas stuff.

[davo141]

leaving Service personnel to do the overseas stuff.

and do the jobs people signed up for not the crappy ones people are made to do ... as civvies will do these and the service personnel to the fun parts!

[rawli]

it just annoys me that we let good old johnny foreigner in as a guest of our country with all the benefits that go with it yet people complain that there is no place for the armed forces when we risk life and limb to protect people's freedom on ops all over the world. Grrrrrrrrr! Good look with Lympstone Dave.

[MG]

Found this link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3877591.stm

[2nd time round]

Hi,

Well, looks like the government may have seen some sense according to the chancellor's spending review today !.

One question I have that wasn't addressed in his speech; he has said that spending will increase by 1.4% to 2007-8, what happens this year and the next ?.

I assume that the savage cuts predicted in the papers last weel are folly and were scare mongering tactics by the government's spin doctors to make them look good today !.

[icklecathy]

Hi,

Well, looks like the government may have seen some sense according to the chancellor's spending review today !.

One question I have that wasn't addressed in his speech; he has said that spending will increase by 1.4% to 2007-8, what happens this year and the next ?.

I assume that the savage cuts predicted in the papers last weel are folly and were scare mongering tactics by the government's spin doctors to make them look good today !.

I think its the fact that the level of increase is smaller than the rate of inflation, and smaller than the level that the economy is expected to rise by. So in "real terms" it's a loss and not a gain.

Can you tell I did A-Level Economics?

[2nd time round]

Hi Cathy,

Kinda figured your 'A' level out ! lol.

My reason for posting was that the savage cuts mentioned in the papers last week haven't materialised. That can only be a good thing for those of us caught up in our current situation.

[icklecathy]

Hi Cathy,

Kinda figured your 'A' level out ! lol.

My reason for posting was that the savage cuts mentioned in the papers last week haven't materialised. That can only be a good thing for those of us caught up in our current situation.

Yeah I reckon you are right, the cuts they were prediciting would have been 20 % of the RAF, and that would have just been ridiculous.

I am in confident sprits at the moment!