ivan Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Thought you and any other crabs RAF guys might like this. "A recent report by the Equal Opportunities Audit Team has found that allegations of "a culture of widespread bullying and brutality" within the British Forces are, in the most part, unfounded. The audit team, which travelled to every Defence establishment across the UK and abroad and interviewed staff from all three services, found surprisingly few cases of unfair treatment and bullying within the Army and Navy. When it came to the Airforce, however, the report told a different story. Complaints to the EOAT came from a total of 13,555 RAF members, compared with three from Navy and just one from Army. While this statistic is alarming in its own right, it becomes horrific when one considers that each complaint represents a sad story of abuse, mistreatment and neglect. As one senior RAF officer put it, "Each story is, in itself, a sad indictment on the RAF. When taken as a whole, however, they demonstrate a reprehensible lack of regard for personnel on the part of RAF managers at all levels." One young pilot told of having to spend two nights in tented accommodation, despite the fact that there was an empty five-star hotel just 1km away. Another said that he had been forced to endure a gruelling fitness test every year since he joined in 1997. One airwoman alleged that she had been overlooked for promotion on numerous occasions, simply because she was fat, lazy and stupid. An aircraftman stated he had been refused permission to wear civilian attire to work, despite the fact that his uniform clashed with his eye colour. Another had been forced to wear uncomfortable safety boots for periods of up to eight hours straight. An RAF clerk could not understand why she had been sent to work in a Joint military headquarters, "I have been forced to work for horrid Army & Navy people who just don't understand what the military is all about. I feel the RAF has victimised me by forcing me to do this...I will be seeking compensation..." Shockingly, RAF Senior Ranks are also subject to mistreatment. One SNCO Chief Technician based at RAF Northolt stated, "I was deeply upset when I was addressed as ‘Chief Tech' by an officer. He knew my name was William. It was just horrible - I have never been more humiliated in my life." In response a senior RAF officer stated, "the officer in question has been moved on...". A number of personnel complained of having to attend courses that were not relevant to their jobs, such as rigorous ground combat courses and drawn-out lectures on occupational health and safety. To add insult to injury, a young corporal was even ordered to pack up chairs in the classroom after one such course. The huge backlash against treatment of Air Force personnel should provide senior officers with a vital clue with regard to the massive retention problems experienced by the RAF in recent times. Over the past two years, Defence has spent some £19.8 million looking into the issue. Not all of the Air Force's hierarchy, however, were upset by the revelations. Said outgoing Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy, KCB CBE DSO ADC BSc(Eng) FRAeS RAF, "I'm delighted with the result. I am very happy that our retention problems are due, in the most part at least, to something as harmless as bullying. I thought everyone was leaving because of me"" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 And your point is??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Moved to chat by request of OP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Is it April 1st already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Trust me that statement is probably TRUE Im in the Army based at an RAF camp and the culture class is unbelievable My RAF mate told me a saying. The Army sleep under the stars The Navy navigate by the stars The RAF book hotels by the stars. We are a joint unit where i work. Its an Army regiment with a sqn of RAF regiment and a few RAF clerks and seniors. Whilst on a course a few years ago we had to saty a winterbourne gunner and all they have is transit accomodation. 30 man bunker, its not nice at all but it had showers and power sockets so us Army lads were happy, plus there was a pub outside camp;) But a RAF sgt wouldnt stay there as he thought it was disgusting, cramp and against human rights. So he made a phone call and withing 30 mins was in a hotel down the road. I have loads more stories like this, Its a nightmare trying to work with them sometimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Trust me that statement is probably TRUE Im in the Army based at an RAF camp and the culture class is unbelievable My RAF mate told me a saying. The Army sleep under the stars The Navy navigate by the stars The RAF book hotels by the stars. We are a joint unit where i work. Its an Army regiment with a sqn of RAF regiment and a few RAF clerks and seniors. Whilst on a course a few years ago we had to saty a winterbourne gunner and all they have is transit accomodation. 30 man bunker, its not nice at all but it had showers and power sockets so us Army lads were happy, plus there was a pub outside camp;) But a RAF sgt wouldnt stay there as he thought it was disgusting, cramp and against human rights. So he made a phone call and withing 30 mins was in a hotel down the road. I have loads more stories like this, Its a nightmare trying to work with them sometimes Bloody hell its gone right downhill since I left then. Glad I am no longer there TBH, bunch of pansies if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 So true... i've just spent the night in a hotel, even though the camp i was working at was 4 miles away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Trust me that statement is probably TRUE Im in the Army based at an RAF camp and the culture class is unbelievable My RAF mate told me a saying. The Army sleep under the stars The Navy navigate by the stars The RAF book hotels by the stars. We are a joint unit where i work. Its an Army regiment with a sqn of RAF regiment and a few RAF clerks and seniors. Whilst on a course a few years ago we had to saty a winterbourne gunner and all they have is transit accomodation. 30 man bunker, its not nice at all but it had showers and power sockets so us Army lads were happy, plus there was a pub outside camp;) But a RAF sgt wouldnt stay there as he thought it was disgusting, cramp and against human rights. So he made a phone call and withing 30 mins was in a hotel down the road. I have loads more stories like this, Its a nightmare trying to work with them sometimes no, it IS true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 no, it IS true I didnt want to offend any RAF on here;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 From a strictly third party perspective, why would it be offensive? Sounds like they get a good life out of it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 From a strictly third party perspective, why would it be offensive? Sounds like they get a good life out of it... That i was slagging them off:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Yeah, but if they're anything like me they'd respond with something like "sticks and stones... , but a lovely jacuzzi and massage at my comfy 5 star hotel will help make it better". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Yeah, but if they're anything like me they'd respond with something like "sticks and stones... , but a lovely jacuzzi and massage at my comfy 5 star hotel will help make it better". Too true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 During the 1st Gulf war I was looking after the accounts for the RAF bases in the conflict, the number of "Rodney's" (officers) who tried to charge cocktails to their accounts was unbelieveable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughany Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 what the raf are hm forces! i remember when i did my jumps course at brlze in 1990. their food and accommodation was phenomenal especially compared with depot para, my old man was raf,he always said i should of joined them-lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well you should have tried harder at school then shouldn't ya Why dig in when you can check in?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughany Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well you should have tried harder at school then shouldn't ya Why dig in when you can check in?? Check in! - the RAF dont check in - they get someone else do that for them aswell - back at you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani_r Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well I'm joining the RAF in a few months, and if it's as cushy as you say it is i want in now! But seriously, I don't mind sleeping in a tent....as long as I can have fresh towels and a paper in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcgoo Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well you should have tried harder at school then shouldn't ya Why dig in when you can check in?? Exactly. If you could you would. I can't see why anyone would have a problem with it, other than jealousy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest argy911 Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 I think you can tell by thier jackets:Pling: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughany Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Exactly. If you could you would. I can't see why anyone would have a problem with it, other than jealousy. Actually we did not like renfing jobs, didnt join my regiment to be a clerk or other mincing job - 50lb Bergan, full kit, Tabbing, living under Bashers, eating out of mess tins, soaking wet, tired and getting f**ked about Thats why you join the forces, thats what i told myself and was told repeately by the hierachy - lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Actually we did not like renfing jobs, didnt join my regiment to be a clerk or other mincing job - 50lb Bergan, full kit, Tabbing, living under Bashers, eating out of mess tins, soaking wet, tired and getting f**ked about Thats why you join the forces, thats what i told myself and was told repeately by the hierachy - lol I was a mincing clerk, but I didn't take no sh*t. Up and down mountains, lovely rat packs . Explored strange new cultures, met strange new people... and shot them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well to be fair I went to Odiham for my career and rarely checked in anywhere. I have more campaign medals than most infantry cannon fodder types I have actually been shot at which came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I back to backed Afghanistan Jacana and Gulf war 2 the sequel. No hot water no showers, no electricity, tents in the desert for 8 months in total. On the plus side I had 3 months in the states (in bashers mostly but hotels some of it) 8 weeks in a five star outside the pyramids in giza several stopovers at the holiday inn in nice and lots of stopovers in various european cities including 3 weeks in Bitburg on the lash. One of the "nicest" blocks was out in Aldergrove in the block the army "gave" us because they didn't want it. The shower wall was floor to ceiling mould-- nice When they realised the building was condemned 5 years previously they moved us into the dog kennels that the dogs had moved out of because it was sub standard accomodation for dogs WTF For those going in now rest assured the treasury has started to cotton on to the expense and the checking in is getting harder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted March 26, 2009 Author Share Posted March 26, 2009 I've had first-hand experience of RAF luxury on a course too. Believe me, it was no different 25 years back - that's why I posted the joke in the first place. I had the chance of being an Articifers Apprentice when I applied for the RAF. I turned that down for some stupid reason to join the tanks instead. If only I knew then what I know now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Ah however when you left you'd have been a young warrant officer on a decent pension. Leave the RAF at the same age and you'll still be a corporal lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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