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If your role isn't operational then it's not a job for a blue suit, People in PSF protected their own fiefdoms in prior reorganisations and ended up with a Trade that isn't really operational so not really military any more.
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More reductions
- Thread starter Tin basher
- Start date
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That bit isn't totally true; some roles are not 'operational' in the UK MOB setting and could be done by civilians or contractors but as soon as you move into the expeditionary setting the situation changes and the flexibility & controllability of a uniform becomes more important. The problem then becomes how do you ensure you have a suitably sized pool of personnel who can be deployed (and rotated) into operational roles in the right timescales?
I recall a time when almost all catering was first outsourced and then somewhere hot and sandy erupted - there was insufficient caterers to deploy and sustain through field kitchens in theatre. Other trades have also seen similar situations, although perhaps not so pronounced.
This is why any reductions based on what can be done in the UK must be seen in the context of potential operational requirements and everyone who has a uniformed role must be considered (and consider themselves) as operationally deployable and address their fitness and military training (whatever acronym is being used for that these days) accordingly.
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In 2013, 12 months before I left, I took part in a CI event to supposedly establish a better way of providing HR to the whole unit. It was a week long and involved just about every TG17 on the unit from all areas, and also many civil servants - the trade sponsor even showed up for a couple of days.
It was a complete waste of time. I was told the day before the event by my OC Wg that the outcome had already been decided before the event and certain players had a brief to shoot anything down that looked remotely like going down a different outcome than the "get all clerks into one central PSF" result that OC BSW had decreed would be the outcome. IMHO, the better outcome would have been to look at the success areas and tell those who were underperforming to emulate what they were doing. However, that would have involved telling WO PSF that his area was shit, poorly led, provided minimal customer service, closed at the drop of a hat, and allowed key members of staff to all be absent at once. Instead, everyone else was told they were arse wipers who needed to get back into the real world which was PSF. Funny old thing was that after the event and the drawback, the HR section continued to close at the drop of a hat!
It sounds like a similar thing has happened 6 years later, with unit PSF's playing the role of "Front-line HR" and Centralised Hubs being the "Unit PSFs" of 2013.
It was a complete waste of time. I was told the day before the event by my OC Wg that the outcome had already been decided before the event and certain players had a brief to shoot anything down that looked remotely like going down a different outcome than the "get all clerks into one central PSF" result that OC BSW had decreed would be the outcome. IMHO, the better outcome would have been to look at the success areas and tell those who were underperforming to emulate what they were doing. However, that would have involved telling WO PSF that his area was shit, poorly led, provided minimal customer service, closed at the drop of a hat, and allowed key members of staff to all be absent at once. Instead, everyone else was told they were arse wipers who needed to get back into the real world which was PSF. Funny old thing was that after the event and the drawback, the HR section continued to close at the drop of a hat!
It sounds like a similar thing has happened 6 years later, with unit PSF's playing the role of "Front-line HR" and Centralised Hubs being the "Unit PSFs" of 2013.
StickyFingers
Sergeant
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Surly with Modnet and connectivity why would you need PSF in a desert?
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Depends if TG17 are only capable of being HR/PSF or do other things as well and also depends upon connectivity being robustly available for non-operational (but nevertheless important) activities.
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When ever I deployed as part of a formed unit I did my day job, when ever I deployed into a DWR post I never did anything that a civi couldn't have done remotely or an any trade individual couldve done.
Pretty certain the operation posts that need to be filled by a blue suit could be covered by those around to provide Big Wig Staffing or PA, P1 and L&D on stations, the rest could be got reduced.
Pretty certain the operation posts that need to be filled by a blue suit could be covered by those around to provide Big Wig Staffing or PA, P1 and L&D on stations, the rest could be got reduced.
As I said earlier in the thread, I can't recall a need to visit a PSF for ages....can't remember the last time I did....why do you all see the need?
The majority of PSF at my current unit are working remotely (WFH) and I've seen no issues whatsoever.
The majority of PSF at my current unit are working remotely (WFH) and I've seen no issues whatsoever.
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What about collectively though?
Are there any grumbles from the troops along the lines of them just not bothering and letting things fester with growing resentment due to convoluted processes and lengthy turn around times?
Spot on.
It's never levelling up, always a race to the bottom.
As for ceremonial, why not a dedicated organisation for these roles leaving the military to do their stuff? Think MPGS / Beefeater lovechild.
None that I am aware of.
I'm just beginning to wonder if you are all massive admin burdens? I'm being slightly tongue in cheek here, but c'mon why are you going to a psf....?
StickyFingers
Sergeant
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New ID when the old one expired, Rail card, DWR preps. The reasons I've been in the last 12 months.
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DWR...Where to and how long since the last one??
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I've just left but the slightly shit PSF (and their even shittier service) of a secret base in an incestuous swampland which I had the misfortune to need in my last 12 months have not endeared me to their woes nor have me believe that reducing their footprint is the way forward. That Base's only saving grace was my WO at the time who is a legend in my eyes and who kept those fuckers in their box.
I complained about it before on here with the whole trying to resettle process but then covid hit and threw everything on its head.
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All of these could be processed remotely and it wouldn't take much to automate the shit out of all three.
StickyFingers
Sergeant
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Hahaha, might end up losing my anonymity if I talk about if further
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The ever decreasing Ex-3s :-D!!! In Bojo's words: "Have a route, have a plan, do 22 and get out with an immediate pension if you can!!"Hahaha, might end up losing my anonymity if I talk about if further
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Absolutely. Break it down:
ID Card. These days millions renew their passport online, uploading their own photo. Take it from one who knows - there's very little human involvement in the process. Make ID cards vaild until your discharge date and you remove the need to renew unless you've changed significantly, damaged or lost it.
Railcard. Again, could be renewed online using JPA. I recently bought a 3yr vetran one from the railcard website, uploaded a photo, and it dropped through my letterbox 2 days later. There was even an option to have it sent to my phone.
DWR Preps. In 2012, I was using a process which had my Sqn's personnel listed on a spreadsheet and the stakeholders (med/dental/clothing/rocks etc) had read/write access to it and conducted the checks remotely, annotating who was fit. They sent me annotated paperwork by e-mail. It saved bods wandering round collecting signatures and saved the stakeholders from being interrupted at all times of the day asking for signatures. Are you seriously telling me that over 8 years later, people are still walking around collecting signatures?
As a CS LM, I'm expected to do the HR for my team, including the raising, completing and finalising of annual reports. If they have a problem, I'm expected to try and sort it first, and if I cant, then I submit an online request - my back office then have 15 working days to get back to me. Just to clarify - thats 15 working days to get back to me, not resolve it - the resoulution takes as long as it takes. I have someone who is being incorrectly paid an allowance since September and its still ongoing with no end in sight, and every time I ask for an update, the clock re-sets to a 15 day service level agreement. It sounds like the RAF are going down a similar route, so get used to it folks!
Literally emailed them about all 3 in the last 12 months? Didn't visit at all, even emailed the scanned prep sheet back to them.
To be clear I'm not for anyone losing their jobs - thats awful. However the last 12 months have proved beyond doubt IMO thatthere is no need for a large HR footprint on unit. Prolly just some niche roles needed....P1, welfare...?
unruly1986
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About time. 21st century RAF with a 1950s culture and processes. Change is needed.