TG17 OOA Dets

[sorbs]

If you want to go somewhere nice then go on, as Thomo said, be proactive volunteer early and get there, this is what I've done in the past, if you don't or feel that you're owed a nice det then just sit there until your turn comes around again, just stop moaning about it.

I have to agree 100% with busby1971 on this. If you want the chance of going somewhere out of the norm and quite possibly nice then pick up the phone or email the Drafter. Especially if you believe your name is coming to the top of the list. If on the other hand you decide to keep 'your head down' then you can't really moan when the inevitable happens and you're pinged for somewhere not so good.

 

[shimmeringbottom]

OOA iwhen Notice Submitted?

OOA iwhen Notice Submitted?

Hey Up!!

gonna put my 18 months notice in Sep 07 for discharge Mar 09, back from OOA in Dec 05 so am expecting another OOA before I leave....anyone know the rules our great career managers (?!?!?!) work to regarding DWR when someone has submitted 18 months notice or indeed within last 12 months? as i say fully expecting some fun in the sun unless me bloody back flares up again............ he he he

 

[True Blue Jack]

The general rule of thumb is that you will not usually start an OOA tour in your last 12 months of service (there are exceptions to this as in every rule, but it is rare). Despite popular opinion, submitting 18 months notice is not a cue for the career manager to ping you for the next available OOA, however you may be sent a little bit early so that you come back with time to do your resettlement and to lessen the impact on the guys left behind.

 

[pixie]

I have to agree 100% with busby1971 on this. If you want the chance of going somewhere out of the norm and quite possibly nice then pick up the phone or email the Drafter. Especially if you believe your name is coming to the top of the list. If on the other hand you decide to keep 'your head down' then you can't really moan when the inevitable happens and you're pinged for somewhere not so good.

I phoned the drafter and asked to go away as I knew it was getting close to me going away again. How pleased was I when he said I could have Seeb. Excellent. Anyway while away from unit last week I get a call from my Chf Clk telling me my OOA has been brought forward 4 months and I'm now going to a different location. Please dont see this as a moan cos it aint, just abit annoyed to be going away earlier than I wanted when really I 'volunteered' to go away again. It'll be my fifth det in 16 years. Are dets for Cpls coming round more quickly now?

 

[shimmeringbottom]

Notice v OOA

Notice v OOA

Cheers for the info TBJ.

Due to timings of other things, probably now gonna have to PVR in Mar 08 for discharge at my 22 yr point in Mar 09. I reckon OOA could well be tight - if a TRT of 2 1/2 to 3 yrs is correct of course and of course things are forever changing in the drafting world.

Am not overly bothered, I have been lucky (I suppose) as I have only done 2 in 21yrs although I was downgraded for a while and yes it was a legit one (not lucky here).... anyway at least I know it will be my last one before discharge from the mob!

I for one have never had a problem with the drafters - I just don't speak to them! Keep me head down, crack on and wait for the call.....aarrggghhhh.

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Remem ber - friendly fire isn't..:0

 

[Boarderlyne]

What concerns me is that this one will be the 3rd that I have done in 6 years (Ali Al in Sep 02 to Feb 03 and FI in Nov 05 to Mar 06). Not bothered about doing it but just concerned that this is an indication of how the trade is going. Thankfully, I am lucky in having a supportive wife as her Grandad bit the big one during 1944 and her dad did his bit during National Service and added a few years on while EOKA were active.

 

[Shiney]

Anyone who says that drafters dont have a hand in their own OOA's and postings is living in Cuckoo land.

Of course the simple way to not do an OOA is to get yourself posted to an ac Sqn that deploys frequently both OOA and on Exercise. Then you can quite easily keep your days up and deploy with the same blokes again and again.

Having visited both the FI and the ME in the last few years I know where I would prefer to go/be and it aint somewhere hot.

 

[vinnyvx]

Cheers for the info TBJ.

Due to timings of other things, probably now gonna have to PVR in Mar 08 for discharge at my 22 yr point in Mar 09. I reckon OOA could well be tight - if a TRT of 2 1/2 to 3 yrs is correct of course and of course things are forever changing in the drafting world.

Am not overly bothered, I have been lucky (I suppose) as I have only done 2 in 21yrs although I was downgraded for a while and yes it was a legit one (not lucky here).... anyway at least I know it will be my last one before discharge from the mob!

I for one have never had a problem with the drafters - I just don't speak to them! Keep me head down, crack on and wait for the call.....aarrggghhhh.

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Remem ber - friendly fire isn't..:0

Latest info on DWR TRT for TG17 as follows:

Cpl to FS 24-30 months.

DII link to info
http://stc/sites/cospers/peoplepicture/Baseline Data/Forms/AllItems.aspx

 

[shimmeringbottom]

How Many Posts?

How Many Posts?

With all the talk of TRT, I wonder if anyone actually know how many OOA posts there are for TG17 by rank (I am interested in the Sgt's...).

Vinny mentions TRT of 24-30 months; scary... but we all know people who have had a TRT of 8, 9 or 10 or more years (me included as I have done 2 in 21 yrs). It has got worse of course and I realise how many more there are versus the diminishing numbers and also that there are certain posts that are exempt OOA. There are also many other factors some of which I probably have no idea about but does include med downgradings of which I bet there are shed loads.....

Anyway, with regard to the exempt posts, would it not be an idea to send an individual on an OOA before they went into a exempt OOA post if they would of become due OOA during their time in the post? Can't be that difficult to do...

Also, if the drafters current exemption is correct when will they come back online....there must be a few due, probably already pencilled in to the nice cushy ones however but pencilled in all the same and taking the burden off us mere mortals.

Personally, I know I have been lucky with my OOA but must admit that the reason I am leaving this great Service of ours is because I do not want to go away from my family as often as is predicted, especially my kids who struggle to cope without their dad. Soft maybe, but the truth!

I personnaly will have to wait and see, I fully expect an OOA and will do my duty unless me bloody back flares up again...he he he..

Any good gen regarding the q's/points above would be welcome.

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DT_Xtremez_30:
Those of you who have a question, raise your hand....and place it over your mouth!

 

[shimmeringbottom]

doh

doh

doh....I meant to also ask how many bums on seats do we currently have, by rank....I love the simple comparisons that come from these sorts of totals....

eg currently 85 FS.....27 needed per year = TRT of 2 years ? eh????

be interesting to know all the same, as would how many sickies we have too.....the mind boggles.

 

[Pete Gill]

I volunteered for my last 3 OOAs having done 4 (1 NATO). Two have been softy ones (Vicenzia BCAOC and Washington D.C on the Pentagon Laision Team) and then I volunteered again last year for the Gulf which was to be in Bagdad. It got changed to the Falklands by the drafter for some reason but having been there back in 87 when it was applying to be submitted into the top ten crapholes in the world,I was not happy with going back there again to try and finish my liver off and with my bosses support, got it changed to Basrah instead. Next year I intend to volunteer again and hopefully will get somewhere in Afghanistan. I'll go just about anywhere than be bored in the Falklands anytime.

 

[vinnyvx]

doh....I meant to also ask how many bums on seats do we currently have, by rank....I love the simple comparisons that come from these sorts of totals....

eg currently 85 FS.....27 needed per year = TRT of 2 years ? eh????

be interesting to know all the same, as would how many sickies we have too.....the mind boggles.

Not sure on the strength figures by rank. I seem to remember the last Admin Matters bulletin containing details of the number of TG17 OOA dets by rank, unfortunately I can't find a link to it. Anyone help out?

The current TG17 drafters will be able to answer the strength question. They'll also be able to tell you when their exemption runs outl, however I can't see them putting there heads above the parapit.

 

[vinnyvx]

Oh btw, the FI is not officially an OOA det. It's a Permanent joint operating base much like Cyprus and Gibraltar. Admittedly it's manned predominantly through the DWR mechanism, with a few lucky souls doing 12 month tours.

 

[Boarderlyne]

Got my dates today and that will mean (unless I get brought forward) that I will have done 3 OOAs in just over 6 years. Only good thing is that I should be home in time for Crimbo 08. Still in shock at how much notice I have been given. 11 months is just a luxury that I am not used to. 12 weeks was my previous record! DT_Xtremez_28: So it looks like the turnaround is coming faster as the gap between RTU and deploying last time was 45 months and this time it will be 29 months. Not too bad a turnaround especially as I remember how the lads in the Catering used to get jiffed with a turnaround of 6 months if they were lucky. So it looks like JNCO TG17 is one OOA in every 3 years. So they'll get this one out of me and another one in 2011! :raf:

 

[muttywhitedog]

Of course the simple way to not do an OOA is to get yourself posted to an ac Sqn that deploys frequently both OOA and on Exercise. Then you can quite easily keep your days up and deploy with the same blokes again and again.

Having visited both the FI and the ME in the last few years I know where I would prefer to go/be and it aint somewhere hot.

I live by that rule. It is much better deploying as part of a FU than as an individual:

1. You get looked after better whilst deployed. Every FJ Sqn Cdr I have worked for has been really big on looking after his Sqn whilst away.

2. Your family get better welfare support, with regular contact from colleagues - not a photocopied letter from someone in SHQ (if you are lucky!)

3. You generally get to accrue your days in batches rather than one lump, meaning more reunions!

4. Some of the places you get to accrue the days are actually quite nice!

I've been to the FI, the ME and Kandahar, and I've got to say that Kandahar was by far the better of the three. And that's not the ramblings of one insane clerk - both my staff are also chomping at the bit to return there next year with the Sqn.

 

[Shiny_Rob]

I volunteered for my last 3 OOAs having done 4 (1 NATO). Two have been softy ones (Vicenzia BCAOC and Washington D.C on the Pentagon Laision Team) and then I volunteered again last year for the Gulf which was to be in Bagdad. It got changed to the Falklands by the drafter for some reason but having been there back in 87 when it was applying to be submitted into the top ten crapholes in the world,I was not happy with going back there again to try and finish my liver off and with my bosses support, got it changed to Basrah instead. Next year I intend to volunteer again and hopefully will get somewhere in Afghanistan. I'll go just about anywhere than be bored in the Falklands anytime.

I thought you were dead?!

 

[muttywhitedog]

Got my dates today and that will mean (unless I get brought forward) that I will have done 3 OOAs in just over 6 years. Only good thing is that I should be home in time for Crimbo 08. Still in shock at how much notice I have been given. 11 months is just a luxury that I am not used to. 12 weeks was my previous record! DT_Xtremez_28: So it looks like the turnaround is coming faster as the gap between RTU and deploying last time was 45 months and this time it will be 29 months. Not too bad a turnaround especially as I remember how the lads in the Catering used to get jiffed with a turnaround of 6 months if they were lucky. So it looks like JNCO TG17 is one OOA in every 3 years. So they'll get this one out of me and another one in 2011! :raf:

A girl at my unit has just gone to the FI almost 2 years to the day since she last went down there.

Our employers missed a trick when they allowed the sickies to not be booted out on Tranche 3, meaning more pain for everyone else. Its also a shame that some of the VIP posts are screened - perhaps some of the occupants of the Ivory Towers would see how everyone is suffering staff shortages if their entourage of clerks were dessimated.

 

[Shiny_Rob]

AOur employers missed a trick when they allowed the sickies to not be booted out on Tranche 3, meaning more pain for everyone else.

It's about time we were allowed to send our "Twisted Sox" to MPA. The Army do. The hospital in Stanley is better than most in the UK.

 

[muttywhitedog]

Hear Hear Rob. Let them do the ar$e end of the universe det with no R&R, no medal and no danger money. In fact, make it a six-monther seeing as they are in little or no danger!!!

I've been once and for me it was once too many times!

 

[Kernow]

It's about time we were allowed to send our "Twisted Sox" to MPA. The Army do. The hospital in Stanley is better than most in the UK.

It would also help if we sent the guys and girls that are occupying NATO posts as well!