screen tours for TTF instructors

[Shreks stunt double]

I'm hearing on the grapevine that TTF instructors might be getting screened from OOA.

Has anyone else heard this little rumour or can anyone confirm if it's true.

Is this due to the operational commitment that instructors hold in the UK or do they all lack a bit of moral fibre.

If it's a manning crisis, maybe they ought to look at the lessons they teach in how to write a roster!!!!!

Of course, if it is true will they all be straight to the top of the DWR list when finished at Shawbury?

I do realise that this is the start of the Easter grant and we won't get an answer until they come back to work in a week or so!!!

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

Now that is contentious, need of the trade vs the need of the JNCO/SNCO OOA turnaround

 

[Deleted member 777]

How very true SSH. Sends out the wrong message to the rest of the trade if it is the case.

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

Now that is contentious, need of the trade vs the need of the JNCO/SNCO OOA turnaround

Now here is a real quandry! If you take your instructors into the OOA plot then the school cannot meet its assigned throughput of students, thus worsening the OOA situation. Taking them off the OOA plot will cause friction between Shawbury and the rest of the trade.

From a non-Flt Ops perspective I think that this piece of short term planning may have a great effect on your trade as a whole. If the school can meet its IPS quota in the next FY, then the benefits should be greater for everyone.

There was a similar situation but from the other point of view when Telic kicked off. Bearing in mind Fresco was also running, Halton instructors were being used for Telic/Fresco, with the knock-on effect that personnel could not get trained post-RTS, with the worst case being a year between RTS and Phase 2 training. When recruits are not deemed productive until after Phase 2 and indeed passing TAT1a/b (list 2 trades) then surely the emphasis must be on getting them through trade training, whatever the cost.

Always going to be an emotive issue but I would doubt that there is any LMF on behalf of the instructors!

 

[FOMz]

NotAnIDOYet, It may be a very simplistic view, but I fail to see how the output of LAC's will help the current Cpl/Sgt OOA turn around time. It may help in 5 years time, but not immediately. I agree though SSH, a contentious and emotive issue indeed.

 

[opsgeek]

I'm hearing on the grapevine that TTF instructors might be getting screened from OOA.

Has anyone else heard this little rumour or can anyone confirm if it's true.

It is true..TTF are screened for 3 years.

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

NotAnIDOYet, It may be a very simplistic view, but I fail to see how the output of LAC's will help the current Cpl/Sgt OOA turn around time. It may help in 5 years time, but not immediately. I agree though SSH, a contentious and emotive issue indeed.

Agreed it is a difficult situation to manage and I do not envy your TS one bit. I believe we are trying to help by taking some of your FS/WO OOA commitment and I think it is only a matter of time before we pick up some Sgt posts as well to help you out.

You know my feelings well on this subject and I feel at times our respective managements are not taking the whole view of the issue and being too parochial in their outlook. There is a recent management change on our side and this may lead to be the catalyst for change we need. I do what I can to stick my opinion to anyone that will listen (those who know me well will vouch for that!) but I am one voice amongst many. I have campaigned for change in my own workplace that would free up some more S/JNCOs for OOA but we also pick up some non-established tasks (C-RAM etc) as well as our own CMLO commitment. There is whisperings about C-RAM's future that may leave us better placed longer term but not now, which doesn't help you at the moment.

I have the luxury of seeing both sides of this argument but I still cannot see a solution that helps everyone. You have to meet your IPS target to get your future NCOs, not necessarily helping you right now but I don't see any other options.

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

It is true..TTF are screened for 3 years.

and the instructor tour can be up to 5 years! How does that work then?

 

[the lovetoad]

I'm only glad my replacement in the sandpit isn't coming from the school.

TTF Student" When we get to the real air force will we be going to the gulf?"

TTF Instructor " Yes, you probably will"

TTF Student " What's it like over there?"

TTF Instructor "?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????"

 

[Hammer]

Do you really think stuffing your face with burgers in the deid is going to the Gulf?


How many J/SNCO's are going to be taken out of the pot now? Does anyone know how it will affect our harmony times now? Can see the benefits but surely it all depends on how many students they are getting through the doors. Perhaps TTF should have a rolling det to somewhere like MPA or Al Udeid that doesnt require any extra training, keeps them going away and keeps everyone elses harmony times down.

As someone has already mentioned their credibility is called into question when they aren't being used for OOA, its such a big part of our lives now.

 

[muttywhitedog]

Screening them should be fine as long as their tour length includes an OOA at the end of their tour before they are sent to some other unit which cannot meet its obligations due to reduced manning levels/OOA/Pregnancies etc.

If I was a PFOM at a stretched unit and ACOS offered me an individual who was going to arrive with a DWR hanging over them because Shawbury had played the "Exemption Card", I'd not be too happy.

 

[Hammer]

All well and good though but im just about to do my third in four years, if they are screened then it can only get worse. Surely a formed unit type det is the way forward for them.

 

[the lovetoad]

I might only be in Al Udeid (not stuffing burgers BTW) but I am still spending 4 months away from my family and as you have said if we are about to lose x amount of JNCO and SNCOs then I am quite sure my next 4 monther won't be so exotic .

At the end of the day every section in TG9 is running short due to OOA commitments - so why is the school being given the special treatment?

 

[Hammer]

I'm only kidding mate, you know me better than that, you're correct though, its the family who have to put up with this. Especially when you have young ones like you matey. TTF need credibility and OOA tours help. I know most of them have done a few in the past but the students want to know exactly what they are letting themselves in for. Plus it reduces our harmony times.

 

[opsgeek]

and the instructor tour can be up to 5 years! How does that work then?

Yes tours can be 5 years but the screen is only for 3 years.

 

[opsgeek]

I'm only glad my replacement in the sandpit isn't coming from the school.

TTF Student" When we get to the real air force will we be going to the gulf?"

TTF Instructor " Yes, you probably will"

TTF Student " What's it like over there?"

TTF Instructor "?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????"

Hmmmmm TTF currently has 3 Cpls who have recently returned from Afghanistan (last 6 months) 2 from Iraq (in last year) and 1 from the Falklands

 

[the lovetoad]

Hmmmmm TTF currently has 3 Cpls who have recently returned from Afghanistan (last 6 months) 2 from Iraq (in last year) and 1 from the Falklands

Don't get me wrong. I have a huge respect for anyone who has done or prepping to do an OOA. But in three years from now everything will be a bit different.

 

[FOMz]

Hmmmmm TTF currently has 3 Cpls who have recently returned from Afghanistan (last 6 months) 2 from Iraq (in last year) and 1 from the Falklands

And that proves what exactly? Looks remarkably like the OOA commitment mine and many other sections have had over the last 12 months and will continue to provide . I'd still like to see a valid arguement for screening them, because at the moment I'm buggered if I can.

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

Yes tours can be 5 years but the screen is only for 3 years.

So what is the point of it then? If you screen them you should screen the whole tour. 3 years down the line people are going to be going OOA left right and chelsea.

No shortage of volunteers for instructor duties now eh

 

[opsgeek]

So what is the point of it then? If you screen them you should screen the whole tour. 3 years down the line people are going to be going OOA left right and chelsea.

No shortage of volunteers for instructor duties now eh

The trawl for volunteers came out in November Chief Clerks Bulletin and by the start of April TTF will be at full strength manning!!