Are the majority of Auxiliaries being properly prepared for Halton?

[Tango_Lima]

Being a sproggy auggie type,* it's not a very long time ago that I was at RAF Halton doing my fifteen days training. Prior to going I spent three weekends with my squadron being equipped and covering GSK and drill.

To my mind, that works out as pretty much a month's worth of basic training, which taking into account PT and revision done in own time and lack of need for ceremonial drill etc seems like a reasonable amount of phase 1 training for a reservist. Not a fantastic, have your cake and eat it, 100% perfect amount of training, but reasonable.

The Sponsored Reservist who was on the same course seemed pretty well prepared, having recieved the GSK, drill etc at Halton immediately prior to the beginning of the course. (Although previous regular service may have helped)

However, there were some RAuxAF on the course who seriously struggled with things like marching from place to place and remembering to salute officers. There were others who didn't know how to assemble the side pouches from their PLCE into a daysack or how to shape a beret and some who's fitness was, for want of a better word, suspect.

If I'm frank, at times it was seriously embarrassing. I personally take a lot of pride in being part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. I chose to be a reservist rather than a regular and it gets to me when being made to look like part of a gang of hobbyists in front of regular instructors and recruits. If the reserves are going to expand and take on a more central role in the overall defence of the UK, then surely things like this need to be addressed?

The only thing I can see as being the real root of the problem is squadrons viewing Halton as the be all and end all of Phase 1 training. Since fifteen days at Halton is just enough to cram in the basics of IFPT/CCS then I can't help but think it can only ever be a part of a greater scheme of training to get reservists to 'trained airman' standard. This is certainly closer to how the TA do things, with phase 1 split between drill nights with the unit and weekends at an RTC in most cases. Should Halton have greater control over how training is delivered pre IFPT?

What does the forum think? I'd love to hear the view from regular and reservist on this.


*and apperently inclined to spontaneous outbursts of poetry

 

[FOMz]

So how do you feel that they are not being properly prepared then?

Now forgive me if I am mistaken... but isn't Halton the place they are meant to learn Marching, Beret shaping etc?

Now if that is actually done on the Oggie Sqn - well then the Squadron is at fault... which makes me think too many people on there are actually 'hobbyists' and see it as a social event rather than what it makes out to be on the tin.

 

[Stevienics]

There seems to be 2 schools of thought.

1. Forget it. If the person is not full time there will always be a bit of a professional void and that is just a fact of life.
2. In order to be recognised, trusted and accepted by the full time colleagues, the Auxiallary has to compete on every level and reach the same standard at least.

FR20 seeks to integrate the part-timer into the strategic picture as part and parcel of the whole force, which is laudable but must be tinged with realism. What the service gets is a whole raft of new skills injected into the organsiation which offer a much wider mainstream capability than it now possesses in areas that it has no experience, but there is a cost to this. A slower learning curve is part of that cost, and there are others, such as how a person is employed and tasked, how they are treated and led and a recogniton that if we could fill the Air Force in full with just Auggies, we probably would have done it by now.

As for Halton, my understanding is that in the most general terms they are aware of these anomalies (I refrain form calling them short-comings as this is a balance of interests) in the ability of full and part time recruit, but that core standards will still apply, and certainly will be more rigorously applied at Squadron level where reputations really matter.

 

[busby1971]

As far as Auggies go Halton is there to provide a service they will test their own training but it is not their job, they don't have the time, resources or motivation, to sort out issues outside of this. I'm sure that if they realise someone is way off the mark it gets back to the Sqn one way or another.

Sqns all have different roles so will have different priorities and this is probably the biggest issue here, they also tend to be run like little fiefdoms because their structure and management practices promote a yes man culture, not to be confused with a can do culture.

Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk 2

 

[Tango_Lima]

So how do you feel that they are not being properly prepared then?

Now forgive me if I am mistaken... but isn't Halton the place they are meant to learn Marching, Beret shaping etc?

Now if that is actually done on the Oggie Sqn - well then the Squadron is at fault... which makes me think too many people on there are actually 'hobbyists' and see it as a social event rather than what it makes out to be on the tin.

Nope. We go to Halton to do IFPT and only IFPT. We also have to pass a GSK exam on day one but that's really the only extra. (Saying that, we got room and locker inspections too, but I don't know whether these carry on for regulars during their IFPT phase or not)

All the marching etc is supposed to be covered before you go. Everyone has to turn up with a certificate from their OC saying that they've learned all the stuff that Halton/Cranwell say they need to have learned before hand (ie: drill, GSK, looking 'dress-right-dress' as the yanks say and how to put their PLCE together so it doesn't fall apart).

As our instructors said openly: some people's chains of command are being "creative".

I'd agree with your last and it makes me angry.

 

[YO8102]

Nope. We go to Halton to do IFPT and only IFPT. We also have to pass a GSK exam on day one but that's really the only extra. (Saying that, we got room and locker inspections too, but I don't know whether these carry on for regulars during their IFPT phase or not)

All the marching etc is supposed to be covered before you go. Everyone has to turn up with a certificate from their OC saying that they've learned all the stuff that Halton/Cranwell say they need to have learned before hand (ie: drill, GSK, looking 'dress-right-dress' as the yanks say and how to put their PLCE together so it doesn't fall apart).

As our instructors said openly: some people's chains of command are being "creative".

I'd agree with your last and it makes me angry.

It's down to those instructors to RTU some recruits then: it's the only way their units will learn.

I was an instructor for a TA (Royal Artillery) basic training course once: despite being TA oursleves the instructors all felt standards were being allowed to slip, and duly binned half the course. Some people think it doesn't matter, but you have to ask yourself: "do I want my life to depend on this person?"

 

[Tango_Lima]

There seems to be 2 schools of thought.

1. Forget it. If the person is not full time there will always be a bit of a professional void and that is just a fact of life.
2. In order to be recognised, trusted and accepted by the full time colleagues, the Auxiallary has to compete on every level and reach the same standard at least.

FR20 seeks to integrate the part-timer into the strategic picture as part and parcel of the whole force, which is laudable but must be tinged with realism. What the service gets is a whole raft of new skills injected into the organsiation which offer a much wider mainstream capability than it now possesses in areas that it has no experience, but there is a cost to this. A slower learning curve is part of that cost, and there are others, such as how a person is employed and tasked, how they are treated and led and a recogniton that if we could fill the Air Force in full with just Auggies, we probably would have done it by now.

As for Halton, my understanding is that in the most general terms they are aware of these anomalies (I refrain form calling them short-comings as this is a balance of interests) in the ability of full and part time recruit, but that core standards will still apply, and certainly will be more rigorously applied at Squadron level where reputations really matter.

I'm in school two.

Slower learning curve being the price to pay definately. That's why it'll be at least a year and a bit before I'm really useable on operations.

I also agree with the core standards being applied at squadrons, but I can't help but think that this should be being done before the recruits are launched on the world at a place where they are in front of peope with years of experience uphoding those standards and people who are starting out in the air force and will base their opinion of its reserve component on that early contact.

They can get cadets (eventually) to march in a straight line without talking for christ's sake and they're children, not allegedly 'mature and sensible working adults'.

 

[ameldridge]

Hi,

@Tango_Lima I have a hunch we were on the same course

@FOMz There was a expectation you were able to march and have your kit (including your beret) all sorted before attending Halton. The squadron I'm with, I feel, did a good job at preparing us so you're right about squadrons being at fault. Some of the other lads on my course felt a little let down with the preparation provide by their squadron and did say would feed this back once they returned.

 

[Tango_Lima]

It's down to those instructors to RTU some recruits then: it's the only way their units will learn.

I was an instructor for a TA (Royal Artillery) basic training course once: despite being TA oursleves the instructors all felt standards were being allowed to slip, and duly binned half the course. Some people think it doesn't matter, but you have to ask yourself: "do I want my life to depend on this person?"

A few of us mentioned this in the final feedback session at the end of the course.

Apparently, if you don't pass all the modules then it's up to the squadron whether they want to take you on 'at risk'. They can't RTU you for failing a module because you may not be able to get time off to attend the course again.

If that's the line being taken by the authorities for the training on the actual IFPT training, then I can't see much hope of them being allowed to bin people for stuff that really should have prevented them arriving at Halton to start with.

How much basic training did your TA recruits undergo? Was it all under the control of a central authority or was some of it 'in house'?

(Off TopicMy great-grandad was TA Royal Artillery, he did Dunkirk and Monte Casino via Anzio.)

 

[Tango_Lima]

Hi,

@Tango_Lima I have a hunch we were on the same course

@FOMz There was a expectation you were able to march and have your kit (including your beret) all sorted before attending Halton. The squadron I'm with, I feel, did a good job at preparing us so you're right about squadrons being at fault. Some of the other lads on my course felt a little let down with the preparation provide by their squadron and did say would feed this back once they returned.

I have a hunch we know each other pretty well...DT_Xtremez_15:

Haha!

 

[YO8102]

How much basic training did your TA recruits undergo? Was it all under the control of a central authority or was some of it 'in house'?

(Off TopicMy great-grandad was TA Royal Artillery, he did Dunkirk and Monte Casino via Anzio.)

At that time they did weekends (every weekend) and drill nights until a space on a two-week BTC came up, which was "in house" within the RA TA but hosted by each regiment on rotation. The recruits we binned were of a lower standard than the ones trained within our own regiment.

Now, the weekends and residential training (now called CMSR) are run by Regional Training Centres (RTC) - so none of it is in house. This should mean all recruits are up to infantry standard, but I don't know how it works in practice.

 

[Entropy]

It was a similar experience for me too. Most of our course was made up of regiment and movers bods with a couple other individuals from other Sqns. The rocks were well up on everything as would be expected. The movers were able to hold their own, I think that it showed as we didn't get any locker\room\block inspections while we there (did get the feeling that the block and rooms were unoffically inspected while we were out though).

There was one guy that was totally useless. Hadn't broken his boots in, could make his bed etc etc. The FS for IFPT did have a long converation with his boss and was RTU'd due to med reasons so poor performance does get fed back to their unit. It was also explained to us from both sides that there is a feedback process from Halton to the recruits unit and vica versa so there are plenty of comms already in place. I am led to believe that this feedback process led to a change in messing arrangements after one course's feedback.

I think the problem is two fold.

As Auggies there is a constraint as to how much training we can recieve each year and Halton takes a pretty large chunk of it, basic training for our unit consists of 25 days total. Plus there is the difficulty of fitting in this training around your civilian life. People have to book leave to attend training sessions so how do you tell someone that they have to find extra time for remedial training? Retention is a real issue and the drop out rate during phase 1 is huge. Does a Sqn take the rconsiderableconsiderable

Secondly I think that it is down to how much importance each squadron places on basic training. I did get the impression that there are some sqns that believe that basic training is nothing more than hoops to jump through before focusing on trade training.

I know that High Wycombe is aware of the problem but I don't think it will be resolved due to these external pressures.

 

[beowulf]

For my tuppence worth I was an ex-cadet so I was on top of my drill and GSK. When I attended Halton (a little over 2 years ago now) we were given an hour or two of drill on day one. This was acknowledged by the instructors as the only drill the RAF expected us to have gotten at that point - when "marching" from the block on hour zero we were told to "roughly keep in step" and used commands like "lets go" and "stop here" before the lesson.

For my part I felt that there were a few people who had turned up very underprepared but in fairness to them they mostly turned it around. We were a small course and unique AFAIK in that we had no ex-regulars of any description, myself and an ex-CCF cadet were the extent of experience.

Look - let's be honest, this is a personal responsibility thing. Just like fizz. You are given the tools to get you through but it is up to you. I am embarrassed to admit that I failed the RAFFT when I went to Halton, I honestly thought I had prepared but I guess I had not. I have not failed it since then because my fizz is something that happens at my lunchtimes and evenings. Equally I do a lot of prep on my own time. Heading to Halton I had prepared as well as I could have done and I found the course challenging but not impossible, if I did not know GSK or the principles of service life I would have struggled.

It can be a p1sser because you may feel those around you are not living up to your standards, you have standards - they don't. I would suggest that a fair few of them will not last too long afterwards. I know that at least one person I did not think was pulling his weight lasted almost no time after BRTC in phase 2 training.

Anyway, head up and crack on. Let those that don't prepare do their own thing and if you never have to work with them then that is a bonus.

 

[UlsterExile]

Don't forget everyone learns at a different pace and trying to cram a lot into a short period has its own problems.

 

[True Blue Jack]

Let those that don't prepare do their own thing and if you never have to work with them then that is a bonus.

That's not really an option in a world where we are relying more and more on the Reserve Forces to boost our numbers and reservists are deploying regularly on Ops.

There is an aspiration to take responsibility for the recruitment and initial training of reservists away from the respective squadrons into the same organisation that looks after the regulars. This will have the advantage of introducing greater parity across the system but in reality must be set against the backdrop of a world in which we are trying to increase the size of the Reserve Forces in an environment where retention is hugely problematic. To coin a phrase used at a briefing I attended just today, "We are pouring water into a leaky bucket. Either we need to plug the holes in the bucket, or more ideally, we need a new bucket".

 

[beowulf]

That's not really an option in a world where we are relying more and more on the Reserve Forces to boost our numbers and reservists are deploying regularly on Ops.

TBJ, sorry, I did not explain myself particularly well. I mean to say "let those that don't prepare, bomb". Guys who were not prepared on both my BRTC at Halton and my Omega course are now gone from the service and rightly so. However some of the truly great guys on my courses (who were young enough) simply looked on their training and thought "I want to do this full time". One young lad was in Honnington 3 months after getting his mudguards to do it all again for the regulars. Was badged on the Saturday and was in the careers office on the Monday. A different kind of retention problem!

Central training would be workable in SE England but up here in sweaty land we have 4 Squadrons spread over 250 miles with different operational roles and resource access not to mention those on national squadrons. I could see something along the lines of a pre-Halton assessment weekend in a central point being a good thing - you bring together all those booked on BRTC in the next month or two and give them a GSK exam, a day of drill, a fitness assessment and maybe an orientation of the camp but in a location local to them. Overseen by a Halton SNEC each candidate gets a sign-off before he or she is confirmed on the course. It can trap the serially unready at their home units until their admins ease them out.

 

[Stevienics]

Don't forget everyone learns at a different pace and trying to cram a lot into a short period has its own problems.

And this, in essence, is the point. A reservist is by definition not full time and has another life in which he must perfrom in order to feed and clothe his family, and also relies upon the goodwill of a great many other people in order for him/her to serve.

When push comes to shove, you will never be able to compare reservist and full time person because their lives are radically different, both physically and philosophically.

I sometimes feel that a career in uniform alone does not prepare anyone to make this mental leap when deriving policy.

 

[Tango_Lima]

"There is an aspiration to take responsibility for the recruitment and initial training of reservists away from the respective squadrons into the same organisation that looks after the regulars."

I suppose what I' driving at is this, really. A sylabus is clearly being set, but there doesn't seem to be a way of ensuring that it is being delivered in the best way possible. X Squadron may be giving its recruits three weekends packed full of training because the DS there believe that that's the way to get the results they're being asked for, while Y Squadron sees it as a 'hoop' and pays lip service with a weekend where they do a bit of ironing, shuffle round the square and hand out the GSK books.

Not a huge fan of the idea of reserve recruiting being in the hands of the same folks doing it for the regulars though:

"When push comes to shove, you will never be able to compare reservist and full time person because their lives are radically different, both physically and philosophically.

I sometimes feel that a career in uniform alone does not prepare anyone to make this mental leap when deriving policy."

Just look what's happened to the TA. 'Big Countdown' FFS?

"However some of the truly great guys on my courses (who were young enough) simply looked on their training and thought "I want to do this full time". One young lad was in Honnington 3 months after getting his mudguards to do it all again for the regulars. Was badged on the Saturday and was in the careers office on the Monday. A different kind of retention problem!"

Would it be easier to retain these people if they felt more like they were being regarded as part time airmen and less like blokes with a funny hobby? I think we need to challenge the idea of regular service being 'for real' and reserve service being 'other'. You don't hear about the National Guard having these problems, but then, by all accounts, they don't seem to attract people who really want 'cadets for grown ups'.

"I could see something along the lines of a pre-Halton assessment weekend in a central point being a good thing"

DT_Xtremez_30:



(Sorry they aren't proper quote-y thingies)

 

[busby1971]

There are quite a few issues with Reservists very few if at all any that are the direct fault of committed reservists.

The biggest individual player in the RAuxAF is the Regt who tend to take up the majority of the resources running the upper echelons of the system, smaller disparate and dissimaller units do not have the mass to have half as much of a say.

Policy staff are never going to make it to Air Rank or sometimes not even the next rank by sorting out the reserves, the pilots who run the organisation have very little interest the reserves.

As I said earlier the Sqn Cdrs don't help either, each given far to much control over their own cadre, their FTRS management are depenant on their say so to keep them in a job or not which means that they will rarely rock the boat or even raise genuine concerns very much mini Fred Goodwins.

Retention wise Reservists join for a variety of reasons, it's not a job this is something they do at weekends, their families, their employers and other interests are all compting for their weekend time and the effects on their career of a 12 month deployment can be devastating.

With regards standards of reservists all that is required is that they maintain a base level of readiness, keep fit and keep current with other basic milliary matters, any deployment will be started with a period of transition where they can be brought up to speed in other matters before they hit the dust.

There's a lot of promise in the reserves but they are not regulars and never will be so don't expect them to be so.

 

[True Blue Jack]

Policy staff are never going to make it to Air Rank or sometimes not even the next rank by sorting out the reserves, the pilots who run the organisation have very little interest the reserves.

Up until SDSR I would have agreed with you but the RAuxAF is now trying to double in size at the same time as we are reducing numbers so Reserves policy is very high profile at the moment even to the point it is virtually the only area of recruiting with a budget this year. With no significant change to our commitments overseas we no longer have the capacity to absorb "hobbyists" in the Reserve Forces, therefore the means by which they are recruited, trained and retained has to be put on a more professional and standardised footing. How do we achieve that? Answers on a postcard please!