You hold the purse strings.
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You hold the purse strings.
Like many of the posters here I am only too willing to critisize the downsizing brought in to facilitate Scottish/Welsh Parliaments; Domes, Blunkett's child support, Brown's curiosly white skincare products, Prescott's motoring collection and Mrs Blair's dental bill.
So let's have some suggestions for making the defence budget stretch to meet the requirements.
Bigger budget or pulling out of Iraq are too easy and therefore banned.
LJ
So let's have some suggestions for making the defence budget stretch to meet the requirements.
Bigger budget or pulling out of Iraq are too easy and therefore banned.
LJ
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Get rid of a lot of senior officers and get them doing the job they are meant to do i.e. a Sqn Ldr in charge of a sqn, Wg Cdr in charge of a wing etc.
Stop politicians deciding on procurement i.e. Merlin (keep Wastelands open) let them decide how much to spend but let Top brass decide what is best for the forces not the Rt Hon Whoever.
Actually consult the people at the coalface not 3* types who really dont have an understanding of the day to day problems/running/manning/requirements etc.
Buy kit that will actually get used, why do aircrew get issued with porn star sunglasses, i have never seen anybody wear them.... ever!!!
Somebody at the top actually have the Balls to make a decision for the boys and not just to further their own career.
Make it mandatory for people taking up new posts to have a 6 month period of no major changes, therefore no re-inventing the wheel just to make a name for themselves then when it doesnt work changing it back just like their predecessor.
Defence ministers or PM's must have children serving in the armed forces. This should stop war mongering if the PM's own children were going to have lead thrown at them.
I think thats all............ for now anyway
Stop politicians deciding on procurement i.e. Merlin (keep Wastelands open) let them decide how much to spend but let Top brass decide what is best for the forces not the Rt Hon Whoever.
Actually consult the people at the coalface not 3* types who really dont have an understanding of the day to day problems/running/manning/requirements etc.
Buy kit that will actually get used, why do aircrew get issued with porn star sunglasses, i have never seen anybody wear them.... ever!!!
Somebody at the top actually have the Balls to make a decision for the boys and not just to further their own career.
Make it mandatory for people taking up new posts to have a 6 month period of no major changes, therefore no re-inventing the wheel just to make a name for themselves then when it doesnt work changing it back just like their predecessor.
Defence ministers or PM's must have children serving in the armed forces. This should stop war mongering if the PM's own children were going to have lead thrown at them.
I think thats all............ for now anyway
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Abolish 'inflight' rations!! I know that this would cause a revolution on the truckie fleet but would save more than just a few quid. I have personally seen a navigator eat 4 meals (good size meals at that) in a 7 hr period. 
GM
ps I was gonna say 'get rid of UKMAMS' but I know how sensitive you mover chaps/chapesses are.
GM
ps I was gonna say 'get rid of UKMAMS' but I know how sensitive you mover chaps/chapesses are.
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GM
Come on chap, we may not be loved by anyone but could you honestly see an ALM loading a flat floor load at stupid o'clock in some sh@thole when the rest of the crew poke off to the hotel (C17 boys excluded !)
My point though, I agree the best way to start to save cash is to restructure the number of our senior officers and sort out the procurement mess we have for starters.
MM
PS. Not a bite or an atempt to start a debate just a light hearted poke at our ALM chums.
Come on chap, we may not be loved by anyone but could you honestly see an ALM loading a flat floor load at stupid o'clock in some sh@thole when the rest of the crew poke off to the hotel (C17 boys excluded !)
My point though, I agree the best way to start to save cash is to restructure the number of our senior officers and sort out the procurement mess we have for starters.
MM
PS. Not a bite or an atempt to start a debate just a light hearted poke at our ALM chums.
Last edited by Mobile Muppet; 12th Jan 2005 at 20:21.
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Heights good
Top suggestions and in my opinion quite reasonable and not barking.
I would also add:
Stream line Gps, STC and PTC into one unit. (after all the whole RAF will be less than the size of one Gp was when I joined.
Don't even think about carriers. They are pointless, expensive and vulnerable. If our jets using SS or simliar, can hit a 'hard' target with accuracy measured in metres, or better, at several hundred miles range, then it is likely that the 'enemy' can sink our most expensive defence asset ever with the same degree of ease.
Quit fooling ourselves that investing in an EU force is anything but wasted money trying to keep us 'on-side' with Germany and France when we won't accept the Euro.
Top suggestions and in my opinion quite reasonable and not barking.
I would also add:
Stream line Gps, STC and PTC into one unit. (after all the whole RAF will be less than the size of one Gp was when I joined.
Don't even think about carriers. They are pointless, expensive and vulnerable. If our jets using SS or simliar, can hit a 'hard' target with accuracy measured in metres, or better, at several hundred miles range, then it is likely that the 'enemy' can sink our most expensive defence asset ever with the same degree of ease.
Quit fooling ourselves that investing in an EU force is anything but wasted money trying to keep us 'on-side' with Germany and France when we won't accept the Euro.
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Seriously now,
When the Timmys, VC-10s, Sentrys etc croak, which can't be too long now, get B-767s for the non tactical transport, tanking, AEW and possibly even maritime roles. Reducing the number of types would streamline the supply and eng sides of the operation, increase reliability, and give aircrew and groundcrew time on a type that doesn't belong in a museum.
Let Westland licence build Chinnys, (the Merlins were just a bad idea) and set them working on the SH replacement airframe.
Realise that selling off assets and contracting everything isn't a wise move in the long term.
Improve retention by replacing the ALM branch with uberhot hosties from Virgin and BA.
Let Westland licence build Chinnys, (the Merlins were just a bad idea) and set them working on the SH replacement airframe.
Realise that selling off assets and contracting everything isn't a wise move in the long term.
Improve retention by replacing the ALM branch with uberhot hosties from Virgin and BA.
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Max
I suspect that by the time the TriStar, VC 10 and sentry fleets are retired then the B767 will also belong in a museum. Better to go for the most modern replacements possible - you can bet that the RAF will be operating them for a very very long time.
OBD
I suspect that by the time the TriStar, VC 10 and sentry fleets are retired then the B767 will also belong in a museum. Better to go for the most modern replacements possible - you can bet that the RAF will be operating them for a very very long time.
OBD
Just what I was about to say, OBD!
B767 is becoming quite old now; Stonecipher has already said that the B7E7 is unsuitable as a tanker a/c 'due its configuration' (whatever that might mean)..... Which pretty well rules out anything Boeing.
Zero-lifed A310 MRTT plus a few A330 MRTT; A400M and C-17 is the way ahead. Even A310 AWACS, perhaps... And trade the C130s in as the C-17s and A400Ms ramp up. Nothing inherently wrong with the C130, VC10, TriStar etc - just anno domini!
As for the floating grey coffins - totally agree.
B767 is becoming quite old now; Stonecipher has already said that the B7E7 is unsuitable as a tanker a/c 'due its configuration' (whatever that might mean)..... Which pretty well rules out anything Boeing.
Zero-lifed A310 MRTT plus a few A330 MRTT; A400M and C-17 is the way ahead. Even A310 AWACS, perhaps... And trade the C130s in as the C-17s and A400Ms ramp up. Nothing inherently wrong with the C130, VC10, TriStar etc - just anno domini!
As for the floating grey coffins - totally agree.
Yes, Him
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Understand that "leaner" equals more efficient in civvy biz but in the military it means overstretched at best and out-numbered at worst. Ask Custer.
Bin Trident, invest in a few more destroyers.
Ditto big carriers. Need something like the old Fearless class.
All army units to wear the same uniform; they can buy different head gear/ badges/stable-belts if they want to.
Stop creeping contractorisation, it is gangreneous.
Ditto PC/IIP bollocks.
Bin Trident, invest in a few more destroyers.
Ditto big carriers. Need something like the old Fearless class.
All army units to wear the same uniform; they can buy different head gear/ badges/stable-belts if they want to.
Stop creeping contractorisation, it is gangreneous.
Ditto PC/IIP bollocks.
Sell all those new comfy chairs that those peeps at whitehall sit on (sell them on ebay or something),
Then sack anyone at whitehall who uses more than their quota of sick leave
Then sack anyone at whitehall who uses more than their quota of sick leave
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Just thought of something else. Senior officers cant serve in any capacity on the board of or own shares in any company that has links to defence sales i.e. Wastelands. This should hopefully stop stupid procurements like Merlin/Lynx/Carriers/Typhoon etc. etc. etc.
Im sure ill think of more
Im sure ill think of more
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Ok, I'll Bite
Instead of chopping the carriers, lets chop the RAF in its totality.
We all seem to be operating under the assumption that we will always operate with the Yanks, so what does/can the RAF do that in any way enhances what they do. They have significantly better kit in all areas that the RAF operates, and more of it.
Now look at the RN.
On Day 1 in Iraq, the Junglies (who operate from carriers a lot!) carried the entire Royal Marine force into combat after the US had a tragic accident and ceased operations because didnt have the kit or training for the extreme environmental conditions.
At least the RN brings something credible and useful to the coalition table.
Tornado, Jaguar, Harrier versus B52, B1B, Hornet, Eagle, A10.........dont make me laugh
Instead of chopping the carriers, lets chop the RAF in its totality.
We all seem to be operating under the assumption that we will always operate with the Yanks, so what does/can the RAF do that in any way enhances what they do. They have significantly better kit in all areas that the RAF operates, and more of it.
Now look at the RN.
On Day 1 in Iraq, the Junglies (who operate from carriers a lot!) carried the entire Royal Marine force into combat after the US had a tragic accident and ceased operations because didnt have the kit or training for the extreme environmental conditions.
At least the RN brings something credible and useful to the coalition table.
Tornado, Jaguar, Harrier versus B52, B1B, Hornet, Eagle, A10.........dont make me laugh
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Don't implement change when a system is working perfectly well, or is that just asking too much?