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  • Originally posted by expat01 View Post
    If there is a fundamental lack of understanding of what the PDF is, needs and should be, we can hardly expect anything but woolly thinking about the RDF the few times per decade anyone in the department thinks of it at all.

    Also, we can hardly expect the PDF to be truly committed to working with the RDF when the department that controls them treats the PDF itself as a glorified reserve. Our basic problem is that the DoD does not take its own job seriously, or even acts as if it is a gatekeeper to preventing militarism. Which it surely was in the 1920s...but nothing has changed since.
    You hit the nail on the head.

    Comment


    • s things have got worse (in the PDF) the PDF are appreciating the RDF
      Sadly,one of the wrong reasons why the PDF should suddenly gain an appreciation for the RDF
      "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
      "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

      Comment


      • Originally posted by morpheus View Post
        Sadly,one of the wrong reasons why the PDF should suddenly gain an appreciation for the RDF
        True but I'd say there are times when they are glad that there still is an RDF.

        Imagine if we hadn't been mismanaged over the last probably 15 years. Bn Comd's could actually have full RDF companies to task (the RDF would never be full to establishment but if 50% of the establishment was effective.....

        Comment


        • Well it does make perfect sense that infantry reservists are the resource of absolute last resort when there are PDF contractual obligations and duty pay at stake. Besides, PDF infantry trumps RDF infantry hands down, right?

          It also makes perfect sense that the only reservists with any degree of operational utility are those with specialist skills.

          The question is, why then did they build a post-VFM model RDF to be 74% infantry heavy when it seems so widely accepted before and indeed afterwards that RDF infantry are as useful as a one-legged man at an arse kicking contest?

          Why would anyone want to be an infantry reservist if the organisation and culture is so prejudice against you, doesn't recognise your rank or reserve military qualifications and you have absolutely no hope of ever putting your training to use?

          Well at least there's the RDF specialists, whose skills in Medicine, Engineering, and ICT are so valuable to us that the DOD is willing to use them on an "unpaid voluntary capacity". That is until the DOD can craft out WP15's much coveted "Specialist Reserve" AKA "Extra Pension for Retention" Troop. It'll be interesting to see how the DOD square that circle, having a specialist reserve where ex-PDF who can continue to accrue a pension are mixed in with RDF SMEs who are barely paid at all.

          Do you want fries with that rant ?


          Alternative view : after my 30 years, 11 months and 11 days service its the best its ever been in terms of RDF appreciation by the PDF of peoples skills. Its that simple. Stop ranting about stuff we cant change.



          Corollary : unless you have *actually* demonstrated strong value to the PDF on an individual and as a team and hat it acknowledged, there is absolutely no way they will go to bat for anything from the DOD or anyone. This must be done, and this lobbied for and talked about on a cooperative basis for mutual improvement. Hence rants above drive a wedge. This is personal opinion, of course, but it reflects my experience with large organisations and building bridges.
          Last edited by trellheim; 12 September 2017, 13:47.
          "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

          "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

          Comment


          • What use are the multitude of infantry companies that cannot field complete sections due to horrific numbers? Speaking as a member of one such locale
            "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
            "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

            Comment


            • Originally posted by morpheus View Post
              What use are the multitude of infantry companies that cannot field complete sections due to horrific numbers? Speaking as a member of one such locale
              Does the RDF element of your unit contribute nothing to your units taskings?

              No GoHs, no duties, no combined exs, no drivers on taskings, no ATCA.....

              Comment


              • What use are the multitude of infantry companies that cannot field complete sections due to horrific numbers? Speaking as a member of one such locale
                been there and had the tshirt in the 80s 90s and 00s . Dont worry atuff will change.
                "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

                Comment


                • Originally posted by DeV View Post
                  Does the RDF element of your unit contribute nothing to your units taskings?

                  No GoHs, no duties, no combined exs, no drivers on taskings, no ATCA.....
                  That's not the point i was making, yes we get tasked, but no we cannot meet those taskings.
                  i'm asking what use are those infantry companies that dont HAVE personnel to complete taskings? we need to surge our numbers back up or we will lose the remaining skeleton crew that operates the unit either through retirements, resigning from the force or migration to better manned and equipped units.
                  "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
                  "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

                  Comment


                  • What numbers did you get so far in the current rec campaign ?
                    "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                    "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

                    Comment


                    • low numbers generally, in the tens
                      "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
                      "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by morpheus View Post
                        That's not the point i was making, yes we get tasked, but no we cannot meet those taskings.
                        i'm asking what use are those infantry companies that dont HAVE personnel to complete taskings? we need to surge our numbers back up or we will lose the remaining skeleton crew that operates the unit either through retirements, resigning from the force or migration to better manned and equipped units.
                        Sorry misunderstood your post

                        I know 7 Inf, have closed their outlying coy and merged the active guys into 1 coy

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by morpheus View Post
                          That's not the point i was making, yes we get tasked, but no we cannot meet those taskings.
                          i'm asking what use are those infantry companies that dont HAVE personnel to complete taskings? we need to surge our numbers back up or we will lose the remaining skeleton crew that operates the unit either through retirements, resigning from the force or migration to better manned and equipped units.
                          Am surprised the RDF wasn't reconstituted as a CS/CSS formation. The British Army Reserve is heavily weighted in this direction, I believe. Their plan is to surge to 32,000 personnel as part of their Army 2020 campaign. Of course, the permanent force is being cut by 20% at the same time...
                          "Well, stone me! We've had cocaine, bribery and Arsenal scoring two goals at home. But just when you thought there were truly no surprises left in football, Vinnie Jones turns out to be an international player!" (Jimmy Greaves)!"

                          Comment


                          • That is because "The Steering Committee could not identify any ongoing operational requirement that justified an expansion in the role of the Reserve" [Direct Quote from the VFM report] and the also strongly considered the abolition of the Reserve.

                            Comment


                            • If I had 365 days a year to do taskings it wouldn't be enough at the moment its so darn busy lots of separate work areas at the moment and ALL are relevant.

                              Many of my peers report the same - its as busy as you want it to be if you show you can deliver.
                              "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                              "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by Truck Driver View Post
                                Am surprised the RDF wasn't reconstituted as a CS/CSS formation. The British Army Reserve is heavily weighted in this direction, I believe. Their plan is to surge to 32,000 personnel as part of their Army 2020 campaign. Of course, the permanent force is being cut by 20% at the same time...
                                The surge to the reserve was a failure, hence loads of us are getting requests to come to the "Regular Reserve" days where we get paid substantial beer tokens for a day of briefings and catch up with the old pals.

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