RDFRA in dispute with DoD

[Bravo20]

Bravo, that just makes me laugh...I know that is the way it is meant to happen...but alas, it is not the way it does...

I know but why do you think RDFRA is in a position to fix this, if the people who are supposed to do the work don't and those who are responsible for supervising the work the needs to be done don't. The DF is not run and cannot be run by the 13 person committee of the national executive. People (RDF and PDF) have the moral and actual responsibility to perform the tasks that allocated to them by virtue of rank and appointment. There are some very good CQs out there that make sure their troops are kitted out in accordance with the scale of issue (and more if they can get it), also there are some very good officers who are communicating problems up the chain of command, making deals and workarounds to ensure that their troops are appropriatly kitted out. The question is, if they can do it why aren't others?

[hptmurphy]

Simple as..bottom of the food chain..last to get issued..I'm in the same boat regarding kit..but there are far greater things that can impact on me..as for civvies buying kit..there has and never been anything done about it..so why loose sleep

Might be far better for the RDF if guys got out of bitching mode and went out and made themselves more available for worthwhile pursuits rather than sitting at home moaning about what they are entitled to..or what they think they might need.

Why do people bemoan kit issues....given the limited time actually spent on the ground why do we need to hoard kit?

Your a reservist...its not that you are going to have to turn out for a three weeker tomorrow morning.....surely you can make do with one smock for the amount of time actually spent training...I have only one..I manage....and I've had it 6 years..happy birthday to my smock

no one can pull me on a parade becuse..fact of life..I have but one..and its condition at times represents the amount of time I put in..if its manky I'm busy..if its clean I'm not....fact of life.

[ODIN]

Bravo, that just makes me laugh...I know that is the way it is meant to happen...but alas, it is not the way it does...

[Bravo20]

Odin, that is an issue for the military police (see many threads on this topic).

The questions you have failed to ask are:
What is my CQMS doing for me?
What is my CO doing to ensure that I am adequately kitted out?

RDFRA got you the right to a reasonable issue, it is up to your NCOs and officers to ensure you get it. They have a job to do too.

[ODIN]

Right, a quick bitch, I'll start by stating that I have not recieved an item of issued clothing in nearly 5 yrs now, since I was a recruit. I am due a smock this year and only have 2 pairs of pants and 3 shirts, t-shirts are something I have bought in a large quantity cause frankly just having the 3 issued ones on a 2 week camp just does not do the job. The last thing I was issued was a set of no 1s.

So imagine my shock while sitting in work, an internet café for those who do not know me, when in walks a fella in an issue smock with 3 star rank markings and FFD in the pocket. I sat and stewed for a few mins bitching to some other RDF members on MSN, when the lad asked for my help with something. So I fixed his problem and anyway, I asked him where the smock came from, he informed me he had paid a mate in the PDF €70 for TWO, yes TWO smocks.

I find this terrible, active reservists cannot get a new issue of uniform but everybody else, including civvys seem to be able too. It would make one wonder what the RDFRA actually does for us, or for that matter what the Army actually sees us as doing.

[DeV]

RDFRA has been looking for access to the C&A scheme and improved payments to reservists for at least the last 5 years (as long as I've been involved in it!)

[worldwalker]

Agreed Big Al,
RDFRA has to get on message with the main issue.

Banging on about clothing shortages all the time when the RDF get thousands of Euros worth of uniform every year when the army and government gets damn all value for it.

We need to show the public and the army what the RDF can do. Yes we have wasters, I have met some EXTREMELY strange people in it but I have also met some talented, motivated, skilled people with plenty to offer. It could attract the best of public life.

The government needs to be made get serious about what it wants from the organisation, pay it properly and train it properly, forget the "volunteer ethos" which lets them off the hook for their obligations.

Also, some RDF members need to see the big picture and grow up a little.

MY RANT OVER.

[GodBlessS&T]

No.

[Big Al]

RDFRA, having exhausted all options, are now in dispute with the Dept. and the Minister on this matter and must attempt to bring it to a conclusion by mobilising outside interested parties. We are requesting that you use all means at your disposal in supporting and advancing our case

I have been saying this for a while, that RDFRA should look beyond the current system to try and get issues sorted however people (you know who you are) said they couldnt, it is a welcome development however relying on members to plow their own furrow in regard to this is not very wise, they should organise their efforts centrally where members can feed into the rdfra system and tell rdfra of interested parties and then the "management" of rdfra can give the official line to the interested party, at least then the message is consistent, last thing you want is Billy Timmins or someone like that getting 300 emails from troops complaining they cant get a kit bag. For an important development like this i'm surprised it isnt on their website...

RDFRA had been given an understanding that the matter would be reviewed following reorganization. However, the Department has now stated that that they do not intend to allow access to a C&A scheme at this time

Is anyone really surprised by that?

[Poiuyt]

• Extremely one sided negotiations take place mainly through the Dept. Of Defence C&A Sections. One Military and the Other Civilian. When either refuses a claim RDFRA are in the extraordinary position of not having recourse to any dispute resolving mechanism. While recognizing RDFRA and its institutions in Legislation and their right to represent their members, the Dept. hold that, as the Reserve are volunteers they may not to be treated like part time workers and may not have access to a C&A scheme.
  
• RDFRA had been given an understanding that the matter would be reviewed following reorganization. However, the Department has now stated that that they do not intend to allow access to a C&A scheme at this time.
  
• RDFRA, having exhausted all options, are now in dispute with the Dept. and the Minister on this matter and must attempt to bring it to a conclusion by mobilising outside interested parties. We are requesting that you use all means at your disposal in supporting and advancing our case.

Extract from a letter we saw in our unit.

What do people think?