Officer postings- prestige?

[GoneToTheCanner]

hi there
I thought an Officer's ability to advance beyond Comdt was the benchmark. I can think of a few beauts, all mavericks (up from the ranks),who reached Comdt and would never go further, except if all above died or retired. I can also think of a few who were "dumped" into Baldonnel to avoid scandal elsewhere.
regards
GttC

[captain]

"Gick"? What the hell is that?

[Joshua]

"Gick"? What the hell is that?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gick

3.	gick	11 up, 11 down
	An irish slang word for 'Shit' See also shite Ah for f**ks sake, who is after walking dog gick into the new carpet ? by Liam Aug 25, 2003 email it
4.	gick	9 up, 9 down
	An Irish slang word for 'Shit' After his first day at the sewage plant, Paddy came home covered, head to toe in gick by anonymous Aug 25, 2003 email it

[Steamy Window]

Also the nickname for Terenure College I think

[hedgehog]

Also the nickname for Terenure College I think

According to that unimpeachable source Mr R O Carrol Kelly

that is true

[Steamy Window]

So thats where I heard it.

GTTC, were those who were "dumped" army officers? If the Don is being used as a dumping ground for officers it mustn't say too much for the reputution of the place within the DF

[hedgehog]

Most Units are at times like a penal battalion

and used as dumping grounds for those Officers

who have passed their sell by date or have

been cough cough embarassed in some way or another

most PDF er's on here can testify to that

its no impact on the Unit or tis reputation

[GoneToTheCanner]

hi there
Hedge has it dead right. Officers (and NCOs) who had or were percieved to have "sinned" against the system were slid sideways, so as not to generate further harm. Because Baldonnel has a non-aircraft-related Admin side, persons from outside, from "real" military units were posted in and inevitably, it was asked, well, why are they here, if they are real soldiers? Sometimes, it was the case that the new arrival had a "history".More often than not, incomers had entirely benign records and simply transferred for family or geographic reasons. Simply put, if you can't sack them, then dump them 'til they resign or retire.
regards
GttC

[hptmurphy]

Seem to rememeber an ex AC officer being dumped in Clonmel at one stage because he put a fouga in afield in east cork..which he could get it out of in one piece..about '92 or '93 I believe..held the title of Mr.Bean.

The Df is a great place for scandal if only some of it could get out.

Seem to remember a warren of offices in haulbowline full of failed watchkeepers or those caught shagging CJHs daughter or some such..eternal Acting Lieutenants...or had cleared off with the funds from the Officers mess.

[Turkey]

Seem to rememeber an ex AC officer being dumped in Clonmel at one stage because he put a fouga in afield in east cork..which he could get it out of in one piece..about '92 or '93 I believe..held the title of Mr.Bean.

Apparently, the story goes, that was an excellent piece of flying, t'was a pity he cocked up in the first place by taking off without enough fuel............
Certain people note the phrase 'apparently, the story goes,' before jumping down my neck .......

[Kieran Marum]

The UK seem to view things in a different way

The SAS require those seeking promotion to have served with the TA elements [21 and 23 SAS]

For them serves with the part-timers is both recognised and encouraged

[hedgehog]

The UK seem to view things in a different way

The SAS require those seeking promotion to have served with the TA elements [21 and 23 SAS]

For them serves with the part-timers is both recognised and encouraged

It maybe because there is very little difference between

the TA element of them and the full time version

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi there
re: fouga landing in Trabolgan....our hero took off with full fuel, which is give or take, 90 minutes in a Fouga (217)and, it is said, mis-set his gyro compass and flew the reciprocal of his intended course (the opposite direction).He found himself off the Cork coast with dwindling fuel and attempted to reach Cork Airport, once he had realised his error.Unfortunately, he was too far gone but did pull off a perfect landing in the largest field in the area, which was right alongside Trabolgan holiday centre.The only damage to the aircraft was a crease in the tail bumper. He was retrieved by Alouette whilst the gentlemen of Fouga squadron tried to get the wings off, to fit the aircraft onto a low-loader.Given that they had never done it before and that the appropriate tools were mislaid/stolen (take your pick), that part of the event was a bit of a comedy....the hapless pilot was not immediately despatched to oblivion but he certainly was grounded.So was 217, as the effort of getting the wings off had done some damage to the wing attach points, which earned the Fouga techies the undying sneers of their colleagues.The Fouga did fly again and I think Lt. ---- did too, just not for the Air Corps.
regards
GttC

[hedgehog]

land on the left sea on the right

as opposed to sea on the left land on the right

duh