Anyone noticed the difference between these two groups since the Re-Org?
An example of what I mean,
Pte X wants to do a weapons course during the summer, sticks his hand up when asked for volunteers for the course. X's name put on a list and given to (A) an RDF officer or (B) an FCA officer
(A) RDF officer gets course details from unit running the course. Goes to stores and puts in requests for gear required for course well in advance, gets other forms required for participation in the course i.e. ARP sheets, medical forms etc. Liases with Cadre staff in case he's forgetting anything. Then goes and organises transport for Pte. X to get down there. As well as making sure he's getting paid, getting rations and has accomodation. In some cases RDF officer will organise last minute range practices/TOET's to make X eligible for course.
X goes on course, shows up first day on time with all the necessary paperwork and equipment. Passes course and is now qualified on a new weapon and comes back a better trained member of his unit. Goes on to a promotions course and can now pass on what he learned to his own unit. Hi-fives all round and everybody's happy.
(B) FCA officer gets course details, adds them to pile of papers on his desk only making note of the time the course starts, where it is and who wants to go on it. Totally forgets about it until Pte. X reads course details himself and asks for the gear required from Q. Officer suddenly remembers he's responsible for that.
Talks to PDF cadre who inform him that he's left it too late and that it would not be possible to requisition the gear in the short amount of time. Officer roots around the stores managing to get some old bits and pieces of the required equipment thats falling apart. Gets the rest from people in the unit.
Manages to get some of the required documentation. Informs those who have not done the required TOET's/ARP's that they are not eligible for the course but that he'll see what he can do. Does nothing about organising ARP's/TOET's but tells them to just show up that it will be grand. Doesn't organise transport but instead tells one of the lads with a car to drive the rest of them down. Pte. X asks what if they aren't allowed to do course because they don't have required gear/forms. Officer replies "Don't worry it'll be grand as long as you're down on the course they have to let you do it. Just show up and you'll be fine"
Pte. X shows up first day of course without all the required forms/equipment. Orderly Sgt. asks for his forms, X hands him crumpled up bits of paper which make up about half of the required documentation. Orderly Sgt talks to officer in charge of course. Explains that X does not have the items listed on the course requirements. Then goes back to X and tells him that he cannot do the course. X sent home.
X does not go on his promotions course because he does not have a certain weapons course done. Has to wait another year for the chance to do it again. X leaves a few short months later and keeps gear.
I'm bringing this up because this hasn't stopped at the reorg and continues day to day in the reserve. The FCA officers are mostly in senior positions and can therefore do more damage. They don't seem to realise that the old FCA days when you could just turn up and "Ah sure they'll have to let you do it." are over.
Rant over.
An example of what I mean,
Pte X wants to do a weapons course during the summer, sticks his hand up when asked for volunteers for the course. X's name put on a list and given to (A) an RDF officer or (B) an FCA officer
(A) RDF officer gets course details from unit running the course. Goes to stores and puts in requests for gear required for course well in advance, gets other forms required for participation in the course i.e. ARP sheets, medical forms etc. Liases with Cadre staff in case he's forgetting anything. Then goes and organises transport for Pte. X to get down there. As well as making sure he's getting paid, getting rations and has accomodation. In some cases RDF officer will organise last minute range practices/TOET's to make X eligible for course.
X goes on course, shows up first day on time with all the necessary paperwork and equipment. Passes course and is now qualified on a new weapon and comes back a better trained member of his unit. Goes on to a promotions course and can now pass on what he learned to his own unit. Hi-fives all round and everybody's happy.
(B) FCA officer gets course details, adds them to pile of papers on his desk only making note of the time the course starts, where it is and who wants to go on it. Totally forgets about it until Pte. X reads course details himself and asks for the gear required from Q. Officer suddenly remembers he's responsible for that.
Talks to PDF cadre who inform him that he's left it too late and that it would not be possible to requisition the gear in the short amount of time. Officer roots around the stores managing to get some old bits and pieces of the required equipment thats falling apart. Gets the rest from people in the unit.
Manages to get some of the required documentation. Informs those who have not done the required TOET's/ARP's that they are not eligible for the course but that he'll see what he can do. Does nothing about organising ARP's/TOET's but tells them to just show up that it will be grand. Doesn't organise transport but instead tells one of the lads with a car to drive the rest of them down. Pte. X asks what if they aren't allowed to do course because they don't have required gear/forms. Officer replies "Don't worry it'll be grand as long as you're down on the course they have to let you do it. Just show up and you'll be fine"
Pte. X shows up first day of course without all the required forms/equipment. Orderly Sgt. asks for his forms, X hands him crumpled up bits of paper which make up about half of the required documentation. Orderly Sgt talks to officer in charge of course. Explains that X does not have the items listed on the course requirements. Then goes back to X and tells him that he cannot do the course. X sent home.
X does not go on his promotions course because he does not have a certain weapons course done. Has to wait another year for the chance to do it again. X leaves a few short months later and keeps gear.
I'm bringing this up because this hasn't stopped at the reorg and continues day to day in the reserve. The FCA officers are mostly in senior positions and can therefore do more damage. They don't seem to realise that the old FCA days when you could just turn up and "Ah sure they'll have to let you do it." are over.
Rant over.
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