CYPRUS Not good !!!!!!

[Thunder]

In the year we commemorate the start of WW I, some servicemen need to sit back and take a reality check of just how good they actually have it. I know about 99% of people on here will shoot me down but really are they so hard done by, no. While I was working with the Army in Iraq 2003-05, there was no catering for troops returning from night patrol except for cold snacks etc.... didn't hear any of them moaning they were just glad to be back safe and sound. I now work night shifts in my current job and if I want anything to eat then I have to bring it with me, such is life.

[willow70]

I remember night shifts at ATC centres and airports, the food options were very limited once the "daisies" had gone home.

[romeo bravo]

What happened to 'late meals' or hot locks for the guys. Probably the local pizza don't deliver

[hertsman]

Tend to agree that as war zones go, Akrotiri is probably not as bad as it gets for gets for some other guys & gals on the front line, past, present or future. I suspect, though, that the prolonged cycle of intensive operations in Afghanistan and now Iraq again is taking its toll on morale, and the more 'austere' conditions then just become another straw to add to the camel's back. Our more limited assets just have to be worked harder than once would have been the case, although I struggle to remember a time when we could sit back and say that we'd got all the manpower and equipment we needed.

The harsh realities are that whoever is sitting in No.10 these next 5 or 6 years, the situation is not going to get any easier.

hertsman

[ColintheCaterpillar]

In the year we commemorate the start of WW I, some servicemen need to sit back and take a reality check of just how good they actually have it. I know about 99% of people on here will shoot me down but really are they so hard done by, no. While I was working with the Army in Iraq 2003-05, there was no catering for troops returning from night patrol except for cold snacks etc.... didn't hear any of them moaning they were just glad to be back safe and sound. I now work night shifts in my current job and if I want anything to eat then I have to bring it with me, such is life.

I think the point is that this is on a full time unit, not a deployed base. You should expect hardship at deployed or temporary bases, but not a permanent unit.

[storm1]

Crab air need to get there arses into a FOB in the back end of no where fighting for there life's on a daily basis then complain, the good ol RAF motto springs to mind " why dig in when you can book in "

[gamecock]

It's 'check-in' actually. Now will somebody get my samsonite up to my room please...!

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Crab air need to get there arses into a FOB in the back end of no where fighting for there life's on a daily basis then complain, the good ol RAF motto springs to mind " why dig in when you can book in "

I think some of the SH aircrew and personnel will be well aware...

Point still stand. When you get better accommodation and food in a Portacabin in the middle of a desert than a well established, decades old, MOB, then there's a problem.

[Velvet Glove]

“Diplomatic and defence editor” .. bit of a contradiction there already. Doesn’t make for a comfortable read does it. It’s never good when morale goes but I too think if anything it will continue to ‘decline’ when we are still in financial dire straits. I know we keep getting told how good things are now, and how well the economy is being managed; but there IS an election on the horizon.

[toom317]

Crab air need to get there arses into a FOB in the back end of no where fighting for there life's on a daily basis then complain, the good ol RAF motto springs to mind " why dig in when you can book in "

Is English your second language?

[Arthur Tee]

Point still stand. When you get better accommodation and food in a Portacabin in the middle of a desert than a well established, decades old, MOB, then there's a problem.

Colin,

Spot on!
I've spent four months living under canvas with catering supplied initially by a RAF Field Kitchen (and later Indian contract caterers) - no complaints whatsoever.

Akrotiri on the other hand was dire! Lived on (by choice) corned beef sandwiches and weetabix - all of which could easily be shaken to remove the cockroaches...!


Arthur

[chrisfg1]

Can you imagine the sort of catering the yanks would provide at a base like this? MOD, get your act together and look after our service personnel properly.

[armra1972]

Without getting too political or starting a row, the guys on the ground are not infantry, they are well trained (at public expense) aircraft technicians, they work hard day and night to project force with an ageing aircraft. I am sure if you were set to go on your holidays you'd be less than pleased to discover the guys who have serviced your aircraft have worked 30 straight 12 hour night shifts living on cold meals whilst worrying about their families back home. The Tornado is stretched but so is it's engineers and crew. The government on the back of American coat tails provided (well assisted) in making the conditions in Afghanistan pretty bearable. Feel free to PM me if you think you know better but I have first hand experience. Morale is in short supply so the last thing we need is enthusiasts thinking that our whinges are petty!

As an aside add this to the mix (remember Tornado has also been in Africa this year).

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/new ... 492843.ece

[Thunder]

Without getting too political or starting a row, the guys on the ground are not infantry, they are well trained (at public expense) aircraft technicians, they work hard day and night to project force with an ageing aircraft. I am sure if you were set to go on your holidays you'd be less than pleased to discover the guys who have serviced your aircraft have worked 30 straight 12 hour night shifts living on cold meals whilst worrying about their families back home. The Tornado is stretched but so is it's engineers and crew. The government on the back of American coat tails provided (well assisted) in making the conditions in Afghanistan pretty bearable. Feel free to PM me if you think you know better but I have first hand experience. Morale is in short supply so the last thing we need is enthusiasts thinking that our whinges are petty!

As an aside add this to the mix (remember Tornado has also been in Africa this year).

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/new ... 492843.ece

I'm sure you wouldn't say the first remark to an Infantryman, who are just as well trained just in a different area of expertise the only difference is these guys are in harms way, unlike the airman sitting in Cyprus. Also if any serviceman/women let's worrying about family back home effect their job then they either need to get out of the force or find another partner, and you have to ask why they joined up.

[dinger]

Our lords and masters are in denial, however, when observed from the inside, certain trades are losing experienced personnel who are hard to replace due to individuals having enough of constant ops. Once this experience goes, it is gone for good and the posts are back filled with extremely competent yet at times inexperienced tradesmen who lack adequate resources and constantly feel like they are fighting a losing battle. Granted, this is not the same as an infantry man on the front line and I am not trying to paint it in any other light.
Lack of strong leadership, lack of resource and lack of experiance are having at times an alarming impact on day to day ops.

Dinger.

[Forestfan]

[quote="I think the point is that this is on a full time unit, not a deployed base. You should expect hardship at deployed or temporary bases, but not a permanent unit.[/quote]

Correct.

I think someone who's spent 8 out of the last 12 months deployed on Operations has earned a right to complain about shoddy support from a MOB when they've experienced far better in AFG. Especially when the host unit is owned by people wearing the same uniform as you.

[Knife 04]

Can you imagine the sort of catering the yanks would provide at a base like this? MOD, get your act together and look after our service personnel properly.

Was under the impression that another allied force was flying from 'a base like this' with black 'weather balloons'

A friend of mine was down there there in Gulf War 1 / 2 and the only complaint he had was getting crisps with his pizza when ordering 'Pizza and Chips' rather than 'Pizza with Fries'! - provided as and when they wanted by another allied force (granted - not UK force)

If true this is unbelievable for the guys on the front line - an army marches on its stomach! Or could this be another rating story for the BBC!

Cheers

Darren

[fids]

Knocking up an egg banjo after a 36 hour patrol in the wet dark Northern Irish country side was something to savour, ambrosia couldn't taste as good. You make the best of whats available, that's what being a serviceman is all about.

Its the X factor we're all told we're paid for. OK, they're not Infantry but they are deployed and as such have to suck it up and I guess this is where the green and blue jobs differ, sort themselves out.

Touch paper lit :-)

I do find these stories about servicemen having a moan to a visiting Officer depressing. I can only assume the Squadron head shed are livid.

[markranger]

Problem is a small part of the RAF is having to take on everything that we get involved in.
Can't be nice to be away for months on end every year,
The Tornado force is too small to sustain any long deployment.
If we still has 5 sqns it would not be so bad but so much is being asked to such a small pool of people.
We need to get these Typhoons doing Ground attack ASAP IMO.
Yes I'm sure you sign up knowing you might be asked to go to fight but it's the type of wars we are fighting at the moment that only the Tornado is capable of doing but this is the area that we keep cutting back on.
All these Typhoon sqns are as yet unable to help,
Mark.

[Fighterfoto]

1(F) Sqn are doing full swing role missions on Red Flag