Memorandum from ***
I currently serve, with 29 years service experience,
as a member of the educational staff in the Royal Air Force at
***. Whilst I welcome the initiative by Parliament to introduce
a Duty of Care policy for trainees I am concerned that this initiative
is not extended to the uniformed staff who have to implement this
policy.
With reducing numbers of uniformed staff available
to provide Duty of Care there is increased pressure on those that
remain. Also, due to limited government funding the facilities
available for trainees to enjoy themselves whilst in training,
particularly after hours, has gradually been eroded away. It is
little wonder that those who drive get caught for drunk driving
at the very least and they are the lucky ones! Also, there are
major differences between training establishments regarding. facilities
available to trainees.
Recent and future reductions in service personnel
at training establishments can only serve to worsen the Service
ethos being delivered to trainees. Lt Col (ret'd) Haes is on record
in his original report following Deep Cut as having highlighted
the need for better trained and more service personnel, not an
increase of civilian personnel, to deliver training. First impressions
in training go a long way in moulding the attitude of trainees.
This cannot be achieved by the contractorisation and civilianisation
of military training. In some cases trainees may not be exposed
to personnel from their respective trades for almost two years.
It is imperative that training staff are drawn from the workplace
expose trainees to those who have real experience of the workplace.
There is a perception amongst service personnel
that senior officers, whilst listening, are not hearing the concerns
of senior non-commissioned officers. There is only so much that
permanent members of staff can be expected to do both during the
course of the normal working day and after duty hours. Too much
is expected from our "lords and masters" and little
is given in return.
I would welcome the chance to speak with the
Committee direct on these issues and others that may arise. I
am not one to write anonymously and stand by the points I have
raised.
December 2004
| 
