NZDF Morale low - No surprise really

[beagle]

If it is $1000 per week to rent Dave, have a guess what the purchase price would be then.

[baronbeeza]

The other thing about buying a house is that it can be very difficult to get a mortgage. Near impossible for a contractor. The mining industry is so volatile and it seems to swing from boom to bust quickly and easily.

I was on a 2 month on, 2 month off contact based in Perth a few years back. Towards the end of my two months off I phoned to make arrangements for my return....... no need was the reply. They were having a meeting later that day and everyone was to lose their jobs apart from the Chief Engineer and the apprentice. We were doing aerial survey work and it is often the first casualty.
Good while it lasted mind you... indeed absolutely brilliant.

[Calum]

What's old is new again. We went through this in late 1980 's.

Who remembers AFPR (Armed Forces Pay review) where I got 3 K less that the guys who finished their techs course 12 months ahead of me.

If it wasn't for 2 Sqn and Nowra I'd have left as soon as my ROSO was up

[baronbeeza]

I was thinking the same. There was certainly an exodus during the Lange years as PM.
When morale was reported as being low now I was trying to think of the high morale era..
I am sure there were many of them and the late 70's and early 80's must have been ok.

[luke6745]

Feb 23, 2012 22:32:06 GMT 12 baronbeeza said:

I was thinking the same. There was certainly an exodus during the Lange years as PM.
When morale was reported as being low now I was trying to think of the high morale era..
I am sure there were many of them and the late 70's and early 80's must have been ok.

That period after the F-16s were purchased but before Helen got it in so brand new C-130Js and a third frigate were still on the cards?

[baronbeeza]

That period after the F-16s were purchased but before Helen got it in so brand new C-130Js and a third frigate were still on the cards?

Never heard of any of that... it must have been well before then.
I was thinking of the time when we were having trouble getting anything out of the US, - be it manufacturers repair schemes or even parts. We had just taken a tumble in the preferred customer listings.
It was all part of the tiff emanating from Lange's anti-nuclear comments and policies.
Newmans had just started up and Albatross and then Air Nelson were taking on crews.

[Dave Homewood]

Morale hasn't been the same since the end of WWII when they disbanded 12 of the 13 fighter squadrons. Or maybe a bit before that when they grounded the Vincents. It's an ever decreasing circle.

Why do we need a third frigate? The two we have do bugger all.

[mags]

I'll just throw it out there to dispell a few myths, the GLBT forum is an entirely voluntary initiative, driven by the users not any one service, in recognition of a shortfalls in support available.

[Dave Homewood]

Fair enough mags, and welcome to the forum. My surprise in reading about this is, are there really transgender/transvestite people in the NZDF? I simply cannot fathom that happening. I did hear that Carmen had been in the Army, before he became a she, but honestly, are there now open trannies serving??

[Chris F]

Oh my Dave......I see we have really gone to the dogs!
If this is the case maybe they will have a mardi gras at the 75th Airshow......what a laugh.
What next?

[Dave Homewood]

I wasn't trying to take the piss like you Raptor, I am genuinely interested if that is the case.

[Chris F]

You gotta see the funny side Dave!

[skyhawkdon]

I know of at least one RNZAF transgender SNCO currently serving at Ohakea. They were/are a "top bloke" (sorry but I couldn't resist!). I also know one other former RNZAF Avionics SNCO who went to the ADF as a civie after they got out and then did it. I take my hat off to them for what they have gone through. Not my cup of tea but it was a big deal for them and I know they appreciated all the support they got from NZDF/ADF.

[Dave Homewood]

As they say, it takes all sorts...

[30sqnatc]

Feb 23, 2012 23:24:52 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Why do we need a third frigate? The two we have do bugger all.

The frigates get through a huge amount of 'Defence Diplomocy' aka cocktail parties.

I hope you not one of those who think the helicopter deck and hangar are for helicopters - they are really party central

[meo4]

Third frigate was to allow 3 ship cycle one in refit other two at sea.
Basically the frigates are NZ only line of defence all two of them,
also used for force protection for joint amphibious task force AA,ASW,Asuw, EEZ patrols ,operational deployments CTF 151, Collective defence agreements 5 power defence exercise etc.
Also gives Navy broad range of capabilities which you need from maritime nation.
Going back to main topic with the way the NZDF is going probably pays to stay single if you want a long career yet you still wont earn enough( despite your deposit) for the bank to loan you decent loan required for average mortgage in Auckland. (except for the odd house out south or west). With lack of housing in Auckland and growing population continue to push up rents making less affordable for service members and families to remain in the service.

[luke6745]

Feb 23, 2012 23:04:22 GMT 12 baronbeeza said:

That period after the F-16s were purchased but before Helen got it in so brand new C-130Js and a third frigate were still on the cards?

Never heard of any of that... it must have been well before then.
I was thinking of the time when we were having trouble getting anything out of the US, - be it manufacturers repair schemes or even parts. We had just taken a tumble in the preferred customer listings.
It was all part of the tiff emanating from Lange's anti-nuclear comments and policies.
Newmans had just started up and Albatross and then Air Nelson were taking on crews.

Sorry, poorly worded. I was trying to think of another time that would have had relatively high morale.

[Dave Homewood]

"Basically the frigates are NZ only line of defence all two of them,"

While one is on cocktail party duty and the other sits at Devonport getting repaired, the country is very safe with their pop guns protecting us. Not worth even having if it's about defence. The real best defence in NZ is every farmer and gang member has a personal rifle.

[baronbeeza]

Hi Luke, I am with you now. Yes.. many of the guys here would have been in at that time and will remember. I think it may have been late 90's and I was up the Amazon or some similar place. - well out of the loop for sure.

Some jobs are absolutely brilliant when you are in a period of high morale and things are going well.
I have a mate who worked in a Govt Dept for 18 years before taking up a change of life and getting involved with aviation, as a pilot. Just a few years later, and passing through 5000 hours, he said he cannot understand why he stayed in the one job so long.

Employment need not be a chore, it can also be an adventure. You just have to get the timing of the opening and closing of the doors sorted out.

The first 4 years in the military should be exciting for everyone. You may need luck with postings, locations, bosses and elected politicians to keep the interest going after that.
Having said that there are a number of guys who are content enough to see out their twenty regardless.

[jonesy]

Just had a mate email me, saying he's had to fill out an "attitude survey", but really had to bite his tongue whilst doing so. Little bit late for that dont ya think? Would get a better idea filling out the departure forms at AKL Int'l airport departure lounge....