trehorn
War Hero
Comments in another thread coupled with experiences of others and myself have led me to propose the following.
Proposed Career Path for AWFP Ratings from NE to AB1.
The training route from NE through to AB1 is proposed as follows;
Year 1 Basic NE training at HMS RALEIGH
Year 2 OG518 and OG547
Year 3 BSSC and a 1 week posting aboard a RN warship in port.
Year 4 2 weeks acclimatisation training in Cyprus.
Years 1 and 2 and the 1st week of year 3 are obviously self explanatory. The second week of year 3 would involve the ratings joining a functioning RN warship which is in port. They would spend the week working with the QM/BM/UDS.
The benefits of this are seen as follows;
1. Ratings would be able to join ships either alone or in smaller groups (each rating being placed in a different watch). By deploying in small groups as opposed to full teams it would eliminate ORT being cancelled (FOTS TANKER!!!) due to insufficient numbers to make the training viable.
2. It would provide on the job training as part of a real DF on a real ship. I.e. they would be working in a functioning watch system, making real pipes, completing the QM’s log, dealing with visitors, patrolling the upper deck and guarding the gangway – All work which an AWFP rating is expected to do.
3. There would be no requirement for RNR instructors as the ship would already have a SPO qualified duty SR. Apparently sourcing RNR instructors able to oversee training is proving difficult?
4. Accommodation/meals etc would be provided on board ship. It is easier for a ship to provide an extra meal or two than it is to arrange victualling for 10 ratings in a shore establishment or on board ship.
5. It would give the ships a spare hand if required. This would be particularly useful to smaller ships.
6. It would also give experience of real FIRE-ex, MOB-ex, SPO-ex, DC-ex. These are undertaken regularly on board RN ships and are something that RNR do not receive enough practice at in a realistic environment.
7. We would be working side by side with the RN on a ready made platform with a ready trained and functioning DF team. This in turn would make the RNR more usable and flexible to the RN. As opposed to sending out a team of six or twelve to one of the survey ships or RFA’s which cannot accommodate a full team, RNR would be able to augment the RN DF force already on board.
8. Organisation and co-ordination of this training would be considerably easier as there are less areas for the deployment to fail.
ORT is frequently cancelled (at the last minute) for any one of the following reasons;
1. Senior rate withdraws.
2. Accommodation becomes unavailable.
3. Too many attendee’s drop out.
4. The training platform becomes unavailable.
In this instance all you need is one willing RNR rating and a ship in port willing to take them for a week.
I may be mistaken but at present in the RNR there is no structured training available which provides the following;
1. Making pipes over the main broadcast. i.e. what to say, how to say it, when to make a pipe, who to pipe etc.
2. Completing the QM’s log. What to write, how to write it, where to write it, when to write etc.
3. Realistic training experience on being on duty on the upper deck for hours at a time.
While there may be individual instances where in unit Classroom instruction is given relating to some of these areas there are no structured opportunities available to put these into practice. Therefore the first time a rating finds themselves having to make pipe while deployed operationally they are unsure of the procedures. Most RNR ratings have never manned a gangway, made a pipe over a main broadcast, searched or even logged in a visitor, patrolled a warship, taken part in a SPO-ex/FIRE-ex/DC-ex on a real ship.
Each rating would join the ship with their task book containing a section detailing the duties that they must take an active role in during their time on board such as items 1, 2 and 3. Upon completion of the task book the rating is certified as AB1.
It is not intended that the above be used as regular ORT opportunity but more of a qualifying period prior to advancement.
Most of the above are simple things, but they are things which are not taught it is assumed you either already know them or would soon pick them up. Not the most exiting training i'll grant you but more useful than much of what we do!
I do apologise if any of you fell asleep while reading this.
Constructive thoughts are welcome;
Proposed Career Path for AWFP Ratings from NE to AB1.
The training route from NE through to AB1 is proposed as follows;
Year 1 Basic NE training at HMS RALEIGH
Year 2 OG518 and OG547
Year 3 BSSC and a 1 week posting aboard a RN warship in port.
Year 4 2 weeks acclimatisation training in Cyprus.
Years 1 and 2 and the 1st week of year 3 are obviously self explanatory. The second week of year 3 would involve the ratings joining a functioning RN warship which is in port. They would spend the week working with the QM/BM/UDS.
The benefits of this are seen as follows;
1. Ratings would be able to join ships either alone or in smaller groups (each rating being placed in a different watch). By deploying in small groups as opposed to full teams it would eliminate ORT being cancelled (FOTS TANKER!!!) due to insufficient numbers to make the training viable.
2. It would provide on the job training as part of a real DF on a real ship. I.e. they would be working in a functioning watch system, making real pipes, completing the QM’s log, dealing with visitors, patrolling the upper deck and guarding the gangway – All work which an AWFP rating is expected to do.
3. There would be no requirement for RNR instructors as the ship would already have a SPO qualified duty SR. Apparently sourcing RNR instructors able to oversee training is proving difficult?
4. Accommodation/meals etc would be provided on board ship. It is easier for a ship to provide an extra meal or two than it is to arrange victualling for 10 ratings in a shore establishment or on board ship.
5. It would give the ships a spare hand if required. This would be particularly useful to smaller ships.
6. It would also give experience of real FIRE-ex, MOB-ex, SPO-ex, DC-ex. These are undertaken regularly on board RN ships and are something that RNR do not receive enough practice at in a realistic environment.
7. We would be working side by side with the RN on a ready made platform with a ready trained and functioning DF team. This in turn would make the RNR more usable and flexible to the RN. As opposed to sending out a team of six or twelve to one of the survey ships or RFA’s which cannot accommodate a full team, RNR would be able to augment the RN DF force already on board.
8. Organisation and co-ordination of this training would be considerably easier as there are less areas for the deployment to fail.
ORT is frequently cancelled (at the last minute) for any one of the following reasons;
1. Senior rate withdraws.
2. Accommodation becomes unavailable.
3. Too many attendee’s drop out.
4. The training platform becomes unavailable.
In this instance all you need is one willing RNR rating and a ship in port willing to take them for a week.
I may be mistaken but at present in the RNR there is no structured training available which provides the following;
1. Making pipes over the main broadcast. i.e. what to say, how to say it, when to make a pipe, who to pipe etc.
2. Completing the QM’s log. What to write, how to write it, where to write it, when to write etc.
3. Realistic training experience on being on duty on the upper deck for hours at a time.
While there may be individual instances where in unit Classroom instruction is given relating to some of these areas there are no structured opportunities available to put these into practice. Therefore the first time a rating finds themselves having to make pipe while deployed operationally they are unsure of the procedures. Most RNR ratings have never manned a gangway, made a pipe over a main broadcast, searched or even logged in a visitor, patrolled a warship, taken part in a SPO-ex/FIRE-ex/DC-ex on a real ship.
Each rating would join the ship with their task book containing a section detailing the duties that they must take an active role in during their time on board such as items 1, 2 and 3. Upon completion of the task book the rating is certified as AB1.
It is not intended that the above be used as regular ORT opportunity but more of a qualifying period prior to advancement.
Most of the above are simple things, but they are things which are not taught it is assumed you either already know them or would soon pick them up. Not the most exiting training i'll grant you but more useful than much of what we do!
I do apologise if any of you fell asleep while reading this.
Constructive thoughts are welcome;
Try and have a word with one of the National / Regional AWFP WOs - they may be more prepared to discuss the realities of the situation than people in SO1 / SO2 jobs.
