Y o u a n d t h e R A F
With Attitude! T
he MoD uses a regular survey to collect information on the attitudes, opinions and circumstances of serving
personnel. Data from the survey last year, known as the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey, was released in May. Here we take a look at the headline results of interest to RAF Personnel and their families.
Instigating a Rapid Response Continuous Attitude Surveys, (AFCAS) as they are known, were introduced in the 1980s. The general response rate across the services is 33% with the RAF response rate higher at 40%. Satisfaction and morale; commitment; demands on the individual; remuneration and service living accommodation are the key areas scruitinised by personnel policy staff so any actions required can be instigated as rapidly as possible. In response to the headline results Air Vice Marshal Simon Bryant, Air Member for Personnel has written to personnel. His words are in red.
Rising to the Challenge The 2009 survey data were collected during a period when the Armed Forces had heavy and demanding operational involvements, particularly in Afghanistan. The survey results indicated that Service personnel were rising to the challenge; not just accepting their own individual operational deployments and other separations from home, but expressing increasing pride in and satisfaction with what they were doing. Amongst RAF personnel there were trends for increasing proportions to rate their workloads ‘about right’.
Across the Services, people were feeling better valued, and they were reporting higher levels of personal morale than in the previous years of the survey. However it should be noted that although these trends were also true for the RAF, RAF Officers tended to report their own morale as relatively low in comparison with Officers from the other Services; and RAF personnel continued to report feeling less valued by their Service than did personnel from the other Services.
“This early headline data reinforces my view that it is our people who provide our competitive edge – you are the vital ingredient in assuring success. I am delighted to recognise and acknowledge this and to note that you believe your morale and your job satisfaction are higher than they were at this time last year. I am also pleased to note that across the Services people are feeling better valued. However, there are still far too many of you who do not believe that your contribution is appreciated fully and, worryingly, the RAF has the lowest approval ratings in this regard amongst the three Services. I am determined to address this and to ensure that we do better at showing our appreciation of your extraordinary commitment, flexibility and talents.
Not Sufficient to Compensate for Rigours The effects of the economic recession would almost certainly have contributed, but there were increases in the proportions who wished to stay in the Armed Forces as long as possible, and who were satisfied with
40
Summer 2010
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56