Well, a certain former OC 6AEF is still flying at 90+, and was still an examiner into his mid-80s. Indeed he did my IR(R) renewal not more than 10 years ago.
3 Likes
In the RAF Reserves extensions are currently being refused beyond age 60 except in sone very exceptional and time-limited circumstances. All at the same time that the PM is apologising for the treatment of LGB service personnel decades ago.
How long until a future PM has to apologise for this ageism debacle? We have medical, fitness, and capability routes to remove people who arenāt up to the job ā why consider an arbitrary number on their birth certificate over all that?
I donāt believe itās arbitrary.
We are expected to deploy. I donāt believe in the upper age limits for uniformed CFAVs, but for deployable servicemembers I do.
I work very hard to keep up with my juniors and contemporaries. With my injuries and as I get olderā¦ That will be harder. Iām essentially going to be a liability at some point.
Bodies do age. Itās one discriminatory characteristic I agree with with the MoD.
In your case, you struggle, many donāt though. Thereās plenty of hippo shaped 30 somethings who have to gasp their way through a fitness test each year, despite being in their prime.
Thereās equally plenty of ultra marathon runners in their 50s and 60s whoād run rings around the majority of the services.
Case in point - Chris Terrill, at 55, completed the Royal Marines commando tests. Completed them in full, not some knock off TV stunt, in full. The same ones plenty of people in their 20s fail despite six months of brutal training. Would you make him quit the second he hit 60? Excellent Documentary on it
Arbitrary is the issue I think, if you canāt meet the standard any more then bye bye. But to be fit on a Tuesday and out the door on the Wednesday for being āunfitā is a nonsense.
2 Likes
Iām a physically disabled staff cadet. There are things I canāt do but that doesnāt mean that I canāt contribute to my sqn elsewhere (classroom trg, radio/cyber etc). This change would mean that becoming CFAV, and doing basically the same job i do already with a different cap badge, would not be an option.
5 Likes
Youāve given a good example of why physical fitness standards would never be appropriate for RAFAC. Different people want and are able to contribute in different ways, which are all equally valuable.
8 Likes
Jzs. Was he the one that was awarded the DFC by General Gordon in Khartoum?
1 Like
He trained Pontius and signed him off as his QFI.
1 Like
Or maybe he was the one who had King Haroldās eye out at Hastings. Didnāt aim off for wind.
I use the same timings - but eyelids, not socks ! 
Very well said, young man !!
1 Like