I served at Akrotiri 1967 to 1970 and would love to see the changes since then. I worked with 56sq lightnings, 70sq Argosy. The commanding Officer was Air Com Green.
Served at akrotiri 05-08 CCU. The MODs main push out there was always downsizing and removing military posts and replacing them with LECs and entitled civvies. A brilliant posting but ever diminishing.
@@thespiritphoenix3798 No idea, the first time there were barely any joint service units. But I went there twice, 5 years apart. Lots of combined units later. And lots of junior positions were replaced by LECs. A base fit for the 21st century is staff officer/politician lingo for cuts though isn't it.
As anyone knows, in the RAF the officers do the most dangerous bit, eg fly into combat and the front line. The other personel go to the pub and wait for them to come back. FACT
Did a tour there 1989 - 1992. Best three years of my life. Don't believe the station commander. It was a sunshine tour. Met plenty of great people, had plenty of great p@@s ups.... RAF AKROTIRI FOREVER BRITISH...
Meanwhile at the MOD these so called public servants are scratching their arses, drinking too much coffee unable to comprehend why recruitment is way down.
We have a population of about 68 million, so naturally our military is going to be smaller than countries such as Russia and the USA. So right now our army, navy and air force combined adds up to about 200,000 (not including reserve)
Pj…the UK currently have what the USA have, recruitment has crashed by a fifth 2021-2022, unable to tackle crises, cutbacks and all the British government do is show arrogance and refusing to learn lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq. In answer to your question, Britain doesn’t have enough soldiers.
The RAF are smashing the defence budget. New facilities for the new F35 in UK. New facilities for the Poseidon maritime aircraft in Scotland . And now Cyprus. Navy have whats left in dry dock. POW & Type 45. Meanwhile the Army has 50 year old+ armoured vehicles and a declining land army of just 77000. Actual teeth arms is a third of that. Airpower did a lot of good beating a bloke with a rusty Ak47 and flip flops. Need to give the headsheds in MOD a good shake up. Future defence 100,000 Army. Diversity out the window. The only requirement is can you fight.
I hear the project is underway for the new BBQ and tiki bar :) I do wonder what would happen on Cyprus if Turkey decided to invade the rest of the island though, I can't imagine they'd want a UK base there.
Really ¿? Service time here us2b so 'engrossing' we hit the mountain areas in our l. rovers with tubs of Pop, canisters of Valium, speed, and owt else could score from Northern C ' sell you ANYTHING' chem shops. Y A W N.
The British need to withdraw from Cyprus - they need spot believing they are a World Power - it would difficult to send 2 Fully equipped Divisions on the European Continent - this is according the US National Security Council - the US has to provide Heavy Lift - Air Refuelling and RC-135’s
I agree, I was born there as a RAF brat, proper dump of a place. I think we should not have any influence in the Med / Middle east. Leave it up to the Greeks, Italians, Turks etc. Time for our ultimate creation USA to keep world peace now :)
Pretty good as well as pretty cool for post colonial Britain !!! ... however ... when compared to the era of Empire : this is pretty pathetic !!! --- --- --- - am I right .. ? ... or ... - am I right .. ?
@@stevensalmon1318 unfortunately. The British empire went from the largest empire the world has ever seen. to losing it all within a hundred years. It’s shameful. We should have never given parliament the full power of the nation.
Why is he doing the interview in a suit and not his uniform? He's not doing an interview about his future civvy role so he should be dressed accordingly. Senior Army officers are total clowns.
Served there in 77 for a short time but go back nearly every year with my family for our holidays..feels like home,love it.
Cyprus = an aircraft carrier that doesn’t move.
…or break down. 😬
@@andygilbert1877 😂😂😂
@@andygilbert1877 probably cheaper to maintain and run too.
Unsinkable Carrier
Also known as the gareway to 3 continents
I served at Akrotiri 1967 to 1970 and would love to see the changes since then. I worked with 56sq lightnings, 70sq Argosy. The commanding Officer was Air Com Green.
Served at akrotiri 05-08 CCU.
The MODs main push out there was always downsizing and removing military posts and replacing them with LECs and entitled civvies.
A brilliant posting but ever diminishing.
How big was it when you were there as opposed to now?
@@thespiritphoenix3798
No idea, the first time there were barely any joint service units.
But I went there twice, 5 years apart.
Lots of combined units later.
And lots of junior positions were replaced by LECs.
A base fit for the 21st century is staff officer/politician lingo for cuts though isn't it.
Wow, interviewing a decent senior officer for once
A really good Senior officer. Has been a real asset to the forces in Cyprus and everywhere else he has served(Afghanistan x 2)
As anyone knows, in the RAF the officers do the most dangerous bit, eg fly into combat and the front line. The other personel go to the pub and wait for them to come back. FACT
@@MyScubasteve Your opinion.....not necessarily fact sir.
@@davericketts9101 Its true flight crew are all officers. Junier Ranks are ground crew. Thats not opinion.
@@MyScubasteve All flight crew are officers but not all officers are flight crew. FACT
Nonsense the lads enjoy Cyprus for the weekend drive to Ayia Nappa for party time.
The fact that people once before may have been unfit sign up is a game changer the army needs to do same
Came in 2004 and still here.
I'm guessing you're a civilian then?
@@JammyDodger45 Of course. We were here in 1st Gulf War then back again in 2nd Gulf war and civvies now. Still living in quarters.
Did a tour there 1989 - 1992. Best three years of my life. Don't believe the station commander. It was a sunshine tour. Met plenty of great people, had plenty of great p@@s ups.... RAF AKROTIRI FOREVER BRITISH...
What a seriously impressive leader.
Got drunk there in the Corporal's mess 1978 when visiting with the Royal Navy, cracking run ashore for the ships company 😅
I was very lucky to have a holiday on this beautiful base...
It’s one of the worlds beauty’s just a fact...💯💯💯🏴🏴🏴❤️❤️❤️☝️☝️☝️
🕎🔯🪖are they for sale? if yes im interested!
Meanwhile at the MOD these so called public servants are scratching their arses, drinking too much coffee unable to comprehend why recruitment is way down.
Born there, Feb 62.
My brother born there Jan 59.
@@susanwestern6434 hey Susan. Went on to do 12 years in the RAF but never got back there. Just Germany. 👍
Do we have that many soldiers?
We have a population of about 68 million, so naturally our military is going to be smaller than countries such as Russia and the USA. So right now our army, navy and air force combined adds up to about 200,000 (not including reserve)
But what is say is quality over quantity, the British forces are the best trained in the world so no need to worry🇬🇧💪🏻
@@KeonLennedy24 The Taliban certainly aren’t worried.
Pj…the UK currently have what the USA have, recruitment has crashed by a fifth 2021-2022, unable to tackle crises, cutbacks and all the British government do is show arrogance and refusing to learn lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq. In answer to your question, Britain doesn’t have enough soldiers.
@@KeonLennedy24 As the Americans say, quantity has a quality, all of its own.
The RAF are smashing the defence budget. New facilities for the new F35 in UK. New facilities for the Poseidon maritime aircraft in Scotland . And now Cyprus. Navy have whats left in dry dock. POW & Type 45. Meanwhile the Army has 50 year old+ armoured vehicles and a declining land army of just 77000. Actual teeth arms is a third of that. Airpower did a lot of good beating a bloke with a rusty Ak47 and flip flops. Need to give the headsheds in MOD a good shake up. Future defence 100,000 Army. Diversity out the window. The only requirement is can you fight.
I hear the project is underway for the new BBQ and tiki bar :) I do wonder what would happen on Cyprus if Turkey decided to invade the rest of the island though, I can't imagine they'd want a UK base there.
NATO Wouldn’t allow it….
Well it’s not like the Cypriots want them either :/
@@paulritchie5868nato cant stop turkey
Needs Defending with Ground Based Air Defences.
No it needs to shut down.
Really ¿?
Service time here us2b so 'engrossing' we hit the mountain areas in our l. rovers with tubs of Pop, canisters of Valium, speed, and owt else could score from Northern C ' sell you ANYTHING' chem shops.
Y A W N.
Time for those bases to go.
The British need to withdraw from Cyprus - they need spot believing they are a World Power - it would difficult to send 2 Fully equipped Divisions on the European Continent - this is according the US National Security Council - the US has to provide Heavy Lift - Air Refuelling and RC-135’s
I agree, I was born there as a RAF brat, proper dump of a place. I think we should not have any influence in the Med / Middle east. Leave it up to the Greeks, Italians, Turks etc. Time for our ultimate creation USA to keep world peace now :)
What we clearly need there is more black and female personnel. And transgender with blue hair if possible! 😁
Pretty good as well as pretty cool for post colonial Britain !!!
... however ...
when compared to the era of Empire : this is pretty pathetic !!!
--- --- ---
- am I right .. ?
... or ...
- am I right .. ?
That's not what we are about any more
@@stevensalmon1318 : global 'power projection' seem very much to be on the agenda again with the return to a potent carrier equipped Royal Navy ..
@@stevensalmon1318
unfortunately.
The British empire went from the largest empire the world has ever seen.
to losing it all within a hundred years.
It’s shameful.
We should have never given parliament the full power of the nation.
First
Why is he doing the interview in a suit and not his uniform?
He's not doing an interview about his future civvy role so he should be dressed accordingly.
Senior Army officers are total clowns.
Oh stop whingeing.
@@OiOi-Jim he's a Pongo not a Crab.
Bruh, he’s leaving the military… why are you even whining.
@@OiOi-Jim - you can delete comments and edit your remaining ones to try and hide your stupidity but we all know the truth.
You are calling him a clown! I take it that you would do a much better job that him? Yeah, right.