RAF accused of “artificially inflating” diversity numbers

[give it to gordon]

No. Being white just increases your chances of getting through the door and/or being selected. Institutions automatically default to preferences, be it cultural, racial or gender. This automatic default means that they do not attract or welcome the best candidates based on ability, but on a cultural, racial or gender basis.

The idea that our institutions chose based solely on ability is bollocks, and the idea that trying to widen the pool of talent to choose from is somehow ‘unfair’ is perverse.

You say you have no proof to back up your comments that it helps to be white. So what is it based on ?

Were you in the military ?

 

[BobKowalski]

Is that difference a difference in opportunity or some other cultural/societal filter coming to bear upon the talent pool before it gets to the RAF application process?

Probably both.

To change topics. Black kids see a positive route to success in football. South Asian kids do not. I seem to recall a few years back that there was a perception that South Asian kids aren‘t ‘strong enough’ so few opportunities are given, means few positive stories and nothing to aspire to, basically a whole cultural/societal filter being applied.

The UK banned women from playing football until 1970 and that was nothing more than one huge cultural and societal bias at work. And for what? No reason whatsoever. Why stop one half of the population from kicking a ball around? Made no sense, yet we accepted it without question. Which is the point. Always question these biases, no matter the institution.

And yes, I may have digressed somewhat.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

Probably both.

To change topics. Black kids see a positive route to success in football. South Asian kids do not. I seem to recall a few years back that there was a perception that South Asian kids aren‘t ‘strong enough’ so few opportunities are given, means few positive stories and nothing to aspire to, basically a whole cultural/societal filter being applied.

The UK banned women from playing football until 1970 and that was nothing more than one huge cultural and societal bias at work. And for what? No reason whatsoever. Why stop one half of the population from kicking a ball around? Made no sense, yet we accepted it without question. Which is the point. Always question these biases, no matter the institution.

And yes, I may have digressed somewhat.

Fair enough, and I take your point. All sorts of things come into play - the Army probably looks better statistically than the RAF because it has a tradition of recruitment from the commonwealth and Gurkhas etc.

 

[mcfcphil]

Very few women pilots due to the length of their limbs often not being long enough. Too short or too long and you can't be a pilot int the RAF.

You’ve just put your foot in it

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Well I was at a RAF families day this week and saw personnel of all creeds & colours so much so I asked my lad if there was an exchange program going on.

Of the three pieces of metal flown by the home base there was 2 men & 1 woman doing the piloting.

 

[Paladin]

Very few women pilots due to the length of their limbs often not being long enough. Too short or too long and you can't be a pilot int the RAF.

There was a girl in my son's year at school. She will be aged 26 now. She attended air cadets and went on to join the RAF. I'm told she now pilots in the Red Arrows. She was about 4 foot 11 inches fully grown.

 

[mexico1970]

There was a girl in my son's year at school. She will be aged 26 now. She attended air cadets and went on to join the RAF. I'm told she now pilots in the Red Arrows. She was about 4 foot 11 inches fully grown.

Yeah but is she big for her size?

 

[idahoblues]

On a recent flight I noticed the pilot was a very attractive blonde woman which gave me no concern whatsoever, other than backing the plane out of the gate

 

[bluethrunthru]

Seems they’ve been caught out big time, with the push for these target driven recruitments in certainly the public sector it’s all coming back to bite them on the arse, the white male is been treated as the problem. The best person for the job should always be the case, whatever they are I don’t care, but these people who push these agendas and indeed are on lots of money haven’t a clue. In my experience many of those targeted just don’t even want to be in the job they’ve been targeted for and leave after a short while, meanwhile the cost of training them etc is then been doubled as they have to recruit again and again.
When I served there were loads of women in and great at their jobs, just another target driven policy to fuck things up, they never learn.

RAF took steps to 'artificially inflate' diversity numbers to hit target, defence sources suggest

Positive discrimination - the promotion of someone solely based on a specific, protected characteristic - is illegal under equality legislation.

news.sky.com

Yet only two days before they were spouting this crap

RAF personnel chief 'unashamed' of 'pausing job offers for white men' to employ more women and ethnic minorities

Sky News reported on Tuesday that the head of RAF recruitment had resigned in protest at what defence sources described was an "effective pause" on making job offers to white men in favour of women and ethnic minorities.

news.sky.com

and all that on the back of the news a couple of weeks ago that they weren't able to train fast jet pilots due to a lack of money and available aircraft. Pilots awaiting for conversion training to fast jets have been desk bound for a couple of years

 

[Strangerepublic]

The answer is ‘yes’ to questions 1 & 2

The answer is ‘it never did’ to question 3

When it comes to RAF pilots they are overwhelming white. So, the main criteria to become a pilot is to be white. Your ethnicity is the starting point for being a pilot. Your ability is a secondary consideration.

In times of crisis the ethnicity rule will be relaxed, ie ability and willingness becomes more important.

The idea no one cares about ethnicity, race or gender and that ability is the most important criteria is absolute bollocks and always has been.

"When it comes to RAF pilots they are overwhelming white. So, the main criteria to become a pilot is to be white. Your ethnicity is the starting point for being a pilot. Your ability is a secondary consideration."
Using your logic, when it comes to be a premier league footballer, they are 33% black (proportion of UK populatio 3%or something.) Or middle school teachers - 70% female.

So is ethnicity / gender the starting point for those professions? And ability a secondary consideration?

As an Indian origin immigrant, I think it's perfectly fine if there are pretty much zero EPL Asian footballers (even though Asians are twice as large a community as blacks)

Incidentally, how many women and non blacks died fighting in WW1 and WW2 for the British army proper (no cheating and including the Indian army)