ARmy Rumour SErvice

I have to agree with all the previous coments. *I joined the Army as a Staff Clerk back in 1984 and was looking forward to a great career in the Army.

I HAVE had a great career but am now starting to wonder why anyone would want to join my Corps.

The sad thing is, we employ guys straight out of basic training and throw them straight out to Squadrons and expect them to be able to run the Squadron office and keep the docs updated and provide a useful service to all. *This is impossibe. *No other Corps places so much responsibility on their new guys, so early in their career.

Come on AGC, lets make everyone an expert in one field as opposed to knowing a little about lots.

And while you are at it, upband the Corps to Higher rates of pay. *We work the longest hours and get the crappiest of jobs so lets compensate the guys.

One of the biggest mistakes the Army ever did was to get rid of Regimental and Staff Clerks. *Regimental Clerks had the inside knowledge of their Regiments and afterall, they started at the bottom and then worked their way up to Chief Clerk (if they were lucky). *Staff Clerks were quite able of looking after Staff Officers and Battalion Clerks were well able to look after Battalions. *It made no difference if the Battalion was on operations as the Regimental Clerk was a soldier first and clerk second. *Staff Clerks were clerks and that was that! *Of course this is my personal view as I saw on both sides of the fence and truthfully say, the best years were when I was a Regimental Clerk - at least you had the respect of your fellow battalion members.

I heard something to do with the RAPC being disbanded (for civvies) but the AGC, and the requirement of AGC manning in Regts saved them, anybody else heard this?

Skin, well said brother.

I couldn't put it better myself (well I could, but don't want to show off *

There is no comparison with the standards produced by the RAO of today to those produced by the Ord Rm of 15 years ago. *The Chief Clerk would have had a grounding as a Coy Clerk, Part 2 Order Clerk, Movements Clerk, Documents Clerk, ORC and possibly tenures in the Int Section or Ops room on ops. *He knew every man in the Battalion, and possibly half of their Regimental Numbers. *These days they flit in for 2 years having never touched half the disciplines and are found wanting. *Not their fault by any means, but the system is pants, is known to be pants by those who head it, but is self perpetuating. *There is a saying if it's not broken don't try and fix it. *With the AGC (SPS) the saying goes, If it's working, fcuk it up until it doesn't.

Ever since the corps was formed 6 April 1992 I have said bring back the way it was. ???

I joined the RAPC to be a pay clerk and up until 8 months ago have been doing a Finance related job. 20.5 years.

Then they post me to be an RAOWO. No docs training. No SSA training, but now i am the master of these trades. :o

I wish, The AGC (SPS) has produced jacks of all trades but masters of none!

PUT IT BACK THE WAY IT WAS :

Because we're in a world of constant change. *It gives the illusion of progress while paradoxically making us less effective and increasingly disgruntled.

The AGC concept was talked about as far back as the early 70's but they knew it was far too much hard work.

All Arms Clerks used to be the guardians of the hallowed duplicator machine (remember those ink-spewing contraptions?) and now the SPS are the keepers of the sacred Canon photocopier

By the way - why do clerks spend 10 minutes returning your form with a snotty memo when they could phone you and rectify the issue in 30 seconds? *I should know - cos I used to be one until I jumped ship and became a scaley. *So long suckers!

Seems like all the clerks who reply to this all have had a gripe against the Corps???

To be honest its not the Corps that is at fault its not the APC or Worthy Down, its not the Clerk.

After 14 years in the Pay/Admin/RAO office.......it is the effing customer.

For gods sake how difficult can it be to complete a form, or work out if the £2000 overpay should not be touched because its coming off next month.....or the most fatal of all closing one bank account before your sure your wages are going to your new account.

Also lets look at the Coy clerks - stuff this business of going on Exercise or Driving the Green Goddess's because your Coy does not have enough personnel without Drink Driving bans - let the Clerk get on with his job...OC's work it out, if your clerk is not at his desk then you have missemployed him.


Finally, lets get out of this old thing about Regtl and Staf Clerks, for god sake have you never heard of evolution, dont forget your average full screw in the admin office had spent 15-16 years getting there. *Of course he will be able to know eveyones Regtl No, but lets be honest was he really as good as you think, well the ones ive come across have been fairly dim and and fitness, well most clerks in those days were the sick lame and lazy.

I thank you

I wholeheartedly agree that the AGC concept was/is an outstanding disaster. *I have yet to meet anyone in the Corps who was around at the time who was consulted on this matter.

I mean, think about it, if you were going to create a brand new corps of clerks wouldn't it have been a good idea to get the opinions of some of those clerks first? *I remember well the days leading up to my COMPULSORY transfer to the AGC and not one clerk I spoke to thought it was a good idea.

I was a Regimental Clerk (R Signals) and yes, believe it or not, I did know a lot of soldiers regimental numbers off by heart. *And now? *I am in a Finance post and floundering like ten fish out of water! *Who the hell in APC looks at your docs, sees that you've been doing Regimental clerking for 10 - 15 years and decides you'll make a good pay clerk?

And on one final note - why does the AGC have one soldier doing what it used to take 3 men to do?

Thanks for listening.