Everybody wants to be in SAR

[Smithsonia]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/entertainment/23157942/detail.html

Prince William - "welcome aboard."

Young man here's some good advice for you. Train hard. Learn everything. Dedicate yourself to SAR duty. Keep your paper work, gear, and quals sorted out and up to date. Be a team member. Be a worker bee. AND - Stay out of the uniform threads at this website... there's no end to those.

[sardak]

Which is very interesting, because this thread http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=9877 is a discussion about how the UK is outsourcing its RAF SAR program to a private consortium. The Sea Kings will be replaced with new Sikorsky S-92s. This outsourcing includes the base (RAF Valley) that Willie will be assigned to in Wales, when he completes his training.

Mike

[Flying Pig]

Yes and No

Prince William didn't necessarily "want" to be in SAR (Not that I can speak for his mindset)  Initially, he wanted to fly fighters, however, being an heir to the thrown, he will never see combat or be deployed outside of England.  We saw the issue that came up when Prince Harry was discovered having been deployed.
Being a Prince, it is his duty to serve.  He chose helicopters knowing that he could at least perform a mission inside of England.  Again, not being allowed to EVER see combat because of his pending "kingness" the only real option for a Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot who is not allowed to deploy is SAR.
I would imagine being a command pilot of an S92 or Sea King, Prince William will be in a slightly different league than us here in Civil Air Patrol.  And probably wont have any issues keeping his paperwork in order.

[Al Sayre]

And he gets a whole lot more bling on his uniform...

[DG]

Just what we need.  Royalty to look up to.  Heroes who we know are better than we are, because they were born that way. 

Thank you Thomas Jefferson for writing the Declaration of Independence.

[Rotorhead]

Just what we need.  Royalty to look up to.  Heroes who we know are better than we are, because they were born that way. 

No one had said anything of the sort, except you.

Do you have an inferiority complex?

[PHall]

I think the fact that he want's to serve in an active capacity instead of being an ceremonal figurehead is a good thing.
So what's the problem?

[RiverAux]

I thought Harry had been assigned to a combat unit?

[PHall]

I thought Harry had been assigned to a combat unit?

And had to be pulled out of the deployment when his presence was leaked by the media.

The main concern is that he is a prime kidnap target and that the troops around him are in greater danger because of him.

[Flying Pig]

I think the fact that he want's to serve in an active capacity instead of being an ceremonal figurehead is a good thing.
So what's the problem?

I dont think he has a choice.

[DG]

Just what we need.  Royalty to look up to.  Heroes who we know are better than we are, because they were born that way. 

No one had said anything of the sort, except you.

Do you have an inferiority complex?

You call yourself a PAO?

You can't read and understand the press article?

Why is this even newsworthy except that he is royalty?

Hey, write an article about me.  I want to do what he is doing.

Oh, that's right, I can't get a slot.  Royalty comes first.  Because they are better than we are.  Because they are born that way.

If you want to bring up and suggest inferiority complex, it is you.  Because you see nothing wrong with treating them as royalty, because they are better than you are.

[Flying Pig]

I actually did some research on this when he first started looking into what he wanted to do a couple of years ago.  There was an article about it on a military web site I go to that was following him around as he checked off his wish list of military careers.  Because he is a Prince he was allowed to basically tour every possible career field and chose the one he wanted.  Like I stated earlier, he wanted to be a fighter pilot but decided on helicopters because of not being allowed to ever deploy. 
He decided to be a pilot and he got it.  I dont know anything about the man personally, he may be an outstanding leader.  But lets face it, in this case, he is a military officer and was able to decide for himself to become a pilot because he is a prince.  It really has nothing to do with who he is as a leader or a man.  Only by his family blood line.  Now you look at every other officer or pilot in the Royal Navy, Im sure their selection process was something similar to how it works here in the US. 

The guy has been in the military 3 years and he is a Commodore in Chief of a ship, the Commodore in Chief of the Royal Naval Submarine Force, Commodore in Chief of Scottland and the Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF and he has held commissions in the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force.

The Royal Marines are the only service who do not give royalty honorary commissions. Maybe they are on to something?

Again, like DG said earlier.  Thank You Thomas Jefferson.  He is in his position because he is a Prince.  In fact when you look into how the royal family works they hold commissions in every branch of the British military.  No Thanks gents.

Hey, you know if it works for their culture, fine.  But I find it funny that countries still have leaders based on birth.  At least the have the Prime Minister to run the business side. 

[RiverAux]

It sort of defeats the purpose of having them in the military if they aren't allowed near combat.  If only our leaders had a similar tradition of military service...

[Flying Pig]

I think his purpose is to be King after Prince Charles.  But, when it comes right down to it, he will still be a Navy Helicopter Pilot.  More than I can say for most of our politicians.

[PHall]

I actually did some research on this when he first started looking into what he wanted to do a couple of years ago.  There was an article about it on a military web site I go to that was following him around as he checked off his wish list of military careers.  Because he is a Prince he was allowed to basically tour every possible career field and chose the one he wanted.  Like I stated earlier, he wanted to be a fighter pilot but decided on helicopters because of not being allowed to ever deploy. 
He decided to be a pilot and he got it.  I dont know anything about the man personally, he may be an outstanding leader.  But lets face it, in this case, he is a military officer and was able to decide for himself to become a pilot because he is a prince.  It really has nothing to do with who he is as a leader or a man.  Only by his family blood line.  Now you look at every other officer or pilot in the Royal Navy, Im sure their selection process was something similar to how it works here in the US. 

The guy has been in the military 3 years and he is a Commodore in Chief of a ship, the Commodore in Chief of the Royal Naval Submarine Force, Commodore in Chief of Scottland and the Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF and he has held commissions in the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force.

The Royal Marines are the only service who do not give royalty honorary commissions. Maybe they are on to something?

Again, like DG said earlier.  Thank You Thomas Jefferson.  He is in his position because he is a Prince.  In fact when you look into how the royal family works they hold commissions in every branch of the British military.  No Thanks gents.

Hey, you know if it works for their culture, fine.  But I find it funny that countries still have leaders based on birth.  At least the have the Prime Minister to run the business side.

Funny, the press releases I've seen about Prince William lately list him as Flying Officer Wales.
Flying Officer is equal to 1st Lt (O-2).

[blackrain]

And had to be pulled out of the deployment when his presence was leaked by the media.

The main concern is that he is a prime kidnap target and that the troops around him are in greater danger because of him.

Pretty much what I told people who asked why the Bush daughters (and most VIP's family members) never served overseas in the military. They would be a huge target that would just increase the risk for those around them and IMHO would be a bigger headache than it was worth.

[DG]

And had to be pulled out of the deployment when his presence was leaked by the media.

The main concern is that he is a prime kidnap target and that the troops around him are in greater danger because of him.

Pretty much what I told people who asked why the Bush daughters (and most VIP's family members) never served overseas in the military. They would be a huge target that would just increase the risk for those around them and IMHO would be a bigger headache than it was worth.

And can somebody tell me why he is a "prime kidnap target"?

So he gets kidnapped, don't pay the ransom demand.

Why treat him any differently?

Oh, that's right, he is royalty.  He is better than the rest of us. 

It is a proven fact that all children of great people and great leaders are all great people and great leaders in every case.  So they are royalty.  And they are born that way.  They are better than we.

What was wrong with those Russians anyway, when they executed the czars?  Or the French when they lopped off the heads of royalty in the French Revolution?  Or the Americans led by that disrespectful Jefferson who said such bad things about royalty and had such stupid ideas like all men are created equal.

At least we here in CAP in this thread can recognize how great it is to have royalty involved in SAR.  Let's not stop at a news article.  This calls for a medal and a royal position and title, and another royal stipend.  For life.  And to his children.  Forever.  I am so glad to pay taxes for that.  Because they are better than we are.  Because they are born that way.

[JayT]

Sir.


Get over it.

[Rotorhead]

And had to be pulled out of the deployment when his presence was leaked by the media.

The main concern is that he is a prime kidnap target and that the troops around him are in greater danger because of him.

Pretty much what I told people who asked why the Bush daughters (and most VIP's family members) never served overseas in the military. They would be a huge target that would just increase the risk for those around them and IMHO would be a bigger headache than it was worth.

And can somebody tell me why he is a "prime kidnap target"?

So he gets kidnapped, don't pay the ransom demand.

Why treat him any differently?

Oh, that's right, he is royalty.  He is better than the rest of us. 

What is this, anger by proxy?

You're not a citizen of the UK. This really has no effect on you at all. You don't "pay taxes" on anything these people do.

[Майор Хаткевич]

What was wrong with those Russians anyway, when they executed the czars?  Or the French when they lopped off the heads of royalty in the French Revolution?  Or the Americans led by that disrespectful Jefferson who said such bad things about royalty and had such stupid ideas like all men are created equal.

Uh...The rulers could just as well have been democratic/totalitarian/oligarchy. It wasn't a revolution against the system, rather the rule and the conditions in each and every case. Besides, not ALL men were created equal according to TJ, not to mention women, literally

This calls for a medal and a royal position and title, and another royal stipend.  For life.  And to his children.  Forever.  I am so glad to pay taxes for that.  Because they are better than we are.  Because they are born that way.

Did I miss something, or are you a UK national?

I hope you know that the royal family uses their own wealth (lets not drag another debate on how it was acquired, that's history now) on their splendor. Some things are covered, but most things that are personal are not.