IA Half-wing question

[P6 Driver]

A question targeted at those who have current service knowledge.

On page 41 of the current Soldier magazine, a photo is featured showing an Army Staff Sergeant crewing a Sentinel R1 aircraft and sporting the "IA" half-wing. Just curious, but is the half-wing formally awarded, and worn on other uniforms such as shirts and No.2 dress by Army personnel?

SOLDIER SEP 2013 (http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/bc83b66b#/bc83b66b/40)

PS:
I have no axe to grind, I have no objection to the half-wing either existing or being awarded and even have no issues with the wearing of growbags. Purely curious as I've not yet seen an soldier wearing one in other uniforms and am not likely to be in a position to.

[Tankertrashnav]

Sorry I can't help, but just to mention how educational this forum can be, as I wasn't hitherto aware of the 'IA' (Imagery Analyst) brevet. I assume it's only worn by aircrew of that specialism on this aircraft?

It would be very odd if a soldier who has been awarded this brevet did not wear it on uniforms where flying badges are normally worn (ie No 2, etc) but it's not going to be an everday sight.

Lets hope someone with chapter and verse comes along!

[CoffmanStarter]

A bit more here chaps ...

With the introduction of the Sentinel R Mk 1 into No 5 Sqn there became a need for Imagery Analysists and this brevet was introduced

Current RAF Aircrew Brevets (http://www.rafweb.org/Badges3.htm)

[TheWizard]

The tricky point there though Coff is the RAF part.

[CoffmanStarter]

TW ... Fair point but 5 Squadron are still Army Coop ? If the chap qualified he should be allowed to wear with pride :ok:

[NutLoose]

Fascinating, they are here by the way

RAF Flying Badges_U (http://www.rafweb.org/Badges3.htm)

The other new to me one

The Airborne Tech


With the introduction of the Boeing Sentry AEW Mk 1 in 1991, there became a need for a qualified electronics technician to be carried to maintain the mass of electronics systems. Airborne Technicians are actually ground tradesmen who can return to normal ground servicing after an airborne tour.

Will they retain the brevet when they return to ground based duties as do other trades from Pilots through to I was going to say Air Eng, but by the RAF site they along with Navigators no longer exist as a Brevet...

Must be an eye opener to those that are still in to know they are no longer recognised. So I take it they are all now WSO's

Sorry for the thread drift.

[Roadster280]

What would be the most unusual brevet still serving? Obviously there will be LM's, N's etc. But any QM's still in, on their last legs? Or S's etc?

[Melchett01]

I've seen a few CM brevets in my time, ysuslly on sqn name badges and worn by people doing what were LM duties. No idea if it was a 'personal' thing or if there used to be a CM stream at one point, but nobody ever complained or pulled them up if it was a personal choice.

[Tankertrashnav]

I remember a certain Gp Capt nav back in the 1970s who still wore his old WW2 'O' brevet. Unfortunately in his case the fact that the nickname for this badge was the "flying a***hole" was felt to be very appropriate!

[BlackadderIA]

The IA Brevet is awarded on completion of the Sentinel OCU and is worn on all relevant uniforms by the Army (and the Navy), including after being posted away to other jobs. There's even a special 'gold' wire version on a grey cloth for Army mess dress.

[Wander00]

I had an OC Admin at Watton in late 60s who wore an "O" brevet - the nickname for it suited him too.

[ian16th]

When I was with the RAFLP Istres, we kept contact with the British Consulate, in Marseilles, where one of the staff was the proud owner of one of the few 'M' brevets'.

It remains the only one that I have seen.

[Motleycallsign]

Roadster, I would think, that as the LM brevet was introduced in 1970, then anyone qualifying as an AQM would be long out of service.

Technically CM was never a brevet, but was adopted by rotary wing crewmen, as that was the term applied to them on the a/c.

[gr4techie]

Is there no "AS" brevet on Tristar and Voyager?

And no "AG" brevet on helicopters? Or are door guns just manned by loadmasters?

[teeteringhead]

When one was first at the Secret Shropshire Helicopter Base (late 70s early 80s?) ISTR we Dined Out on retirement the last serving Met Observer, complete with his "M" brevet.

Can't remember his name, but he was an air trafficker by then methinks.

[Tiger_mate]

Is there no "AS" brevet on Tristar and Voyager?

The Stewards have a trade badge on their No1s in the same fashion that Mountain Rescue - Aeromed - Bomb Disposal do.

The Trolley Dollies have taken to wearing this as a two winged brevet on their flying suits which looks at a distance like Foreign National pilots wings or RN Aircrewmans wings. You can make up your own mind as to the validity of such adornment:

I am sure the AAC had a door gunners brevet which was official. However a few years ago the whole AAC Door Gunner / Crewman thing went through a metamorphosis and I think settled on a single brevet the composition of which I am unsure.

[TheWizard]

There is no such thing as an Air Gunner. In the RAF, the weapon systems are manned by the Weapon System Operators! Just one of the many tasks of the multi-talented Crewmen :ok:

In the AAC they have Door Gunners who wear a DG 'wing' badge, which is a specialised trade skill and one which they are very good at!

[smujsmith]

The AT brevet.

I was on a tour on the ill fated Nimrod AEW3 at Waddo back in the day when the AT was first proffered. I believe the theory went that unlike Crew Chiefs and Ground Engineers, who, in theory had no airborne function. These chaps would be needed to swap black boxes etc, on task. Giving them a flying duty. I remember that as most were "fairy" trades rumour abounded that they would be known as Flying Airborne Radar Technician ( Yes, FART. Would have looked good in the middle of that brevet). I believe that on return to normal ground duties, the brevet is retained by the qualified wearer. And rightly so. I've met several ex Pilots, as ATC officers replete with wings. As an aside, I can't remember how many Doppler F and C comps I've replaced in the air, amongst other bits of Nav and Comms Kit, no one ever offered me flying pay as a GE. Enough sour grapes.

Smudge:ok:

[Tankertrashnav]

I am sure the AAC had a door gunners brevet which was official. However a few years ago the whole AAC Door Gunner / Crewman thing went through a metamorphosis and I think settled on a single brevet the composition of which I am unsure

They certainly had a 'G' brevet for gunners and and 'O' for observers, which, as Tiger Mate says, are obsolete. I picked up a load of both types in an army surplus sale when I was dealing in militaria and probably still have some kicking about in the shed.

Hadn't heard about the 'DG' badge that The Wizard mentions - is that quite new?

[TheWizard]

TTN

Here you go

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mHoYYKa9lRCKLoIpEKnkN4Q.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQixSTvxajo9D5YKdXx3iUAZZFfuuVBUGzG2WBLmJG 0TgLLxtuG
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2468/3584347275_faacca46d9_z.jpg

Been around for a while now :)

[Dan Winterland]

Dangerous goods?

[diginagain]

Dangerous goods? Some of them were pretty ugly. The DG badge was on issue in the early 1990s for Airtroopers who'd received appropriate training, as well as the RSM at 5 Regiment AAC who did the training and shared some of the Province task-lines.

[Tankertrashnav]

Thanks a lot Wizard - haven't seen that one before. Not as neat as the 'G' brevet I was referring to - can't quite see why they had to change it.