Military AircrewA forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
Back in the days of old, they were fillied by the WOs of the RAF Admin Trade (part of TG10). This trade was made obsolete in the late 90s. SWO posts can now be filled by WOs of any trade (though some posts may restrict the holders to specific trades (eg Gunner)).
I remeber as a young (ish) Pilot Officer, my first real posting was at RAF Laarbruch, not long after arriving, I managed to acquire a station bike (the type with wheels!). Proudly bimbling around the stn on a daily basis doing what good Pilot Officers did (best rank in the Air Force, as you didn't really do anything except look sheepish every time you opened your mouht!) always on my big A framed bike, cycling along hands in pockets, whistling. All of a sudden the SWO jumnpeed out from bushes (doing what I have no idea) and give me a sound bo**ocking for not riding a bicylce in an 'Officer like fashion'! It was worse than being in front of the headmaster at school! Also remeber the SWO who was at HW in early nineties who had a little square bit of grey/sandy hair on the back of his head just above the collar, one day all the boys (with balls) came through gate, where he paraded evry morning, with a small square of masking tape on the back of their head......impressed, sadly not as manny found out that day!!
Many thanks, except for one offering, the SWO and the Adjt live, the sun is in its heaven.
A churchwarden is the C of E counterpart of a SWO, I think:
church tidy and clean until congregation arrive, hymn and prayer books all right way up, neat hymn number board, lectern bible correct at first lesson, bell-ringers finish as organ starts, everyone in correct seat, late arrivals duly glared at, padre privately admonished after service if sermon longer than 12 minutes .................
Did a little stint (7 months ) as a SWO as NCO Aircrew and during this time had to attend a WOs conference at Halton which was attended by lots of SWOs from the 'Rocks' branch. In the bar afterwards, all the 'Rocks' formed a little group and sent one of them over to me while I was chatting to a fellow NCO Aircrew fella. Conversation went as follows;
"Are you that Aircrew SWO fella from ****?"
"What if I am?"
"Well my mates and I, who are all SWOs want to know are you still getting flying pay while your doing the SWO job?"
"Not only am I getting Flying Pay, I'm also getting SWOs pay, £13.50 a day"
"SWOs PAY ????"
"Yep..if you have over 2000 uniformed personal on your unit you can claim SWOs pay" Rock now calls over to his fellow mates
"Dave..how many you got at Catterick?"
"About 1800!"
"Well you won't get it..what about you Steve..how many you got at Wittering?
"About 2200...why?" "Do you get SWOs pay?" "NO...!"
"Tell you mate then when he gets back to Wittering to go and see the Chf Clrk and get it back dated"
After he scuttles off, my fellow NCO Aircrew mate says to me, " I didn't know you got SWOs pay!"
I'm sure I've seen a SWOess on my travels. Can't think where I saw her and I'm sure she didn't wish to speak to this bit of JO pondlife, but I'm sure I've seen one.
Last edited by Green Flash; 14th May 2012 at 17:56.
I'm sure I've seen a SWOess on my travels. Can't think where I saw her and I'm sure she didn't wish to speak to this bit of JO pondlife, but I'm sure I've seen one.
There was a female SWO at Brampton/Wyton a few years ago.
