Wikiposts
Search
Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

Post Nominals

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 5th Nov 2014, 23:26
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dorset,UK
Posts: 472
Received 16 Likes on 5 Posts
Post Nominals

While researching my late father in the London Gazette, I came across something new to me.
There was a MID to an Honorary Squadron Leader ****** R.A.F.O.

Can anyone tell what R.A.F.O. stands for. I tried Google but no luck. Probably asked the question wrongly worded!
Compass Call is offline  
Old 5th Nov 2014, 23:55
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: England
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Could be -
RAFO Royal Air Force of Oman

RAFO Reserve of Air Force Officers
Lord Spandex Masher is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 00:07
  #3 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dorset,UK
Posts: 472
Received 16 Likes on 5 Posts
Just to add, the Gazette was dated 01/01/1946.
Also, I have never heard of an 'Honorary' Squadron Leader before.
Compass Call is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 04:54
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Why do officers feel the need to add post nominals when the rest of the educated world and members of institutions don't?

Decorations and honours I understand but do we really need to know that Sqn Ldr Smith has a BSc.
jayc530 is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 05:16
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hotel Gypsy
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some of us don't.

CGB MSc MRAeS RAF (retd)

Duoh

(PS. I know that RAF (retd) is not a formally recognised term)
Cows getting bigger is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 06:02
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 6 Posts
The rest of the world do you know. Doctors, dentists, solicitors, builders, physios, nurses, paramedics to name a few.
Of course, only a select few of them do this............. very select.
I'm entitled to post nominal, however the missus would add a few extra letters of her own if I did it........
jayteeto is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 06:17
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
The rest of the world do you know. Doctors, dentists, solicitors, builders, physios, nurses, paramedics to name a few. 
Of course, only a select few of them do this............. very select.

Exactly my point.
jayc530 is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 07:40
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 6 Posts
Yes, but you were having a go at officers. Trust me, many ex serving SNCOs do it as well. They too fall into that category.
In the civilian world there is a lot of competition for jobs. To get your CV noticed, particularly high powered jobs, you have to stand out from the crowd. One particular British Airline loves people with medals on their CV.

To quote Elwood Blues...... "I didn't lie to you...... I just bull****ted you"
jayteeto is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 07:42
  #9 (permalink)  
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 81
Posts: 16,777
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Got a cold call letter from a speculator who had searched google earth and wanted our orchard for a few houses.

On the basis that BBBs he had BA(Hons) after his name. I responded with my own which were slightly longer than PN and of course my rank too. He never tried again.

PN s have their purpose.
Pontius Navigator is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 08:18
  #10 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dorset,UK
Posts: 472
Received 16 Likes on 5 Posts
Does anyone know what the post nominal 'R.A.F.O.' means?
Or is Lord Spandex correct 'Reserve of Air Force Officers'?
Compass Call is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 08:18
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
On a CV of course they have a purpose, but on photo boards and name plates the only purpose they serve is to further inflate the individuals ego.

The only reason I mention officers was they are the ones who feel they need to use them.

I would suggest that SNCOs are far more secure in their staus that they don't feel the need to use them... along with other members of society.
jayc530 is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 08:36
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SW England
Age: 77
Posts: 3,896
Received 16 Likes on 4 Posts
That BA (Hons) one always amuses me. As far as I'm aware, even a "third" is an honours degree, so it's pretty meaningless.

TTN, BA (Exon)

Tankertrashnav is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 08:37
  #13 (permalink)  
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 81
Posts: 16,777
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
In our club we have a retired sqn ldr and a wo, both styled MBE.
In our district a driving instructor who always uses BEM. He was proud to have it and more so when they stopped BEM.
Pontius Navigator is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 09:09
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 1,708
Received 37 Likes on 23 Posts
Originally Posted by Tankertrashnav
That BA (Hons) one always amuses me. As far as I'm aware, even a "third" is an honours degree, so it's pretty meaningless.

TTN, BA (Exon)

In Scotland, an 'ordinary' degree lasts 3 years, Honours is 4 so the (Hons) has a meaning.

In response to the OP, in that time period it's going to be Reserve of Air Force Officers - part of the RAFVR

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_A...unteer_Reserve

Presumably the Honorary title was due to the holder being ostensibly a civillian, but to place him in the structure as far as privileges and position were concerned (My dad was given the rank of 'Honorary Wing Commander' for a short time whilst working as a civillian with the RAF in Germany in the 70s. helped with Mess accommodation and going to Berlin. )
Davef68 is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 09:35
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South of Old Warden
Age: 87
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
There used to be a jokey story that some Indians would put on their CV,
Bombay University Honours Degree (failed).
goudie is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 10:07
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Location: Location!
Posts: 2,300
Received 35 Likes on 27 Posts
There used to be a jokey story that some Indians would put on their CV,
Bombay University Honours Degree (failed).
- Goudie

....the whole point of which, my Father used to say, was to demonstrate that they had been clever enough to enter and attend the relevant university in the first place.

He also used to say that he had a PhD (Failed) in Applied Psychology at the University of Life, but never used post nominals for his honours.

Jack BA (Hons) (Failed) in Applied Psychology at the University of HK**

** = Hard Knocks, not Hong Kong
Union Jack is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 10:18
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts


D.Litt(All other places in Canada except Medicine Hat)
Fox3WheresMyBanana is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 10:30
  #18 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dorset,UK
Posts: 472
Received 16 Likes on 5 Posts
Thank you for yours replies, both serious and funny
Compass Call is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 11:32
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: home for good
Posts: 494
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
jayc530 -
"I would suggest that SNCOs are far more secure in their staus that they don't feel the need to use them... along with other members of society."

I feel a brief trip through LinkedIn will dispel that notion
In my (recent and extensive) experience of ex-Officers and ex-SNCOs using these items, I reckon the score is about even.
(I speak as ex-both so have no axe to grind, although I do sharpen it every now and then..)
And no, I don't use them - as I ain't got any (sic)!
Sandy Parts is offline  
Old 6th Nov 2014, 12:14
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
If you have more post-nominals than nominals, it looks silly...
Fox3WheresMyBanana is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.