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Group Captain Carol Vorderman

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Group Captain Carol Vorderman

Old 21st Nov 2014, 09:05
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The father-of-one, known to his friends as 'Duffy', is an RAF pal of Prince William who flew fighter jets in Iraq and joined the Red Arrows in 2008. He left three years later and set up a mobile phone app business.
HRH Apps? Thought William had been quiet...
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 09:18
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Yozzer you may find that the ATC WO has 26 yrs service in another dk green uniform with that being in constant threat ,including at home ,before becoming involved with the ACO or the skinny VRT glider pilot with five yrs military and 20 yrs dk green who in the last couple of weeks has been on the recieving end of an IED attack, or the couple who were in the dk green equivilent of 14Int
This is a good thing ,it has worked well with Sir Chris Hoy and at this years RIAT Carol Vorderman spent quite a while interacting with cadets on various stands and this is possibly where this appointment started.
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 09:41
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FFS, it is great PR for an organisation which does so much good.
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 10:19
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Best wishes for Gp Capt Vorderman.

She is not the first to assume such a role. Lorraine Kelly was appointed to the role of Honorary Colonel of the Black Watch battalion’s Army Cadet Force (ACF) in 2009.
Lorraine Kelly made Army Inspector | Metro News

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Old 21st Nov 2014, 11:18
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not attacking but...............

YOZZER: in another life when I was associated with a Somerset ATC Squadron the OC VR(T) Flt Lt was in his day job an Inspector with Avon & Somerset Constabulary - behind the Mess for a quiet chat, I doubt it!! (and his deputy was the town's Head Postmaster........). And yes, if I was still serving I would be happy to give either of them the respect their uniform deserves.

Well done Gp Capt Vorderman MBE, a brilliant ambassador for the cadets - still a fertile hunting ground for recruits to our current RAF I understand
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 11:28
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the cadets - still a fertile hunting ground for recruits to our current RAF I understand
Indeed so - I believe that currently about 30% of all entrants - and 50% of aircrew - were cadets of some sort.

And Vorders does look well in her uniform ......

....... might even replace SO Harvey in BEags' affections!
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 11:42
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BirdController

the respect their uniform deserves
If you respect the Queen's Commission, all well and good - but the uniform?

Ah! perhaps that was irony??
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 11:56
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Ah! perhaps that was irony??
Not irony surely, but synecdoche .... or do I mean metonymy??

[I always get those two tropes confused .....]
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 12:00
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I suppose the modern equivalent is brand ambassador, well done her though.
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 12:35
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Whilst I think its great that these high profile personalities support such organisations I don't much care for them wearing the uniform they are not entitled to.

In fact I think its a bloody insult to those who have risen through the ranks based on merit and having served the nation to have to pay the necessary compliments to a TV personality who has not earned the commission but merely put on the uniform as fancy dress

Just like honorary degrees...another waste of time
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 13:05
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The Army appointed Dan Snow as Honorary Colonel to the Territorials some time ago
Dan Snow recruited to publicise Territorial Army | UK | News | Daily Express

Gp Capt Vorderman MBE, wiil be a force for good for the ATC, IMHO
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 13:10
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In fact I think its a bloody insult to those who have risen through the ranks based on merit and having served the nation to have to pay the necessary compliments to a TV personality who has not earned the commission but merely put on the uniform as fancy dress
Wearing the uniform does not bother me one iota.

It is the person befitting the uniform that matters.
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 13:18
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I happen to like Carol Vorderman but tend to agree with Yozzer and simon brown.
I am not totally opposed to honorary rank in the ATC, but Flying Officer would strike me as a more suitable gift to a celebrity who has not undergone RAF officer training.
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 13:51
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So taking the Royal Honorary appointments to one side, how exactly do you treat a 'celebrity' appointment?

I would hope that as gentlemen, whether officer or NCO, sir and ma'am might be appropriate in the first instance, but that might just be me being a little old fashioned.

If the individual hasn't undergone selection or training, do they have 'honorary commissioning scrolls', what is the authority to wear the rank? If one has to salute celebrity honorary appointments because they hold a 'commission', does that mean they have the rights and privileges associated with a commission? If so, are we likely to be seeing the honorary appointments completing CCS and fitness tests? After all, CCS may not be mandatory above a certain rank (wg CD-R IIRC), but senior officers are still encouraged to lead by example.

All genuine questions rather than a fishing or trolling exped. If celebrities are appointed to these posts because of their access and media abilities, then do they really need to hold rank at all?
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 14:02
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I'm sure I recall reading that,regardless of the rank,a VR commission gave the maximum of Flt Lt seniority.I may be incorrect though.
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 14:08
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VR(T) are all (maximum) of substantive Fg Offs, all above that are acting, paid or unpaid.

And for the last 2 or 3 years VR(T) have gone through OASC.

Highest rank for "real" volunteers is Wg Cdr (Acting Paid).

If the Air Force List hadn't been scrubbed as a pathetic savings measure, it would have been obvious .......
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 14:38
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Originally Posted by teeteringhead
VR(T) are all (maximum) of substantive Fg Offs, all above that are acting, paid or unpaid.

And for the last 2 or 3 years VR(T) have gone through OASC.
Indeed (although it's closer to 5 years IIRC). Additionally VR(T) Officers who have not previously held regular commissions are initially appointed as Officer Cadets and are required to do a weeks Initial Officers' Course at the Adult Training Facility at RAFC Cranwell within a calendar year of their appointment date, after which they are commissioned as Pilot Officers. Failure to complete the course to a satisfactory standard within the timescale results in removal from the VR(T).
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 15:05
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Presumably CV didn't do any of that.

VR(T) don't currently have a fitness requirement though it is under discussion. Some ATC staff will be in trouble
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 15:10
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Undoubtedly an excellent ambassador for an excellent youth organisation and looks fantastic in that uniform - I thought it was Kathryn Jenkins for a second.

I do take issue though with the award of honorary rank and with the wearing of the uniform. Surely they can be an ambassador for the organisation without being an honorary Group Captain, Flying Officer or Lieutenant Colonel? As people have rightly said, it is the character of the individual that is important. You get the braid/stripes/pips etc through (mostly) sheer bl00dy hard work, training, experience etc in your chosen service. Being given what is, visually at least, such a senior rank is innappropriate, IMHO.

slight strains of Susannah York though....
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Old 21st Nov 2014, 15:17
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Ask Princess Anne - she never did a day in the services but parades in an RN uniform on Remembrance Sunday

She did have her own Girl Guide Company at the Palace IIRC
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