Group Captain Carol Vorderman
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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.
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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.
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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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
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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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
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
Gentleman Aviator
the cadets - still a fertile hunting ground for recruits to our current RAF I understand
And Vorders does look well in her uniform ......
....... might even replace SO Harvey in BEags' affections!
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BirdController
the respect their uniform deserves
Ah! perhaps that was irony??
Gentleman Aviator
Ah! perhaps that was irony??
[I always get those two tropes confused .....]
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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
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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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
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
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
It is the person befitting the uniform that matters.
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.
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.
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?
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?
Gentleman Aviator
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 .......
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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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).
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....
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....