Originally Posted by
The Oberon
Just out of curiosity, but do Branch Commissions still exist?
I left as a Chief Tech. in 1986 at my 22 year point but, about 4 years before I left, I was asked if I would like to consider a Branch Commission. The deal was that I had to stay until 55 with Flt/Lt as the ceiling. The chosen few sometimes made Sqn/Ldr..
As an ex-Chief, I was commissioned as a BO in 85. Unless things have changed again, then NO, they stopped BC's late nineties/early twenties. The reason, as given to me by my desk officer (great bloke), was that BC's were too expensive. There was never a ceiling as weitten but time etc limited climb (and perfomance!). I had a fantastic time doing it and made 2.5 rungs on the short ladder.