Originally Posted by
langleybaston
Totally agree!
In my very happy time as a Met-man on RAF stations Home and Away, the SWO was a highly respected figure. Station Commander's Inspection always included the Staish and the SWO, with big black stick and [snigger not] silver knob.
The SWO at RAF Nicosia was quite magnificent: changed his KD at lunchtime, and was very good at the nitty-gritty support level.
What a Group WO adds to the party escapes me.
Just because the Army copied NATO who copied the US in adding "super-WOs" does not mean that the most intelligent of our three services should emulate them.
The Army has had “super WOs” since long before aircraft were thought of, thus begetting a third service, let alone NATO, in the form of Conductors. This is in addition to certain appointments of other WOs. The recent fad for non-jobs for WOs I agree is pointless, but all three services and CDS has signed up for them. None of the services are blameless.