On entitlement to wear ties etc,
I always felt uncomfortable flogging squadron patches etc to Joe Public at air shows. I underwent a 3 years of training and then a period as non-Op before I earnt my sqn badge - the first badge after my brevet to go on my flying suit.
Now the abos design their own patches and wear them on the flying suits from day one. While I applaud their desire to emulate the grown ups and the grown ups smile indulgently, I feel that it possibly devalues the sqn badge when they qualify.
Even had sqn bosses telling me to badge up as I was not conforming. Looked a bit sheepish when I said I would when I earned it.
The other slippery slope was the adoption of the American comedy patches. Remember ours were approved by the Monarch!
Do sqns still have ties?