I'd like to know what other PPRuNers think about this.
It seems to me (strictly on the basis of a non-scientific survey) that the use of ex-service titles is becoming more and more widespread. There always used to be the archetypal Group Captain Binky Huckerback in the obligatory rose festooned cottage, but these retired affectations seem to be spreading wider and wider.
Why on earth do people think, as presumably they do, that this confers some sort of cache' in ex-service life? Fine, I suppose, if they want to chat up the Dame Celia Molestrangler equivalent, but when they want a job?
I have employed, and interviewed, a fair number of ex-RAF officers and NCO's. None of the ex-NCO's, following custom and practice, use their service ranks, but an increasing number of ex-officers do. I admit to becoming quite jaundiced about this and have developed a little teasing routine on the lines of:-
ex-officer: "Hello, I'm Group Captain Smith"
Me: "Hello....what a strange Christian name you have"
This produces a highly satisfactory stunned look, which throws them off their guard nicely so that we can begin the interview.
