Having re-read the thread, and MM's original polite enquiry,
MM, good drills to enquire of the officer class - you may now know that :
1) some would simply have no need to ask - breeding, good school and all that
2) the rest of us have no class, and accordingly we either go by the book, that we cannot now remember, or more likely, assume that as a member of the Royal Air Force brethren we will "wing it" and come out on top as always!
btw all, where did MM say that said pongo was a Colonel ?