SWOs have a part to play as they always have. A good SWO has the right persona and understands when to 'play the part' of SWO and when not to. A good bench mark for any RAF Station is whether the WOs have a good network established amongst themselves.
Mr Munro, the College Warrant Officer:
"Bend and drive, laddie - bend and drive"
"Is your name Head? Richard Head? Dick Head? Is that you? There's always one!"
The SWO at Brize, late 90s. In the Station Barbers telling a couple of oiks that 'if their hair was that long, it had been too long for a month!' and to report to his office after a hair cut! He was the same one who invited a couple of us very Junior Officer types to the Sgt's Mess after exchange drinks in the Officers' Mess. We were well briefed by our own SNCOs as to the honour this was and that we should be on best behaviour. That night saw an understanding of a working relationship established with WOs that has seen me right to this day.
We need good SWOs more now than ever before.