On meeting someone, whether it be in peacetime at an office meeting, or in a firefight in Afghanistan, you instantly know a persons rank, and also their likely responsibility, experience, who is in charge, etc.
Yes, of course, absolutely fine (and I didn't mean to importune anyone's merit badg... er, trade specialisation insignia).
My query was more about this whole officers/not officers delineation. As I say most of the military people I've spoken to about this tend towards a spluttering disbelief that things could possibly be any other way, which I suspect may be the reason!
Also:
I don't know if the council got the AMQ at Nocton Hall but the old OMQs grew white picket fencing, ornamental flower beds, conservatories, uPVC etc etc. The AMQ patch grew dumped cars, spare engines, long grass (at least DHE cut the grass) etc etc.
We drove past the entrance to Coltishall several times before noticing someone in a blue suit, having assumed it was a council housing estate. In the middle of the countryside, for some reason.
P