I’m pretty sure I will rattle a few cages with this post but do so without any qualms. I served 17 good years in the Air Force leaving as a Sergeant with a reasonably good write-up. I have remained in aviation ever since and worked and played with many former and serving RAF types in my civilian life; commissioned and non commissioned alike.
My RAF experience in fact moulded my entire career, my early background as an ATC Cadet then a Boy Entrant being pointers to my early commitment. On the family side, My father was an Air Gunner in WWII and later (after I was enlisted as a Boy Entrant) was commissioned in the VR(T) branch later still becoming a Squadron Commander. Oh, just on the side my Grandfather was a RNAS CPO in the engineering branch during WWI.
I have always held the Air Force in high esteem but, reading this topic has left me dismayed and wondering where many, a percentage at least whom I assume have a military background, have come from.
To read many of the comments here one would be excused believing that an honorary appointment is something new in British military structure; it is not, although admittedly more frequently encountered with the army and then mostly filled by Royals. It needs be considered that an appointee to an honorary position, especially in the Air Force where honorary appointments are few, is generally of one who has a profile and ethos that places them in a position of respect and has been selected to fill that position by virtue of what is hoped that individual can bring to the table. There are great expectations of the chosen individual who gets no payment for filling the post though he or she can be expected to devote quite some time furthering the needs of their specific field of interest. I would also fully expect to find Group Captain Vorderman has to dip into her own resources from time to time.
There are some rather distracting comparisons posted here. To me there seem to be many not thinking this out in rational terms and there is an awful lot of comparing apples with oranges. Typically “there are plenty of ACMs, AMs and AVMs happy to serve as Fg Offs on AEF”. True certainly but (and I stand to be corrected here) I believe they will draw pay for periods of official duty, and I think it is also pretty reasonable to suggest their interest is as much in flying for the sheer pleasure of it as for youth work. I venture to suggest it would be hard to find an ACM, AM or AVM who has the skill set, personality, network of contacts and experience that those making the appointment identified as desirable when appointing Group Captain Vorderman
Then there are the rants by some that she should attend formal basic training in order to carry the rank and wear the uniform. I rather suspect she has plenty of advisers guiding her on necessary subtleties’ and anyhow, at the end of the day, she is not going to take parades, march in file or listen to charges, it’s not part of her remit. Nor is she the cause of people stagnating in promotion lists or jumping the waiting list for an OMQ. She is a person who has been appointed to a position that has its’ own rather special requirements and guidelines. She wears her uniform well and in fact looks better turned out than many serving officers.
The following words alone makes her deserving of some respect “Ms Vorderman, 53, has long been associated with RAF linked charities including the Royal Air Forces Association, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Bomber Command Memorial committee, leading the Salute Area in Green Park when the Queen unveiled the memorial in June 2012.”
I really think people should look at the issue with a little more perspective rather than let their own petty gripes or insecurities get the better of them.
Per ardua ad astra
Last edited by Q-RTF-X; 26th Nov 2014 at 10:45.