Originally Posted by
Blacksheep
The RN trained their Artificer apprentices from scratch and upon graduation they are/were equivalent rank to Navy P.O. or in the other services, Sergeant. I say "were" because the last of the Tiffys passed out of training in 2010.
In the 1950's we had RN guys on courses at Yatesbury, they were technically the equivalent of a J/T, but were P.O.'s and lived in the Sgt's Mess.
The RAF has always under appreciated its technical staff, even though it is very dependent upon them.