RAF SNCO's Rank Badge - WTF?

[Corporal Clott]

https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/F8BD1B0B_DF14_0312_295108CB0DEB7781.jpg

From the RAF's website, has anyone any idea what is written under the FS's rank badge in the middle? Seems a little too much writing compared to anything seen before. Almost bigger than the rank insignia itself!

Serious (or comedic) replies please :ok:

[Planet Basher]

The two blokes have that "When is she going to stop talking" look.

[YellowTom]

Most likely some combination of "Royal Air Force", "Flight Sgt", "135 EAW" or a NATO rank code etc. In multinational deployed forces you often find rank badges give clues about who you're looking at.

[Two's in]

If you zoom in you can just make it out "Ensure tip of chevrons points towards ground when standing"

[Pontius Navigator]

Yellow Tom, it is rude to stare.

Passed a chap in AFSouth wearing a sandy beret and winged dagger badge. Glanced at him then turned around for a better look but he wasn't there.

[S'land]

"If you can read this you are too close"

[Brian W May]

If you zoom in you can just make it out "Ensure tip of chevrons points towards ground when standing"

Priceless . . . actually had me laughing out loud. Thanks :ok:

[Blacksheep]

In '73 the RAF had just moved to having NCOs wear rank shoulder slides on our shirts and our new pullovers / fancy belt rig. At Bisley Camp, security was provided by armed Ghurkas who had never seen NCOs with shoulder slides before, so they kept saluting us. The problem was, Ghurkas are very tenacious and insist on having their salutes returned - which caused a bit of a stand-off, with RAF corporals and sergeants wandering about, each with a fiercely saluting Ghurka in tow. :)

[PDR1]

"May contain nuts"
"No user-serviceable parts inside"
"When we leave we can divert £350m/wk to the NHS"
"Best Before March 2026"

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

"Sponsored by Ambre Solaire"

[Tankertrashnav]

In multinational deployed forces you often find rank badges give clues about who you're looking at.

Not always helpfully. Son was a REME NCO serving at NATO JFC Brunnsum and wore a REME arm of service badge (TRF) on his combats. Trouble is this particular one resembles the Belgian flag at first glance and people were always addressing him in French or Flemish.

[pr00ne]

Planet Basher,

Nice of you to confirm that casual sexism is alive and well.

[ericferret]

REME airtechs wore a winged badge on the shoulder with the letters AT in the middle.
Pal of mine was heard telling some girls it stood for airborne terrorist, he was reminded that it actually stood for " A Tw*t".

[BEagle]

Much like the APM rank slides....

A
Police
Man

[Basil]

Planet Basher,

Nice of you to confirm that casual sexism is alive and well.
Yes, wondered how long it would take ;)

[glad rag]

More importantly, why is he hiding his id?

[Regie Mental]

It reads 'Royal Air Force Fire & Rescue Service'.

I.D. card correctly hidden for PerSec reasons, you really don't want your details shown on the internet for all to see.

[Melchett01]

It reads 'Royal Air Force Fire & Rescue Service'.

I.D. card correctly hidden for PerSec reasons, you really don't want your details shown on the internet for all to see.

I think Facebook etc means that particular horse bolted a long time ago. And ID card stowed because it's damned annoying having it flapping around in front of you probably as much any security measure.

[engineer(retard)]

Planet Basher,

Nice of you to confirm that casual sexism is alive and well.

Dedicated teams are too expensive :}

[Tankertrashnav]

Anyone know who the bloke on the right is? That's a VSO stance if ever I saw one!

[Melchett01]

Anyone know who the bloke on the right is? That's a VSO stance if ever I saw one!

Go on, I'll bite ... 'bloke on the right' is current CAS, Sir Stephen Hillier

[Danny42C]

"Anyone know what the bloke on the right was ? What on earth is that rank badge ? Why can't they leave it up on the shoulder, where it always was ?

[MPN11]

Go on, I'll bite ... 'bloke on the right' is current CAS, Sir Stephen HillierI thought he looked a bit old to still be a flt lt.

[Corporal Clott]

Thanks for all of the top comedy - PPrune at its best :ok:

It reads 'Royal Air Force Fire & Rescue Service'

You have got to be having a laugh! Is that serious? What next, RAF Catering and RAF Pers Spt mudguards? :rolleyes:

Surely, if in the primary role it will be obvious who the Firemen are; you know the ones wearing string-vests, playing table-tennis/volley-ball or driving the big red eff-off fire engine? ;)

Is this new to AP1358 or just made up on the hoof?

[Basil]

Go on, I'll bite ... 'bloke on the right' is current CAS, Sir Stephen Hillier
Ah, so "The two blokes have that "When is she going to stop talking" look."
changes to: "I wish he'd go away before I say something stoopid!" ;)

P.s. not misogynist; I used to feel like that.

[Tankertrashnav]

Thanks Melchett I thought it might be the CAS or somebody like that.

Funny thing, when I was in the RAF the CAS was always a really old bloke, nowadays they are obviously a lot younger.

Wonder why that is :confused:

[Gnd]

He is old. Just in the modern forces we moisturize!!!

[ian16th]

Thanks for all of the top comedy - PPrune at its best :ok:

You have got to be having a laugh! Is that serious? What next, RAF Catering and RAF Pers Spt mudguards? :rolleyes:



Have y'all seen how far the RCAF are along this path? (http://tenue-de-canada.deviantart.com/art/Canadian-Forces-Occupation-Trade-Badges-629944584)

On a personal level, I'm please that the 'Fistful of Lightning' sparks badge has survived. Albeit in a different form.

[Blacksheep]

the CAS was always a really old bloke,But never as old as the SWO... ;)

[Planet Basher]

Planet Basher,

Nice of you to confirm that casual sexism is alive and well.

Thank you.

[Training Risky]

Don't forget to "check your privilege" and "call out" other examples of spurious -isms on these boards. Right before we all have our pay cut to achieve gender parity or indeed lose our jobs to fulfill the quotas for minorities! :}

Some people actually use these terms...