Congratulations Ma'am

[KPax]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1242x901/nikki_thomas_5193e16d5b5b3edb281def458b9f2644c2e7e062.jpg
Nikki Thomas first female fast jet Squadron Commander ‘ taking the reins ‘ as Station Commander at RAF Akrotiri in the hand over ceremony today.

[RedhillPhil]

What are all those medals?

[skibeagle]

Well done Nikki. Roll on the day when such an event isn’t especially newsworthy...

[ExAscoteer2]

OBE, GSM, Op Telic (Iraq 2), Op Herrick (Afghanistan - not sure why she has 2), Queen's Jubilee, LSGC. Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

[Bob Viking]

The right hand one is for Op Shader. I agree that it looks very similar to the Herrick medal.

BV

[just another jocky]

Excellent news.

A superb Nav, QWI and a really nice person (in the best possible sense).

Another good one moving up the greasy pole!

[ExAscoteer2]

The right hand one is for Op Shader. I agree that it looks very similar to the Herrick medal.
BV

TY BV

I hadn't realised they were so similar.

I'm guessing the bar on her GSM is 'Air Ops Iraq'?

[Tashengurt]

Well done Nikki. Roll on the day when such an event isn’t especially newsworthy...

I know what you mean but it's good that it is for now so that others can be inspired.

[Lyneham Lad]

OBE, GSM, Op Telic (Iraq 2), Op Herrick (Afghanistan - not sure why she has 2), Queen's Jubilee, LSGC. Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Queen's Jubilee? I thought they were awarded in 1977 (well, mine was...).

[pr00ne]

Why oh why does the RAF insist on making female officers wear those ridiculous hats? Why can't they wear the same hat as males?

[RedhillPhil]

OBE, GSM, Op Telic (Iraq 2), Op Herrick (Afghanistan - not sure why she has 2), Queen's Jubilee, LSGC. Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Thankyou for that.

[MAINJAFAD]

Queen's Jubilee? I thought they were awarded in 1977 (well, mine was...).

Gold not Silver

[Sloppy Link]

TY BV

I hadn't realised they were so similar.

I'm guessing the bar on her GSM is 'Air Ops Iraq'?

There have been four OSMs to date, each with the same design ribbon of wide red central portion (Army) then with equal, stripes each side of dark blue and light blue (RN/RAF). The final stripe at the ribbon edge is an attempt to represent the theatre....sand for Herrick, green for Barras, grey for Shader and then deep red for Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC OSM is very rare, I think only about 200 or so were issued). The colours of the three services represent the rough ratio of each, ie the Army is the largest with both the other two about half the strength, it is not representative of the effort expended.

[NutLoose]

Congratulations and well done. one thing, I would suggest she takes that hat back to where ever, it does not appear to line up with her face. Women's caps are so awful to start with, they remind me of Captain Scarlet's minus the flip down mic.

[air pig]

Why oh why does the RAF insist on making female officers wear those ridiculous hats? Why can't they wear the same hat as males?

The PMRAFNS one is much better.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/498x500/pmrafns_service_dress_hat_15968_main_size2_ccfbd3e9cda3d3ea9 14d6c3a72705ab1e7e6dcfb.jpg

[Vortex Hoop]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1242x901/nikki_thomas_5193e16d5b5b3edb281def458b9f2644c2e7e062.jpg
Nikki Thomas first female fast jet Squadron Commander ‘ taking the reins ‘ as Station Commander at RAF Akrotiri in the hand over ceremony today.
Fascinating. Senior officer gets routine posting.

Do you plan to post all the other appointments and handovers this year?

[NutLoose]

Indeed the hats used to be the same style


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/525x600/image_779872a23f854cea0d1712735f7dbb946ae27c5d.jpeg

https://www.oldnautibits.com/stock_php/infopage.php?catalogue=AHB&stocknumber=5633&frompage=stock.php

[air pig]

Indeed the hats used to be the same style
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1192x1500/image_0c718d4653cf2e3507d304ca62cbe3e6e18c0a0e.jpeg






That is not a PM officer, Caduces are missing on the lapels.

[NutLoose]

No it the 1st head of the WRAF, I was referring to proones post as why can they not simply use the men’s style cap.

[Sloppy Link]

With four campaign medals, all of which are “earning”, a little odd there is no ACSM11 (720 days) although I’m fully aware RAF tours are shorter but more frequent that Army.

[Easy Street]

With four campaign medals, all of which are “earning”, a little odd there is no ACSM11 (720 days) although I’m fully aware RAF tours are shorter but more frequent that Army.

Only the HERRICK one will have been earned on a ‘days in Theatre’ basis; the others will all have been on a ‘qualifying sortie from out of Theatre’ basis which for FJ is typically 3 per week. This effectively halves the number of qualifying days for the ACSM for a given amount of time away from home, which makes it that much rarer among FJ crews. I can think of only 2 who have it, and both had previous RW time! Every day counts when living in Theatre...

MAINJFAD (#12): The Jubilee medal pictured is the Diamond (2012). The absence of a Golden means that Gp Capt Thomas must have joined after 1997 as she hadn’t accumulated the 5 years’ service needed for its award. Swift progress to station command by today’s standards.

Adding to Sloppy Link’s explanation (#13), the SHADER OSM edge colour is officially described as ’representing the large number of airframes used in the operation (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility#post-world-war-2-campaign-medals)’: it was announced at the time as air defence grey.

[Sloppy Link]

Only the HERRICK one will have been earned on a ‘days in Theatre’ basis; the others will all have been on a ‘qualifying sortie from out of Theatre’ basis which for FJ is typically 3 per week. This effectively halves the number of qualifying days for the ACSM for a given amount of time away from home, which makes it that much rarer among FJ crews. I can think of only 2 who have it, and both had previous RW time! Every day counts when living in Theatre...

MAINJFAD (#12): The Jubilee medal pictured is the Diamond (2012). The absence of a Golden means that Gp Capt Thomas must have joined after 1997 as she hadn’t accumulated the 5 years’ service needed for its award. Swift progress to station command by today’s standards.

Adding to Sloppy Link’s explanation (#13), the SHADER OSM edge colour is officially described as ’representing the large number of airframes used in the operation (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility#post-world-war-2-campaign-medals)’: it was announced at the time as air defence grey.

Thank you Easy, yet another piece of ammunition into my medal armoury of triv!
Q. For in theatre it is generally 28 days to qualify, how does it work for those out of theatre unless they are in on ops? One sortie?
SL

[matkat]

Queen's Jubilee? I thought they were awarded in 1977 (well, mine was...).
LL My thoughts exactly can anyone elaborate?

[Bob Viking]

The Silver Jubilee medal was awarded in 1977 for spurious reasons to spurious people (from what I understand).

The Golden Jubilee medal was awarded in 2003 to those with 5 years service or more.

The Diamond Jubilee medal was awarded in 2012 for those with 5 years service or more.

I believe Nicki Thomas joined in mid 1999 since I seem to recall she was on the IOT ahead of me.

BV

[spekesoftly]

The Silver Jubilee medal was awarded in 1977 for spurious reasons to spurious people (from what I understand).



I retired from the RAF in 1978. Evidently I was insufficiently spurious to be awarded the SJM.:{

[pr00ne]

Fascinating. Senior officer gets routine posting.

Do you plan to post all the other appointments and handovers this year?

Vortex Hoop,

If you honestly cannot see what is newsworthy about the first female Fast jet Squadron commander being appointed as Station Commander of the RAF's most operational station then I suggest that your misogyny is showing.

[Tankertrashnav]

Gold not Silver

It's the Diamond Jubilee one, not the Golden,as pointed out by Easy Street . The Golden Jublilee medal is that cheap nasty gold one that resembles those foil covered chocolate coins that you get at Christmas. Ribbon is predominantly blue. The only medal I know where privately produced copies are of a superior quality to the originals.

Great to see a woman AND a nav getting the job. By the way, is the choice of Nav or WSO brevet (sorry, flying badge) up to the individual? Pleased to see she is wearing the former.

[air pig]

It's the Diamond Jubilee one, not the Golden,as pointed out by Easy Street . The Golden Jublilee medal is that cheap nasty gold one that resembles those foil covered chocolate coins that you get at Christmas. Ribbon is predominantly blue. The only medal I know where privately produced copies are of a superior quality to the originals.

Great to see a woman AND a nav getting the job. By the way, is the choice of Nav or WSO brevet (sorry, flying badge) up to the individual? Pleased to see she is wearing the former.

I believe that the brevet is down ot the individual, if they were awarded an N brevet then they are allowed to continue to wear it.

[Paying Guest]

Re Spekesoftly: Insufficiently spurious like most of us, I guess, not that I've ever lost any sleep over it. Who made the selection and on what basis I haven't the faintest. I knew that there was only a limited allocation of the Silver Jubilee Medal to the armed forces, but I hadn't realised quite how small until I had a quick look just now at wiki which says 9,000 across all services. On the other hand I was rather surprised to receive a Golden Jubilee Medal in the mail sometime in the summer of 02, having had my last day in the office at the beginning of Oct 01 and been busy adapting our new house on the qualifying date.

[MPN11]

Ha! The OH was about to get the Silver, when at the last minute ‘they’ decided to give it to a wg cdr who was about to leave the RAF on retirement.

BTW, she also observes that the hat has been horribly redesigned from that which she wore.

[Vortex Hoop]

Vortex Hoop,

If you honestly cannot see what is newsworthy about the first female Fast jet Squadron commander being appointed as Station Commander of the RAF's most operational station then I suggest that your misogyny is showing.
In this day and age, it simply isn’t newsworthy. We have been told time and again that these matters are routine and down to merit, not quotas. If so, it’s just another posting.
Misogyny is just another weak over-used waffle word bandied around by virtue signallers.

[Surplus]

In this day and age, it simply isn’t newsworthy. We have been told time and again that these matters are routine and down to merit, not quotas. If so, it’s just another posting.
Misogyny is just another weak over-used waffle word bandied around by virtue signallers.

And those in the film industry who turn out rubbish movies and state anybody who doesn't go to see their Cr@p movie is a misogynist.

This lady seems to have a lot of praise from those that actually know her, I'm guessing that she would cringe at the OMG 'she's a female' news.

Congratulations on your posting.

[wub]

Fascinating. Senior officer gets routine posting.

Do you plan to post all the other appointments and handovers this year?

This is a military aviation forum, the lady Is probably known to many members and therefore it is of interest that she has been appointed as Station Commander at such an important base. Well done Ma’am.

[teeteringhead]

‘they’ decided to give it to a wg cdr who was about to leave the RAF on retirement. It was a crazy system. There were so few "allocated"; all Stn Cdrs and (I think) Sqn Cdrs got one, but - almost by definition - they were older and so sooner to leave. Stations had a (small) allocation, many indeed gave them to OCs Wgs.

The only "sensible" rule IIRC was that Sqn Standard Bearers at Finningley for the Review got one. To (try and!) be fair, this was in the medal drought of the Cold War, when many VSOs had nothing sitting below their wings.

Still anomalies with QGJM and QDJM; "J" Class reservists (Uniformed ROs) didn't get one. Amusingly I fought (and lost) a battle for a QGJM for a uniformed RO working for me at the time; 10 years later I was one myself and didn't get the QDJM! The official answer was that "J Class reservists are Civil Servants - Civil Servants don't get the medal - too expensive to give 'em all one".

Between those two Jubilees, I had a job connected with Buck House and heard a good "dit" about the QGJM. Apparently HM wanted to give them to members of the Household, and was given the same answer. So she paid for them herself and all her staff got one! Gawd Bless 'Er!

Apologies for thread drift and congrats to Nikki T.

[MaximumPete]

Three words: Very well done!

[Lyneham Lad]

The Silver Jubilee medal was awarded in 1977 for spurious reasons to spurious people (from what I understand).

BV

On my last day of 'clearing' when leaving Valley (as a Sgt ATechA) I was called up to OC Eng Wing's office where I was handed one of the said medals. Rather puzzlingly I was told it would be best if I delayed sewing on the ribbon until arrival at my new Unit. Anyway, having no idea what the medal represented (other than marking Her Maj's twenty five years on the throne) I pocketed it and went on my way. Arriving suitably adorned at my new Unit in the depths of Norfolk, I was puzzled as to all the comments (some of which were less than complimentary) about the newly attached bit of ribbon. I queried "why all the questions, isn't everybody being issued with one?" Doh. Presumably the Eng Wing powers that be at Valley decided the least divisive way was to give it to someone heading for the main gate, never to return...

[ACW367]

Congrats on the Appointment Gp Capt Thomas and great to see Female Station Commanders becoming more routine. A good FJ career so far.
However, she is not the most Senior RAF Female to have served in the Base Area. From 2017 till February 2020 Air Commodore Polly Perkins served as Deputy Commander & Chief of Staff, Headquarters British Forces Cyprus commanding 8000 personnel. She is a Logistics Officer and previously as a Group Captain Polly Perkins was Head of Establishment at RAF Brize Norton.

[Haraka]

I was selected to choose which individual of my unit was going to get the one Silver Jubilee Medal in '77 which had filtered down through the Station heirarchy. Luckily overhearing a character sounding off in a conversation whilst passing the Crew Bar made my task easy,

" What an absolute bloody shambles ! Whoever gets stuck with one of those is going to have the p*ss taken out of them mercilessly for months"

Duly awarded to the same, following my recommendation.

[Tankertrashnav]

Love it Haraka :ok:

Paying Guest my Medals Year Book says that around 30,000 Silver Jubilee Medals were awarded, but of course that includes those awarded to police and other services, as well as members of voluntary organisations etc. The medal is certainly of a better quality than the cheap and nasty Golden Jubilee Medal I referred to above, but it was the first to use the obverse with The Queen wearing the rather "top heavy" St Edwards crown, which was also used on the South Atlantic Medal.

air pig - Thanks for the info on the nav brevet.