4HolerPoler
3rd Sep 2002, 23:17
This is not a wind-up; this is what has become of a once proud organization.
Pilots 'stripped' of insignia
New rank insignia for SAAF
Johannesburg - Air Force officers experienced a sudden demotion in rank this week despite having done nothing wrong.
To be addressed as "private" even though they are seasoned pilots was too much for some, while the rankless pilots also caused consternation among police and the rest of the defence force that had to work with them.
The problem cropped up after the defence force had implemented new rank insignia on Monday. The air force changed to a new chevron system in place of the old stars.
An air force information bulletin reports the suppliers of the new insignia failed to deliver, which is out of their control.
Meanwhile, all pilots were ordered to summarily remove the old insignia and told not to wear them under any circumstance, even though there were no stripes available to replace the stars.
Formal functions postponed
The rest of the officers don't even have rank insignia for their work uniforms, and the epaulettes for formal uniforms are also not available.
The bulletin says all formal functions had been postponed until the end of October or changed to semi-formal functions.
Chaplains and candidate officers will have to wait indefinitely long for their insignia and are allowed to wear their old stars. An exception will be made for the Aerospace Africa arms show that will be held in Pretoria in three weeks time to ensure that "unranked" officers cause no embarrassment.
Bases in the Pretoria area are supposed to get the new insignia before other bases, which will have to wait a little longer.
Commanders were going to ceremoniously hand over the new insignia on parades at the various bases. The parades were indefinitely postponed.
Millions and millions
The insignia cost about :eek:R7 million:eek:, but has further financial implications of millions for the air force. Non-commissioned officers previously had their insignia ironed to their sleeves.
The new insignia are worn on the shoulders, but the old insignia cannot be removed from shirts or windbreakers. Everyone will have to be issued with new shirts and jackets, even though there are not enough of these items in stock.
Jakes Jacobs, Sergeant Major of the defence force, who heads the new insignia committee, says all problems should be sorted out by the end of October.
The suppliers' problem arose because of the large volume of the insignia that has to be replaced. The air force insignia are embossed, which further complicates the matter.
The new insignia became a necessity after the country's coat of arms, featured on several of the insignia, had changed. The defence force generals all received their new insignia from General Siphiwe Nyanda, chief of the defence force, this week.
That eagle/turkey thing comes to mind.
4HP
Pilots 'stripped' of insignia
New rank insignia for SAAF
Johannesburg - Air Force officers experienced a sudden demotion in rank this week despite having done nothing wrong.
To be addressed as "private" even though they are seasoned pilots was too much for some, while the rankless pilots also caused consternation among police and the rest of the defence force that had to work with them.
The problem cropped up after the defence force had implemented new rank insignia on Monday. The air force changed to a new chevron system in place of the old stars.
An air force information bulletin reports the suppliers of the new insignia failed to deliver, which is out of their control.
Meanwhile, all pilots were ordered to summarily remove the old insignia and told not to wear them under any circumstance, even though there were no stripes available to replace the stars.
Formal functions postponed
The rest of the officers don't even have rank insignia for their work uniforms, and the epaulettes for formal uniforms are also not available.
The bulletin says all formal functions had been postponed until the end of October or changed to semi-formal functions.
Chaplains and candidate officers will have to wait indefinitely long for their insignia and are allowed to wear their old stars. An exception will be made for the Aerospace Africa arms show that will be held in Pretoria in three weeks time to ensure that "unranked" officers cause no embarrassment.
Bases in the Pretoria area are supposed to get the new insignia before other bases, which will have to wait a little longer.
Commanders were going to ceremoniously hand over the new insignia on parades at the various bases. The parades were indefinitely postponed.
Millions and millions
The insignia cost about :eek:R7 million:eek:, but has further financial implications of millions for the air force. Non-commissioned officers previously had their insignia ironed to their sleeves.
The new insignia are worn on the shoulders, but the old insignia cannot be removed from shirts or windbreakers. Everyone will have to be issued with new shirts and jackets, even though there are not enough of these items in stock.
Jakes Jacobs, Sergeant Major of the defence force, who heads the new insignia committee, says all problems should be sorted out by the end of October.
The suppliers' problem arose because of the large volume of the insignia that has to be replaced. The air force insignia are embossed, which further complicates the matter.
The new insignia became a necessity after the country's coat of arms, featured on several of the insignia, had changed. The defence force generals all received their new insignia from General Siphiwe Nyanda, chief of the defence force, this week.
That eagle/turkey thing comes to mind.
4HP