Rank Badges
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
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From: Dundee
Rank Badges
Watched the Falklands thingy last week(MAGGIES Re -election doofer,which cost the lives of totally innocent servicemen!),and apart from laughing like a laughing person at the Navy attempt at Parade stuff, I was scratching my head wondering why the SAC`s badge is now enclosed in a circle. BUT at the same time ,I saw SAC`s wearing the same as I did!
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: RAF Lincolnshire
The circle dictates that the SAC is a technician and is a replacement of the traditional 4 prop JT.
Somebody decided that the JT rank was no longer required and replaced it with the SAC (T) rank, clearly reducing the administrative workload...
Waste of time & money.
Somebody decided that the JT rank was no longer required and replaced it with the SAC (T) rank, clearly reducing the administrative workload...
Waste of time & money.
(Note - not 6 blades!!!!)
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Lincoln
JTs
The 3 bladed prop is just another demonstration of the policy makers being unable to admit they were wrong. 'Don't phase out JTs and call all Junior Rank technicians SACs, it will completely confuse eng manning' said most of the JO Engineers and SNCO Technicians in the RAF. However, as usual, those upon high didn't listen to those that knew and a few years later we had to have a new rank badge to clear up the confusion with eng manning (funny old thing). Instead of admitting the mistake and re-introducing the JT rank, they who must be obeyed thought they could pull the wool over our eyes and prove that they were forward thinking by introducing a totally new badge. Why not just go back to back to what we had - It wasn't broke - so don't fix it! It is time that we got rid of that silly SACs badge with the circle and give technicians the recognition that they deserve - Bring back the 4 bladed prop.
Bear
Bear
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
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From: Lincolnshire
Big Bear, quite agree.
How can they argue that we should get rid of JT and CT, and PO as well IIRC and we at least let the JT rank go whereas the Army has privates, lance cpl, cpl etc.
On the WO1/2/MAcr basis that makes all SAC as equivalent to Army Cpls. (AC, LAC, SAC)
How can they argue that we should get rid of JT and CT, and PO as well IIRC and we at least let the JT rank go whereas the Army has privates, lance cpl, cpl etc.
On the WO1/2/MAcr basis that makes all SAC as equivalent to Army Cpls. (AC, LAC, SAC)
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: East Midlandshire
As usual with all of these policies, it was all attached to money. SAC(T)s get paid less than they would have done as a Jelly Tot, but then again I doubt they are as much use as a JT cos they get it much earlier too. The Modern Apprenticeship that they serve means that they stay in training for significantly longer and have a significant personal education burden after 'formal' training. All of which is then passed onto the SNCOs and JOs to manage and make sure that they have a useable man. Next we'll be bringing FLEMs back.....
Is that my coat?!?!....
Is that my coat?!?!....
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From: uk
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: The front end and about 50ft up
MAGGIES Re -election doofer,which cost the lives of totally innocent servicemen!
I would suggest that to descibe it as 'Maggie's re-election doofer etc' is a gross miscalculation. Perhaps you should be focussing on Mr Blair's legacy of expeditions to foreign lands.
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Lincolnshire
Max, it appears many paras agree with you.
I was one of the "lucky" few who took part in the parade on Sunday. (We also laughed at the Navy's attempt at getting from A to B in a military fashion - although I understand Prince Andrew was far worse than anyone else at 'skipping' up The Mall)
Anyway, whilst we were waiting (patiently), at the QV Memorial, for the flypast, Maggie steps out of her Jag to have a chat with the Paras. She instantly gets a "3 Cheers for Maggie" from the Red Beret vets. However, this was shortly followed by the most evil look from Mrs Bliar! Obviously aware that her and her husband are not likely to get the same reception 25 years from now!
Anyway, whilst we were waiting (patiently), at the QV Memorial, for the flypast, Maggie steps out of her Jag to have a chat with the Paras. She instantly gets a "3 Cheers for Maggie" from the Red Beret vets. However, this was shortly followed by the most evil look from Mrs Bliar! Obviously aware that her and her husband are not likely to get the same reception 25 years from now!
Gentleman Aviator
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Teetering Towers - somewhere in the Shires
Talk of airmen's rank badges reminds me of a story from a secret Shropshire helicopter training base a few years ago.
Some foreign mil were visiting the Station (Arms Control Visit??) and at the all-ranks after work beer call in their honour, smooth-talking East European Officer was chatting up young, easy-on-the-eye SACW.
EE Officer spies the rank tabs and says "Aha! A helicopter rotor! You must be on zee helicopter squadron!"
SACW: "Oh no sir! It's just the rank we all wear ....... I'm on Admin Wing, we're nothing to do with the flying!"
Unfortunately the Staish was listening............
Some foreign mil were visiting the Station (Arms Control Visit??) and at the all-ranks after work beer call in their honour, smooth-talking East European Officer was chatting up young, easy-on-the-eye SACW.
EE Officer spies the rank tabs and says "Aha! A helicopter rotor! You must be on zee helicopter squadron!"
SACW: "Oh no sir! It's just the rank we all wear ....... I'm on Admin Wing, we're nothing to do with the flying!"
Unfortunately the Staish was listening............
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: East Midlandshire
Recently heard a similar thing from a Tonka SEngO, stated that he was going to be DetCo and Air Power was nothing to do with him!! Sound of several chins hitting floor even from non-master race studes!
Joined: May 2007
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From: Not far enough south of Cambridge
Boy Entrant Wheels
As a boy entrant at Cosford multimillion years ago the boy entrant wheel won us many free drinks when on leave because we were "trainee helidopter crew" from a station in shropshire.
and the chequered hat band well that really worked a treat!
and the chequered hat band well that really worked a treat!
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From: Norfolk
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: my own, private hell
As a boy entrant at Cosford multimillion years ago the boy entrant wheel won us many free drinks when on leave because we were "trainee helidopter crew" from a station in shropshire. and the chequered hat band well that really worked a treat!
and the chequered hat band well that really worked a treat!
Joined: May 2007
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From: Nottinghamshire
Agree with general concensus, an armed response was entirely appropriate - and never heard a dissenting voice at the time.
I once claimed that I was a Tail Gunner in a Harrier, when a couple of Navy lads spotted my holdall on a train one christmas - it threw them for a few minuites.
They got thier own back by drawing an enormous kn*b with wings, on the box containing my girlfreinds Christmas present!
The J/T rank was a good crack, (notwithstanding the 40% pay rise from SAC), if you said the whole 'junior technician' title quickly enough on answering the phone, people assumed you were a 'Chief' - as that rank was never abbreviated in speech. Amazing how much more polite people were if they thought you were a Chief!!
I once claimed that I was a Tail Gunner in a Harrier, when a couple of Navy lads spotted my holdall on a train one christmas - it threw them for a few minuites.
They got thier own back by drawing an enormous kn*b with wings, on the box containing my girlfreinds Christmas present!
The J/T rank was a good crack, (notwithstanding the 40% pay rise from SAC), if you said the whole 'junior technician' title quickly enough on answering the phone, people assumed you were a 'Chief' - as that rank was never abbreviated in speech. Amazing how much more polite people were if they thought you were a Chief!!