Do we recognise promotion in the RAF?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
We knew the date we were due to be promoted to flt lt but no blue letter or anything like that. It was a question of scouring the London Gazette looking for the confirmation. Only after it was in the Gazette did we bring out the ribboned No 2 jacket. Never any notice from handbrake house. Next of course was scrutinising one's pay chit but you couldn't fault Lloyds, always on time and always accurate.
Thread Starter
A lot of interesting comments and reminiscences - I would add that in my time in the RNZAF, Happy Hour in the Officers' Mess was often used by the PMC to announce - informally - promotions and postings, as well as hatches, matches and dispatches, to the rest of the officers (with copncomittant rounds of free drinks). But that was in the days when officers were expected to attend happy hour...
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 11th Feb 2013 at 08:43.
that would be slimaltanious then?
Or is that just with Cab Sauv?
Or is that just with Cab Sauv?
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This is a culture issue within the RAF and is not limited to promotion ceremonies or re-enlistments. In the RCAF the Depart with Dignity events that mark a retirement are are real opportunity for the Canadian Forces to show appreciation to the member's family and the retiring member themselves. The contrast to the 'certificate of service' and the veterans’ badge that you get in the mail from the UKAF is, quite frankly, sickening. As I said, this is an organisational culture issue, and I don't see it changing in the RAF.
CWD
CWD
CWD, yes indeed. The RCAF still does such things properly and with dignity, not sycophancy!
I did at least get my blue letter in person from the Stn Cdr, who was genuine with his congratulations.
But that 'letter' one gets on leaving has probably been written by someone joe'd for the purpose.......
As for leaving dos, a colleague and I were sent bills for attending our dining-out night when leaving the service after about 75 years of service between us. Whereas once such things were free, if I recall correctly?
I did at least get my blue letter in person from the Stn Cdr, who was genuine with his congratulations.
But that 'letter' one gets on leaving has probably been written by someone joe'd for the purpose.......
As for leaving dos, a colleague and I were sent bills for attending our dining-out night when leaving the service after about 75 years of service between us. Whereas once such things were free, if I recall correctly?
Avoid imitations
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Veteran's pass and retirement with dignity? Never received mine, or any formal acknowledgement of two decades of service from my final station.
When I announced my decision to leave at my 38 point, my Stn Cdr actively tried to delay my departure in time to take up a civilian job offer, although I was perfectly entitled to go (and finally did, by the skin of my teeth, despite his spiteful interference).
My last few weeks were not happy times; I instantly felt I had become persona non grata on the station.
I was very, very glad to see the final view of that particular station, SHQ in particular, in my rear view mirror.
When I announced my decision to leave at my 38 point, my Stn Cdr actively tried to delay my departure in time to take up a civilian job offer, although I was perfectly entitled to go (and finally did, by the skin of my teeth, despite his spiteful interference).
My last few weeks were not happy times; I instantly felt I had become persona non grata on the station.
I was very, very glad to see the final view of that particular station, SHQ in particular, in my rear view mirror.
I was shown the proforma that had been sent for his filling out the blanks in my valedictory letter by my French Air Force boss: before his binning it after seeing the look on my face.
Nothing ever heard since on that front..
Nothing ever heard since on that front..
Last edited by Haraka; 13th Feb 2013 at 04:43.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
As for leaving dos, a colleague and I were sent bills for attending our dining-out night when leaving the service after about 75 years of service between us. Whereas once such things were free, if I recall correctly?
I got Joe'd for a leaving letter. FS, off sick when I took over the unit on retirement of predecessor. FS then medically discharged. Handbrake house sent me the paperwork for the blue letter. I returned and said you know more about him than I do, you have his file, you write it. They did.
I was joe'd to write a valedictory letter for a colleague, who was also a personal friend. So my plan was, strictly with his agreement, to include some totally bogus reference to a non-existent secondary duty.....
Unfortunately, said chum was busy with his √irgin Atlantic conversion training at the time and I couldn't get hold of him to hatch my plan before the boss's deadline for the draft....
Ever since the advent of the Wg Cdr (Typist) Branch, who sit in their offices clattering away on keyboards rather than getting to know their squadron members, it is highly probable that a well-crafted spoof 'valedictory' draft would fail to attract the boss's attention....
Unfortunately, said chum was busy with his √irgin Atlantic conversion training at the time and I couldn't get hold of him to hatch my plan before the boss's deadline for the draft....
Ever since the advent of the Wg Cdr (Typist) Branch, who sit in their offices clattering away on keyboards rather than getting to know their squadron members, it is highly probable that a well-crafted spoof 'valedictory' draft would fail to attract the boss's attention....
Last edited by BEagle; 13th Feb 2013 at 07:36.
.... it is highly probable that a well-crafted spoof 'valedictory' draft would fail to attract the boss's attention....
.... which reminds me how Squadron Staff Officers used to have fun inveigling the Boss into signing Service letters ending, "This officer does not read what he signs."
Jack
.... which reminds me how Squadron Staff Officers used to have fun inveigling the Boss into signing Service letters ending, "This officer does not read what he signs."
Jack
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Reading these pages reminds me of just how many forms of 'modus operandi' the RNZAF inherited from the RAF, and not just the annual Officers vs SNCOs cricket match where the latter once again would field too many players and inflate the run tally.
I was notified of my promotion to Sqn Ldr by signal when I could see the guy who issued it from my desk! My departure letter from the CAS, after 26 years service, contained a number of errors, and after initially thinking " who cares" I decided I did and returned it with a request that these be corrected! They got it right the second time!
I was notified of my promotion to Sqn Ldr by signal when I could see the guy who issued it from my desk! My departure letter from the CAS, after 26 years service, contained a number of errors, and after initially thinking " who cares" I decided I did and returned it with a request that these be corrected! They got it right the second time!
Last edited by Samuel; 13th Feb 2013 at 12:17.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
are . . . and are not necessarily etc etc.
I took his verbiage and added it to my emails with the addition ". . . you may therefore ignore this message."
No one ever questioned this nonsense except for my daughter who spotted it
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 22nd Feb 2013 at 20:17.
the RNZAF inherited from the RAF
I did have occasion to have to write to the RAF once for my record of service. It turned up as a photocopy of a dot matrix printout on old dot matrix printout paper. Service recorded as "Satisfactory"...
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Recognition is something that we do very poorly indeed, beyond the usual round of MBEs etc., most of which go to Commissioned Officers (I'm not sure that this was John Major's intention when he suspended the BEM). I had to speak to my SO1 last year about fellow SO2 who was leaving the Colours for the last time just prior to his 60th Birthday and who had completed 45 years service man and boy in the Royal Corps of Signals (Harrogate Apprentice, then Crypto Tech, served on Op Corporate and survived the attack on the Galahad, retired as a WO2 (RQMS), commissioned in to the TA, QM, OC Sqn, SO2). It took the Full Col Dep Comd to go into the Brigadier's office and 'invite' the Bde Comd to present said SO2 with his Bar to his VRSM (as well as present another SO1 with 39 years service with a VRSM and Bar and an SO3 with her VRSM). As I said to my SO1 at the time, it is the only bit of regonition that you get. So, as you can see, it's not just the Air Force that get it wrong...
Last edited by Failed_Scopie; 15th Feb 2013 at 10:05.
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I don't think the casual approach to end of service in the UK armed forces is anything new.
My paternal grandfather enlisted in one of the London (infantry) Regiments on 28 October 1913. Whilst I haven't researched his service, I do recall him talking to me, as a child of perhaps 12 or so, about some of his experiences in the trenches during the First World War, whilst my father sat beside us in some disbelief having never heard any of it from his father.
Grandad (obviously) survived that conflict and was, in the immortal terms of his Army Form Z.21., which I have before me, "Disembodied" on 6 February 1919. I am also looking at his three war medals which came to me following his death in 1973.
I dare say that he was simply given the bit of paper and shown the door. Like most, if not all, of his, and subsequent, generations he just went off and got on with the rest of his life.
I think we could do it so much better, and perhaps a bit of fuss and recognition would mean even more pride in what we achieved.
My paternal grandfather enlisted in one of the London (infantry) Regiments on 28 October 1913. Whilst I haven't researched his service, I do recall him talking to me, as a child of perhaps 12 or so, about some of his experiences in the trenches during the First World War, whilst my father sat beside us in some disbelief having never heard any of it from his father.
Grandad (obviously) survived that conflict and was, in the immortal terms of his Army Form Z.21., which I have before me, "Disembodied" on 6 February 1919. I am also looking at his three war medals which came to me following his death in 1973.
I dare say that he was simply given the bit of paper and shown the door. Like most, if not all, of his, and subsequent, generations he just went off and got on with the rest of his life.
I think we could do it so much better, and perhaps a bit of fuss and recognition would mean even more pride in what we achieved.
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German style...rare!
In a ski hutte in south Germany, bunch of enlisted who are looking after relaxing seniors in the eve, hard day skiing, few beers underway. Equivalent of SAC promoted - unknown to most - approached by 4* SACEUR USA and 4* DSACEUR GE who slap his new rank slides on each shoulder simultaneously - observed by, and timing called out, by 4* Chief of Staff at SHAPE UK ...! A 12* promotion - lovely look on his face and nicely done.......
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MAcr pal of mine retired last week and was approached at a sporting event last month by a very senior officer and asked 'Are you *******?' Who then proceeded to thank him for his service which I thought was very nice.
Last edited by thing; 23rd Feb 2013 at 06:25.
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In a ski hutte in south Germany, bunch of enlisted who are looking after relaxing seniors in the eve, hard day skiing, few beers underway. Equivalent of SAC promoted - unknown to most - approached by 4* SACEUR USA and 4* DSACEUR GE who slap his new rank slides on each shoulder simultaneously - observed by, and timing called out, by 4* Chief of Staff at SHAPE UK ...! A 12* promotion - lovely look on his face and nicely done.......