New RAF Rank?
Thread Starter
New RAF Rank?
Have just watched a news item regarding the repatriation of those unfortunate Brits that were murdered in Tunisia. I noticed among the RAF pallbearers a couple of airmen with single chevrons on their sleeves. Is this a new rank?
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Temporarily missing from the Joe Louis Arena
Posts: 2,131
Received 27 Likes
on
16 Posts
Did they have RAF Regiment 'mudguards' at the top of their sleeves?
The RAF Reg have had Lance Corporals for a while now, to give them equivalency with the Army, who they often operate with. "He is a Senior SAC" doesn't cut it when working with an organisation not renowned for their flexibility nor intelligence.
Back when I served on TSW (a unit who also spent a large amount of their time working alongside the Army) 'Senior SACs' would occasionally be given Acting Corporal rank in order that they could run dets on ops/exercises and have some semblance of rank to deal with the Army.
The RAF Reg have had Lance Corporals for a while now, to give them equivalency with the Army, who they often operate with. "He is a Senior SAC" doesn't cut it when working with an organisation not renowned for their flexibility nor intelligence.
Back when I served on TSW (a unit who also spent a large amount of their time working alongside the Army) 'Senior SACs' would occasionally be given Acting Corporal rank in order that they could run dets on ops/exercises and have some semblance of rank to deal with the Army.
The Helpful Stacker is correct, the RAF Regiment have had Lance Corporal for the last few years. If memory serves it's a local acting unpaid rank and is done to allow a senior SAC gunner to act as a section 2IC, exactly as a Lance Corporal would do in the Infantry. It is done for valid operational reasons, especially when working with the Army.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Angleterre
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
acting unpaid rank
Yozzer,
speaking of unpaid ranks whe I was a J/T on 92 I had an 'oversigning chit' which gave me the responsibilities of a Corporal without either the prestige of the rank or the pay. I wonder if this system is still in operation.
speaking of unpaid ranks whe I was a J/T on 92 I had an 'oversigning chit' which gave me the responsibilities of a Corporal without either the prestige of the rank or the pay. I wonder if this system is still in operation.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Don't forget SAC Tech, another relatively new rank.
Ty Downsizer
Ok, true not a rank but an insignia, just like a chief tech?
PS, would an SAC(T) continue to wear that insignia after a successful change of trade?
Ty Downsizer
Ok, true not a rank but an insignia, just like a chief tech?
PS, would an SAC(T) continue to wear that insignia after a successful change of trade?
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 2nd Jul 2015 at 07:49.
My Dad was a Lance Corporal in the RAF Regiment in the Second World War. He got paid a little extra
(PS - wrong thread P-N?)
If an SAC Tech remustered they would only become an SAC Tech again if they remustered to a technical trade and completed the requisite requirements to be classed as a tech in the new trade.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
Age: 87
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
when I was a J/T on 92 I had an 'oversigning chit' which gave me the responsibilities of a Corporal without either the prestige of the rank or the pay.
Does that make my chit senior to yours?
IAN,
my chit was issued in 1962 on 92 Sqn. So yours is definitely the senior.
We were both robbed ! When I suggested to the ENG O that he get me acting paid rank he thought that I should have been proud to have been so 'selected' !
my chit was issued in 1962 on 92 Sqn. So yours is definitely the senior.
We were both robbed ! When I suggested to the ENG O that he get me acting paid rank he thought that I should have been proud to have been so 'selected' !
This makes my blood boil. If our system is lacking, and clearly it is, then the rank, responsibility, and pay should be given
Royal Air Force Pay Scales 2015 - 2016 - Armed Forces - RAF Officers Pay Rates - Other Ranks Pay Rates
Army Pay Scales 2015 - 2016 - Armed Forces - British Army Officers Pay Rates - Soldiers rates of pay Other Ranks Pay Rates
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
Age: 87
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The RAF has always undervalued technical skills.
In the USAF, anyone with the technical skills of a J/T or today's SAC(T) is in the Sergants Mess! In the RAF he's not even in the Cpl's Club.
In the USAF, anyone with the technical skills of a J/T or today's SAC(T) is in the Sergants Mess! In the RAF he's not even in the Cpl's Club.
Clarification please.
In the army lance-corporal is a rank, not an appointment, this was introduced many years ago.
Is the RAF Regiment lance-corporal a rank or an appointment? I suspect the latter, thus no equality in fact.
In the army lance-corporal is a rank, not an appointment, this was introduced many years ago.
Is the RAF Regiment lance-corporal a rank or an appointment? I suspect the latter, thus no equality in fact.