Using Rank on Retirement
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Natural respect comes to those like Mr E who was totally unassuming - only prior research revealed who he really was .... and showed he was well deserving of the informal title of "Sir" rather than "Mr" and well above "Dr"!
Dear Hot ‘n High,
A curious thing to say. Prior research will usually reveal a lot of extraneous roles, but means nothing about skill. Professors of surgery are renowned for being totally handless. And Mr is definitely not above Dr.
BTW if it’s the Mr E I knew, he was pretty good at squash.
To return to the point of the OP, surely we leave all these things behind on retirement? Next phase in life and all that. Past performance is no guide to future performance.
caramba
Dear Hot ‘n High,
A curious thing to say. Prior research will usually reveal a lot of extraneous roles, but means nothing about skill. Professors of surgery are renowned for being totally handless. And Mr is definitely not above Dr.
BTW if it’s the Mr E I knew, he was pretty good at squash.
To return to the point of the OP, surely we leave all these things behind on retirement? Next phase in life and all that. Past performance is no guide to future performance.
caramba
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
When people ask me if I ever served in the military, I feel I have been reasonably successful in my conduct - until it comes to swearing of course, at which I beat them all, hands down.
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I remember attending a piss up for our Engineering boss who had been chosen to become an ADC so was off to different climes, this was apparently seen as a right move in his promotion prospects and a way up the ladder, I asked him what he aspired too.......... the answer, a Metropolitan policeman, he'd always wanted to be one and hoped he would attain his goal..
Go figure lol
Go figure lol
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A few years ago I attended the funeral of aa acquaintance that I met in the local pub. He was an ex-FAA Corsair pilot from WWII. Imagine my, and many other's) surprise when on the order of service it showed he had been awarded the DSO and had been involved in raids on the Tirpitz and later in the Far East and would have been Hamilton-Gray's (VC) wingman if it hadn't been for a cold that grounded him. He subsequently played football for Blackpool and was in the Cup Final alongside Stanley Matthews. He never used his rank
I am ex-Army and when I left, I left the rank behind and I believe that is how it should be. New start, look forward
I am ex-Army and when I left, I left the rank behind and I believe that is how it should be. New start, look forward
... A curious thing to say. Prior research will usually reveal a lot of extraneous roles, but means nothing about skill. Professors of surgery are renowned for being totally handless. And Mr is definitely not above Dr. ........ BTW if it’s the Mr E I knew, he was pretty good at squash.
Regarding a Mr being above a Dr, theoretically there should be a difference just on experience alone. However, as we have seen from our discussion of Service personnel, you get all sorts at all levels. In this particular case, even one of the Dr's on the team involved confided in me that "You are in the very best hands - by a loooong way!". By that time they all knew I was not worried at all by what was about to happen and, in the way it was said, it seemed to me to be very much an afterthought. It came across as a genuine sign of respect rather than "I better reassure this trembling wreck of a patient that he'll be OK!".
You probably know far more than I do on such matters - TBH, I avoid the world of "Quackerey" as much as I can - but, in this case, I had no option! Apologies for Thread Drift!!
A RAF gliding club in East Anglia in the early 1980's dispatched one of it's pilots on their qualifying cross country - all of 50km. he was supposed to land at another RAF Station, but landed out a few km short - but still achieving the required distance. A retrieve crew were dispatched towing the glider's trailer to collect him from the grounds of the large country house in which he had landed. On arrival, the retrieve crew sent to the kitchens to get the cook to rustle up something for them while the pilot was been royally entertained in the drawing room. One of the retrieve crew was OC Ops (a Wg Cdr) while the glider pilot was a SAC! But they got their own back when it transpired he had been given tea and cucumber sandwiches while the crew were quaffing bottles of ale. The pilot had to drive home!
Avoid imitations
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I did a 2 week first aid instructor course at Halton, and was the only aircrew bloke there. All the rest were Rocks. As soon as they realised my job, it was, "Oi! Fat Wallet!" They were nuts, but great fun.
CG
PS. Foe me, always much more annoying than the 'rank cling-on' issue, is/was serving officers who introduce themselves with, "Hello, my name is Squadron Leader Bloggs." Still grates. Hey ho.
CG
PS. Foe me, always much more annoying than the 'rank cling-on' issue, is/was serving officers who introduce themselves with, "Hello, my name is Squadron Leader Bloggs." Still grates. Hey ho.
The chaps were so impressed that one pilot even curtsied!
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For medical doctors, on the whole, it's an appointment - most are only hold Bachelor (albeit enhanced, to equivalent to Masters) degrees eg Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery...
In many ways, I hold the same view of excessive post-nominals. I very rarely list any of mine (although I am entitled to use quite a lot of the alphabet) and always smile when I see lots of letters listed by others.
It always reminds me of Red Dwarf, where Rimmer was BSc SSc - Bronze and Silver swimming certificates.
People who cling to such things, having lived most of their lives through their ‘rank’ just look sad.
It always reminds me of Red Dwarf, where Rimmer was BSc SSc - Bronze and Silver swimming certificates.
A few years ago I attended the funeral of aa acquaintance that I met in the local pub. He was an ex-FAA Corsair pilot from WWII. Imagine my, and many other's) surprise when on the order of service it showed he had been awarded the DSO and had been involved in raids on the Tirpitz and later in the Far East and would have been Hamilton-Gray's (VC) wingman if it hadn't been for a cold that grounded him. He subsequently played football for Blackpool and was in the Cup Final alongside Stanley Matthews. He never used his rank
I am ex-Army and when I left, I left the rank behind and I believe that is how it should be. New start, look forward
I am ex-Army and when I left, I left the rank behind and I believe that is how it should be. New start, look forward
TN.
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I remember well at 2FTS Syerston, 1963 the SWO announcing “Officers and their ladies, NCOs and their wives, Airmen and their women” classless? hardly, certainly priceless and for those of who at one time or another were in all three categories, a memory to cherish! Ho Ho.
TN.
My experience:
Some years ago I was staying with friends in Kent. A local and his wife were invited to join us for dinner. Turned out he had been a VERY distinguished Air Chief Marshal. On meeting him and saying how wonderful it was to meet him and using his rank to address him( his wartime ops. were incredible. )
NO said he, please call me Bob, I am no longer IN the RAF, we were both pilots.
For the rest of the evening he treated me, a retired Flt Lt, as if I were his favourite son, marvellous.
Visitors to the RAF club will see a room dedicated to him.
....and there was one of my students at SORF, an Air Commodore, OC. CFS designate. Like all my hstudents invited him home for a spag. . Bol and a glass or three of wine. Of course I addressed him as Sir.
my name is ROY not sir in your home, now when can you both join me for dinner in Louth, my treat !
Some years ago I was staying with friends in Kent. A local and his wife were invited to join us for dinner. Turned out he had been a VERY distinguished Air Chief Marshal. On meeting him and saying how wonderful it was to meet him and using his rank to address him( his wartime ops. were incredible. )
NO said he, please call me Bob, I am no longer IN the RAF, we were both pilots.
For the rest of the evening he treated me, a retired Flt Lt, as if I were his favourite son, marvellous.
Visitors to the RAF club will see a room dedicated to him.
....and there was one of my students at SORF, an Air Commodore, OC. CFS designate. Like all my hstudents invited him home for a spag. . Bol and a glass or three of wine. Of course I addressed him as Sir.
my name is ROY not sir in your home, now when can you both join me for dinner in Louth, my treat !
Last edited by RetiredBA/BY; 26th Jan 2021 at 12:47.
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My experience:
Some years ago I was staying with friends in Kent. A local and his wife were invited to join us for dinner. Turned out he had been a VERY distinguished Air Marshal. On meeting him and saying how wonderful it was to meet him and using his rank to address him( his wartime ops. were incredible. )
NO said he, please call me Bob, I am no longer IN the RAF, we were both pilots.
For the rest of the evening he treated me, a retired Flt Lt, as if I were his favourite son, marvellous.
Visitors to the RAF club will see a room dedicated to him.
Some years ago I was staying with friends in Kent. A local and his wife were invited to join us for dinner. Turned out he had been a VERY distinguished Air Marshal. On meeting him and saying how wonderful it was to meet him and using his rank to address him( his wartime ops. were incredible. )
NO said he, please call me Bob, I am no longer IN the RAF, we were both pilots.
For the rest of the evening he treated me, a retired Flt Lt, as if I were his favourite son, marvellous.
Visitors to the RAF club will see a room dedicated to him.
TN.
Two things...............
I have never used rank since I retired, but one of the first questions asked by non-military folk when they find out that I am ex-military is "What rank were you?"
When I respond with a "Why? - And what does it matter?" I am met with a strange look as if I am trying to hide something.
Point two........
I did a US Exchange tour and the Sqn Ldr I was replacing had a great line when visiting a USMC Base. Checking in to the BOQ, he would be questioned by a Marine who did not understand his rank........
It went something like this.....
What is your rank, Sir?.......
Squadron Leader.
Squadron Leader Sir........Sorry, Sir, don't understand that, Sir...........What rank would you be if you were in the Marine Corps, Sir............
Oh - I'd probably be a General by now if I was in the Marine Corps.
Yes Sir, General, Sir, let me get you a great room, Sir...........
etc etc
I never tried that line!!
I have never used rank since I retired, but one of the first questions asked by non-military folk when they find out that I am ex-military is "What rank were you?"
When I respond with a "Why? - And what does it matter?" I am met with a strange look as if I am trying to hide something.
Point two........
I did a US Exchange tour and the Sqn Ldr I was replacing had a great line when visiting a USMC Base. Checking in to the BOQ, he would be questioned by a Marine who did not understand his rank........
It went something like this.....
What is your rank, Sir?.......
Squadron Leader.
Squadron Leader Sir........Sorry, Sir, don't understand that, Sir...........What rank would you be if you were in the Marine Corps, Sir............
Oh - I'd probably be a General by now if I was in the Marine Corps.
Yes Sir, General, Sir, let me get you a great room, Sir...........
etc etc
I never tried that line!!
When I left the RAF it was refreshing to get my Mr title back
At the end of the last century I was flying out of Tianjin, not the airfield, but the dock area. Security was provided by the Chinese Navy and as the company got along very well with the Navy, our pilots were recruited from them, so I travelled to work in the back of a Navy registered Hyundai Sonata saloon.
Mid winter, -20 at night rocketing up to +5 during the day. I normally had a jersey with a PLA overcoat on top but this day I was meeting a client so I had my four-ringed regalia on. As the minion opened the gate he looked at me and sprang to attention as if his life depended on it; it probably did.
Later in the day as we approached the gate the gatekeeper halted us for some time . That’s when the guards strode out of the guardroom and stood to attention. I thought that this was a good idea so next morning I sat in the back with my best kit on and acknowledged the parade as I passed.
Not knowing the penalty for impersonating a military office in China I mentioned it to the local staff on the unit. When I returned from my flight they told me that they had been around to find out who this VIP was.
When we went through the gate there was no parade or bowing and scraping. Just a surly slamming of the gates behind us.
Mid winter, -20 at night rocketing up to +5 during the day. I normally had a jersey with a PLA overcoat on top but this day I was meeting a client so I had my four-ringed regalia on. As the minion opened the gate he looked at me and sprang to attention as if his life depended on it; it probably did.
Later in the day as we approached the gate the gatekeeper halted us for some time . That’s when the guards strode out of the guardroom and stood to attention. I thought that this was a good idea so next morning I sat in the back with my best kit on and acknowledged the parade as I passed.
Not knowing the penalty for impersonating a military office in China I mentioned it to the local staff on the unit. When I returned from my flight they told me that they had been around to find out who this VIP was.
When we went through the gate there was no parade or bowing and scraping. Just a surly slamming of the gates behind us.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 22nd Jan 2021 at 21:07.
Mainwaring, “If I had the MM, I’d wear it for everyone to see”
Godfrey, “And that would be fine because you look like a hero”
Wilson ”Goes to show you can’t judge by appearances”
or something like that
At the end of the last century I was flying out of Tianjin, not the airfield, but the dock area. Security was provided by the Chinese Navy and as the company got along very well with the Navy, our pilots were recruited from them, so I travelled to work in the back of a Navy registered Hyundai Sonata saloon.
Mid winter, -20 at night rocketing up to +5 during the day. I normally had a jersey with a PLA overcoat on top but this day I was meeting a client so I had my four-ringed regalia on. As the minion opened the gate he looked at me and sprang to attention as if his life depended on it; it probably did.
Later in the day as we approached the gate the gatekeeper halted us for some time . That’s when the guards strode out of the guardroom and stood to attention. I thought that this was a good idea so next morning I sat in the back with my best kit on and acknowledged the parade as I passed.
Not knowing the penalty for impersonating a military office in China I mentioned it to the local staff on the unit. When I returned from my flight they told me that they had been around to find out who this VIP was.
When we went through the gate there was no parade or bowing and scraping. Just a surly slamming of the gates behind us.
Mid winter, -20 at night rocketing up to +5 during the day. I normally had a jersey with a PLA overcoat on top but this day I was meeting a client so I had my four-ringed regalia on. As the minion opened the gate he looked at me and sprang to attention as if his life depended on it; it probably did.
Later in the day as we approached the gate the gatekeeper halted us for some time . That’s when the guards strode out of the guardroom and stood to attention. I thought that this was a good idea so next morning I sat in the back with my best kit on and acknowledged the parade as I passed.
Not knowing the penalty for impersonating a military office in China I mentioned it to the local staff on the unit. When I returned from my flight they told me that they had been around to find out who this VIP was.
When we went through the gate there was no parade or bowing and scraping. Just a surly slamming of the gates behind us.