What is a Bluntie?
 

There seem to be lots of references in many of the threads refering to 'Blunties' etc. What exactly does everyone think a 'Bluntie' is these days? Most of the Chefs, Stds, Clerks, Stackers and Drivers that have worked for me, have more operational experience than most aircrew types (standfast Helicopter Force but what about the AD world?) Isn't about time we all accepted what everyone brings to the party?

A bluntie in the true sense of the word is anyone who doesn't fly (after all, a/c are the force we project at the 'pointy end') but over the years some people have felt it doesn't include them and have tried shuffling sideways into pointy land, techies for example.

Happy with the origin, just think that its an outdated concept. Could live with it when we all hid in our bunkers and the boys flew off to take the fight to the enemy, but seems really inappropriate now.

TTTH

depends what you mean by operational experience really. If you mean doing one's day-to-day bluntie job in support of an operation living in a tent, then fine, but the distinction is really that blunties do not normally operate at the sharp end of ops as the aircrew do. Of course there is a blurred line when one considers the RAF Regt and others that work outside the wire, but hey, who cares? Anyone who doesn't fly is a bluntie!

Tell that to my guys and girls that were convoy commanders and guards in Iraq and they are most certainly not RAF Regt

talk

It's a nice principle to think 'everyone brings something to the party', but I personally think we're still inundated with too many people who I can only describe as parasites. I don't mean those who indirectly support the front line without necessarily knowing the days flying programme, I mean those who are seemingly unemployed for the most part and spend their time coming up with new ways to reinvent, reorganise, rebrigade, restructure, recost and generally interfere with an often working wheel.

Perhaps it's time to contact the OED and redefine 'bluntie' and I'm sure we've got a spare Wg Cdr and couple of Sqn Ldrs to staff the project for 3yrs...

TTTH
 

You're right. Combat admin. Wow!
BV:E

TTTH - clearly those boys and girls are still blunties, just combat blunties....:E

What is a bluntie?
 

Answer from the RAF website:

Stewards run dining rooms and bars in Officers’ and Sergeants’ Messes. Trained in silver service, you’ll serve food and drinks to hotel and club standards, making sure that your customers have everything they need. As an RAF Steward you’ll cover a far larger field of professional experience than your civilian counterparts could ever hope for: running dining rooms, bars and reception offices in Officers’ and Sergeants’ Messes, working in field dining rooms and accommodation.

Archetypal bluntie? What is the war role of a steward? If none, why is there a need for uniformed stewards?

Decoys?

:E

Well thats about 3/5ths (being generous) of the RAF's officers accounted for, imagine the LEAN savings there.....

;)

Ps, Why do pilots still have to be officers?

I cant believe you even have to ask what a "bluntie" is!!!
It doesnt really matter if you run the DAG from the comfort of your tent albeit in some dump desert somewhere = bluntie!
Convoy driver (all respect due) but probably still a stacker/engineer/admin bod = bluntie.
A leopard cant change its spots. A bluntie cant get over that they are not aircrew.
The RAF is all about projecting Air Power. Those that dont project Air Power support those that do!
Abuse inbound but happy to merge with it!!! :cool:

Because if you can't even manage to get in as an officer or are unwilling to accept the responsibilities involved, you have no business captaining an aircraft.

Sorry Tourist, that just fell out of the non-neighing end of a horse. Lots of non-officers shoulder responsibilities immeasurably greater than many officers who captain little more than a desk, yet project interference towards tasks they often have little first hand knowledge in.

I would also say many of todays aircraft captains may be qualified to land a jet but lack other qualities.

The Blunt Ones
 

For my money, everyone in a light blue uniform contributes in some way to the delivery of Air Power, like it or not. Agreed, some do it in a very below-average way.

And some of the non-flyers/Regt put themselves in harm's way, of that there is no doubt.

I think 'Bluntie' is a state of mind - wire locked in the 'hate pilots' position; the answer's no, now what's the question; you can't do that, its against the rules; I don't care if your engine blew up, you were late sluting the flag; I never wanted to be a pilot anyway....

I also think that I like calling blunties blunties; its like a little prize you get when your wings are pinned on. I like prizes.

Question is, is bluntie still a derogatory term in 2006, or is it just a name? Like 'Jockey'? Which I hate.

FO
So why are they not officers?
Lack of ambition?
Lazy?

Some bods are getting their knickers in a twist here. Bluntie is a title, that's all, like trucky, rock ape, plod, zob or blanket stacker. Wear it with pride, knowing that you are one of the thousands of cogs that makes the RAF machine turn.
Here endeth the lesson.

If you have to ask what a bluntie is ------ you're a bluntie!! :E

Helpfull Stacker (Yea right!!).

The Question is not "Why do pilots still have to be officers?"

It should be, how come non aircrew are officers?

Says it all in the name really... Blunt = BLoody Useless Non Tactical!

Tourist...keep fishin' ;)

Okay I'll bite. I know several hundred fine people who wear flying suits and av8 day in day out. And they aren't officers. I also know 50 or 60 who actually captain the things too. And without my bluntie colleagues and myself you wouldn't even set foot in a cockpit, let alone play with all the knobs. :}

but if you insist on being an &rse feel free. :ugh:

Proud to be blunt :)

Deffinition of Bluntie? The one who takes money off you because you flew over lunch time! However, they are born again hard when they issue same dosh to harrassed and hot diverted aircrew stuck on the ground over subsequent lunch time!

Bluntie is an attitude...see REMF and PONTI also.

I am a gash ‘Guin.
I am a scruff and a member of A watch.
I serve the brews unless I can jif the LAC.
I will not be beaten by obsolete technology or lack of spares, this ******* Herc will fly ,I am too bloody minded to admit defeat.
I will never quit – until it’s past 4:30pm –unless it’s another rush job for the blokes sausage-side.
I will never leave a Ginsters pie or Kit-Kat behind.
I might look undisciplined, physically and mentally soft and half-trained. I haven’t got a war face –don’t be fooled – being a Rock isn’t everything.
I always notionally know where my gun is, I may even clean it from time to time.
I am an expert and I am a professional – and that annoys my boss, 'cos he can't do without us.
I stand ready to complain about deploying, but will help the winged elite engage, and destroy the enemies of HRH Liz if asked nicely- **** them all, gollies/towel-heads/dagos to a man.
I am a gate guardian at times, and it pisses me off.
I am technically part of the British military, and therefore am not allowed to lose wars even if I’ve got a note.
I am a gash ‘Guin.


With thanks to MAPLE1

'Bluntness' is the opposite to sharpness - that's all...

Apply it where it is relevant.

See here. It's official, well almost. And the rest of the publication is for those blunties who as yet have not realised they joined the Royal AIR Force

http://ccgi.piers.plus.com/ball/definitions.htm

Because if they weren't we would have a Bluntie CAS. Imagine that!! We might get some decent decisions for once.

Standing by for incoming!

Bear

Astounding Stitch

You see a hook.
You smugly recognise it for what it is.
Yet still you bite it.

Must be a bluntie.

(Or possibly the same chump who keeps buying products from Westlands):ugh:

It is of course possible to have a Bluntie at the Sharp end and a Sharpy at the blunt end. Occasionally!

It never ceased to be amaze me that people joined the RAF and never actually saw an aircraft, let alone came anywhere near flying ops.

You do not have to buy the product to work in the factory.

The business of the Royal Air Force is flying and fighting. The role of those who dont is to support those who do.

Those who dont fly or fight = BLUNTIES!

Ducking for cover!!!

Guys, you all gotta relax. Think 'us' here already! The truth is that it tends to be, in traditional terms, the 'pointy' element of the service that steps across the border, that's all. You're all getting worked up over nothing. We're different from other services in so far as we tend to only send our aircrew to war (read that-into bad lands) and guys that run stuff on the ground tend to stay out of harms way (regt excepted). This is not true of the army and the RN. It doesn't make our service less capable, it just means we do things differently. I've got a lot of respect for the guys that stay safe side in part because of the attitudes displayed here. It can't be a happy place to be reading the comments above. An interest in military aviation is what brought us all together, that's good enough for me.

I've got no issues with those that have in interest in military aviation - it's the many that seem to have a keen interest in PREVENTING military aviation that annoy me:ugh:

True. I'm feeling it. Still get to touch the face of God every day before I struggle with JPA.

OT

There are many blunties in this forum who have indeed been into the badlands doing jobs that you probably don't realise exist. Unfortunately, as there are not enough aircraft to go round for everyone to fly, we have to risk it in our soft skinned landrovers.

I have no problem with being called bluntie when it implies that I am not aircrew, banter is banter. However, when it is suggested that blunties only help to deliver air power 'out of harms way' think again.

Bear

Good post, gets my vote :D

Why would you say that? What experience of "today's aircraft captains" do you have to qualify that statement? IMHO there is less room in this Air Force than ever for poor calibre captains given the shrinking size of the AT fleet.

Just a little support for the medics who do go sausage side - often !

there is a nice one being used in the ARRSE encyclopedia
PONTI
People of No tactical Importance

There are two types of people in any air force. Blunties and Cannon Fodder.

As a boy I wanted to join the navy. My Yeoman of Signals father wouldn't let me. "Join the RAF, son.." he said. "...they send their officers out to fight while the rates stay at home, drinking all the beer and shagging all the women."

As usual, he was spot on... :E

Looks like the number of bluntys is diminishing a good mate of mines trade group will finish in 09. So hope the lines and flight crew are up to speed on painting and finishing