PN,

You are quite right, the system is what people make it. But if you want to go down that line of argument, then the logical conclusion is that the past decade or so - you might have a more informed take on the period before that - would seem to have brought in individuals more interested in their own futures rather than those they have been privileged to command. I already know the answer to that one!

I don't buy the overstretch argument. I'm not advocating huge ceremonies and parades, but it doesn't take a lot of time or effort to get people together and publically acknowledge a colleague's success. I did one on behalf of the CO just last Thursday and I think the guy was quite surprised and quietly appreciative that we took the time to honour his achievements. If COs really are too stretched to take 20 mins to congratulate their colleagues on promotion, then maybe they lack capacity and people skills to be a CO?

As a Pusser's brat I well remember the half-yearly promotions signal, and the importance of being near the telephone that morning.- A_A

The signal to which A_A refers used to come out at 1000 in the UK, which translated very nicely in the Far Flung to the bar opening in the evening, and I remember hearing the Gunnery Officer in one carrier coming into the wardroom anteroom and saying, "If X (the CO of 8** Squadron) gets promoted in this list, I'll eat my bloody hat". Five minutes later Guns was to be found on the fringes of X's party, chewing rather ineffectually on his Panama hat ..... :E

Fg Off Courtney Mil was bollocked in the "Officers' Wardroom" onboard the TEV Rangatira in Stanley Harbour for being improperly dressed and ordered to buy a round for all those there present - Courtney Mil

At least the light blue do not run the risk the dark blue do of having to buy a round if spotted being improperly dressed with their shoulder straps "going astern", namely with the 'bow wave' of the curl facing aft, when it should face forward, just as on the sleeve of uniform jackets.

Nowadays of course, you can wind up your dark blue friends by checking whether, when wearing a chest badge of rank, they are correctly wearing the right hand slide - given that if they are in an area where it's necessary to wear a chest badge then it should be the last thing anyone should be worrying about! Stay safe ....:ok:

Jack

In answer to the original question, I think not. The binning of promotion letters to save money sums the whole attitude up I think....

Just go with SMS then. Text is so personal. :suspect:

It's definitely a failing of the RAF not to do this better. On my sqn in Canada every chap is promoted by the CO in front of the rest of the sqn. This goes down very well and is really appreciated. We also hold 'depart with dignity' ceremonies when experienced guys leave the RCAF, these are formal occasions where the leaving member is congratulated in front of their peers and have a nice couple of hours (if they want it) during their last day in uniform.

I know that this doesn't seem very British but having seen it done a few times I wonder if we don't have something to learn.

Melchett agree, it is however personality driven. How many superb wg cdrs have we met who are great blokes but who subsequently discover are happy with their lot, see the tree has no more branches, or are destined for a new career in civil aviation?

One nav wg cdr, disliked by some, came to my office to do my 1369 debrief rather than call me to his as he knew I was busy! I had a lot of time for him, the sort you wanted to work for not the sort that wanted you to work for him.

The Americans seem to be much better at promotion ceremonies,and leaving the service type ceremonies. I can remember being stiffed by my bosses for promos and medals ceremonies far, far more times than getting say, a pat on the back.
It's a shame really, I think recognition goes a long way.Especially if you are far down the food chain, which I was for the great majority of my career in the RN.
One chap on here says he got his medals from a rather indifferent clerk, and that sounds very familiar.
I had seven medals in all (I think I am still owed one but I cant even be bothered to pursue it anymore - thats in a drawer somewhere, no doubt) and only ever received one properly.
That one medal I received properly in a way one would expect was from the CO of 800 NAS. The whole squadron was fell in properly in the South Dispersal Hangar, in our Number 1's, we were all marched up, one at a time and given the gong, plus a handshake and photo with the CO. Then fell out, downtown VL for beer. Simple but effective.
Thats the way to do it. The only time mind.
People remember things like that.It should be standard for op medals, but sadly isnt.

We do if we're:

Non-commissioned aircrew,

Officers in No6A SD, No8 SD, or Red Sea Rig,

or

Air Officers in No1A SD

I was surprised when I was awarded my 15 yrs undetected crime medal in that my section actually put on a sherry reception for me and the wife and I was awarded the medal by my boss, best blues and all that. It was very touching actually, mind you my boss at the time was probably the best officer I ever worked for. Needless to say, he didn't go far.

On my return from det in Belize I had the usual 7 days off and at about day four there was a knock at the door. It was my Sengo's wife come to tell my wife that I would be home next week.....I rang Sengo to ask if that meant I was having another two weeks off then...

On leaving the mob after 22 years my boss at the time, another decent stick, told me that I would be having a leaving interview with OC Eng as he was interested in 'no holds barred' discussions with NCO engs leaving the service.
'Nah he'll not bother' I said. He didn't.

I often wondered what it would be like wandering around with the blue card on my last day. Truth is I felt nothing at all. I finished up with my clerk at Gen Office, handed in my blue card, said 'Is that it then?', he said 'Yep' and carried on doing whatever he was doing. Drove out the gate and carried on with the rest of my life.

I too have had the Seaworld experience and my wife had to nudge me to stand up after whispering 'You're an ally'.The American guy next to me shook my hand and told me he was proud to meet me. I told him it was the most recognition I'd ever had. I didn't feel bitter about it, I suppose being British we just don't expect anyone to appreciate what we did.

Ho Hum
 

Amusingly, whilst being put forward by the Service to go on secondment internationally and following the failure of my putative "Boss "on his interview, I was then asked to go for his post by the R.A.F. ,which I got following my, more succcesful, interview.
I then found myself arbitrarily promoted (acting, unpaid) one, and then , following objections by the French, two ranks up ( Wg Cdr) by the R.A.F. . then down again one rank, after the French threw in the towel . This position I filled for the U.K., getting Spec. Rec. 1369's.
Following this and after three years (one tour) in post, I was subsequently put forward by the U.K. for further consideration.
This was fully supported by U.K. MoD.for "us" to take up a far more senior operational post on our behalf and I was encouraged to " Go for It". This post I duly acquired in the interest of my country.
Consequently I was promoted yet again within the organisation, following competitive assesment internationally.

This having being achieved, I then found myself in receipt of a telephone call from Innsworth informing me of my option of returning to RAF service in my original rank in short order , or of PVR'ing.
What would you have done?

If I may add my most savoured memories of one particular promotion. I was a young(ish) SAC serving on a small radar station in darkest Suffolk. It was the Stn Cdr's "habit" of occasionally visiting the Naafi on a Thursday night to have a couple of drinks with the junior ranks. One Thursday, he arrives as usual, greets everyone there and then announces "I think Cpl 4mastacker should be bought a few drinks". The following morning and still feeling a bit shabby from the night before, OC Blankets called me into his office and said "You got the news then?". That was, by far, a much better way of being notified of a promotion than receiving the Blue Letter through the post; a method used for my next promotion.

Promotion
 

I think the RAF are masters of self promotion, so no requirement for anyone else to it for them.

As long as that's only what you THINK, that's fine.

Promotion
 

Having done Promex "C", in the old days the next hurdle was "iss" ( potential promotion to Wg. Cdr.)
I leapt into mine with alacrity, thinking that potential Wing Commanders should be able to research, evaluate and present information in a readable and understandable format.
So I went out and got additional information to the first questions asked on ISS , added comment and proudly submitted.
To then promptly find my efforts metaphorically torn up for a*rse paper and returned as such.
All that was actually needed was to be able to cut and edit the texts supplied.
No intellectual input required:

or appreciated.

Just as well in my case!

When at Finningley as an instructor I shared an office with two Nav. instructors, one of whom went far. They were discussing a newly-promoted SLdr. "I didn't know he'd done the Initiative Suppression Course!"

So I introduced the phrase for internal Met Office use.

Officer's promotion form the OR's point of view usually came up with the old chesnut

'Yes, he got his Wing Commander after his medical'

'What medical was that Chief?'

'They found a particle of brain lodged in his skull but he's had it removed now.'

I was informed that at one time naval officers were permitted to petition the Lords of The Admiralty on their own behalf. The story goes that one officer took advantage of this procedure in the following manner:

"You Lordships,

On each promotion list there is one officer of whom all who know him remark " How on earth was he selected?". Your Lordships, I feel that I am well qualified to be that officer on the forthcoming list.

Your obedient servant......"

Apocryphal, but I like it.

YS:)

My promotion to Cpl was announced in the Rugby Club and I was handed my blue letter by my Wg Cdr (cost me a round too). Few years later on IOT I was summoned to the Flt Cdr's office, he threw a blue letter at me and muttered 'you'll be ok when you inevitably f**k up here OC Fabs, and no pay rise until you either fail or graduate'.
Not sure if I liked that style or not; got very drunk that night though!

Promoted to Flt Lt in the sand outside the Officers' Mess at Masirah, when I was informed I was improperly dressed - bought a bottle of "Gizzit" gin, followed later by a bottle of "Posbee" whisky. Crept out of the back door when I 'retired', and never did get the quaiche they earnestly promised me... I'll get over it, eventually ....:rolleyes:
Daughter had 3 years in a US school, and was very glad to recount the stories of her grandad, great uncle and Dad on Veteran's Day ...:)