Post Nominals
 

While researching my late father in the London Gazette, I came across something new to me.
There was a MID to an Honorary Squadron Leader ****** R.A.F.O.

Can anyone tell what R.A.F.O. stands for. I tried Google but no luck. Probably asked the question wrongly worded!

Could be -

Just to add, the Gazette was dated 01/01/1946.
Also, I have never heard of an 'Honorary' Squadron Leader before.

Why do officers feel the need to add post nominals when the rest of the educated world and members of institutions don't?

Decorations and honours I understand but do we really need to know that Sqn Ldr Smith has a BSc.

Some of us don't.

CGB MSc MRAeS RAF (retd)

Duoh :ugh:

(PS. I know that RAF (retd) is not a formally recognised term) :)

The rest of the world do you know. Doctors, dentists, solicitors, builders, physios, nurses, paramedics to name a few.
Of course, only a select few of them do this............. very select.
I'm entitled to post nominal, however the missus would add a few extra letters of her own if I did it........

The rest of the world do you know. Doctors, dentists, solicitors, builders, physios, nurses, paramedics to name a few. 
Of course, only a select few of them do this............. very select.

Exactly my point.

Yes, but you were having a go at officers. Trust me, many ex serving SNCOs do it as well. They too fall into that category.
In the civilian world there is a lot of competition for jobs. To get your CV noticed, particularly high powered jobs, you have to stand out from the crowd. One particular British Airline loves people with medals on their CV.

To quote Elwood Blues...... "I didn't lie to you...... I just bull****ted you"

Got a cold call letter from a speculator who had searched google earth and wanted our orchard for a few houses.

On the basis that BBBs he had BA(Hons) after his name. I responded with my own which were slightly longer than PN and of course my rank too. He never tried again.

PN s have their purpose.

Does anyone know what the post nominal 'R.A.F.O.' means?
Or is Lord Spandex correct 'Reserve of Air Force Officers'?

On a CV of course they have a purpose, but on photo boards and name plates the only purpose they serve is to further inflate the individuals ego.

The only reason I mention officers was they are the ones who feel they need to use them.

I would suggest that SNCOs are far more secure in their staus that they don't feel the need to use them... along with other members of society.

That BA (Hons) one always amuses me. As far as I'm aware, even a "third" is an honours degree, so it's pretty meaningless.

TTN, BA (Exon)

;)

In our club we have a retired sqn ldr and a wo, both styled MBE.
In our district a driving instructor who always uses BEM. He was proud to have it and more so when they stopped BEM.

In Scotland, an 'ordinary' degree lasts 3 years, Honours is 4 so the (Hons) has a meaning.

In response to the OP, in that time period it's going to be Reserve of Air Force Officers - part of the RAFVR

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_A...unteer_Reserve

Presumably the Honorary title was due to the holder being ostensibly a civillian, but to place him in the structure as far as privileges and position were concerned (My dad was given the rank of 'Honorary Wing Commander' for a short time whilst working as a civillian with the RAF in Germany in the 70s. helped with Mess accommodation and going to Berlin. )

There used to be a jokey story that some Indians would put on their CV,
Bombay University Honours Degree (failed).

There used to be a jokey story that some Indians would put on their CV,
Bombay University Honours Degree (failed). - Goudie

....the whole point of which, my Father used to say, was to demonstrate that they had been clever enough to enter and attend the relevant university in the first place.

He also used to say that he had a PhD (Failed) in Applied Psychology at the University of Life, but never used post nominals for his honours.:ok:

Jack BA (Hons) (Failed) in Applied Psychology at the University of HK**

** = Hard Knocks, not Hong Kong

D.Litt(All other places in Canada except Medicine Hat)

Thank you for yours replies, both serious and funny:ok:

jayc530 -
"I would suggest that SNCOs are far more secure in their staus that they don't feel the need to use them... along with other members of society."

I feel a brief trip through LinkedIn will dispel that notion :)
In my (recent and extensive) experience of ex-Officers and ex-SNCOs using these items, I reckon the score is about even.
(I speak as ex-both so have no axe to grind, although I do sharpen it every now and then..)
And no, I don't use them - as I ain't got any (sic)!

If you have more post-nominals than nominals, it looks silly...