What's In A Name
 

Throughout my time in the RAF and various bits of the reserves, I have always had a name tag on my jackets or pully. Recently, I was told this was no longer acceptable (except on certain training courses) and my little collection of blue name tags now resides in a drawer.

At about the same time, I noticed the new RN working dress has a name badge on it. In addition, most aircrew wear their flying badge on their 'growbag' and this usually has a name or nickname as part of the neddlework.

It seems incongruous/illogical for name badges to be removed from blues but still carried on flying overalls and for one service to introduce (perpetuate) name badges whilst another is removing theirs.

It all smacks of the annual change in the neckline/weave of the wooly pully.

Thoughts?

Old Duffer

Standardisation would be nice across the services, but then the argument could be that there's no room for individualism within a service.

When I was serving I'd have been happy with one standard uniform model to be used by all three UK services, with the particular service being identified by badges, using the same format for positioning.

We did have that standardisation at one point with CS95. I remember being issued almost more badges for my "greens" than I ever did as a cub or scout!
RAF breast tag, Name tag, Union flag, RAF TRF, Unit TRF and a DZ flash for being a signaller.

When wooly-pullies came out, there were no badges worn on them.


Then the bomb disposal people demanded they be allowed to wear their badge on the sleeve. Hmmm,,, ok.


Then it was mandated that aircrew must wear their wings on the wooly-pullies - remember that? c 1980.


Aircrew were reluctant, but orders is orders....

What is the logic behind no name badges, personal security?

Logic + Military = Oxymoron, Wander.

More likely the whim of a VSO who never liked them and has finally got his chance to make a significant, forward-leaning and valuable change to the Royal Air Force. Or maybe a VSO who feels his staff don't have enough to do and thought this would be a good chance to keep them occupied with a bit of paperwork.

Memories of the Dymo Tape name tags we all wore at Manby in the mid-60s. All in various colours ... Station Staff, CAW Staff, Refresher Studes, CAW Studes, Spec N and Staff N studes and probably a few others I've forgotten.

Mine was a tasteful blue, and it still in a box of cr*p stored in a cupboard upstairs ;)

Bloody name tags...
 

....I hated wearing them. Once when challenged by a lady W/C as to why I wasn't wearing one I held out my hand and introduced myself to her and said that I would do the same to anyone else who wanted to know my name (and even on some occasions if they DIDN'T want to know it). She was less than impressed I have to say.

The Ancient Mariner

Or it's because the Air Force is so small these days everyone knows everyone else anyway.

We of the Royal Signals have had name tags since I joined in 86. Pretty much the only Army Corps to mandate them Corp-wide. I don't know why though!

Taken as a Corps, there were too many people to know everybody, even in one's own trade circles. But in a regiment, or squadron, everyone knew each other. I didn't mind the combat jackets, shirts and woolly pullies, but it looked bloody stupid on the hemet cover when the Kevlar ones replaced the battle bowlers.

I memorised my name tag and put it back in the drawer!

Well played, TBM!:D:ok:

TBM-Legend,

That ranks with the:

RSM: "Why is your name badge upside down, soldier?"

Soldier: "So I can see who I am, Sir"

O-D

At work, sometimes I wear my nametag upside down as well, as it is the international symbol of distress.

Name Tags
 

I took a dislike to name tags, can't tell you why just did. My last unit (Henlow) was the only one where I was required to wear one, but I routinely "lost" mine, I always knew the names of the people that mattered and and if I didn't I asked.

PM

FOD!...............

I was strolling along the main drag in camp in company with my buddy, Sid Davies. Along comes the RSM going the other way.

"Cpl Davies, where's your name tag?"

"Obviously I don't need one, Sir".

And he got away with it! On that day anyway.

'Twas in mid-60s, we much admired the USAF name tags, pin fastened with a clutch and white lettering carved in fetching blue. We git 'orrible white badges, safety pin and dump tape.

Next someone sourced a bit better one, white plastic with black lettering, but design and wearing was very much a station thing. Anyway we really didn't need a name tag on working dress as we all had security tags.

Anyway, Bomber Command decided uniform tags were a 'good idea' (promote that man) and bought their own machine. It was decreed all officers would wear a standard blue and white WITH clutch pins. Officers were billed through mess bills IIRC. They were met with universal acclaim :(. They were a darker blue than the later version.

Charged to mess bills. You couldn't make it up could you?

Good post PN:ok:

One man who never needed a name tag was a certain Hercules Ground Engineer, one M*** L***y. As a fellow GE at the time, I often found it useful, when confronted with commissioned disagreement to glance at the name badge (usually a Dave or Fred) and then reply, yes sir, whatever you say !! I doubt that name badges have any use beyond making old farts like myself look as though they have a reasonable name retention capability.

Smudge:ok: