He'd be the only one in it if he was allowed in then mate, haven't had those since probably the early 90s!

Downsizer, Ty, I guess the individual will change his insignia after successfully passing his new trade course.

TTN, indeed, obviously finger trouble :)

Re undervaluing of technical skills, its not just the RAF. When a corporal in the REME at NATO HQ Brunssum, my son served alongside US Army sergeants of various grades who in terms of length of service alone would have barely have made Lance Corporal in the British army. In his own trade group there was a huge promotion block and it was very much "dead men's shoes".

Still, he's a civvy now, with no regrets that he jumped ship.

"Undervaluing technical skills".....

In the very late 70's there was an exodus of such from the RAF, thanks to the blockage caused by the time promotion scheme, which, whilst if benefitted those who arrived in it's infancy, did nothing for later entrants. The PVR rate was "pretty high".

Thus, at Bruggen one fine day, some of us were "invited" to attend a "briefing".....this "briefing" was conducted by a two ringed cherub chops dispatched, presumably, from Innsworth.

At the front were the former Trade groups such as suppliers, cooks, MT, admin etc and at the rear, the technical side.

The "briefing" was conducted in a hectoring manner that would put a NK News presenter to shame.

Our "cherubic hero" proceeded to extol the virtues of Cpls Clubs, Messes etc and indeed all things Cpl as this was going to be the rank to be. Much applause from the front.....wall of ice at the rear...then came his demise when he asked the rear did we have any questions ?

I don't think he had ever met engineers, in person, before.....and often wonder if he was treated for stress and trauma when he arrived back in the UK.

KnC, a two ringer says it all. If you are going to promise free chips at least own the chip shop.