RAF SNCO's Rank Badge - WTF?
 

https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediaf...CB0DEB7781.jpg

From the RAF's website, has anyone any idea what is written under the FS's rank badge in the middle? Seems a little too much writing compared to anything seen before. Almost bigger than the rank insignia itself!

Serious (or comedic) replies please :ok:

The two blokes have that "When is she going to stop talking" look.

Most likely some combination of "Royal Air Force", "Flight Sgt", "135 EAW" or a NATO rank code etc. In multinational deployed forces you often find rank badges give clues about who you're looking at.

If you zoom in you can just make it out "Ensure tip of chevrons points towards ground when standing"

Yellow Tom, it is rude to stare.

Passed a chap in AFSouth wearing a sandy beret and winged dagger badge. Glanced at him then turned around for a better look but he wasn't there.

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"If you can read this you are too close"

Priceless . . . actually had me laughing out loud. Thanks :ok:

In '73 the RAF had just moved to having NCOs wear rank shoulder slides on our shirts and our new pullovers / fancy belt rig. At Bisley Camp, security was provided by armed Ghurkas who had never seen NCOs with shoulder slides before, so they kept saluting us. The problem was, Ghurkas are very tenacious and insist on having their salutes returned - which caused a bit of a stand-off, with RAF corporals and sergeants wandering about, each with a fiercely saluting Ghurka in tow. :)

"May contain nuts"
"No user-serviceable parts inside"
"When we leave we can divert £350m/wk to the NHS"
"Best Before March 2026"

"Sponsored by Ambre Solaire"

Not always helpfully. Son was a REME NCO serving at NATO JFC Brunnsum and wore a REME arm of service badge (TRF) on his combats. Trouble is this particular one resembles the Belgian flag at first glance and people were always addressing him in French or Flemish.

Planet Basher,

Nice of you to confirm that casual sexism is alive and well.

REME airtechs wore a winged badge on the shoulder with the letters AT in the middle.
Pal of mine was heard telling some girls it stood for airborne terrorist, he was reminded that it actually stood for " A Tw*t".

Much like the APM rank slides....

A
Police
Man

Yes, wondered how long it would take ;)

More importantly, why is he hiding his id?

It reads 'Royal Air Force Fire & Rescue Service'.

I.D. card correctly hidden for PerSec reasons, you really don't want your details shown on the internet for all to see.

I think Facebook etc means that particular horse bolted a long time ago. And ID card stowed because it's damned annoying having it flapping around in front of you probably as much any security measure.

Dedicated teams are too expensive :}

Anyone know who the bloke on the right is? That's a VSO stance if ever I saw one!