AJIFFNIFF? All is now clear…
 

I always wondered what an ajiffniff is, now I know… :}

I see that a badge has already been made :ok: Very funny!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....11240f2f3.jpeg

Watched the video and still have no idea what AJIFFNIFF means.

CGS’ rather mangled pronunciation of “initiative”…

This has been a thing on Twitter for 11 days already - here are some of the best:

If they've got one ...
 

Great new concept. If the Pongos have got one, surely the Crabs need one as well.
(The fishheads have had theirs since Copenhagen in 1801)

“Where is the Battle Group, Giles?

”We are not exactly sure, General. We ordered them off the start line at 0400 to get out there and seize the AJIFFNIFF as you suggested, but apparently it’s not on any of the maps and G5 can’t see it in the doctrine either.”

It does not matter how good he is as CGS, he will always be remembered for AJIFFNIFF!
A civil servant is traveling through Whitehall when it starts to rain. He decides to wait out the storm in the Red Lion. The only other person at the bar is an older man staring at his drink. After a few moments of silence the man turns to the civil servant and says in a military accent: "You see those houses? I procured those MQs with my own bare hands. I cut down every price and made the contract myself. I toiled away through the wind and cold, but do they call me Carleton-Smith the MQ builder? No." He continued "Do you see that Tank out there? I designed that tank with my own bare hands. I found every rivet and placed them just right through the metal and the steel, but do they call me Carleton-Smith the tank builder? No." "Do ya see that pier out there on the River Thames? I built that pier with my own bare hands, driving each piling deep into ground so that it would last a lifetime. Do they call me Carleton-Smith the pier builder, Royal Engineer par-excellence and Navy saviour ? No."

"But you f**k up the pronunciation of one word..."

Exactly - one of the military banter Twitter accounts summed up his career here:

With the greatest respect to the Army, the lower orders are not known for their cerebral acuity. I suggest that whilst many of the younger generation of officers are pretty sharp, the same cannot be said for some of the older people and in the infantry particularly, there still seems to be some mental strictures, which will impede progress.

The initiatives will most possibly cause issues with diversity, inclusivity and a few other 'ities', not to mention (which I now do) some of the wilder aspects of LGBT+.

CGS might be reminded that not everybody is encouraged in their thinking processes, to the same standard as the Hereford Hooligans and their chums lodging at St A.

It would be interesting to know what prior research CGS had undertaken.

But where did the title come from?

Old Duffer

Accurate.

Free thought, or challenging behaviour, is stifled at some levels, in some corners of the Green Army. It's like the lessons of the Strategic Corporal have been parked and Mission Command is an essay title for the Wavell room.

"We've always done it that way" is still a common phrase, and it doesn't always mean best practice.

In a not too dis-similar 'forgotten word' event - 'we' were once asked by our OIC who the AOC was that was visiting on that special day...and when no-one was forthcoming he blurted out the memorable phrase "I'll bet that if I asked you to name the bloody crew of the Trumpton Fire Engine you'd all remember them?"

And, of course, he was absolutely right...and we did...

Ah, Trumpton ... that was in the days of direction and leadership!

Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb.... Sorry, what was the question ;)

What was the name of the 7th fireman?

(Capt Slack!)

I think the good general is missing a trick - He could put out a press release stating something like:

Military Personnel seize the Ajiffniff and find humour at every opportunity!

The British Military is the best in the world in many things and Humour is right up there!

It an honour to work with the best!

With one of the Memes attached.

Not old seaman Staines then?

I will pay strong money for this patch hahahah

Best I can do is a t-shirt complete with "Ajiffniff" Brecon Point.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....50f16d58fc.jpg