I was thinking the same 2 weeks ago when I was running to the bleeps, I'm 53 and have to get to the same level as a 19 year old female! The PTI said there are a lot of rumours of the test going gender free next year.

Asked the question over on ARRSE and apart from the "get the kettle on, standard NATO" and worse remarks it seems that "Good morning, RSM" and sometimes Mrs. **** is used. Still no nearer to what the RAF will use.

Some years ago we has a lady SWO at BZN. It never occurred to me to call her anything other that Mrs ....

cc-it is about time

I hope you did light or dark blue. Anything less is not leading by example 😬

If that is indeed the case, I’d have the male test reduced slightly and the female one increased. In respect of inclusivity. As long as standards of fitness are not decreased.

She was a lovely lady. My wife is either called by her first name or Mrs. it never presents a problem. Life goes on.

Presumably ‘Marshal’....

My aunt was a WO at, I believe, RAF Wyton. According to my uncle, she was always referred to and addressed as Ma'am Salt.
He was a WO as well and even after he married her always referred to her as Ma'am.
Mind you, we were always polite in those days!!

Richard

I'm sure some of these WOs could tell you if it's really such a drama.....?

https://twitter.com/CSEL_NATOAIRCOM

https://twitter.com/WO_3MCS

https://twitter.com/SimRezazadeh

https://twitter.com/EmmaKerslake74

There remains, I believe, the problem of newly arrived officer addressing female SWO ............ clearly not Mr, and she might be Mrs, Miss or that horrible Ms.

Furthermore, please enlighten this ignorant ancient civilian: what is a signature block? I have mental blocks, writer's blocks and blocks knocked off, but ..........?

Oh my god. ----->>>>> https://gprivate.com/614on

Thank you: I thought it best to get an answe which wasr RAF-orientated as the phrase was used in an RAF context. I still have no idea what a female SWO's signature block would look like, but thank you for the time and effort.

LB

I couldn't differentiate between a female SWO's signature block and that of a male SWO. But, I guess it could look something like this (on a loose minute):

L Baston
Warrant Officer
SWO
Ext 7374
Email: [email protected]


Regards
Batco

Thank you..
More less a standard sequence I suppose

For the sake of those who are outside of the RAF and probably miss the subtle humour of my "signature block" comment;

Many WOs state in their email signature block what they wish the Officer cadre to address them as - Mr X / Mrs X / Ms X.

In other news, back on thread I'm yet to meet an AS2/AS1 who celebrates the re-branding of their rank! Still finding that "I didn't ask for this" viewpoint.

Surely nowadays there is an added '(he/him)' ;)

and probably 'Banana/Coconut' as well

One good thing about the new ranks is that they will finally put an end to the rank of aircraftman (leading or senior) being incorrectly referred to as aircraftsman, which I suspect has been going on since the rank was first created around a century ago.

How strange, but you are quite correct, in all my time in the RAF I've only ever heard it with the 's' being pronounced. Every day's a school day.

Sadly, my old spell checker frequently tried to change the rank in my signature block to Fat Lt........

yes, my dad 1939 to 45 always said leading aircraftsman ...... he was i/c a barrage baloon in that rank ...... how times change