I was checking up on AP818 for our Sqn Banner Party as we’re all new to it, and I got a little confused where it says that during the Uncasing and Casing of the Banner is to be supported in the WO’s RIGHT hand. Now hopefully someone in the know will see what I’m getting at here.
If the WO is stood directly in front of the bearer, and the Banner is on the bearer’s right, are we expected to angle the banner toward the WO’s right hand? It doesn’t seem quite right in my head!
Any input will be appreciated!
AP818 1-9-4
AP 818 is not easy to use unless you have done a DI course infact its written with the expectation that anyone reading it has done said course.
doubt that really helps sorry!
Thanks anyway! Now I know I’m not likely to be the only cadet who’ll get confused by it.
The WO moves for it to be in the right hand.
He has to hold his pacestick in the RAF!
The WO is aloud to freelance up and down.
Your best bet is to speak to a SNCO (ATC) that gas done the course if you dont have one on sqn im sure someone on your wing would be able to come down.
It’s a mistake in the manual, if you google RAF banner drill you’ll find a fab video of a regional comp and its clearly the left hand.
Just because its done like that in a video it dosent mean that the AP is wrong they could be wrong which is why I said talk to a DI which I take it Merlin is…
I can see where the confusion is… but. You must remember that the Banner Party WO will have a sword (sheathed) and a pacestick in the left arm.
In the ATC world you would get away with using the left hand.
But the RAF Banner WO would need to hold neither the pace stick nor the sword with a hand whilst casing and uncasing the banner. They will need to use their right hand to tie/untie and remove/replace the chamois leather case from the finial, to unwind/wind the cords and to release/fold the banner.
I dare say Merlin might be a DI, I am; hence I felt able to respond to the post.
It is the left hand!
Within our Wing and Region, the left hand is used. Whether it is a spill-over from the olden (ACP 19 or whatever it was) days…?
But in the ACO, the left hand seems to be the commonly accepted action.
So much easier in the Guards.
The PWO rear slides his PS to an Orderly, draws his sword (the only WO’s allowed to) and goes from there.
I may be a little rusty on AP818, but I truly cannot see what the problem is. How difficult is it to uncase and unfurl a banner??
The WO uses his left hand in the good old AF 9548 RAF Colour and Standard Drills video/DVD.
Just found this video too.
You’re absolutely right.
I think a key issue here is that only the ATC uses a “Banner”.
AP818 refers to Colours and Standards, which although there are similarities, a Banner is not one of these.
Therefore ATC Banner drill is a bit of a hash of all sorts thrown together that is not stictly detailed in AP818.
The source document for ATC baner drill is still the CD ROM that came out years ago. The videos from which (if you have lost yours) should still be on Youtube. (It’s the video with copious amounts of great escape music thrown in for good measure)
This is the update on the question from TG3 and CACWO
“Uncasing the Squadron Banner, I t is entirely logical for the WO to support the top of the cover with his Left hand so I have incorporated that change. However, there is absolutely no need for the Orderly to halt next to the WO before conducting a Left Turn and marching off – the WO wheels round to take up his/her position, but the Orderly marches straight off as per AP818.”