Aside from the BGA not being that interested, why not out source shooting to the NSRA or any of the other RAFAC activities.
Thank you. What do they have between attending ATF (and therefore no longer being an Acting Sgt), and gaining their gliding wings (assuming not already so qualified as a CGI ?)
Theyâd wear aircrew sgt slides, I assume this is the practice of Sgts graduating from NCAITC.
The vast majority of VGS staff come from staff cadets so are likely to have already been awarded a flying badge prior to becoming adult Sgts. External candidates with PPL and BGA qualifications have reduced requirements to award so may also complete that prior to ATF.
I donât think it is, itâs not just aircrew on that. Direct entry Sgts for air traffic go through that too, so I wouldnât be surprised if NCA donât get aircrew rank slides until after theyâve gone to OCU.
This conversation seems to have gone down an NCO path and RAF NCOs do indeed wear some interesting trade badges - until I finally got our TEST Sgt into no. 1s for an inspection, I didnât know what the PTI badge looked like.
But officers? In the RAF do any officers other than aircrew wear any qualification/branch badges? (not counting Regt/RAFP rank slides)
ah ok then, I am corrected.
Almost certainly as not all VGS Staff are pilots.
I know three SNCOs (Aircrew) -
one is a pilot of old (a VGS CI, then upon the pause went the SNCO route to maintain their volunteering and since wearing the aircrew rank slide.
One is in training to be a pilot but having completed all the âSgtâ bits, is wearing their Sgt (Aircrew) rank
Another was in training but deemed âmedically unfit for pilot serviceâ by the RAF Medics* when it came to getting those hoops jumped through but is remaining on the VGS as âground crewâ and so is wearing Sgt (Aircrew) rank slide.
*I didnât realise that VGS pilots need to be âfast jet pilot fitâ to be giving the ok by the RAF to be let loose in a Viking! (odd that the same isnât true for our Cadets we send soloâŚ)
Doctors.
Nurses I think?
Do dog collars count for the God botherers?
If youâve passed AACC you can wear the dagger no matter what rank, my old boss on the UAS was an ex-RM helicopter pilot who defected to the RAF and still wore his.
Canât think of any others.
Are you saying there are Sgts in the RAFAC who wear aircrew landslides but dont attend VGSâŚif so they are meant to transfer across as normal Sgts when leaving the VGS
When I was at Cranwell last summer there was a business case going through the Uniform board for introduction of trade badges for everything. I.em crossed pencils was one for the admin boss
Iâm guessing that got binned off quite quickly
no I am notâŚ
not sure where you that impression.
the SNCO aircrews I know all attend VGS, some are pilots, some are ground crew,
one is VGS primarily and attends a Squadron as a secondary duty (as during the pause they joined the unit and have stayed on since their return to VGS duty)
RAFAC SNCO Aircrew rank slides indicate that the primary post is on a VGS, and came in with abolition CGIs post pause.
Itâs mainly an indicator that they have less of a broad RAFAC experience/knowledge.
What is interesting is that if you want to join a VGS, you have to become an SNCO there is no longer a CI option, admittedly most of their staff come via Flight Staff Cadets, but a local had a direct walk in join.
My favourite RN rate is âLeading Writerâ
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Iâm sorry, but this makes me ROFL! Just because someoneâs role involves working at VGS shouldnât qualify them to wear âaircrewâ insignia. Itâs the same as suggesting that engineers, flight planners, intelligence staff etc etc on RAF Squadrons should all wear Aircrew rank slides because theyâre attached to a flying unit.
Someone needs to revisit the dictionary definition of âaircrewâ : âthe crew staffing an aircraftâ.
As we are allowing staff that are not aircrew to wear aircrew rank slides, perhaps there is an argument after all that those who are PPLs, CPLs, ATPLs etc in their civilian lives to wear âwingsâ as they can at least legitimately claim to be aircrew !
In addition to the examples given by OldNewbie youâve also got insignia for Dental branch, RAFP (armlets on No1 and badges on No 5), Mountain Rescue (worn by anyone who is serving or has served on a MR unit), EODâŚ
In fairness, he did say excluding RAFP. But yes, forgot dentists.
RAF EOD has closed down now, so has the insignia gone extinct also?
Iâve amended it around the same time that you posted to expand⌠He mentioned RAFP rank slides, but of course the RAFP Officers also wear an armlet in No 1 and badge in No 5.
It may be that anyone previously qualified is still wearing it. I donât know for sure though.
Personally I think they shouldnât be issued until G2 and anyone in the 6 ground roles should wear normal rank slides. However I dont write policy that one was under JM so probably didnât get the attention it deserved under the drive to get them into blue suits.
Would also require the rank slide stocks to be better managed as theyâre issued in and out of 2fts admin, due to the dogs dinner of the first issue slides and the change to RAFAC branded ones. 
Having spent 3 years banging the door of 2FTS, wing/region aviation officers etc - offering to help with Aerospace courses/PTT/VGS activities I donât believe they actually take external candidates⌠I believe it is a myth. I have a PPL and own aircraft, lots of flying experience and live and breathe aviation in the day job. Are they interested⌠Nope!!!
I even offered to go and get qualified to solo in with my local BGA club to add that to my PPL (SEP) to make myself a more attractive candidate⌠Still no interestâŚ
Also, I agree with this! This is slightly bemusing; âJust because someoneâs role involves working at VGS shouldnât qualify them to wear âaircrewâ insignia. Itâs the same as suggesting that engineers, flight planners, intelligence staff etc etc on RAF Squadrons should all wear Aircrew rank slides because theyâre attached to a flying unit.â
So someone that helps cadets get in and out of a glider can wear VGS aircrew rank slides, a civvie pilot on a squadron canât put a set of wings on theres? Seems silly to me.
âAs we are allowing staff that are not aircrew to wear aircrew rank slides, perhaps there is an argument after all that those who are PPLs, CPLs, ATPLs etc in their civilian lives to wear âwingsâ as they can at least legitimately claim to be aircrew !â - This.
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Depends where you are, you local unit might be at establishment with no space remaining, have you spoken to the VGS OC whoâd be the one actually recruiting into the VGS staff rather than those others.
is answered byâŚ
now of those SNCOs who wear aircrew rank slides but are not pilots I cannot say, but I suggest 99% will be, certainly a small minority who will be SNCOs and not pilots on a VGS