May I ask, what was your response when people say “Thanks for all you do”
This is not a gotcha question, but a genuine question.
I’m newly uniformed so not had this… and it would be good to have a “stock response” just in case.
(The same as saying Good Morning/Afternoon To be polite if being saluted by a regular on the very rare occasion I see the inside of a on RAF station! Rather than “Thank you”)
I say “thank you”
Not because I am taking credit for the work of the regulars but for the reason that stopping to explain that actually I run an RAFAC sqn would possibly diminish their view of the forces and their original reason for thanking.
On occasion when people have followed up with a what do you do. I tell them the truth, I am the OC of an air cadet Sqn. Proudly.
@anon9987823 pretty much this ^^^^
It’s the odd occasion when getting a lunch meal deal on my way on to a training course, forgetting a pint of milk/something for dinner in Tesco Metro on my way home so never a situation which encourages long conversations with a complete stranger
Thanks … As a squadron we do many public events and we do get a lot of, albeit fleeting, interaction with the public… Good to have an idea of what others do so you don’t look like a blustering idiot* by trying to endlessly explain what it is we do when someone was just trying to pass a quick compliment, or appear ungrateful in those few moments someone is trying to say something nice…
*This is tricky, as blustering idiot is my default mode.
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oh when “working” at a public event it is completely different.
unlike comments made in the shops/on the street (and i confess this hasn’t happened in a while, only really when the Armed Forces are in the news (ie read wars) who tend to be a mix of all ages, even had a toddler salute me once) if the public wish to talk at events they are 99% a veteran, either Armed Forces, or former Cadet and wish to talk about their time/golden years in uniform, in the belief that we (CFAVs) have the time and are interested in what they say. I guess this comes down to that generation feeling more lonely than the rest of us, and see a familiar uniform so have a connection to spark up conversation.
the exception to this is the compliment paid in passing “your cadets are doing a wonderful job/look very smart/that young lad was very kind and well mannered, he’s a credit to you”
to which a “thank you Sir/Ma’am” is enough before they have walked past and out of earshot
i can’t think of an occasion i have needed to explain who i am/what we do - other than
“who are you then?”
“we’re 123 (Anytown) Squadron Sir”
“ahh i was a Cadet 456 (Townville), its long gone now but we won the Drill competition every year, our WO was a real bars…” and so it goes on
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i wear all arms commando qualification badge and para wings earned during a previous career on all appropiate uniforms and no one bats an eye lid
Alright mate we’ve all done stuff 
but as a military qualification why would it be questioned on a military “uniform”??
there are Senior RAF Officer who no doubt still wear their Wings yet haven’t flown a Tornado/Harrier/ in 10+ years - not relevant to their role but still worn.
as an example:
the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston flew Tornado GR4s but based on his biography via Wiki doubt has flown since 2015 at least - no his history as a pilot is not vital for the role, so why should he continue to wear it? we’ll it was earned (much like your commando and para wings) and is relevant to the organisation and uniform worn
I think people would bat an eye lid when non military insignia was worn - anyone fancy putting their BCU 2 star on their No1s?
Commando Dagger is also in the regs, so…
I dispute that’s ‘not relevant to their role’ anyway.
In the same way that in a civilian airline, there are non-flying jobs that require you to hold or have held an ATPL, you can’t be ODH for flying units if you aren’t a pilot.
By this I mean they no longer fly - the qualification/skill is no longer used.
I accept that the experience as a pilot is required for some roles…in much the same way GCSEs are. But GCSE/A-level/degree qualification badges aren’t worn as they’re not part of the organisation