This convo happens annually and the answer is always no it wont change
As said above, Officer rank insignia is already on blue backing as it is a light blue band on a dark blue backing.
In the past some over-zealous NCOs use to try to enforce that officers couldn’t wear the back insignia. As a Plt off I did upset a few FSs when pointing them out as wrong & putting them back in the box.
The sub due rank backing for officers is what isn’t permitted & as said above won’t change.
Interestingly also illustrated/discussed before.
https://forum.aircadetcentral.net/t/blue-rank-slides-unless-youre-an-air-cdre/7586?
Who do you want to be less conspicuous from?
The enemy
It is perfectly acceptable to remove rank slides during any demos.
Since when were HQAC seen “in the field”?
In that sense, never. But in the wider world of the RAF and military, you wouldn’t want a blue rank slide on a green uniform, as the contrast is a bit noticeable.
So would be good to use in training exercises.
We are not in the RAF or the military (which are the same thing…), we have no place for subdued rank slides.
And, more to the point, even when you are in the various parts of the military, when you are in basic training you do wear things that clearly identify you as trainees. So a blue rank slide for some is appropriate.
I believe in some sections of cadet field craft (particularly blank firing) directing staff with patrols have to wear hi vis jackets for H&S reasons.
A little blue patch on a rank slide, particularly at night will not be noticeable.
Throw in the pink rucksacks & the multi-coloured bobble hats and the stealth bit of cadet fieldcraft become a bit of a token aspect.
However the best/most annoying bit when I was a cadet doing all the fieldcraft bits was the the contingent photographer who would often take a photo of us whilst in ambush positions waiting for the patrol to come past.
I don’t know which was more blinding - the trip flares or the Canon EOS flash system.
Anyhoo - we digress.
To be fair, the Ukrainians have been cutting around with blue tape attached to their arms whilst fighting the Russians…
Isn’t that one of the rules contained within Pam 21? The reason, IIRC, is to allow safety staff to be easily identified, should there be be a need to (accidents, incidents etc). I don’t believe it’s a cadet thing.
No requirement under CTR for anyone to be wearing hi-viz but I am aware of some training areas where the ECO and safety staff have to have hi-viz.
I have seen on SENTA when live fire exercises are going on the DS, safety supervisors etc all wear hi vis for identification purposes.
Honestly buddy….does this just boil down to wanting to look ally on the training area and nothing to do with functionality? If it’s such an issue for demos etc, just remove your rank slide, easy stuff.
If people need to see your rank slide to know who is in charge…
You’re an SNCO in the Air Cadets, not fighting on the frontline!!. There is absolutely no requirement for you to be “less conspicuous”. And if you’re on a military training ground I’m sure they would rather you were noticeable. If it bothers you that much… commission!? or join the frontline!!!
In all fairness, allyness does save lives.
Which is why I have Arc’teryx and wear my subdued rank tabs around the unit.
Ze Germans?
Surely if we were going really tactical no one would wear any rank slides? Really foil those snipers.