I have never understood the idea or point of ambassadors in manner we have them. I am convinced the first 2 were for Dawn to get a few selfies with, and not to promote the organisation to the world the broader sense. On that point both of them had effectively passed their prime so not really in public eye. If we’d had Hoy when he was at the top of his game and likewise CV when she was doing Countdown, we may have got more out of them.
Why we have got this new one baffles me. From what I can gather via the internet, she hasn’t done it yet which makes the appointment a previous. Newspaper articles with the tag line “hopes to be” is not the same “she has done …”. She will have some currency and might get a few mentions on the news and few column inches when she’s doing it and if she achieves her goal. If she doesn’t “plucky girl comes close” or similar in the media and then forgotten and not really someone who would be able to promote the organisation. The fact she was in the RAF and the CAC seemingly knows her, should have no bearing on it.
As for RAF Officers met a number and not really set my world on fire, they do a job that may generate a few stories for the hangers on. I doubt many if any Officers would make good ambassadors, unless they have working contacts in the outside world who would be useful to the organisation as a whole.
As said our ambassadors need to be people that have the ability to get out there and promote us in the media, industries and areas that will benefit us and the cadets. Not just because they might look good in a photo with senior officers and or someone senior officers want to be seen with for personal reasons. We should have a number of ambassadors from different areas, such as industry, academia, sport and arts, in which they known, have decent media profile and active. Do they really need a uniform or rank?
I disagree with the point about being seen around the organisation. I knew a couple of rugby players in the 90s who were around when RU went pro. They were sponsored by different companies, who as part of the deal expected them to attend events where they ‘pressed the flesh’ and hopefully generate some business, and visit different offices/sites to meet the workers, present awards and open facilities. Getting things presented by a celeb ambassador, would be better photo for the scrap book than one with an here today never to be remembered senior officer tor similar.