Can understand and that from a cadet vs staff cadet point of view (although we could now just guillotine that aspect from August 26)
I don’t understand the RAF drive for it to occur with flight staff cadets & the eagle.
Part of what reduces costs for cadet forces is using the same uniform as regulars as much as possible so there is more order in bulk. The more you deviate away from that the greater the uniform costs become.
All we needed to do was keep producing staff Cadet ones as they are, but start producing ‘Cadet’ ones in the same style.
These look gash 
I almost wouldn’t hate it if they followed AAFC colours, even if that means changing the A/Sgt rank tabs, but the yellow colour is just repulsive. There must have been colours (or at least hues) that would look less jarring against the rest of the rankslide.
I’m also slightly jarred by flight cadets getting the bird tbh, that’s gonna be weird. And if they’re in No1s for whatever reason do they now have to procure an aircrew bird too?
Watch out ranks to be replaced with blue, bronze silver, gold cadet epaulettes.
Its two thirds of the way there…
I think the idea with the flight staff cadet specific slides was to identify them given they need DBS checks now even under 18. But it’s still worth distinguishing who is u18 and o18 I guess. So the colour element would provide that distinction, even if both slides said “flight staff cadet”
Tbf if they’re rethinking the ranks and making insignia out of thin air, especially if they’re making normal cadets wear empty tabs now, is it time for Cdt AR, Cdt AS2 and Cdt AS1? AS2 being First Class Cadet, AS1 being Leading?
Would the flying suit not be distinguishing enough?
Probably. But as I understand it there are FSCs at AEFs too, where “regular” cadets will also be wearing flight suits. I’m just trying to pass on the “logic”, doesn’t always mean I can explain it 
Honestly, the term ‘Flight Staff Cadet’ for under 18s is just overly confusing, given they are not staff cadets. The solution here is surely to rename them, rather than come up with colour coded rank slides to try and stop the confusion.
and harder to source as there are fewer required, thus fewer in stock.
anyone could get hold of “RAF Generic Cpl/Sgt/FS” slides back in the day from almost all sources of uniform.
since these Cadet specific slides it is harder and forces people to go online and get “copies” from 3rd party suppliers in the hope of getting some
Cadet Direct presumably rubbing their hands with glee right now…
Between the beret, brassard, obvious age and all round sullenness of the majority of cadets, do they really need another way of being identified that they’re not active service military?
Anyway, the yellow ones are reminiscent of the old white ones which as I recall had a very unsavoury nickname…
The official ones are bad enough, imagine how awful the Cadet Direct versions will be 
Berets and brassards aren’t always worn, No. 3 uniform is often worn without distinguishing badges, but a cadet NCO is unlikely to ‘forget’ to wear their rank slides and so incorporating the cadet identifiers into those makes sense. We already did the same for staff cadets and uniformed CFAVs.
The age difference for JNCOs and non-commissioned aircrew isn’t very much at all.
Have they sacked off the Dickie Birds?
Not officially, but I see more blank plates than badged ones (and I’m not just talking RAFAC).
Why do we need the ‘cadet’ ones at all…
In blues does the brassard not give it away?
In greens we wear the cadet TRF.
Cost cost cost.
Yet other elements are left to wilt.
I think the cadet ones really do have their place. I’ve seen photos in the past on Facebook where I have no clue who’s a cadet, who’s a regular, and who’s CFAV.
Especially with RAF direct entry SNCO. We have cadets who look a lot older than some regular Sgts.
And the TRF is only seen from one side. At least a new slide adds another angle. Often photos are taken from the front anyway. As is, you won’t see the TRF.
Here’s my question.
Would the FSCs only wear these rank slides when on duty or will they be wearing them when on Sqn also?
Could certainly see a two-tier hierarchy/rivalry of Cdt FSs vs. FSC Cdt FS…