Looks like the definition gives the walts a bit of wiggle room. Should be fairly simple for MOD to change the policy to add “cadet forces” to the non eligible section but there’s probably no desire to do so
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I don’t think they need to. It’s already been made clear that Cadet Forces are not part of any of the services.
The only loophole is any officers who held a VRT commission. The lack of eligibility is without question for anyone else.
I have one that I hardly ever wear, but that’s from regular army service. Can count on one hand the times I was given it in the Naughties.
No such thing as a VRT Commission, it’s a VR Commission in the (T) branch.
By the current eligibility it would also allow UAS to wear them as well as ACF Officers who were commissioned prior to the CFC coming in as they had Territorial Army Commissions of one sort or another (I assume CCF Army Sections would’ve had the same?).
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So can/should retired VR(T) revert to VR insignia on No1 & 5 HSD?
It means “Volunteer Reserve” or “Regular Reserve”!
Insignia I would say no, because their were dress regulations specially created to cover those in the Training branch.
Post nominals however it could be argued that the (T) wasn’t required. It makes perfect sense why we did it, especially when the active RAFVR was still around, but that doesn’t mean we were actually correct to do so, afterall if you are in the Engineering branch you don’t sign your letters off RAF(Eng).
I know what it means thanks, my point was is the system sufficiently robust enough to prevent an application from someone for whom the badge isn’t intended from being accepted.
Suppose it may depend where you held the highest rank? One of my good friends was a Sqn Ldr VR(T) but reverted back to Flt Lt VR(T) and currently holds Flt Lt CFC. When he retires, he is perfectly entitled to use the retired rank of Sqn Ldr, as he held the rank for over 2 years, but that would sit better with VR(T) insignia as he never held Sqn Ldr CFC, therefore RAFAC insignia. I on the other hand was Flt Lt VR(T) with time served (9 years) so could hold Flt Lt RAFVR(T) retired rank, however I am currently a Sqn Ldr CFC so if I retire I would prefer the wear No5 with Sqn Ldr rank and RAFAC pins when attending functions where it would be appropriate.
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my understanding was persons could only “retain” their rank in retirement if they reached Sqn Ldr (or equivalent) or above…although suspect this is as a title, which I don’t think you are referencing.
Attending a dinner as a retired Flt Lt is different to spending the next 30 years referring to yourself as Flt Lt J_M
“Morning Fawlty, papers in yet?”
IIRC from ACP20, Flying Officers and above may “retain” their rank, provided they have 10 years overall service and held the rank they use for at least 2 years.
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that character was “Major” which is the equivalent rank to Sqn Ldr and is a prime example.
I know someone who still goes by Grp Capt despite leaving the RAF some 15+ years ago
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Thought I’d resurrect. From what I remember, this was one of the bigger medal racks escorting the carriage of her late majesty.
Difficult to make out, but some interesting stuff on there. I think a lot of people got MVOs etc following the event, so I assume all the people escorting had already held duties as equerrys etc.
That appears to be the first of… 12!?
Edit: although there’s no cipher on the epaulette, so probably not an equerry.
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You’re confusing an equerry with an aide-de-camp.
Equerrys are officers posted full time to the service of a member of the Royal Family and are essentially an ‘executive assistants’. They don’t wear a cypher, but do wear shoulder boards and, when in office aiguillettes… The officer in the image is Wg Cdr (Rtd) Andrew Canale MVO MBE whe was Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II In the late 2000s.
Aide-De-Camps are honorary roles to which either senior armed forces officers or members of the royal family holding honorary or actual military ranks can be appointed to by the monarch all wear the royal cypher for the duration of their appointment. The royals appointed as ADCa are known as ‘Personal ADCs’ and get to retain the cyphers for life, as do the more senior ADCs (such as the Chief of the Air Staff), who are known as Principle ADCs. The others remove them after their appointment ends.
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I didn’t realise that.
I’ve obviously seen lots of people retaining their ciphers when perhaps they shouldn’t have.
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Found another, rather unusual, CFAV rack.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C358ULpIVJq/?igsh=MWhlZmdjNHA0eXQ3dA==
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What’s the black one?
Naval reserve decoration.
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It’s navy blue.
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