All RAFAC badges have the same crest: the Astral crown.
If nothing else, eventually I will have people stop using the word ”crest” when talking about badges. 
Across the breadth of everything that can be connected loosely with heraldry, it’s the one word that seemingly everyone consistently uses when they should in fact be using another word (armourial achievement, badge etc), yet NEVER when they finally try to actually refer to a genuine crest… 
But at this point everyone could just be trolling me. I wouldn’t pick up on it.
3 Likes
Of all your goals this is the least achievable 
4 Likes
Insignia: A distinguishing badge or emblem of military rank, office, or membership of an organization.
Crest: A distinctive device representing a family or corporate body, borne above the shield of a coat of arms (originally as worn on a helmet) or separately reproduced, for example on writing paper.
Emblem: A heraldic device or symbolic object as a distinctive badge of a nation, organization, or family.
Badge: A small piece of metal, plastic, or cloth bearing a design or words, typically worn to identify a person or to indicate membership of an organization or support for a cause.
A badge is typically thought of as the as the physical object that that has an emblem or crest printed or embroidered upon it.
Whilst the above dictionary entries have overlaps, insignia is most commonly used in relation to the military, crest most commonly used in relation to family and corporations and emblem is more nationalistic.
he casts
From your own source, the crest is the helm, crown, etc, on top of the arms.
This one did make me chuckle. I’ve been dealing with various aspects of heraldry for over 30 years and have heard all sorts of incorrect references.
My favourite is the publics interchangeability of crest, coat of arms and armorial, with many thinking they are the same thing.
2 Likes
That’s why I’m so keen to bring clarity to the subject and get the organisation a bit more engaged with it.
For something we clearly care so much about up and down the country, because we see the value in having visual identities, smart ceremonial banners etc and we take so much pride in supporting the parent service and parading through towns and cities, we labour under some pretty big misconceptions and can be quite resistant to doing it properly.
I find that inconsistency to be a bit difficult to grasp.
4 Likes
Is this still the expected timescale to get badge/crest cleared, 6 years?!?!
What are squadrons supposed to do in the short/medium term?
Use the ATC, RAFAC branding. That works too.
Also the 6 years, I think it’s now a few months. But @OC.1324 can best advise.
3 Likes
This is correct. Prior to units of the RAFAC being permitted to petition for their own unique badges in the early 2000s, the ATC / CCF badges were authorised for use by the Inspectorate of RAF Badges and the Inspector of Regimental Colours respectively.
We now also have the RAFAC Logo as a brand.
Regarding timelines, they continue to increase as units rush to join the queue. My advice continues to be to get on the bandwagon ASAP, as news is getting out and many units want some of the action.
The pace is now cruising along nicely (I’ve just had a third badge granted for December 2025), and I continue to hope that we may be able to speed up even more once all the commonwealth military badges have been updated post coronation. The gains we’ve seen thus far are my streamlining of process and responsiveness to requests — it’s been a busy year!
1 Like
We’ve put ours on challenge coins which we’re giving out to all enrolled cadets in lieu of a 3822.
4 Likes
Ooh, can you share cost / supplier?
Please share more!
I’d love to put together a little info package on cool ways unit badges have been used.
Challenge coins are also a classic for shadowing appreciation on visits etc.
We used this company, custom made:
Cost was £3.85 each ex VAT.
3D Double Sided Enamel Coins Size: 35mm Colours: Up to 4 Colours Plating: Antique Gold
50pcs @ £6.10 ea. (Total: £305.00 ex. VAT)
100pcs @ £3.85 ea. (Total: £385.00 ex. VAT)
3 Likes
I can’t show you the design because obviously it gives away who I am, but one side is the sqn badge in the proper colours, the other is the beret badge with the unit name around the edge, all the same colour.
We paid £5.53 each (including VAT) for 75 around 4 years ago.
The supplier we used had access to the MoD image portal, which is useful but adds some rules and bureaucracy as per my post from 2021 
1 Like
Ah well, too late now!
Wait it’s not obvious?
1 Like