On the excellent C & E Region FB page, I noticed a number of uses of the following badge (spot the puzzle- or am I wrong?)
Surely the term ‘Air Cadet Organisation’ is a descriptive, rather than an actual formation title? Or is the label of the word “Region” sufficiently implicit within an organisational crest like this, to be redundant by it’s inclusion?
Or putting this another way: are all elements of the ACO that are located within the geographic boundaries of that (or any) Region, considered to be subordinate to it?
I would’ve thought the answer would be “No” on this point, since for example AEFs and VGSs would be under Group or HQAC command+control. Similarly, surely CCF(RAF) units within schools would be directly controlled and administered via Wg Cdr CCF HQAC?
Or: am I behind the times, either in terms of understanding Regional remits, or late in appreciating the significance of a rebranding (if this badge is intended to be representative of such a change)?
in organisational terms its irrelevent, nothing in the badge aludes to the Regional HQ’s role or purpose. what that might be is a matter for debate - is it an umbrella, a conduit, a roadblock…?
Crests like these are effectively meaningless logos primarily intended for internal use only and to allude to the formality/importance of some grandiose organisation to the outside world. You’ll probably find this crest was established when C&E Region was formed and someone thought putting ACO (in full) was a good idea, now the technology exists. Is it the same as the cloth badges handed out as ‘blues’?
I’ve been to companies with a very pretty corporate image alluding to a large organisation only to find them being a one man and his dog set up occupying a small unit on a trading estate, a house in a residential area or a few offices in a block. Doesn’t distract from what they do, just doesn’t fit the expectation.
