SSsssssh I hear a whisper… well not quite true I recall browsing Bodger for something the other day and seeing a letter from one of RWO’s that T&Ls will soon be back well at least a few.
The letter was mentioning the new White Tabs for SNCO pre ATF but the 2nd part of said letter mentioned that the ACO had now been Granted 12 T&L badges… 1 x CACWO 1x Corp Band 1x WO Disc, 1 Per RWO and 3 Spare for Her Airship to award at her discretion… could this realy be true…
Umm, we already have CACWO, Band and RWO wearing them?
Current CACWO doesn’t wear the Royal Coat of Arms.
i heard this in Jan at our Wing Conference, limited to those who are ex T&L wearers in regular service…
doesnt bother me personally i can’t get exciting about something i am not entitled to wear
I’ll run the book on how long it takes wokkaman to get excited and start creaming his coffee over them.
Bets start at £1, cash to the RAFBF 
Didn’t they used to? (inc RWOs). I vaugley recall a large parade a few years back with a few wearing them.
I thought they’d always been worn by AWOs who had been WOs in the Armed Forces?
[quote=“thetopcat69” post=8370]SSsssssh I hear a whisper… well not quite true I recall browsing Bodger for something the other day and seeing a letter from one of RWO’s that T&Ls will soon be back well at least a few.
The letter was mentioning the new White Tabs for SNCO pre ATF but the 2nd part of said letter mentioned that the ACO had now been Granted 12 T&L badges… 1 x CACWO 1x Corp Band 1x WO Disc, 1 Per RWO and 3 Spare for Her Airship to award at her discretion… could this realy be true…[/quote]
See if any of the Bristol type people have see the letter sure it came from their RWO.
Here is the official email from the CACWO with reference to T&L’s for WO (ATC). The title of the email was “RAF WO Badge”
[quote]Ladies & Gents
It is my great honour to inform you that today the Comdt ACO has announced that the RAF have given permission for the RAF WO Badge to be reintroduced into the ATC after 25 years since its removal. We owe two people a huge debt of thanks as without Air Commodore McCafferty and the CASWO’s support this would not have been possible.
It comes with a strict criteria and in limited numbers but it is a huge step forward in the recognition of our Cadre by the Senior Management team of the RAF. We are also very fortunate that the CASWO was so impressed with the quality of WOs and SNCOs that he has encountered during his time in post that he changed his mind from being against the idea to fully supporting it. All those that will wear the RAF WO Badge will be briefed personally by the CASWO as to the standards he expects.
The RAF have granted 12 roles to carry the RAF WO Badge and they are as follows
6 x RWOs
1 x Corps Bandmaster
1 x Corps Drill & ceremonial WO
1 x CACWO
3 x At Comdt ACO discretion.
This is a huge testament to how we are now seen by the RAF and it reflects how much we have improved since 2002 when our position was authorised by HQAC. We have approached our weaknesses and problems and systematically addressed them, thus slowly removing the hurdles placed before us by other.
I will let you know more as information is released.
Kindest regards as always and well done to you all
Gaz
[/quote]
Told you… and just spent half hour trying to find the link I saw again, was just about to post it and Merlin Got there first.
Although it pleases me greatly that the RAF have taken the time to consider this issue and have been impressed with what they’ve seen, I can’t help but feel “meh” because a) it doesn’t affect me as an officer, b) I don’t see the need or want to wear them anyway, and c) aren’t there bigger issues the RAF could be helping us volunteers with at the moment, like, you know, flying our cadets?
Absolutely.
I find the clamour to wear T&Ls a little embarrassing.
[quote=“ex-bawtryboy” post=8374]I’ll run the book on how long it takes wokkaman to get excited and start creaming his coffee over them.
Bets start at £1, cash to the RAFBF :-)[/quote]
Old news
True, but everyone likes recognition, babes cry for it, soldiers die for it.
On the flip side lets see how many walk when they get rid of the class A commission. Then we will see how passionate people are about status.
In my opinion it should be all or none.
What’s the point in giving it to the people at HQAC & RHQ level? Hardly a pat on the back for the SNCOs doing the actual work at Sqns.
It’s all a bit elitist.
True, but everyone likes recognition, babes cry for it, soldiers die for it.
On the flip side lets see how many walk when they get rid of the class A commission. Then we will see how passionate people are about status.[/quote]
I see your point but it the two aren’t similar at all really. This allows 12 WOs in the ACO to wear a badge. It doesn’t change their appointment, and it won’t have a tangible effect on the 99% of WOs who don’t get to wear it. Indeed, how many people have ever met their Regional WO, the CACWO or the Corps Band master?
On the other side, changing the commission will effect EVERY officer in the ACO, and doesn’t grant a few a special entitlement to anything, it removes it!
If anything it would be comparable to allowing 12 officers the right to wear a sash. Doesn’t offer anything to the cadet experience, only serves to make those wearing it feel important and doesn’t make them comparable to any regular who wears one in anything but looks.
The only times I’ve ever come across any sort of ‘issue’ with our current badge is when working with the ACF or SCC when it appears that our WOs are lower than their WO1s because of the different badge. I’ve only even seen that cause an actual problem once, and that was simply because the WO1 in question was being an ■■■■.
Whilst I don’t feel there’s any great need to change things, if change were being looked at I’d suggest giving CWO the single crown; and introducing WO2 (ATC) with the crown and laurel, and keeping a WO1 (ATC) rank for those in specific appointments or with other suitable qualifying criteria. Give them the T&L’s.
That’s very much the way the SCC do it if I’m not mistaken.
That in my mind would be a logical approach. I do think that becoming a WO after only 8 years is crazy. Introducing WO2 would give further time for development and would also remove any issues around the “it should be T&L for everyone or not at all” debate.
Make it 6 years to FS, 10 years to WO. WO only for suitable position (Sector WO and above, or large sqn senior OR). T&Ls for all WOs who gain them under my new system, or who can be be backdated to ‘fit’.
Simples.
[quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=8408]The only times I’ve ever come across any sort of ‘issue’ with our current badge is when working with the ACF or SCC when it appears that our WOs are lower than their WO1s because of the different badge. I’ve only even seen that cause an actual problem once, and that was simply because the WO1 in question was being an ■■■■.
Whilst I don’t feel there’s any great need to change things, if change were being looked at I’d suggest giving CWO the single crown; and introducing WO2 (ATC) with the crown and laurel, and keeping a WO1 (ATC) rank for those in specific appointments or with other suitable qualifying criteria. Give them the T&L’s.
That’s very much the way the SCC do it if I’m not mistaken.
That in my mind would be a logical approach. I do think that becoming a WO after only 8 years is crazy. Introducing WO2 would give further time for development and would also remove any issues around the “it should be T&L for everyone or not at all” debate.[/quote]. The problem with this is we us the RAF rank structure there is no WO1 or WO2 in the RAF.
There’s no single crown in the RAF either but we use it in the ATC.
Things can always be made ‘to fit’ where necessary.