Could someone out there in the great ACC world tell me what the gospel according to ATF is with regard to wearing the white tabs?
I have been off the grid for a while due to work commitments but was “pleasantly” surprised to receive through the post to my home address from Wing a small envelope with two Officer Cadet tabs in it. I was surprised as I had never applied for commission but thought, hoh-hum. I stress there was no note, joke or novelty gift enclosed with the tabs
It appears all us “young” Sgts; those horrid oiks who have yet to attend ATF, have to wear them. Now, is this instead of our Sgt rank slides? With them? Do I shape them into humorous and slightly rude shapes? Oh, the questions stirring through my limited brain were numerous.
On further investigation, someone mentioned to me that as a retired SNCO Regular in the Army I would not have to wear them but would still have to go to ATF for my SSIC. (I knew I had to anyway, but he was so kind I didn’t have the heart to shoot him down)
So, if any of you wise owls out there could assist that would be fan-dabbi-dozey!! Many thanks
Could someone out there in the great ACC world tell me what the gospel according to ATF is with regard to wearing the white tabs?
I have been off the grid for a while due to work commitments but was “pleasantly” surprised to receive through the post to my home address from Wing a small envelope with two Officer Cadet tabs in it. I was surprised as I had never applied for commission but thought, hoh-hum. I stress there was no note, joke or novelty gift enclosed with the tabs
It appears all us “young” Sgts; those horrid oiks who have yet to attend ATF, have to wear them. Now, is this instead of our Sgt rank slides? With them? Do I shape them into humorous and slightly rude shapes? Oh, the questions stirring through my limited brain were numerous.
On further investigation, someone mentioned to me that as a retired SNCO Regular in the Army I would not have to wear them but would still have to go to ATF for my SSIC. (I knew I had to anyway, but he was so kind I didn’t have the heart to shoot him down)
So, if any of you wise owls out there could assist that would be fan-dabbi-dozey!! Many thanks ;)[/quote]
AP1358C states as an Ex reg SNCO you dont have to wear them it however still states that the SNCOs wear whit tabs without stripes and with ATC pins in im sure a policy letter went out aout this a few weeks ago its all still very new
in two cases i know of ex-SNCOs from the regular forces were appointed as FS rather than Sgts…i’m not suire how bothered you are about rank (or the extra £5/day) but thought i would mention it
given you have been sent white tabs i would predict they (Wing) dont know of your ex-service and thus have not considered the option to appoint you as a FS…
They will only appoint some one a FS if they live reg service as a FS or S/Sgt C/Sgt same as if you leave as a WO you will start as a WO if you leave as a Sgt you stay Sgt
I have moved this to the uniform section.
I have just realised how all these posts end up in Introductions – when one uses the red ‘New Topic’ button, it automatically selects the introductions category! #MysterySolved
Apparently not Zinggy. I left as SSgt but despite Wing’s recommendation, Region declined it. I don’t know why even though a RN L/Seaman (= Cpl) was given it about a year before. Not too bothered really, doesn’t excite me like it did a Fsgt in a Sqn I was in before.
Thanks Gunner.
I was informed that it was turned down by Region Commander and I guess if he doesn’t want to give me a reason then that’s his privilege. My WWO has been a diamond trying to fight my angle, but, hey, life goes on. Just chuffed to be back in the fold.
with a traditional CFAV needing to tick a selection of boxes nowadays to prove thier worth in the ACO environment none of these criteria would be passed by a ex-WO (attending camps, held a Sqn management position etc) unless there is a requirement for ex-regulars to be CIs for X period (12 months?) but even that would be a busy 12 months to tick the box.
when i look at a rank, Staff or Cadet i have an expectation on their abilities…i’m not trying to play down the experience an ex-regular would have but not all of it is relevant to what a ATC WO does or is expected to know/have experience of and there would create a greater variation in the “minimum” standard of what relevant (ATC) experience a WO has achieved
seems a little inconsistent that some have to jump through various hoops to gain promotion to justify it, while others having not jumped through those hoops are appointed to the top rank from the off.
i can see justification at all ex-regular NCOs going in as FS in recognition for thier previous service, but the ACO and the RAF are difference organisations, the role of WO is different and feel this should be acknowledge by working towards it…
would this be the same for an ex-regular Officer? a (VRT) Flt Lt tends to be a CO or someone with 10+ years of ATC Officer experience, again i am not trying to play down regular service but an RAF Officer and an VRT ATC Officers roles and responsibilties differ greatly.
it seems odd that someone with no previous ATC experience r
My real concern wrt to ex SNCOs or Officers coming in at their old rank, is the differences between cadet forces and regulars, in terms of personnel and the way we operate and the differences between the cadets and adults, encountered in the regulars. I’m not suggesting that they can’t retain the rank, there needs IMO to be ‘bedding in’ period, where they suss if the cadet forces and all the vagaries they entail are for them and not expect a scaled down version of their former life.
I remember a former Sgt Mjr (who came in as a WO - in the old days - and later on commissioned) saying it took him 2/3 years to adjust to not having people asking how high when he said jump and having idiots up the chain who seemed to be oblivious to the fact we had day jobs that coincided with their day jobs and did cadets when they were tucked up with ‘pipe and slippers’. He was amazed that sqns ran, given that you were never quite sure how many of your staff would be there any given night.
