Hmm - When I was a cadet I flew AEF with an AVM in a Bulldog. I remember thinking he was really senior by his rank tabs.
So have I.
I think it’s the Ex Officers, who held the rank, but revert to being Fg Off Bloggs for flying ops.
On paper they have the seniority and experience, but have been given the rank to allow a chain of command, to show whose actually running the show.
Seen a cadet squadron Plt Off OC, with Fg Offs, Flt Lts and a Sqn Ldr as Squadron officers.
Part time reservists can only wear rank when they are on duty / paid for their primary role. Other roles will require an additional commission for that role.
Chain of command and flying supervision can be totally different. AEFs have many pilots under flying supervision of OC AEF but not under command - rank is irrelevant.
Interesting - so the RNR Lieutenant (a former ATC cadet) that is a Service Helper in our wing shouldn’t be wearing her uniform or rank when supporting RAFAC?
as i understand it - reservists regardless of force are always SI and are permitted to wear their uniform even if they are not wearing it in their “primary role”
actually, it’s up to both their OC and OC Wing - this was discussed at a meeting I was at where an OC Wg was present
ok i stand corrected.
in my experience and those of reservist friends out side of my wing they all wear uniform - i guess OCs are happy for uniform personnel to wear uniform and act in such a manner
RAF Reservist officer, as an SI but also OC of a Sqn in the South…
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John Ford was Air Commodore RAF Ret’d, Group Captain RAFR and Fg Off RAFVR(T) I believe. That’s three hats!!!
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That’s the closes I’ve ever seen of just completing the RAF
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Very many years ago our Wing Admin Officer (that position is now titled WExO) held the rank of Squadron Leader (as a RAF Reserve Officer).
He was a retired Wing Commander in the RAF (a Wellington pilot in the Second World War) so was entitled to wear that rank at appropriate functions.
At the time, he was also a Chipmunk pilot at our AEF and for that role held the rank of Flying Officer RAFVR.
So he could legitimately wear a uniform in any of the three ranks dependent upon what he was doing at the time!
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And from my very brief interaction with him as a cadet, was also an all round good guy!
He did my commissioning board - so really it’s all his fault.
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I know another WAdO who was similar.
Retired RAF Wing Commander, RAFVR(T) Sqn Ldr and had some other rank through a CCF he was part of. All very confusing and he had a lot of different uniforms knocking about depending on what he was doing that weekend.
What else would there be? Maybe some time in the UAS and the regiment?
Or the Aux?
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I’m not a million miles away from full set. RAF, RAFVR, RAFVR(T) and CFC. Though I imagine there’ll be a few with that combo.
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As others have said it very much requires the authorisation of the primary chain of command; if people are wearing uniform and acting ‘on duty’ outside of their primary role without authorisation it opens up everyone to a whole world or trouble especially if they get hurt or do something naughty…
Ahh so it seems legit maybe but unusual that someone may have two commissions with different ranks.
Why would the VGS refer to someone though by the rank that’s not relevant on the context?
ACM Sir Roger Austin turned up at 6AEF as Fg Off Sir Roger. This caused me much confusion as the Squippers called him Sir Roger.
He greatly enjoyed the cadets having no idea who he was and just treating him like the other pilots. Being toadied to gets boring. (I’m told.)