Because
1- officers (particularly Plt Off and Fg Off) rank braid sits better when on a backing rather than loose. So happy that the backing matches the rest of uniform…else there is an argument for No2 uniform with No3 backing slides (ie why have the contradiction that blue backing is ok on No3 yet not vice versa?)
2- Officer rank braid is already blue…and thus not subdued.
Ps I’m against subdued rank slides full stop. Be it the full SNCO slides or “desert” coloured officer stripes
I once got told off by an ACF Colonel for not saluting him when he was cutting around Okehampton in subdued slides. I made a point, when he stopped me, of staring closely at his slides, remarking I thought they looked like captain slides, before saluting and walking off.
Total thorn injury.
i had a similar experience at Leconsfield
walking through one of the hangers and an Army officer (rank unknown, but escorted by a WO) walked past.
although i can’t match pips to rank, i know what an Officer slide looks like, but I couldn’t see it. I knew the WO was a WO, but the Officer wasn’t so obvious - so hoped for the best as I looked the other way as we passed only to be pulled up by the WO 3 paces later. A pleasant chat took place when he noticed we were CFAVs…with some kind words of re-education (although suspect he was ready to rip a new hole given his initial bark)
I’ve always struggled with WO2 vs Major. I mean, they could make them more different!
I wasn’t do lucky. Not only do they have stupid army rules like “wear your hat indoors”, they had a major with subdued rank casually hanging round waiting for unsuspecting people to not notice him and fail to salute him.
I was with 2 regular RAF and we all got a dressing down. I didn’t dare tell him I hadn’t seen his rank, and if I had I would have called him a warrant officer 
If in doubt I prefer to take the telling off for saluting a WO than not saluting a Major.
We teach Army ranks as local ACF CFAV seem to get more wound up than any other breed about this, despite being utterly clueless themselves about our or the RN’s ranks.
Ordinarily I’d have had a better attempt, but I do feel it is a bit rich to swan around in MTP with subdued slides and then get uppity for not being seen. Mixed messages somewhat…
And after all, you can’t tell the rank of an army person (normally) from their hat. There’s no excuse for the Army in not recognising RN and RAF officers.
I am sure that rumour control had it that there was a shed load of DPM (I think) which was going to be available to sqns on loan. Not sure they thought through the logistics of the plan though, espec returning it to Cranwell. If it did exist, I wonder what happened to it???
Out ACF Det cmdr (We share the same location) simply could not understand that 2 pips DID NOT equal 2 rings. He contended that is it’s Flt Lt then must be the same rank as army Lt. I think he got promoted to Major, say no more lol
I’d like to see him have that conversation with the Senior Service. Might end up walking the plank!
It’s the Air Force Jim, but not as we know it.
#spaceforce
At least the gold space course on ultilearn will have a decent badge to rep it…
Klingons on the starboard side, shake ‘em off Jim
A few days early for April Fools aren’t they.
Space Command have had their twitter account suspended…
#awks.
