Rank Slides

[hobbes]

Does anyone know the rules and regs for rank slides?

I've seen TCW, TSW, 1ACC 'personalised' rank slides, but I'm pretty sure they're not issue.

I did hear that TCW were ordered to take off their personalised ones and wear the standard blue at 901 EAW last year, as only RAF Regt & RAFP were allowed to wear desert flavour.

So if they're not issue, should people be wearing them? Or are they like squadron cummerbands, and only to be worn on the station that the unit/squadron is based?

 

[ninjarabbi]

AP1358 is the small God of dress regs. from what I remember the only rank slides that are allowed are the RAF Regt and RAFP. Everything else is illegal but I don't think anyone really cares!

 

[Realist78]

Does anyone know the rules and regs for rank slides?

I've seen TCW, TSW, 1ACC 'personalised' rank slides, but I'm pretty sure they're not issue.

I did hear that TCW were ordered to take off their personalised ones and wear the standard blue at 901 EAW last year, as only RAF Regt & RAFP were allowed to wear desert flavour.

So if they're not issue, should people be wearing them? Or are they like squadron cummerbands, and only to be worn on the station that the unit/squadron is based?

Even the Discip out here has taken to wearing a small enamelled USAF rank badge on his ddps, why? I haven't the bl00dy foggiest.DT_Xtremez_35:

 

[3OCLOCKFINISH]

On TCW we were issued with the slides, along with siggies flash and Unit badge.

As for the 901 issue if I recall correctly our Wing Co was adament that the slides would stay, after all TCW (90SU) are a formed unit so why should they constantly have to dance to the tune of whatever EAW they are supporting?

They often support up to five EAWs a year, either on Ops or exercise, it really does get as ridiculous that each and every time some over excited officer will try and make them conform by getting rid the slides/badges etc in favour of the EAW flash at the time.

3

 

[denthemen]

Even the Discip out here has taken to wearing a small enamelled USAF rank badge on his ddps, why? I haven't the bl00dy foggiest.DT_Xtremez_35:

I do believe our people that have to do a bit of liason with our colonial brethren wear a small US equivalent rank badge so that the said colonials can recognize the rank level they are dealing with......

 

[True Blue Jack]

On TCW we were issued with the slides, along with siggies flash and Unit badge.

As for the 901 issue if I recall correctly our Wing Co was adament that the slides would stay, after all TCW (90SU) are a formed unit so why should they constantly have to dance to the tune of whatever EAW they are supporting?

They often support up to five EAWs a year, either on Ops or exercise, it really does get as ridiculous that each and every time some over excited officer will try and make them conform by getting rid the slides/badges etc in favour of the EAW flash at the time.

3

I think your Wg Cdr should have another look at the EAW concept before digging his heels in like that.

Officially, as ninjarabbi has already said, 'tactical' rank slides have only been approved for wear by the RAF Regt and RAFP. Everybody else should wear blue rank slides whatever colour uniform they are wearing. However, since our SWO also wears green rank slides in CS95 I'm not that bothered.

However, if you look at the intranet at IBN 27/08 you'll find that moves are afoot to stop us wearing CS95 as routinely as we do. At least then the media might stop calling us "soldiers".

 

[JT 4 ever]

2 things..
Your Wing Co will be wearing the US rank as a display to the yanks so they know where abouts in the food chain he is. He'll have a lot of contact with the spams so thats why.
As for TCW etc wearing fancy rank slides... it coz they seem to think they are special, thats all, shouldnt be wearing them, they dont go into battle so they should be wearing blue ones.

 

[3OCLOCKFINISH]

I think your Wg Cdr should have another look at the EAW concept before digging his heels in like that.

Officially, as ninjarabbi has already said, 'tactical' rank slides have only been approved for wear by the RAF Regt and RAFP. Everybody else should wear blue rank slides whatever colour uniform they are wearing. However, since our SWO also wears green rank slides in CS95 I'm not that bothered.

However, if you look at the intranet at IBN 27/08 you'll find that moves are afoot to stop us wearing CS95 as routinely as we do. At least then the media might stop calling us "soldiers".

Really? I personally thought good on him for standing up for his lads rather than caving in to whatever Regt Sgt is there at the time.

My personal take on the EAW concept was to give a station a greater sense of 'togetherness' not to lump every other support unit in together when they already have their own identity.

At a certain hot and dusty exercise recently held this reared it's head again, it was a case of we are all part of XYZ EAW whether you like it or not, quite ironic I thought given that only 15% or so of the personnel were from the EAW home camp.

 

[FOMz]

Mmmmm - well there nothing in this that I can see that says you can't wear DPM rank slides.....

I can't see the problem if you've got an RAF numberplate on your chest.

 

[3Chordwonder]

When I was on the Wing (swings lantern...pulls up sandbag etc..) we always wore USAF badges when we were out in places like Incirlik & Riyadh, just so the dumbasses knew that we actually had some level of expertise they could recognise.

As I recall, as JT's we were authorised to wear Staff Sgt rank.

I also recall ISSU at STC attempting to get in the act a few years ago by asking it's guys and girls to buy some slides with "ISSU" emblazoned on them...I think they sold about 3 sets !!

 

[FOMz]

I always make sure when I go into theater, I know where I am on the food chain when talking with the colonials. If they ask me what rank I am - I always reply with 'One higher than you mate'

Of course that doesn't work with the colonial zobs - but you get the drift.

 

[DE Scumbag]

I always make sure when I go into theater, I know where I am on the food chain when talking with the colonials. If they ask me what rank I am - I always reply with 'One higher than you mate'

Of course that doesn't work with the colonial zobs - but you get the drift.

Just tell them you are a "chief", end of problem.

 

[Get Tae]

I have a set of sandy ones with "RAF TECHIE TG1" underneath my chiefy rank to make sure all the minions know I am one of gods children.

No-one has picked me up for it yet....................

 

[3wheeledtechie]

My personal take on the EAW concept was to give a station a greater sense of 'togetherness' not to lump every other support unit in together when they already have their own identity.

Really, and I thought it was just another entity to give a command tour to a zob. Must be jaded and cynical or something....

 

[RAF Bird]

Well we allways got them issued on TSW. It's useful for people to recognise who your with and most brits know who TSW/TCW etc are.

I still wear mine now but with the TSW bit folded over and until Mr SWO/any NCO/Officer points out that I'm not supposed to do I shall continue to do so. I dont really see what the problem is tbh.

 

[Mad Pierre]

20 years ago we had to purchase our TCW slides. We did it because we were pretty much always in greens and it differentiated us from the 19 Sqn Rocks also based at Brize and from our own Royal Sigs Sqn. There were many rumours that we weren't supposed to wear them and I heard a few barrack room lawyers tell me they were 'illegal' but we always had the full backing of our Wing Co who also wore them whenever in green.

More importantly I found that mine identified me to the cooks at MCSU when we were out with 1(F) Sqn and I got extra food. Those Sqn boys really did dump on their support staff, bad move guys...... DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Cooheed]

I have a set of sandy ones with "RAF TECHIE TG1" underneath my chiefy rank to make sure all the minions know I am one of gods children.

No-one has picked me up for it yet....................

I would you antagonistic barsteward!! Bet you wear the same crappy cloth as your dodgy mate eh?? DT_Xtremez_19:

 

[DE Scumbag]

I would you antagonistic barsteward!! Bet you wear the same crappy cloth as your dodgy mate eh?? DT_Xtremez_19:

I have no idea what that means!

 

[ady eflog]

However, if you look at the intranet at IBN 27/08 you'll find that moves are afoot to stop us wearing CS95 as routinely as we do. At least then the media might stop calling us "soldiers".[/QUOTE]

Its because your greens are 3 times more expensive than you blues. Yet another cost cutting measure and to be honest unless you are hiding under trees all day why are you wearing them anyway? I know of a Sqn on the A1 that was told to wear them so the Navy and Air force looked the same. what a joke.

 

[Get Tae]

I would you antagonistic barsteward!! Bet you wear the same crappy cloth as your dodgy mate eh?? DT_Xtremez_19:

Mr Cooheed I would expect nothing more!!DT_Xtremez_14:

I had some of those cloth things you refer to made up but never took the time to get them put on my uniform unlike the dodgy one did last time!!!