The Sparks Badge
The Sparks Badge
Apparently, when queried the Trade Sponsor came up with the following answer:
The wearing of the ‘Sparks’ badge by TGs1/2 was a perennial question and often came up during AFBLT presentations. The use of the ‘Badge Qualification, Telecommunication Personnel’ (8455-99-1355614) like most things military, has its roots in the historical past. It was awarded to both air and ground engineering personnel in the communications trades.
With the amalgamation of the various aircraft ‘L Fitt’ trades in the ‘70s and ‘80s (L Fitt FS, L Fitt AR, L Fitt AC etc), communications became only a small part of the TG2 Avionics Trade. Under the new multi-skilling strategy where the Air Electrical trades are combined with the Avionics trade to become A Tech Av, the communications aspect becomes even more diluted.
Whilst in April 2005 the RAF Dress Policy Committee ratified the issue of the 'Sparks Badge' to TG4 personnel, The Air Engineering Trades Sponsor believes the new TG1 feel secure enough not to have a need to wear a trade badge. The Heavy aircraft trades do not have a ‘spanner’ badge to wear, the admin trade do not wear a pen badge, it provides no added value and we see no need for one for the new Av trade.
It has been the intention of the Trade Sponsor that for the Aircraft Trades, the old ‘Sparks’ badge should die out with the demise of the legacy TG1/2 Avionics Eng Tech Av. Cosford do not issue the badge for Assim courses, and will not be issuing the badge for graduates from the Av FT course due to start in 2007.
1. Personnel from TG1/2 who are currently entitled to wear the ‘Sparks’ badge (Eng Tech Av and that ilk) will retain that right.
2. Assimilated TG1/2 ex – Air Elect tradesmen will not be entitled to the badge.
3. The new TG1 multi-skilled trade, A Tech Av FT graduates will not be issued with the badge.
4. The badge for TG1, is obsolescent, and will disappear with the diminishing population of legacy Av tradesmen.
Well thats that then!