RAF promotions.

[BritinBritain]

Promotions in the RAF depended on the trade one was in. Some trades were promoted quite quickly while others were only promoted into dead man's shoes despite being qualified educationally and trade qualified.

There were also two rank structures, one tech, another non tech.

Tech trades ranks not included in the non tech trades structure were Junior Tech placed between Senior Aircraftsman and Corporal, and Chief Tech placed between Sergeant and Flight Sergeant.

My own trade M.T. Driver was classified as non tech, despite the fact we operated specialised equipment after passing the required trade test. We didn't simply jump into a truck or other vehicle and then driving it from A to B.

At times there was a lot of friction between tech tradesmen and non tech. I remember a heated discussion in the mess one night when one of the tech trade radio fitters declared “We can do the jobs of cooks and M.T. , but they can't do ours,” One of our M.T. Drivers jumped in, “What do you know about Hazmat, can you operate a mobile crane, what do you know about aircraft handling or crash equipment, what do you know about food recipes, food storage or food cross contamination?”
It almost come to blows.

In the Far East I remember there was a Corporal who had held his rank for something like 15 years, he was educationally and trade qualified for Sergeant, yet was never promoted.

If there was a vacancy on a station for Corporal or Sergeant, rather then promote someone on station who was qualified, someone from another station was posted in. That left a bitter taste in many people's mouths.

Senior Aircraftsman rank was never considered as a supervisory rank, yet every station I was on Senior Aircraftsmen ran the section at night and weekends in a supervisory role.

I was educationally and trade qualified for the rank of Corporal within 3 years, yet my chances of getting promoted beyond my rank of Senior Aircraftsman were very slim within the next 3 to 5 years, despite that I had managed to jump on every trade course that came up.

If I had completed 22 years I very much doubt I would have been promoted beyond Corporal. I suppose that was one of the reasons I took my discharge when I did.

I'd be interested as to the situation in other Air Forces or indeed other forces regarding promotion.

 

[42RM]

If you successfully have completed the Junior Command Course, then after approximately 3 years service a Senior Marine could be considered for promotion to Lance Corporal and if considered suitable after 8 years service, promotion to Corporal could be achieved.

Corporals who exhibit Senior Non-Commissioned Officer qualities will attend the Senior Command Course prior to promotion. If considered suitable, promotion to Sergeant could be achieved between 8 to 13 years. But a Corporal has to prove that he is capable of performing the exacting duties of a SNCO before promotion.

Promotion to Colour Sergeant, if considered suitable, could be achieved between 13 to 16 years. For those who aspire to attain Warrant rank, attendance on the Advanced Command Course for Warrant Officers is a requirement and if considered suitable promotion to Warrant Officer Class 2 could be achieved between 16 to 20 years.

The rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 is the senior Non-Commissioned rank in the Royal Marines. The person who holds this rank is a Royal Marine who has achieved many years of outstanding and loyal service. His length of service ensures that amongst other abilities he excels at subjects such as leadership, management, discipline, administration and the welfare of soldiers and their families.

 

[LeEnfield]

Didn't the RAF bring in Technical ranks to over come this where a chap would get promoted but never had the authority with the rank but just the pay. This over came the problem that some people are excellent with machines and other men can get the best out of the other men.

 

[BritinBritain]

Didn't the RAF bring in Technical ranks to over come this where a chap would get promoted but never had the authority with the rank but just the pay. This over came the problem that some people are excellent with machines and other men can get the best out of the other men.

During WW2 the airmen ranks were AC2 (untrained in any trade, general dog's body) AC1 trained and Leading Aircraftsman, which was then a supervisory rank. Airman had to stand to attention when speaking to him. There were no rank badges for AC2 or AC1, Leading Aircraftsman was a two bladed propeller

After WW2 the whole rank structure changed the ranks then become AC (untrained no rank badges) Leading Aricraftsman (two bladed propeller, trade trained but worked under supervison), Senior Aircraftsman (trade trained worked without supervision) and Junior Tech was introduced into Tec trades along with Chief Tech (four bladed propeller over 3 stripes)

To be totally honest, I have no idea why Junior Tech or Chief Tech was introduced in the first place, and as far as I am aware they were paid less then Corporals or Flight Sergeants.

When junior Tech was first introduced the rank badges were two inverted stripes, similar to US Army, but wasn't an NCO rank.

In non tech trades such as mine, Leading Aircraftsmen worked without supervision and Senior Aircraftsmen did actually supervise.

Today however, Junior Tech has been dropped, I'm not sure about Chief Tech.

In the RAF in my time, NCO ranks were less disciplinary (in practice) and more supervisory trade ranks, but they had the power to issue 252's and arrest. Disciplinary actions were usually the territory of Warrant Officers.

Promotion in the RAF in my trade was more or less dead man's shoes, which is why as I mentioned before, took my discharge when I did. Besides which I was due to get married, a Senior Aircraftsman pay in those days was not that good. I got a civi job right after discharge and was earning 3 times the salary for a lot less stress.

If you successfully have completed the Junior Command Course, then after approximately 3 years service a Senior Marine could be considered for promotion to Lance Corporal and if considered suitable after 8 years service, promotion to Corporal could be achieved.

This sounds similar to the JPC and SPC course run by the army.