ACF RANK

**slab** · 30-11-2005, 06:41

I agree with CRCR - it has turned into a bit of a bun fight! Woody 32 must be splitting his sides to see that his relatively inane starter has caused such a furore. IMHO I have never seen an AI get so far up his/her own backside that they think they have authority over a regular or TA soldier. Two further points:

1. ACF rank slides are clearly marked as such - for adults and cadets alike.

2. I am currently a humble "Potential Instructor" as I am still awaiting to to on my AIs course. I wear a red rank slide with the legend "Instructor". Rather than rank, should all AIs wear these, with the exception of Det/Sqn level commanders who should retain their "pips" (TA List B commission and all that).

Food for thought anyway.

**Fulltilt77** · 30-11-2005, 08:25

Originally Posted by slab

I agree with CRCR - it has turned into a bit of a bun fight! Woody 32 must be splitting his sides to see that his relatively inane starter has caused such a furore. IMHO I have never seen an AI get so far up his/her own backside that they think they have authority over a regular or TA soldier. Two further points:

1. ACF rank slides are clearly marked as such - for adults and cadets alike.

2. I am currently a humble "Potential Instructor" as I am still awaiting to to on my AIs course. I wear a red rank slide with the legend "Instructor". Rather than rank, should all AIs wear these, with the exception of Det/Sqn level commanders who should retain their "pips" (TA List B commission and all that).

Food for thought anyway.

The problems i have seen arise when said P.I.s attend and complete their I.T.C. and get give their stripes. A small power trip follows but soon calms down. There is the odd prize nugget, like the one i have been asked to kkep an eye on during his pre ITC training and file a report. ACF rank slides are clearly marked but only if the cadet/adult wears them (big no no in our county). I have them for all my C95s but not for my jumper, not enough shoulder titles to go around.

There are only the odd bad apple here and there and on the whole don't do any harm.
Oh and good luck with your course too.

**Tankie** · 30-11-2005, 09:25

The only people I have seen wear the red Instructor flashes are instructors at the AFV Gunnery School at Lulworth. They have to work very hard to get them and are justly proud to wear them. They may get a little upset if they were to find out that they were being worn as ACF insignia.

**Fulltilt77** · 30-11-2005, 09:54

All Rank slides for P.I.s have this 2 inch red tape on them, With the letters P.I. in big black letters on them. These have been used (or should have been) since 1999 when i joined the ACF. I got very attached to mine but had to hand them back after my ITC.

**tsar_Nikolas** · 30-11-2005, 10:00

For a start, Cadets should be wearing their brassards on the CS95, and not be wearing rank slides. If they are wearing rank slides, 'Cadet' should bewritten underneath it. All ACF adults should have ACF (Including Officers) written underneath their rank slides. This prevents confusion between adults and cadets, and between the ACF and the Regular Army (Including TA).

Full tit is correct, it should be a red flash with PI standing for Penis Inspector, ahem, sorry, Potential Instructor. Can be called an Instructor 'till you've done your AITC!

**Tankie** · 30-11-2005, 10:01

Glad thats cleared up then.

**slab** · 02-12-2005, 07:14

Ahem! I hang my head in shame - and will hand the slide back to the *cker that gave it me.

No disrespect meant to RAC instructors at Lulworth: I only ever went there on holiday after I left the Regulars!

Thread closed methinks.

**therealmikey** · 08-12-2005, 19:13

[quote="slab"]

2. I am currently a humble "Potential Instructor" quote]

Just to clear trhis common misunderstanding up: PI stands for "Probationary Instructor" not "Potential Instructor" Lots of us have made this mistake, including myself, until I was very publicly corrected!

Cadets should wear rank insignia on brassards, but rank slides are manufactured for junior NCOS (and sold by the cadet Kit Shop at Frimley) with ACF or CCF on the slide. I have no problem with cadets wearing those on Soldier95 shirts, or on combat jackets. However, a lot of them come to Blandford and go in the museum shop and come out wearing Royal Signals slides with blue chevrons on! Thats not acceptable.

I actually run course for adult instructors and their rank does not bother me at all. I will call a senior officer "Sir", but on the courses, all the adults are there to learn and should all stand a chance of reaching the same standard by the end of the course, whether they are officers or NCOs. So there is no need to be "humble" slab, you have just as much to offer as any other adult, and probably more than most.
Good luck!

**tsar_Nikolas** · 08-12-2005, 21:27

[quote="therealmikey"]

Originally Posted by slab

2. I am currently a humble "Potential Instructor" quote]

Just to clear trhis common misunderstanding up: PI stands for "Probationary Instructor" not "Potential Instructor" Lots of us have made this mistake, including myself, until I was very publicly corrected!

So there is no need to be "humble" slab, you have just as much to offer as any other adult, and probably more than most.
Good luck!

Probationary Instructor eh? Never heard that one before...I guess the title doesn't really matter, it just indicates an adult who should have a general idea of the ACF (I know there are ex regs about so I don't mean any disrespect, it's just the system!) and should be doing their AITC soon enough.

I think cadets SHOULD be allowed to where rank slides, as long as they are very clearly marked. But if there was a choice between brassard or rank slide, I'd choose the brassard any day. It's where they show off their badges that they earnt, so they should wear them!

Therealmikey is also right that you shouldn't be 'humble', I didn't mean to be rude. A lot fo battalions do things slightly different, and as long as that's what everyone else does, then it's fine. Rank, though important in the ACF, does have its limits, and it isn't necersarry to be too 'yes sir no sir' all the time. In front of the cadets it is very important, and when it comes to duty adults it is also very important that their authority isn't called into question. however, the balance is difficult!!

**polar69** · 08-12-2005, 21:33

Bleeding brassards look crap anyway , sick of trying the "five pence" trick for my son every parade night

**tsar_Nikolas** · 08-12-2005, 21:34

Originally Posted by polar69

Bleeding brassards look crap anyway , sick of trying the "five pence" trick for my son every parade night

Five pence crap?!

I think they look smart, but I have a pet hate of second brassards!

**dwills** · 08-12-2005, 23:18

Originally Posted by polar69

Bleeding brassards look crap anyway , sick of trying the "five pence" trick for my son every parade night

Sew the spare button onto the shoulder...

**slab** · 08-12-2005, 23:39

Thanks all for your comments.

Just got back from a parade night where I had to separate two of the little blighters (well 15 & 16) knocking seven shades of sh*t out of each other. Got them to kiss and make up only to discover that they continued their "discussion" outside the barrack gate (round the corner). Now I understand its settled.

. . . don't think my PI flash made much difference tonight.

ITC is booked for Feb!!