Re: OT: Military Ranks/Computers : WAS Re: newbie question

Howard Brazee wrote:
> On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:11:53 GMT, "James J. Gavan"
> <jgavandeletethis@shaw.ca> wrote:
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> 
>
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> Since I went to college and became a (USAF) pilot, I started off as an
> officer.   But that wasn't really a management position.

Well it could have been a 'management position' if you had been a
squadron commander - somebody has to be in charge :-).

Big assumption on my part - but get the impression you were only in USAF
for a comparatively short period, say five/eight years ? Now even there
had you been a flight commander within a squadron you would have been a
sub-manager. (I'm not using the terminology you probably would, but I've
no doubt you will get the gist).

If you think I'm being over sensitive about the caste system, (although
I did get recommended for a cadetship at RAF Cranwell twice - RAF
equivalent of Sandhurst or West Point), take the following :

Last years in RAF I was posted to NATO in Germany. Normally overseas
postings are a 2.5 year stint. As I was leaving the RAF it was only 2
years so that the last six months saw me back in UK to acclimatize and
prepare for civvy street. This was 1959. Anyway had to get a civilian
ferry boat from England's east coast at Harwich which took us to the
Hook of Holland.

As we were preparing to board a message came over the ship's tannoy
system. "Officers and their ladies can take refreshment in .......
Senior NCOs and their wives can take refreshment in ........ Soldiers
and airmen and their women can take refreshment in...... ". I kid you not !

You might also recall I once wrote that in WWII two fighter pilots
having shot down say two enemy planes apiece could be put forward for
gallantry. One could be a Pilot or Flying Officer, and the other a
sergeant pilot. They both roll up to Buckingham Palace to be presented
with their medals by George VI.  What do they get respectively - DFC
(Distinguished Flying Cross) for the commissioned officer and the DFM
(Distinguished Flying Medal) for the non-comm. Slightly less 'brave'
medal would have been the AFC or AFM. The 'Crosses' still exist but the
'Medals' have been discreetly dropped from the official list of awards.

Jimmy