Volume 48, No. 14, August 10, 2006
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READY FOR FUTURE: Single wing brevets, such as those worn by navigators, will be replaced by the end of 2006, with all non-Pilot officer aircrew to wear the full wing Southern Cross brevet. The policy also looks ahead to changes in the future of the role of many aircrew. |
AIRCREW officers wearing the single wing brevets have until the end of the year to change to the full wing Southern Cross brevet.
Two major factors lie behind Chief of Air Force’s policy, which requires those who wear the old single wing ‘N’, ‘AE’ and ‘FC’ brevets to change to the full wing.
Firstly, when the Southern Cross brevet was introduced in 1998, it was designed as a common qualification badge for all non-Pilot officer aircrew, with its full wing style reflecting the common, airborne nature of their duties rather than specific specialist training.
In 2002, Air Force Headquarters released a policy which required all officers who graduated as Navigators or Fighter Controllers, or were commissioned as Airborne Electronic Analysts, on or after December 17, 1998, to wear the new brevet.
Those graduating or commissioned before this date could make the changeover or continue wearing the old single wings. However, those who chose the latter option were advised at the time that no more of the old style brevets would be purchased and that once stocks ran out, they too would need to make the changeover.
CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd considers that a more than reasonable transition period has now passed and the time has come to phase out the old brevets and for all non-Pilot, officer aircrew to wear the one flying badge.
Secondly, with the ongoing introduction of new aircraft and systems into the Air Force, the role played by many aircrew will be changed significantly.
The skills required in the future will not always be those acquired in the past and, with this in mind, CAF has directed that the old brevets, which designate skill sets no longer traditionally used, should be phased out.
This view is shared by all members of the Senior Leadership Group of Air Force, many of whom are non-Pilot aircrew.
Throughout the history of the Air Force, a number of brevets associated with various aircrew categories have been withdrawn and, in many cases, new ones reflecting different skill sets, have been introduced to take their place.
For example, from WWII until the mid 1960s there was a Signaller category, whose members wore an ‘S’ brevet. This group was replaced in 1964 by Airborne Electronic Officers, whose brevet bore the letters ‘AE’. Similarly, Gunners, with their ‘G’ wing, who crewed RAAF aircraft in the past, are no longer an aircrew category.
The sentimental attachment to the old brevets by some aircrew is understood and the fine record of service achieved by those who wore them in the past acknowledged.
At the same time, the Southern Cross brevet, rather than the present range of single wings, better reflects the role of the Air Combat Officer, a soon-to-be-introduced category whose duties are currently in the final stages of development.
