They seem to like the old days when Canada was a colony to the Mother Country. Must be because they are turning our armed forces into a colonial entity again.Case in point... The Canadian Forces has become the RCAF again, the RN again and the Canadian Army. I guess they forgot about the army when they did that retro-change. But don't be afeared my gun-toting friends. What used to be a private in the army will go back to being called a trooper, bombardier, rifleman, fusilier or a guardsman depending on which unit you are in. What happened to the Sappers and the Miners, or the Gunners and the Wheelers, my honourable friends. Did you overlook them?
Even the flags on our ships are being repositioned to mimic the British Royal Navy.Now the familiar maple leaf rank designations for officers is about to be changed to British pips... you know, those diamond shapes that are more recognizable than the Maple Leaf.
I wonder when the Minister of Finance will be renamed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
Please read your history. The specific rank titles by unit have never gone away. They have been in use since day 1 of that particular unit. It is not a mysterious or a new thing.
ReplyDeleteThe maple leafs are only used for General or Navy Flag ranks not every officer.
The Navy is a child of the RN and putting the flag back were it belongs as a honour and battle flag. Also it shows that it is a warship not a civilian ship.
I am always pleased when people respond. Too bad they won't identify themselves. That said, Anonymous, how many LACs are there in the current forces? How about Squadron Leaders? How about Group Captains? Flight Sargeants?
ReplyDeleteThey were never called 'LAC's' or 'Flight Sargeants' but at ease command master cadet.
ReplyDeletePrivate Christie RCAF. 4Wg.
Funny that. My father was a Fl Sgt and many of his subordinates were Leading Air Craftsmen (LAC)..
DeleteFirstly, it's the RCN not the RN and the Canadian Army is correct, there has never been a "Royal Army" in the modern sense. The re-instituion of the Royal honour shows the world that we are different, not an American cast off, but a tangible part of a big team.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that they return the RCAF ranks as well as the correct hand salute for both the Army and Air Force, as this also restores our historical links, identifies us as part of a greater thing. A General in the Air Force ?! Not correct.
The Red Ensign was never to come back, and the Maple Leaf is ours, all we want is to restore the honours that we've earned and deserve, nothing more, nothing less.
I think what the Anonymous poster before me did not realize is that while most units continued using the titles of Sapper, riflemen ect, they were not recognized as proper titles and were generally used within unit lines only. Whereas now, I believe they are being recognized as legitimate trade related titles again.
ReplyDelete