EMcC Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 I couldn't use my military rank when I entered civvy street as I had a new rank when I joined the Police Force Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 I couldn't use my military rank when I entered civvy street as I had a new rank when I joined the Police Force My old man served 32 years with the force. When he retired I had to remind him that he now needed to ASK people to do tnings now that he wasn't a policeman anymore. Ended up doing two days locked up in the shed for giving him cheek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 BB Well at least this thread is stopping the old bill getting a bashing this week BB Yeah KW is strangely quiet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 My mate wanted constable Hall (retired) on his driving licence that was not allowed ,however Captin,Major,and General are ok Double standards Now now in future I will be called "Sergent Deershooter" Why not, but then I would hope that you could at least spell the rank you held? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted March 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 I suppose if you've never been shot at. Lived with bomb nets over the windows or been stood outside in your undies at 03:00 while the Barracks are searched. Then there's not much chance of understanding what went on in the forces. Or the pride in having served. Sonic, Gunner (retired) I'm not knocking the services in any shape or form, far from it. I have no issue with people using whatever title they want. It was a question of if that title is relevant in civvie street. I'm not sure having a rank or title is an indication of what type of person you are dealing with in this day and age. It should be but .... I didn't expect this one to get to 4 pages. Some very interesting views. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 A title like Captain or General does give you an idea of what kind of person you are dealing with, to me it implies honesty and integrity, so maybe if performs a useful function in some situations. I can't see much use for it in the pub though, apart from trying to assume some kind of authority over other drinkers. Being, or having been a "Captain" or "General" has no bearing on whether a person is honest or has integrity..... I don't think there is any need to use a previous military title when you have left the services. Does that mean I am not grateful for their service, cause not..... We all have different views, doesn't mean one person is more right than another.... Makes for funny reading though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Oh I missed the a it's the wine you know !!!!!!!! Sergeant Deershooter Rtd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Oh I missed the a it's the wine you know !!!!!!!! Sergeant Deershooter Rtd Fair one, that demon wine, I am the same with the Whisky. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 It is a strange one alright. There are in fact certain roles within the MOD where it does have a bearing, for example Regimental Secretaries or curators, who are recruited into what is known as a Military Support Function role and who will have been a former serving officer in said Regiment or Corps. As such, having someone sign themselves off with their rank, as long as they indicate it is a retired rank, is fine in my eyes. Going around calling yourself Colonel X or Group Captain Y in purely civilian circles is in my eyes buffoonery of the highest order. I work with serving officers from all three services on a daily basis, and can say without exception that all those who have left and then gone on to use their military title in situations where it is of no relevance were complete plumbs when they were in. We actually had a chap who was a retired RAF Squadron Leader who had left and got a job as a trainer with a company that ran courses for us. He turned up for a course in his uniform and expected the military guys and girls to call him Sir. It is fair to say he probably wished he hadnt done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted March 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 What do you do for a living just out of interest Zapp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 I work for the MOD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 (edited) Sergeant (Ret'd) - Not appropriate. But I do use Captain (Airline Ret'd) when countersigning friends FA & SG applications and renewals. It might let the police know I used to be to be honest and of sane mind... Edited March 28, 2014 by Grandalf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Sergeant (Ret'd) - Not appropriate. But I do use Captain (Airline Ret'd) when countersigning friends FA & SG applications and renewals. It might let the police know I used to be to be honest and of sane mind... That's fair enough - it is at least used in a scenario where it has some context and relevance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Edit Edit = word designed to assimilate Naughty word corrected Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Some people think that my job involved aerials and that I did erections. Sadly, my wife knows different! Rigger Chief RAF Ret'd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Edit Edit = word designed to assimilate Naughty word corrected Thank you Pardon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 That's fair enough - it is at least used in a scenario where it has some context and relevance. And i think you hit the nail on the head with your statement,anyone using their rank when retired usually does it for charity work or scenarios as above, and as has been said there will always be the odd spanner that insists on being called his rank even though it has no relevance. And as the link shows that i posted earlier some will carry the rank for life as in a retired Field Marshal, because he will always be on the active list for the rest of his life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Pardon? Ref post #27 courtesy of Shaun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 My old man served 32 years with the force. When he retired I had to remind him that he now needed to ASK people to do tnings now that he wasn't a policeman anymore. Ended up doing two days locked up in the shed for giving him cheek. Could've been worse, you might have "fallen down the stairs..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Would you like to spell out your full title, Henry VD scar with bar ? We must give credit where it`s due Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 One that gets me is retired surgeons. We have two in the village. When they were working they insisted on being called Mr ... to denote they were of the elitist element of the NHS - Not just a humble doctor. Now they are retired and all their neighbours are Mr ... they have suddenly become Doctors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Pardon? You had to be there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 I know a few retired high ranking officers, never heard one of them introduce themselves using their military rank...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 (edited) My old man served 32 years with the force. When he retired I had to remind him that he now needed to ASK people to do tnings now that he wasn't a policeman anymore. Ended up doing two days locked up in the shed for giving him cheek. very good.... Arjimlad (Staff Sergeant (Boy's Brigade) ret'd). Edited March 28, 2014 by arjimlad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted March 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 I work for the MOD. I did guess that , in a training role I assume? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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