Relative branch seniority within the service: still in existence?

[wilf_san]

At one time it was the case that Officers from different service branches had at least some relative seniority based upon which branch they were a part of. For example, GD or Fg was senior to Eng, Eng senior to Supply etc.

This was (is? please do tell if it is still so) seperate from individual length of service/seniority in rank, and way back in the dim and distant was even used to decide upon sequence of individuals marching on parade (or even when formed-up)

Can anyone definitively tell me if this is now completely removed as a factor (eg two Flt Lts of equal seniority / service, but from differing branches) can no longer cite their respective branch of service as an underpinning trump card decider as to who is the senior Officer?

On a related note: did (does?) this ever extend into trades, as well as branches? Or was it only a commissioned service thing?

Finally, in view of the large and ever-increasing quantities of FTRS (or mobilised/ADC auggie) Officers in service: does the original primacy/subsidiarity as a consequence of regular versus active reserves commissions still exist, or has that now been binned (ie all Offrs of the same seniority / service in rank, equal to all others of the same seniority etc, irrespective of their mode of engagement and/or actual force membership)

wilf_san

....and Diamond 9 calls "Break..."

 

[LilStill]

That has, ahem, been binned. At least as far as it ever will be - with GD(Fg) still being the shoe-in for roles like Air Member for Personnel or Chief of Defence Intelligence (AVM Stubbs and Air Marshal (designate) Osborn respectively). I particularly loathe GD(Fg) being AMP, as they have very little leadership/management of personnel until Wg Cdr, as we all know.

 

[Stevienics]

In respect of reserve officers, I am sure that this was so at one time but it physically cannnot be any more. The reason for this is that reserve officers are deployed within a particular unit, rather than as some sort of "strap on manpower" and they fill an actual established role that could be filled by either reserves or full time. Moreover, and this generally isn't know, their remit has just been extended to back-filling UK positions, MPA deployments, significant exercises and MACC work.

Bascially, they are indistinguishable from their regular counterparts (as airmen or officers), save the degree of traiing undertaken at one bite.

 

[busby1971]

Apart from reserve officers not being in the RAF there's little to tell them apart from regular officers, you do tend to get the odd aged one though.

Ceremonially and form of address there is still a hierarchy of service, however, even when I was still in this was routinely ignored for minor matters.