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Tactical Helicopter Observer Qualification Badge

It all sounds like BS to me. You can only wear what you are qualified to wear.
 
beenthere said:
It all sounds like BS to me. You can only wear what you are qualified to wear.

I would add "and what has been authorised for wear".
 
http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/6_1_1.asp?id=3397

mayhaps read this. I think the grunts acting as a mission specialist as a door gunner is not a trade or specialty, but perhaps a position on the helomocopter. I have rode along many times as a 'spotter' never got special wings etc for it. Its just a casual position on the air weapons platform. I want a peanut cluster on my wings.
 
Has this fellow been straightened out yet?
 
A little bit off topic here but I'm just curious about a similar badge I've seen as a signature on work emails. It's basically the aircrew wings like the THO but instead of having the circle with 3 colors in the middle it has 2 swords crossing each other with a red maple leaf on top of the swords, it reminds me the Army emblem. Anybody else saw that one?

 
I had a glimpse of a stub-winged badge on a Mission Specialist's flying suit here recently, but did not get a close look. It could well have been that.
 
Loachman et al,
If you want the straight scoop then direct your question to the 1 Wing CWO. I think you would be pleaseantly surprised by the correct official answer.



Cheers

T Man

PM me if you have issue.
 
FltEngr said:
A little bit off topic here but I'm just curious about a similar badge I've seen as a signature on work emails. It's basically the aircrew wings like the THO but instead of having the circle with 3 colors in the middle it has 2 swords crossing each other with a red maple leaf on top of the swords, it reminds me the Army emblem. Anybody else saw that one?

I confirmed yesterday that that badge has been approved for wear by mission specialists, at least in theatre.
 
About the Mission Spec course, There was an official mission spec course run out of 427 in Nov/Dec 07. This course was given the green light from 1 Wing. There was candidates from 408, 427 and 403. At the end of the course they were presented the General Aircrew wings from CO 427. Also there was the pilot course in 2005 which produced qualified mission spec's. After the course in 2007 there has not been another official course run. The so called mission spec's over sea's are by name only. "Edit, 430 ran a in house course, not sure of the dates"

There is a lot more that a MS does then just man a DG but that depends upon the mission and how the AC Captain wants to employ them and use the skill set that you bring to the table. Considering MS come from Arm, Inf and Arty with a lot of advance course and many many years of training between them.



 
I am one of the Msn Specs at 408 and I recieved a call awhile back from a friend looking into something just like this (might be the same guy). As stated above, the only guys that should be wearing the Observers badge would be in thier 40's or 50's now.

As for the gunners that deployed with us, one of the 146 AC's researched the Aerial Gunners badge from WW2 and had it updated. The Flight presented the gunners with this and they wore it for a few weeks until the Wing Comd told them to take them off. The current Door gunners (430) are sporting a set of wings that have a M-134 barrel (seen from the front) with a set of bat wings (The bat is for 1 Wing) and have M-134 Gunner over top. I am not too sure what they do when they fly with a C-6.

Having said that, myself and the other Msn Spec did wear the badge with the two crossed swords and it was approved by the Wing Comd.
 
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