Customs of the Royal Australian Air Force
The purpose of the book is to help a newly-appointed officer, a newly promoted sergeant, or a recent recruit, to understand and appreciate some of the traditions of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and to comprehend the numerous unwritten rules which you will be expected to obey.
These traditions and rules, in one form or another, exist in all three Australian Services and in most of the military forces of the Western world. Collectively, they are known as `Customs of the Service' and in the RAAF they play a large part in the day-today activities of all officers. As members of the Royal Australian Air Force high standards of conduct, both professional and social, are expected of you.
Many customs of the Services originated as a result of the diverse background of entrants to military life and the need to ensure that these individuals lived and worked together harmoniously, even under adverse conditions. Due to the different historical backgrounds, operational requirements and living and working conditions of the three Services, many specific, individual service customs have developed over the years. As a result, even the fundamental military concept of discipline is implemented in many different ways throughout the Services.
Topics Covered in this 1996 Guide Book
- ORIGINS OF CUSTOMS AND INSIGNIA
- ORIGINS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
- PRESERVATION OF OUR EMBLEMS AND CUSTOMS
- PILOT'S WINGS'
- OTHER AIRCREW BREVETS
- MOTTO
- THE EAGLE
- THE ROUNDEL
- ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ENSIGN
- COLOURS, STANDARDS AND BANNERS
- UNIT BADGES
- FOR THE OFFICER - THE SOVEREIGN'S COMMISSION AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH AIRMEN
- LOYALTY
- PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR
- OFFICER/AIRMEN RELATIONSHIPS
- THE SERGEANTS' MESS AND LOWER RANK CLUBS
- THE OFFICER ON DUTY
- COMPLIMENTS
- SALUTING
- SENIOR OFFICER PROTOCOL
- THE PARADE GROUND
- DUTY OFFICER
- VISITING OTHER UNITS
- DRESS AND BEARING
- STATE OCCASIONS
- RELATIONSHIP WITH NAVY AND ARMY
- FOR OFFICERS - THE OFFICERS' MESS
- MESS RULES
- COURTESY
- MESS FACILITIES
- GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
- MESS STAFF
- DRESS
- HOSPITALITY
- OTHER MESS CUSTOMS
- AIRMEN VISITING THE OFFICERS' MESS
- ENTRY TO THE OFFICERS' MESS BY SPOUSES/PARTNERS OF JUNIOR RANK
- MESS PROPERTY
- MESS FUNCTIONS
- THE MESS DINING-IN
- FOR SERGEANTS - THE SERGEANTS’ MESS
- CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
- MESS ETIQUETTE
- MESS RULES
- LOCAL MESS RULES
- MESS DRESS RULES
- SERVICE DRESS
- DINING-IN-NIGHT PROCEDURES
- ASSEMBLY
- MR VICE
- ENTRY TO THE DINING ROOM
- COLOURS, STANDARDS, AND BANNERS
- THE MEAL
- PASSING THE PORT
- THE LOYAL TOAST
- STAFF APPRECIATION
- PASSING THE PORT
- CONCLUSION
- ETIQUETTE AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
- INVITATIONS
- INTRODUCTIONS
- CORRESPONDENCE
- FORMS OF ADDRESS
- SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
- GENERAL ETIQUETTE