Must admit I've yet to see a serious, succinct and accurate definition of the difference between an Officer and a Senior Rate.
Can anyone do the same for the difference between Officers & Ratings? It is something the RN website has struggled to achieve.
Sir Michael Betts found it difficult to comprehend the justification of a two tier management structure in the Armed Forces and the need for so many rates & ranks between AB to Captain when he reviewed the established structure. Did he have a valid point?
If we started to build a Navy from scratch, arguably there would still be a valid argument to fast-track those with a broader, relevant subject knowledge AND good leadership potential, so a rank structure would remain.
One of the anomalies I've always struggled to comprehend in a disciplined, modern service, is why we continue to adopt an increasingly reverential subservience to the higher-end of the rank structure, over and above that already afforded those maybe one or two ranks above our own.
For example: I remember wondering how Admirals Rounds on a ship would somehow require a higher standard of presentation than Captains Rounds. In actual fact we all knew the standard would be less exacting than our own Captain's.
I've never actually seen an Admiral do rounds on a ship - I rather get the feeling it is a historic title used to apply the little more bullshit.
And for those of you who have ever seen a 2*'s life (or above), you would quickly understand quite why they get the "perks" they do:
Driver and Car - not to swan around in, but because it gives them (yet another) opportunity to work. I used to watch as the EA printed out enough work for "there and back again" (a 6 hour round trip) in addition to a full working day.
Chef/Steward - the 2* who are entitled to these typically host dinner parties etc 4 - 5 nights a week. I know the 2* I used to interact with most loathed having other people cook for him, but when he had 6 - 8 people to dinner every night, he didn't stand a chance of cooking for them. If you suggest his wife should do it, she'd simply ask why she should give up her fulltime job for hte RN's convenience.
Outer Office Staff - The 2* worked 6 days a week generally, and his diary was full from 0700 - 2100 most days. They organised his life such that there wasn't a moment wasted.
I genuinely think most people don't understand quite how bloody hard these people work. There are, and have been, and no doubt will be, some utter tossers in the Flag Ranks, but that is no different to any other rank. They can, frankly, keep their workload and gongs - I'm going to go home and see my family.
