Rank badge of a Royal Air Force Senior Aircraftman Technician, SAC(T)
RAF Senior Aircraftman Technician as it appears on Dress Uniform
Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician, previously Senior aircraftman technician (SAC(T)) is a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between Air Specialist (Class 2) and corporal and having a NATO rank code of OR-2.
History[]
It is also subordinate to the Army and RAF Regiment rank of lance corporal, although SAC(T)s and junior technicians require a Corporal rank or above to be charged.[1] This is due to ambiguities which arose within the charging Air Publication (AP) before the NATO rank systems were introduced and has never been amended since.
The rank, which is non-supervisory, was introduced in 2000 to replace junior technician (although junior technicians promoted before this date retain their rank). The rank badge is a three-bladed propeller inside a circle.
From March 2005, SACs in technical trades who had attained the Operational Performance Standard were promoted to SAC(T). This rank was introduced to distinguish airmen trained to work unsupervised from those who were not.
The RAF changed the name to Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician sometime in 2022.[2]
Previous use of insignia[]
The insignia of a 3- or 4-bladed propeller surrounded by a circle was originally used after World War II to identify trade apprentices. It fell out of use after a very short period in service.
See also[]
- RAF enlisted ranks
References:
- ↑ http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0CFB5106-08D1-43EF-8EFF-D4A6F3221379/0/jsp833.pdf
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (16 July 2022). "NON-COMMISSIONED OTHER RANKS". Royal Air Force. https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/.
The original article can be found at Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician and the edit history here.