More interesting comments. To Richard D, I would say that - yes, IMHO - there are clear examples of people who have progressed beyond where they should be and do not display the qualities needed in their current grade. If I have an IO who can't give a briefing or control a team, and as PC I have to do those things, I have to question how that IO got upgraded? I think the term badge-chaser is generally understood to mean those that try every upgrade at the earliest oportunity, rather than waiting until they are seen to be ready.
To Woolley, I would agree that no system is perfect. But I have to suggest again that upgrade signatures do demonstrate something which attendance signatures never can or will.
I agree there should be a flag speciality and specialist training - I ran such a session at Brands a few years ago.
I also agree about constructive comments and we really have tried - with both written submissions and oral presentation at Colnbrook. But when one VVVVIP bluntly says - with no committee discussion - 'there is no way I'm going back to upgrade signatures', it does make the task a tad more tricky!!
