New Master Gunners badges.

[ddaydodger]

BRIEFING NOTE FOR CANADIAN ARMY SERGEANT MAJOR

PROPOSAL FOR THE MASTER GUNNER BADGE ON
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ORDER OF DRESS – MESS DRESS No. 2

References: A. A-AD-265-00/AG-001 Canadian Forces Dress Instruction
B. A-AD-200-000/AG-000 The Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces
C. NDCDC Minutes 2015-11-30
D. History of the Master Gunner, 4th Edition

ISSUE

1. The aim of this briefing note is to recommend a newly designed Master Gunner (Mr Gnr) Badge to be worn with Mess Dress No. 2, to recommend changes to the Canadian Forces (CF) Dress Instructions and finally, to provide an update on the future design of a Metal Mr Gnr Badge for Service Dress No. 3B.

BACKGROUND

2. During the National Defence Clothing and Dress Committee (NDCDC) meeting held on 30 November 2015, CWO Garand’s proposal for wearing the Mr Gnr Badge on the Mess Dress Jacket and DEU Short Sleeve (No. 3B) were approved. Shortly thereafter, the CF Dress Instructions were modified to allow the Mr Gnr Badge to be worn on Mess Dress No. 2 however, a Mess Dress Mr Gnr Badge did not yet exist and the exact location of the badge on the right sleeve was yet to be determined. As the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA), CWO XXXXXXX tasked me to engage both the Master Gunner Association and RCA RHQ, and provide recommendations for a Mr Gnr Badge design and location for it to be worn.

DISCUSSION

3. In June 2016, Joe Drouin Enterprises was asked to provide a proposal for a Mess Dress Mr Gnr Badge. As shown in Annex A, a Mr Gnr badge with three separate backings (midnight blue, black and french grey) were designed and subsequently approved by RCA RHQ and the Mr Gnr Association of Canada. In late summer 2016, all Regimental/Branch/Corps RSMs were approached with the proposed design and planned location for the Mr Gnr badge, and all concurred with the proposal.

4. On the DEU tunic (see Annex B), as per the CF Dress Instructions, the “Mr Gnr badge is worn centred on the right sleeve, 1 cm down from the lower edge of the rank badge to the uppermost point of the master occupational badge”. On the Mess Jacket, the rank is worn 1 cm above the peak of the cuff therefore the same measurements cannot apply. Therefore, it is recommended that for the Mess Jacket, the CF Dress Instructions be modified to read “Mr Gnr badge is worn centred on the right sleeve, 10 cm down from the lower edge of the rank badge to the uppermost point of the master occupational badge” as shown in Annex C.



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5. Currently, the CF Dress instructions indicate that the Mr Gnr Badge can only be worn by Warrant Officers. It is recommended by the Mr Gnr Association of Canada that Warrant Officers who have completed the Army Technical Warrant Officer (ATWO) Program and who are subsequently selected for the CFR and SRCP Programs also be permitted to wear the Mr Gnr badge on all approved orders of dress. This recommendation does not apply to officers who complete the Army Technical Staff Officer (ATSO) Program as they are not granted the authority to wear the Mr Gnr Badge upon completion of their separate Program.

6. As per reference C, the approval for a Metal Mr Gnr Badge to be worn on Service Dress No. 3B was also approved at that time and is presently reflected in the CF Dress Instructions. The metal pin as shown in Annex D has been approved by RCA RHQ however, it was determined that the first prototype designed by Guthrie Woods was too large in size (2.5 x 1.143 in) and therefore will be reduced by approximately 30% to be more in line with the historical metal badge shown in the same Annex. Note that the muzzle faces the opposite direction because the metal pin will be worn on the left side above decorations, and because guns historically must always face forward and never to the rear. Once approved by RCA RHQ, it is clearly understood that the Metal Mr Gnr Badge proposal will have to be authorized by DHH and forwarded to DSSPM for contract approval to get the approved badge into the supply system in the future.

CONCLUSION

7. There has been much progress made to have a Mr Gnr Badge designed for the Mess Dress No. 2 and if approved by the NDCDC, all Master Gunners regardless of occupation will be able to purchase the new Mr Gnr Badge either through Joe Drouin Inc. or by going through the RCA Kit Shop on line. In summary, allowing Master Gunners to also have a visible indicator on their Mess Dress and Service Dress No. 3B is key to promote the ATWO Program and to motivate others to choose this challenging path. This will certainly help recruit and develop additional technical and professional Warrant Officers for future employment within the Canadian Armed Forces, which help meet the objectives of the Strategic Employment Model for CWOs.

Prepared by: CWO (Mr Gnr) R.J. XXXXXXX
Reviewed by: CWO (Mr Gnr) T. XXXXXX
Date Prepared: 30 November, 2016

Annexes:

Annex A – Proposed Master Gunner Badge Design for Mess Dress No. 2
Annex B – Presently Authorized Master Gunner Badge location for Service Dress
Annex C – Proposed Master Gunner Badge Location for Mess Dress No. 2
Annex D – Future Master Gunner Metal Pin Design for Service Dress No. 3B


Annex A
BN for CA SM
30 November 2016

Proposed Master Gunner Badge Design for Mess Dress No. 2










Annex B
BN for CA SM
30 November 2016

Presently Authorized Master Gunner Badge for Service Dress



Annex C
BN for CA SM
30 November 2016

Proposed Master Gunner Badge Location for Mess Dress No. 2





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Annex D
BN for CA SM
30 November 2016

Future Master Gunner Metal Pin Design for Service Dress No. 3B

[Bill A]

Thanks Bruce. It appears that what old is new again is holding true.

[ddaydodger]

The Master Gunner's badge for service dress has been around for awhile, at least since 1987.

[Bill A]

Yes, but it disappeared for a time with unification. The army / armed forces are re-establishing many of the historic traditions.

[ddaydodger]

One of the problems was that all commands had to agree on the adoption of insignia. For example, Mobile Command wanted to introduce the marksman badges to the CF uniform. It was vetoed by the other commands, thinking it would place undue emphasis on a skill they deemed not important. Once DEU was adopted, the land force, as well as the other commands, had control over their own uniforms and could re-introduce historic insignia as they wished (with approval of DHH, CDS, etc).

[54Bty]

I like it, back to the original (British) gun pattern.

Now where can I get one of both?

Marc