Efi?

[lettman]

Any (respectable!) suggestions as to what this stands for? It looks like a British or Dominion title, but for which unit and when worn eludes me.

[adb63]

I think it stands for Expeditionary Forces Institute. Something along the lines of NAAFI. I think they might be related actually. Regards, Andrew.

[BWEF]

Expeditionary Forces Institute?

http://www.jobsatnaafi.co.uk/intl/efi/index.php

[lettman]

Very likely -- good one, BWEF!

[lettman]

Originally Posted by adb63

I think it stands for Expeditionary Forces Institute. Something along the lines of NAAFI. I think they might be related actually. Regards, Andrew.

Sorry, Andrew -- somehow I missed your reply. Good one to you, too (God, old age is a curse -- how did I not see that post?!).

[Bill A]

Is the title current issue or older? It has the look of some age.

[lettman]

Fair question -- it looks somewhat 'elderly', but I really can't pin a date on it.

[Mike_2817]

EFI has been round since WWII and the 'soldiers' were RASC badged. Transferred to the RAOC TA in 1965 and currently a RLC TA Task and still going with shops in Iraq & Afghanistan.

EFI Officers and NCO's are armed for self protection and wear currant combat uniforms and badges, they no longer wear an EFI Title.

[lettman]

So the title could be 1950s-60s?

[two9546]

Hi,
The badges you have shown are indeed the arm badges (circa 1960s) of the Expeditionary Forces Institute which still exists to this day - albeit as 148 (EFI) Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps. They are manned & funded entirely by NAAFI and operate wherever British ground and air forces are 'in residence'. The Royal Navy are served by the Naval Canteen Service (also manned and funded by NAAFI). The members of EFI (and presumably NCS) are enlisted into the Army on S Type Engagements, and they go all over the world - Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, Norway (with 3 Cdo Bde), to sea on RFAs, Kenya, Belize - anywhere basically. HQ for the Squadron is at 'Double Hedges', Bulford Camp with their military training now taking place I understand at 5 Trg Regt RLC, Grantham.
All personnel, once they become 'trained soldiers' must complete their MATTS and OPTAG before any deployment and they are all armed with the SA80 A2 c/w Susat. They have even been put on guard duty at numerous camps and have even been known to venture out of camp on the wildest of tasks - either on foot or in a Toyota pickup (ie between Shaibah and Basra!).