Evolution of Modern Royal Navy Branch & Qualification Badges

[Stafford Knot]

The Royal Navy (RN) ratings’ branch structure recently underwent another reorganisation with new branch specialisation badges appearing from 2015 for, eg. ‘Weapons Engineering Technician’ (ET(WE)) and ‘Marine Engineering Technician’ (ET(ME)) specialisations. More recently a new qualification badge for the ‘Photographer’ (P) specialisation has appeared, along with the reintroduction of the ‘Writer’ (W) logistics sub-specialisation after it was replaced by Logistics (Personnel) (PERS) in 2007.

Tracing the genesis of, and rationale for, the current crop of RN ratings’ qualification and specialisation badges is no easy task. Various online sources reveal an often-changing picture since the late 1990s to reflect the rapidly changing backdrop of demands on the Senior Service and the nature of warfare more generally. However, official RN/MOD announcements, instructions and guidance around the various changes to branches and ratings’ badges are difficult to find.

I am interested in researching and plotting out the timeline and background of RN branch and qualification badges to the present day to share with Forum members. Do any members have, or are able to point me to, any official (or unofficial!) references that help illustrate the evolution of RN & QARNNS branch insignia from, say, 1995 onwards? For example, earlier versions of the RN uniform regulations and relevant Chapters of the Book of Refence (BRd), RN insignia posters, or updates to the June 2016 version of BRd 3(1) on the RN website.

Thanks

Peter