Why are British Officers so arrogant and snooty?

Question

I know at least 10 guys who served in the British army . All with out fail , say the worst aspect was the divide between Men and Officers. These are tough and intelligent guys who tell it like it is , often to young lads wishing to join up . Do you not think that Officers are going to have to get with the times ? I'm afraid word of mouth affects recruitment far more than radio or television commercials do . What do you think?

Answer 1

It's their training. It really is. In training, they're taught basically, how to be an aristocrat. They're taught posh table manners! Because of this, they tend to be obsessed about their personal image (to the other officers) and therefore seem to ignore their subordinate ranks. I'm an SAC in the RAF and I've had occasions where I've answered the phone, an officer has rang and asked to speak to the sgt as soon as they hear my (lowly) rank. Most of the time, they've wanted something simple that I could have easily done for them, but they had to speak to the Sgt for that! **rolls eyes**. I know it's training, as I've seen Fellow non-commissioned ranks go for officer training, get promoted to officer and then become completely different people. (They were generally ok before, but all of a sudden turn into arrogant, snooty twa7s.)

Officers wake up and think "what can I do to get promoted today?"

Airmen/seamen/soldiers wake up and think "What can I do for the team today?"

I'll be fair though, not all officers are like that, my current boss is an ex-ranker, and he's friendly.

Answer 2

Like many things in the British army, the 'arrogance' of the officer ranks has a lot to do with psychological discipline.
Physical discipline is the obvious one we see in all military establishments throughout the world. However the British rely heavily on a hidden agenda in this subject.
It's goals are much the same as the Asian cultures, unquestionable loyalty and obedience. If you know young men who served and complained about thier officers, I don't think they saw action.
Having served with the British army for several years, I can honestly say that my immediate dislike for officers at the beginning of my service changed to absolute respect and admiration after following them into action in several campaigns. (That goes for sergeants too.)

Answer 3

Officers are programmed to stay arms length from enlisted men and women. Like any one in a combat zone, it is a difficult thing to loose your people to hostile action, and the closer you are to your people the harder it is. Officers are discouraged from any fraternizing with enlisted personnel, by keeping a stern facade, it discourages the folks in the ranks to try to get too close to their officers.

How this affects enlistment and recruitment, I would have to say, it doesn't. The average enlistee hasn't given a second thought to how he may or may not relate to the officers he may report to. His whole life is to be surrounded by his peer group, and the non-Com's that he answers to, the non-Com's are the ones who need to communicate with officers, and for the most part, have mastered the ability to do so.

The Brits may be better at this than the average American officer, there may be more emphasis put on it in the British armed forces.

Answer 4

I served with the RAF. Most officers (not all) were snobs. They were married to ladies, sergeants to wives and airmen to women. My eyes were opened by serving with a USAF unit. I was shocked by the total difference their lower ranks were treated compared with our service. Our officers were protected from dangerous areas. Length of time men were exposed to risk depended on rank. The lower your rank the more radiation you were exposed to. USAF was quite different. That made a significant difference to attitude and loyalty. Once my term of service was over, instead of signing on, I emigrated and the only regret I have is that I didn't do it earlier. My quality of life has changed for the better and I accomplished more than would ever have been possible in class ridden Britain. Here I went from pumping gas as a poor immigrant to earning several degrees in Canada and U.S. and teaching university.

Answer 5

They are brought up in a class system that breeds arrogance. Ultimately it doesn't matter because people can see them for what they are (a liability). They do put off young recruits who can't understand where they are coming from but until the system realises they are nothing but spoiled children nothing will change. If the forces need leaders of men they should be looking at people who have at least some experience of life.

Answer 6

Its not only the British where do you think officers got there name. Doesnt officer sound a lot like awful sir....hahaha...j/k..Some are good some are bad. Personally I think the best officers and the ones that used to be enlisted and then became officers..

Answer 7

Brits are snobs or come across as snobs because they have a "class system" in england. I meet alot of BritS not because I visit england but because I travel to Asia alot and Brits are over there in droves getting the sucki sucki. When you talk to a Brits they want to quickly know what "class" you are, and if they get any hint you are low class..they will let u know in there own snobby way. It is not their fault as this system of theirs is old as the moon,But Brits can party and drink and a very cool people if u look past this. One of the reasons Asia, thailand, singapore, is coolcause brits really can party, and I would rather be with them than americans when i travel.

Answer 8

officers are officers. I may not be British, but I am the daughter of two officers in the US Army. My dad is a Colonel and my mom is a LT. Colonel. They will always be this way and nothing will change that [sor service brances in any country]

Answer 9

As guy or woman who has worked with the British military for the final 30 years i think of that this question is very unfair, like 'while did you end beating your spouse' it assumes guilt. The officials I fairly have met have been for the suited section worried for their troops welfare, firmly helping them while they're suited even to the quantity of incurring top echelon wrath. except you bypass kin cavalry many of the regiments are staffed by ability of elementary adult males and females who've only picked the interest. IHCR issues are distinctive, t's no longer for no longer something that officials are called Ruperts, they are able to be very lots your inbred top crust. yet what do you like, they're infantrymen so choose them on overall performance. And viewing the final 30 years I fairly have considered one soldier of any rank who has enable his usa or kin down. They do what we tell them. Now in case you prefer to slag everyone off, verify out Whitehall

Answer 10

It is not just british police but here in america we have pretty arrogant police oficers too, they seem to think they are better than all the common peoples,, I do not speak for all police officers but some that I know