CFN - rank in the military?

[what..the?]

I have found out CFN means 'Craftsman' but I still don't understand what that means in terms of rank?

[jackthehat]

It's a 'Private' in REME.

[Mamyalynne]

Craftsman (Cfn) - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (women as well as men use this rank)

[Mamyalynne]

JTH is correct is equivalent to Private

[Prudie]

I don't think it refers to rank but to a trade within the forces like artificer, armourer, aircraftsman etc. I'd have thought it also only existed in certain branches such as REME, RE etc.

[what..the?]

yeah its a guy in reme that i am writing too

thanks

[what..the?]

'to'

[jackthehat]

Where is he, what..the?

[what..the?]

just asking him at the mo actually, bastion I think, he says he has hot meals, so doesn't sound like a fob

[jackthehat]

Bastion is big and depending upon what he does in REME, he'll be quite safe......and well-fed. :o)

My son was a Cfn in REME when he was out in Bastion.

:o)

[what..the?]

I actually supply the guys in the fobs with food, mags, underwear, toiletries, but it turns out one of the boxes landed in bastion and stayed in bastion so this recipient is writing to me - easier to keep in contact from Bastion than a fob obviously I usually get crumpled up blueys months late from the fobs :D But he wants items other than food sent as he can he can get food in Bastion, (I have 100's of puzzle mags here hope he likes them :)

[exdc]

Hello what..the?

Here are a few extracts from serving military in HE locations:

It is amazing to see a change in a soldier after a long patrol to come into camp who receives some mail or even better to get a package such as yours. The only advice I would give to anyone sending packages in the future is please enclose a photo or a short message for the guys as this would bring a great lift to all the boys

it fills us with pride knowing that we are valued by those other than our families.

Thank you very much for the parcel it brought a smile onto my face and also brought back memories of sweets I had long ago!!!!! They really do make a difference

British Legion sent us a travel connect 4 game which gave us a good laugh and brought back lots of memories

The food isn’t that good, the only treats we get here are the food parcels you all send...Thank you all for your support take care and all the best from me and the whole Company 2Para

We have received lots of letters from people at home saying how impressed and inspired they are by the job we do out here. It is very nice to get the support from people back home

just a quick and big thankyou for all the parcels you have been sending, these are all very welcome and bring much needed morale for the troops here at F.O.B

[what..the?]

thanks for that exdc a great read!!!

[exdc]

Thanks, Please keep up your valuable work.

[AlBags]

Yes ...
It's part of the TRADE structure ... not rank structure.

[heathfield]

Al, though it's part of a trade structure, it IS actually a rank, just as Trooper, Gunner, etc, are. The MOD confirms this, here...

http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/23155.aspx

[AlBags]

They are all STILL a Private ruddy RANK!

[AlBags]

(RTFM)

[jackthehat]

So, we agree that my first answer on this thread was correct? Good.....:o)

[AlBags]

Yes! You were spot on .. I thought I would back up your original answer : )

If some people have to interrogate the WWW for answers .. I wish they would read properly before posting.

[heathfield]

Yes, JTH, your first answer was correct. But Al, I can't figure out why you'd say CFN was ''part of the TRADE structure ... not rank structure''. To me, that reads as a denial that CFN is a rank, to which I responded. If I've completely mis-interpreted what you were trying to say, then I'm sorry about that. By the way, despite having personal knowledge of a subject, I'll often post a link to the WWW by way of backing up my answer. I've learned that it stops people saying ''But we only have your word for it''.