SISPEC and SAFWOS was actually considering giving out bayonets
to fresh specialist back in early 2000s. They plan to give it as a
milestone for the first & subsequent graduate batch of SISPEC
in SWI.
But they got issues to settle.
1) Swords to officer is a long and international tradition. I have
known no armies giving any symbols of rank to NCOs other than
RSMs.
2) Swords are "fake" as in other than symbol, they don't have much
practical use . Unless you sharpen it yourself.
3) Bayonets are the real stuff. a new bayonet from ALB is actually
sharp and a weapon.
4) there are approximately 2600-2800 3SGs being appointed annually.
I think it will be a cost issue.
5) 3SGs get promoted by vocaton and there is no ceremony for all
Army Specs. organising one will be diffucult since their Speciality
course varies in duration. WO claimed this will not put any meaning
to the bayonets if ceremonies are small scale.
So in conclusion. SISPEC and SAFWOS did not conclude
anything.
Anyway, all this info i got is from a SISPEC conference back
then.
