The King's Commission 16 The essence of leadership is the ability to serve. That is why officers in the W.A.A.F. are chosen from the ranks. But, for women who show in marked degree the makings of a good officer, time in the ranks is short. More and more commissions are being granted in the W.A.A.F. Women are needed to replace R.A.F. officers in many branches of the service—intelligence, air raid warning liaison, equipment, accounting, administrative and special duties, operations room, motor transport, etc.