More Money Than Sense!!!!

[Sideshow Bob]

It's nice to know in these days of cut backs and redundancies, that someone has got their finger on the pulse.
Since my Sqn is being disbanded soon due to the cuts, I thought that before I'm posted I'd better take my old No 1 uniform back to stores, that’s the one that looks just like the new one but without the belt. Anyway I popped into clothing stores to drop it off and I was just about to walk out the door when the storeman called me back.

Storeman: Before you go Sgt., could you sign here for your new rucksack? I'll just go get you one off the pile.

Me: It's OK I've already got one of those black rucksacks thanks.

Storeman: No not the black ones, one of the new Blue ones, everyone has to have one. Look its got Royal Air Force embroided on it.

Me: What’s wrong with my black one?

Storeman: That's only for out of area detachments; the new one is for taking to work.

Me: But it's exactly the same.

Storeman: No it's not, it's blue and its got Royal Air Force embroided on it.

So now I've got two rucksacks, the only problem is I don't know which one to put my nice shiny copy of AP3003 in!!!

[hyd3failure]

Hang on, Hang on. Are you telling me that the RAF issue you guys with rucksacks to take stuff to work in and for going on detachment with? Good God, whatever next.

[rivetjoint]

What happens when you need to carry a bag in public while in civvies? Do they still have those trendy holdalls in colours last seen in the 60s?

[hyd3failure]

whats wrong with carrying the bag in public whilst in Civvies? I thought we were positively encouraged to wear Uniform whilst in public. Certainly the RN are.

[santiago15]

......unless you're wearing a flying suit!

[Molesworth Hold]

We have a few people called “Rucksack” at work, at least that’s what their known as since they are carried by everyone else.

Evidently it took eight years of design and testing before it could be issued. When will the first one appear on eBay?

[hyd3failure]

are you not aloowed to wear flying suits ashore then? Hmmmm, must tell the blokes around here to get changed before the go home then

[BEagle]

'Ashore'? I know that the Somerset wetlands flood quite often, but I thought that it was still mostly terra firma!

[allan907]

so, gone are the days when one was ordered NOT to wear uniform off base! Despite the nondescript brown mac the creased blue trousers, shiny shoes, blue shirt and black tie rather gave it away:ok:

[hyd3failure]

Neanderthal.

Its a Naval Airstation and so when you are inside the gates you are "on board" and when you are outside of the gate you are "ashore"

[BootFlap]

hyd3

if you go for a few beers in town, is that a 'run aground?'.

:p

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

A bit harsh Hyd3:rolleyes:

For lots of us there is something rather comical about the ashore, on board and man over board concept:E Last time I looked all I could see were roads, paths and grass none of which, barring a tsunami, you can drown in.........or am I missing something here:p

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[hyd3failure]

Nope...a few beers in town is a "run ashore"


Do you want some more jackspeak (http://www.jackspeak.com/)



or here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0951430513/wwwlink-software-21/026-7577076-9121218)

[VoicesFromTheCreche]

The fine Traditions of the Senior Service seem lost to those with less history than Sainsburys.

Anyway, we're off now for a make and mend, and we'll grab some nutty on our way to pick up our dhobi, me'hearty.

Wouldn't mind a rucsac to put it in though.....:ok:

[hyd3failure]

Quality parlance fella...... however, to blackcat (http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2005/0501/0005011102.asp) you go here....

[JessTheDog]

Its a Naval Airstation and so when you are inside the gates you are "on board" and when you are outside of the gate you are "ashore"

I wanted to be OC GD for a day at a certain large unit with a heavy tri-service presence. I would inserted a paragraph into SROs laying out the etiquette of movement on the station:

On camp - aboard the aircraft.
Entering the camp - pay attention to the safety drills and fasten your seatbelt.
Leaving the camp - wait until the fasten seatbelt sign has been switched off.
Walking on the grass - cue SWO to shout "WHERE'S YOUR PARACHUTE YOU ****!?!"

[Green Meat]

I'm getting a bit fed up of all this nonsense talked by the dark blue brethren with all their talk of land-lubbers and keel-hauling, not to mention saluting the yard arm (sic). In disgust I'm off in the old crate for a wizard show. Hope I don't prang the kite otherwise I will be VSF by the CO and then have to take a trip to SHQ to explain to the Staish why I've littered his flowerbeds with bits of my APU et al, ad nasueum.

And let that be a lesson in clear speech to you all!

:ok:

[VoicesFromTheCreche]

Acronyms, abbrerviating Station Commander to "Staish" and Latin hardly count, do they? Bit more work required on the RAFANASAURUS!

Here is a new entry for you:

crab (1) edible shell fish, with 8 legs and two pincers; (2) member of the RAF whose habits, whilst amusing, cannot compete with the time-honoured customs of the Senior Service

[maxburner]

When I was a lad and still wearing a (light) blue uniform I was lucky enough to attend the RN advanced drinking and partying course at Greenwich. Great fun was had by all. I did enjoy my immersion in Jack-speak and I must admit to having held on to a few choice phrases even now - run ashore being one of them. All very amsusing stuff, but nowhere near as hilarious as the First Lieutenant having to salute and receive salutes from warships passing up and down the Thames. Of course, as an air force type I had to concede that we hadn't been around long enough to have traditions, we had merely developed some bad habits.

[AllTrimDoubt]

Ahh.. the Lieutenants Greenwich Course...now there was a course which required stamina and of which the graduate/survivor could be especially proud! (Even more fun if one had access to the "pinks" before starting!!!)

Ahh..the crypt parties.....

[ZH875]

Senior Service - FAGS, or mere cigarettes.

[BEagle]

Hmm - quite a big haul this time, it seems. :p Well it is Friday after all!

And long may Jackspeak remain alive!

Ah - harr, me hearties!

Glad to hear though that the wearing of uniform 'ashore' is encouraged. Pride in the cut of one's jib, what! And bloody right too!! I got sick to death of skulking into work..going aboard or whatever..pretending not to be in the RAF. Mind you, I suppose it did stop people asking me to fix their damn cars!

[TwoTunnels]

Sorry for getting back to the original theme of the thread, but I also went to clothing stores to get the new No1s. While waiting for the tailor I noticed other 'money well spent' ideas on various posters including: -

1. 'Royal Air Force' name badges for use on DPM.
2. Revamped rank badges, including the new over the top WO slides, all with Royal Air Force embroidered below stripes/props/crest.
3. New water proof (blue). I imagine to replace the Geltex jacket.
4. RAF colours 'square' for DCC clothing.

Do we really need this?

It's good to see that they will all be procured at 'best value for the taxpayer'

[Jack Stirrop]

Heaven help us - best I get myself along to Clothing Stores right away!!

Whatever next - NBC Pyjamas perhaps??

Jack

[SirToppamHat]

Two Tunnels

Where oh where are you based? You seem to have found a clothing stores that not only has items for issue, it has staff that want to issue said items!

What's the gen on these new badges for CS95 shirts and jackets? Presumably one simply drops off one's shirts etc with the tailor and collects when badges attached?

STH

[SVK]

Well, I might not be able to get any gucci kit from stores; or actually get to keep anything useful (like Body Armour) before stores wants it back but...

....today I was given my very shiny, very thick, no doubt costly, individual copy of AP3003 'A Brief History of the Royal Air Force'.

Better than a Chest Plate or hot water in the mess any day!

[Big Cat Handler]

Does the trendy new RAF rucksack mean it will now be permissible to carry a bag over one's shoulder whilst in uniform? Standards are clearly slipping!

[JessTheDog]

Sorry for getting back to the original theme of the thread, but I also went to clothing stores to get the new No1s. While waiting for the tailor I noticed other 'money well spent' ideas on various posters including: -

1. 'Royal Air Force' name badges for use on DPM.
2. Revamped rank badges, including the new over the top WO slides, all with Royal Air Force embroidered below stripes/props/crest.
3. New water proof (blue). I imagine to replace the Geltex jacket.
4. RAF colours 'square' for DCC clothing.

Do we really need this?

It's good to see that they will all be procured at 'best value for the taxpayer'

We've done this before!

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=137737

When morale suffers as the result of radical, senseless and unpopular cutbacks, the SOP is to throw money at "corporate identity" and "ethos". So we had some nice shiny new patches and rucksacks, and the discipline dial was turned up a notch or two ("force development") to sort out whingers!

This was at the time I was clearing my desk, ready for civviedom. And it is great!

Does the trendy new RAF rucksack mean it will now be permissible to carry a bag over one's shoulder whilst in uniform? Standards are clearly slipping!

At the time I was leaving, there was a reissue of the AP on dress standards (can't remember the name) which focused on such key issues as the length of one's sideburns. It was reassuring to see the RAF tackling the vital operational issues of the hour! In the revised AP, the rucksack posture was revised to allow compliments to be paid (Sir, you smell nice today) whilst carrying the rucksack over the left shoulder by one strap. It may have made mention of the "new" RAF rucksack.

[Stupid Boy]

My good lady just showed me hers, then told me about the new rucksack! I have been trying to sum up the issue of the new rucksack using my limited vocabulary and the only word I can come up with is 'obscene'. I hope the unlucky people who find themselves made redundant manage to get theirs before their exit date. It will certainly soften the blow........ :mad: :mad:

[BEagle]

The only rucksack I knew was called Kelvin......

An absolute zero carried by everyone.

Are these unisex shoulder bags some warry thing? Or intended to replace brief cases, nav bags etc?

'Thrombo' (as in 'wandering clot'), an unlamented previous Stn Cdr at the Covert Oxonian Aerodrome, was concerned that high-visibility cyclists' bags were 'unmilitary' FFS! Never mind being safer, they weren't NATO green or RAF blue - so were Something To Be Concerned About. True prattishness of an impressive calibre!

[The Rocket]

What's the Jackspeak for all this "Hunting for the golden rivet" that you sailors seem to be so fond of?

:E

[airborne_artist]

Are these unisex shoulder bags some warry thing? Or intended to replace brief cases, nav bags etc?

Having seen one at close hand it is clear that they are designed to keep a pair of jump leads, torch and toolkit so that you RAF / RAC types are always ready to undertake immediate car repairs etc. and save me from having to join the AA .....

[OKOC]

Airborne artist.

The AA wear brown-it's the RAC wot wear "RAF" blue-do buck up 007!

[SirToppamHat]

Catch up guys, the RAC haven't worn blue for years. They wear mostly orange.

Now then, back to that golden rivet question ....

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

STH,

You may struggle to get an answer over the weekend as most of our navel chums have probably spent the 48 hour period "fitting" the said item you are enquiring about:E

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[airborne_artist]

You may struggle to get an answer over the weekend as most of our navel chums have probably spent the 48 hour period "fitting" the said item you are enquiring about

More to do with the fact that the Royal Navy is still a 24/7*52 organisation, unlike some branches of the services that stack at 1500 Friday until 0800 Monday.

[circle kay]

airborne_artist

Oh, that’s why all the Gray Funnel Line are all well inside the breakwater by 1130 on a Friday because the RN is 24/7*52:p

All the services have duty and stand-by 24/7 not just the dark blue. How long to get the stand-by FFG to Sea?;)

[SirToppamHat]

Saw the new coats today. Who chose that colour? To paraphrase my hero:

'Almost, but not quite, exactly the wrong shade of blue.'

Still, at least they've sorted out the epaulettes so we will be able to see the new rank tabs when they start to arrive.

And the new rucsacks, erm, what exactly was the requirement? What is it meant to be for? I suppose it will be OK for Hat Minor to put his PE kit in. Useless for his older brothers, who would only get the p1ss taken by the Army kids at their school!

Anyone seen any of this stuff on EBay yet?