It used to be a respectable profession. Like everything else, the issue of no hats is a cost one, as are plastic buttons and see through, boil in the bag, plastic crap uniforms that fall apart.
Early in Line Training I got a fearsome bollocking from "The Man" for wafting about with my jacket undone and you know what, he was right. At least then you had to make an effort to look like a sack of !!!!e tied together with bailing twine - now all I have to do is put my uniform on. As for my raincoat, even the local; garage couldn't do any alterations to it and the dog now sleeps on it.
As for respect, I would venture to suggest that you need a bit of self respect first. CRM handles the inter crew respect even if you pitch up in jock strap and spurs and maybe, just maybe I wouldn't have to spend half my life sorting out pissed up morons if they saw a bloke dressed in a way as to give the impression "don't screw me around and I'll get you there safe and quickly.
So, bring back metal buttons, gold braid, decent, well cut uniforms, epaulettes on rain coats and hats. Let's get a bit of self respect back into this once proud profession.
