There are many variables to the public perception of Britain's finest and not all good ones sadly. In my view, and quite a few people I have spoken to on the subject agree, I believe that service personnel not on service duty should not be in public except in "proper" uniform. In other words the scruffy working clothes that are seen so often these days do not distinguish the trained and highly disciplined from the scruffs who buy their clothes from the local surplus stores. This cannot be good and a line ought to be drawn somewhere on this point. You have worked long and hard for the right to wear the uniform so why not show it off to best advantage?
Gainsey - the upper earnings limit beyond which benefit is no longer payable is now nearly £54000 per annum so the vast majority of the population of the UK (if they meet the other criteria) will be entitled to some benefits. I believe the pay for the armed forces puts you well above average for the UK.