'Err...can they do that?'

[Cumbrian Fell]

Social Stratification

Having been away for a week or two, I have not been able to follow this discussion. However, it is interesting to hear that civilians without direct experience of the forces either fall into the liberal 'Just say no' group or the deferent 'Are you allowed to do that?' group. However, none of our viewpoints necessarily tell the complete story.
A family friend, whose son is a fast-jet pilot, and is avidly 'air minded' can't get to grips with the fact that not everyone in the RAF is a pilot. This very clever man, now retired from a senior position in a blue-chip company, assumed that only pilots needed DV clearances because only 'pilots do the important jobs!'. Of course, in one sense he is completely correct, but it still demonstrates that even well-informed members of the public haven't got a Scooby as to the activities of the Light Blue in toto. How can we better inform the public? Should the public 'need to know'? Do they care? Would you watch a programme on, say, the activities of staff within DEFRA?
Admittedly, DEFRA staff don't quite put their lives on the line for the benefit of the British public. (unless you are a State Veterinary Inspector) and thereis an intrinsic interest in what HMF do. Perhaps some reality TV programme, with 'real' people showing life on a squadron - Engineers, loggies, scribblies etc as well as the aircrew might help to redress the balance of understanding. Remember the very interesting (and sometimes toe-curlingly cringing) series on an RN warship (Brazen?) made about three years ago. The Matelots came across as normal people undertaking extraordinary jobs.
Oh, and because a word is not in the OCD does it mean that it doesn't exist? I am, of course, referring to Distanciation. It is an imutable rule of Globalisation writers to invent new words. Globality is another one...