RAF Uniform policy

[DEFRA]

For those not in the know, the guys on shift/ltf/ have to come in to work in blues, change into greens (Used to be coveralls, but this was changed as people were wearing them tied at the waist when it got warm), then change back into blues should they go anywhere else on station, be that to eat, do admin etc.
Typical scenario: You turn up to shift in blues, immediately change into greens, then get told you're on the boot run. So, you change back into blues, go to the gym, change into another set of greens, do the boot run, change back into blues, go back to work and finally change back into greens. Sound longwinded? Try actually doing it!
I know the argument is that we're a blue air force and need to keep our identity, but surely some jobs are just better suited to greens? They are durable, comfortable, layerable...I could go on.
The main point is this; If the troops doing the more physical jobs were allowed to come into work in greens, keeping the office based guys in blues, it's win win. There would be enough blue suiters wandering about the place to maintain the perception of 'blue' identity, the guys in greens would have far less hassle going about their jobs and consequently, morale on shift/ltf/days would be raised considerably. (And, as a new member of the wing, I can see that morale currently is at a fairly sorry level.)
I hope no-one will read this and think i'm just being an upstart. I can assure you I've considered this from both sides of the fence and I just think greens as general working dress is the sensible, practical solution. I'm also certain that I speak for the vast majority of the guys doing this every day.
Next they will have us doing drill and saluting Officers.:=

[Fear The Reaper]

Try raising it with the RAF Uniform Clothing Policy Committee - or something like that. They work at Quedgely near Lyneham and the committee meets every 6 months. They have just met so the next one won't be until Dec 09/Jan 10! They are headed by an SO1, with an SO2, SO3 and WO and the obligatory civil servant!

There is also a thing called "Threads" on the intranet and you put all of your RAF uniform issues and suggestions on there. I think it might be a forum?

Good luck

Reaper

PS. I agree with you and seeing as we have to wear TRFs and ROYAL AIR FORCE on our CS95 there would be plenty of RAF identity!!!

[GPMG]

And not one mention of a shower, between boot runs and getting back into blues. Percy?

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Quedgely near Lyneham

Last time I attended a meeting at RAF Station Quedgely, it was just outside Gloucester. That, of course, was before it was closed.

[Riskman]

Defra

go to the gym, change into another set of greens,

What greens are these? Serious question - totally mistified:confused:

R

[rmac]

On 814 duties in RAFG in the mid 80's, this "identity crisis" was neatly sidestepped by having the guys wear a blue shirt and tie under their DPM :ugh:

[Fear The Reaper]

Quedgley is parented by Lyneham so I naturally assumed...

...I remember "never assume check!" :ok:

Reaper

[Riskman]

rmac,

On 814 duties in RAFG in the mid 80's, this "identity crisis" was neatly sidestepped by having the guys wear a blue shirt and tie under their DPM

Don't remember that being the case on Aug Force. Or was it just the SSA permies who had to?

R

[LOTA]

RAF Quedgeley (spelt with two e-s) closed a few years ago; it's an enormous housing estate now called Kingsway, and until its closure was parented by Innsworth.

[Twon]

LOTA,

That would be Quedgeley with 3 e's then?

[Al R]

DEFRA said: (but this was changed as people were wearing them tied at the waist when it got warm)

:confused:

Mystified here. Are you claiming that they ignored an order not to strip to their waists or that they should be allowed to strip to their waists?

Generally speaking, I sympathise with your plight though. I remember way back when, NBC dress states kept changing on exercise. Gawd, the palavah :ugh:. In the end we decided to ask the AOC to tell the sqn commander to stop making us get in and out of noddy suits, body armour and respirators all the time. All that being time being paid to dress and undress - honestly, it really ruined our outlook and quality of life. And as for that Osprey! For the life of me, I don't know why the troops in theatre just don't say 'Look, enough is enough. Its far too warm to be messing about getting in and out of this'.

Good luck with your cause - just because they pay you, they think they can tell you what to do in work time. Resign.. yes - thats what I'd do. I certainly wouldn't stand for being messed about like that either. :D

[Mr C Hinecap]

RAF Quedgeley (spelt with two e-s) closed a few years ago; it's an enormous housing estate now called Kingsway, and until its closure was parented by Innsworth.

Yes it was. However, the team that used to be based at High Wycombe (Clothing & Field Equipment Role Office) is mostly based there along with some other MoD stuff. They moved there a couple of years ago.

[sooms]

Solution:

Contract out for cs95 in dark blue- practical working uniform (in blue) for all specialisations, easier to keep clean, (potentially) smarter, more military looking..

DPM's/deserts for ops/field/exercise etc...

No1's for best....endex

[5 Forward 6 Back]

I would be much happier wearing my blues if I could purchase, from somewhere, a well-made, non-itchy, pleasant, high-quality outfit. It'd obviously be nicer if the RAF gave it to me, but seeing as they're not going to do that, does anyone know somewhere I can buy "nice" blues?

[mckelvey]

I thought the RAF Uniform policy guys and threads was used for deciding what uniform we were issued with. I think the decisions on what we wear and when is decided by discip types or by the local commander. I think it may be better to raise your concerns through the local management chain to ensure that the stn execs are aware of the sillyness of it all.

Good luck

[vernon99]

So are aircrew also obliged to arrive at work in blues, and change into growbag(sorry flying coveralls) before flying, then once back on the ground change back into blues before moving around the station? or is the rule different for them?:rolleyes:

[Monkey Madness]

It's always different for then :ugh:

[Griz]

It's always different for then

And so it should be!;)

[5 Forward 6 Back]

There's a good old FS video on Distraction that has Richard O'Brien (I think) die due to the hassle of having to change into blues before leaving the squadron.

Therefore I would advocate not enforcing that rule.

[A2QFI]

Richard O'Sullivan ISTR and it was called Frustration

[Griz]

2 different videos. Richard O'Sullivan played a pilot who stayed out late at a strip club and was upset at his morning cup of coffee arriving late!!!!

(IIRC the vid had a series of short clips including a couple of WRAFs having a picnic on the airfield next to Phantoms which were taxiing and a Benny Hill(esque) copper picking mushrooms on the airfield and chasing a Dominie on his bike!) :8

The one called Distractions featured a Jaguar detachment which ends in an accident.

The latter specifically mentions the policy of having to get changed to go to SHQ while under other less trivial time-constraints.

[Fear The Reaper]

Solution:

Contract out for cs95 in dark blue- practical working uniform (in blue) for all specialisations, easier to keep clean, (potentially) smarter, more military looking..

DPM's/deserts for ops/field/exercise etc...

I reckon No1 for Pongos, No 4 for Crabs, No 5 for Fisheads (noting arm position) and No 11 for PJHQ and JHC. The Bootknecks obviously go naked - they usually do!


http://www.slygear.com/cgi-bin/image/templates/CamoDisplay-3.jpg

[JessTheDog]

Sounds just like Cranditz...blues then greens then blues then PT then blues then usually blues again for restrictions....

[Brewers Droop]

Can anyone tell me what number 8 is doing with his right arm :}

[Fear The Reaper]

I don't know but No 9 approves by the look of his thumbs? Oh, and No 6 is giving us "the bird" secretly with his binoculars!

[Willard Whyte]

I don't know but No 9 approves by the look of his thumbs?

Looks a bit 'light on his feet', that one. Dutch, maybe?

"Dish is my commanding officer, and I'm pleashed to shay my lover too"

[The B Word]

If he is Dutch maybe No 9 approves of No 10's choice of colour - orange...

The lineage of the current dynasty -- the House of Oranje-Nassau -- dates back to Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). But while the color orange has royal roots in the Netherlands, today it symbolizes a broader pride in the country and in being Dutch.

History lesson over :ok:

[drustsonoferp]

5 Forward I would be much happier wearing my blues if I could purchase, from somewhere, a well-made, non-itchy, pleasant, high-quality outfit. It'd obviously be nicer if the RAF gave it to me, but seeing as they're not going to do that, does anyone know somewhere I can buy "nice" blues

You could get higher quality blues shirts from the tailors at Cranwell, made by Double 2. I've not seen them elsewhere yet, but they are a lot softer, more comfortable and better to iron.

[AQAfive]

I remember in 1972 being shown some photos of very smart uniforms, they were lightweight sky blue cotton (I think) and seemed on the face of it to be very practical and smart. Remember we were wearing hairy blue battledress at the time.

It was received with general approval at Topcliffe when I was there and I should imagine throughout the RAF. When it was introduced, the lightweight cotton was replaced with heavyweight blue material much like the best blue. Unfortunately the design being intended for the lightweight material meant that the 'bomber jacket' made us look like RAC patrolmen; a mistake made more than once on the road. It was an improvement yes but could have been so much better.

I guess there was just too much of the old material on the shelf to ignore.

No matter how much you tell our lords and masters, dress people in greens and you become the ARMY no matter what badges you wear. Uniform evokes all sorts of issues and what to wear when is usually driven by people with too much time on their hands.

I always looked with envy at the US services, they seemed to get smart well made durable uniforms, even the fat ones.

[Lima Juliet]

made us look like RAC patrolmen; a mistake made more than once on the road.

I was recently asked for train times whilst standing on the platform the other day in No 2s. But my favourite ever was a Staff College Wg Cdr on the staff at Washington Dulles being constantly asked for passenger information as he awaited the arrival of his studes in airport arrivals - to give him his due, he kept his cool, just!! :ok:

Wearing brevets and medal ribbons on blues would definately help with this problem - IMHO. Not many RAC staff, Railway staff and Passenger Help Desk Staff wear them!

LJ