So excited I can't wait....
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Look on the bright side ?
At least this is the first iteration for you guys. Our lot started with RAAF, realised that it was far too unambiguous so they've now changed it to Air Force........Apparently our New Zealand / Canadian / British accents and our rediculously large hats will let any onlooker realise the Royal Australian bit! 
Nixor ut Ledo
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As the Office Commander at RAFCIO Ilford in the late 70s I, and my team, were constantly being mistook for RAF and London Ambulance Service. So what's new?
Trenchard had it right when he put the eagles on the shoulders. And perhaps that's what ought to be brought back. A fine tradition uselessly scrapped by the PC/Fashion Idiots of the day.
Trenchard had it right when he put the eagles on the shoulders. And perhaps that's what ought to be brought back. A fine tradition uselessly scrapped by the PC/Fashion Idiots of the day.
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Travelling back to Swinderby from the folks' place near London in No1 uniform one Sunday evening several years back - two old dears were most upset that I could not tell them the time of the next train.
"I don't know where London Transport get their staff these days!"
"I don't know where London Transport get their staff these days!"
Waiting to meet someone at Oxford station years ago in that awful 'Thunderbird' jacket of the time, I was approached by someone who insisted on knowing when the next train for London left.
"Sorry, no idea. I gave up train spotting at the age of 6 when Beeching killed off our local branch line", quoth I.
"Sorry, no idea. I gave up train spotting at the age of 6 when Beeching killed off our local branch line", quoth I.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Endless opportunity...
The possibilities are endless - maybe a new stable belt for each branch, some nice red collar flashes for staff officers, tartan squadron trousers - there must be enough there to get me promoted!
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Even with badges some people would be too stupid to know who we were. Was walking in from a sortie on a Flag exercise when F15E driver asks "where are you guys from". The Royal Air Force I reply (standing in front of grey jet with roundels, wearing green bag with brevet, name, sqn patches etc). "Which Royal Air Force is that?" asks he....doh!
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I didn't pay this thread any attention but I've just read about it in SROs! The badge IS TO be worn by all personnel on CS95. So let's get this straight: as well as some complete 
about to disband half of my airforce tomorrow lunchtime they're also making me wear a great big nugget badge that will just give the Army and RN a golden opportunity to rip the pi$$ out of me, for ever. Last time I checked there were several other badges on my uniform that show which service I belonged to, and if someone is too ignorant to recognise them they are too ignorant for me to care about.
If the AFBLT monitor this site (and God knows, they should) then for pete's sake: leave us alone. Morale isn't exactly sky-high at the moment, in case you hadn't noticed.
about to disband half of my airforce tomorrow lunchtime they're also making me wear a great big nugget badge that will just give the Army and RN a golden opportunity to rip the pi$$ out of me, for ever. Last time I checked there were several other badges on my uniform that show which service I belonged to, and if someone is too ignorant to recognise them they are too ignorant for me to care about.If the AFBLT monitor this site (and God knows, they should) then for pete's sake: leave us alone. Morale isn't exactly sky-high at the moment, in case you hadn't noticed.
Last edited by Jacks Down; 20th Jul 2004 at 15:25.
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Sadly found out about our brave new badges courtesy of orders. Straw polled my staff and not one had a good word to say about the idea. None of us have an identity crisis. None of us saw it coming and none of us can see how spending all the thousands it will take to supply as being anything but crass - the day before our defence re-alignments !!
I have formally registered my discontent with the grown ups at PTC and asked for the RAF Dress Ctte to share with me the rationale behind the decision in order that I can properly justify their decision to my intelligent but now bemused staff.
For the sake of recognition avoidance I will not state how but I can assure fellow ppruners I am probably in the best position to advise if identity is or has been a problem. In sum there is no problem, that I am aware of and this thoroughly unnecessary expenditure and tinkering will serve to irritate more than motivate.
I have formally registered my discontent with the grown ups at PTC and asked for the RAF Dress Ctte to share with me the rationale behind the decision in order that I can properly justify their decision to my intelligent but now bemused staff.
For the sake of recognition avoidance I will not state how but I can assure fellow ppruners I am probably in the best position to advise if identity is or has been a problem. In sum there is no problem, that I am aware of and this thoroughly unnecessary expenditure and tinkering will serve to irritate more than motivate.
Thread Starter
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If I get mine in the near future I'm putting my greens into the tailors to get them stitched on! And, if everybody else does the same, I won't be seeing either greens or offending badges for some time!!!
Join Date: May 2003
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Wandering (moving smartly and with purpose) around a town near a base full of single-engined death traps in Cambs , I was berated for not doing more to catch shoplifters. So gob-smacked was I that I couldn't even point out the old dear's error!
Why should we have these things on our uniforms? The pongos don't have their regiment name on theirs, you either have to recognise it or plead ignorance and ask, and they've got more colours of beret than Frank Spencer. Besides, they'd never get 'First Batallion the Mercian Regiment (The Staffordshire Regiment)' on a badge 15x3cm.
Why should we have these things on our uniforms? The pongos don't have their regiment name on theirs, you either have to recognise it or plead ignorance and ask, and they've got more colours of beret than Frank Spencer. Besides, they'd never get 'First Batallion the Mercian Regiment (The Staffordshire Regiment)' on a badge 15x3cm.
Since when did wearing the right badges, as opposed to (m)any badges, get enforced? I'll do my best to avoid wearing the badge as described just so some Yankee doesn't think 'Royal Air Force' is my name!
Remember, the Duke of Wellington said 'uniformity is a sign of mediocrity'.
Remember, the Duke of Wellington said 'uniformity is a sign of mediocrity'.
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First time I've heard of this. What an utter load of b0!!0x
I really despair at some (nae, most) of those idiots in HQ's that come up with $#!t like this! They really are out of touch with reality. About time some of these chimps came back to the coal face for a few months to remind them what the real RAF is like and how low morale is.
"Let's introduce stringent cuts (sorry, restructuring) whilst spending money on a complete farce like this, that will get me promoted and knighted!" To$$ers! Maybe they should save the money to help compensate house owners that are posted when their base closes and local house prices tumble!
I am really sick of this Mickey Mouse outfit, counting the days to IPP!!!
Mad Mark!!!
I really despair at some (nae, most) of those idiots in HQ's that come up with $#!t like this! They really are out of touch with reality. About time some of these chimps came back to the coal face for a few months to remind them what the real RAF is like and how low morale is.
"Let's introduce stringent cuts (sorry, restructuring) whilst spending money on a complete farce like this, that will get me promoted and knighted!" To$$ers! Maybe they should save the money to help compensate house owners that are posted when their base closes and local house prices tumble!
I am really sick of this Mickey Mouse outfit, counting the days to IPP!!!
Mad Mark!!!
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At the risk of fuelling the debate rather than just letting it stale out perhaps a little balance is called for.
First a disclaimer - it wasn't my idea, I have never had anything to do with the Dress Regs Committee.
But I have had lots to do with promoting the good name of the RAF in the public eye and one of the constant bugbears has been getting them to realise that not everybody in combat kit is a soldier. The evidence is compelling: Foot & Mouth was clearly only dealt with by the Army; During FRESCO we went to extra lengths to paint Royal Air Force on the Green Goddess so that we could take our share of the public's grateful pride in their Armed Forces. This initiative isn't about being recognised by Rupert from the Wegiment or by Abdullah or, heaven forbid, by some baccy chewing red-neck Spam. Its all about promoting an image of a Service and reminding the folk out there that not only the Army are involved in operations and assistance to the community.
I too have been mistaken for an RAC man - an illusion instantly dispelled when my own car failed to start having been turned off during a refuelling stop at a Service area on the way back from a meeting with ........... you guessed - the Army. (nice chaps but I wouldn't want to breed from them)
First a disclaimer - it wasn't my idea, I have never had anything to do with the Dress Regs Committee.
But I have had lots to do with promoting the good name of the RAF in the public eye and one of the constant bugbears has been getting them to realise that not everybody in combat kit is a soldier. The evidence is compelling: Foot & Mouth was clearly only dealt with by the Army; During FRESCO we went to extra lengths to paint Royal Air Force on the Green Goddess so that we could take our share of the public's grateful pride in their Armed Forces. This initiative isn't about being recognised by Rupert from the Wegiment or by Abdullah or, heaven forbid, by some baccy chewing red-neck Spam. Its all about promoting an image of a Service and reminding the folk out there that not only the Army are involved in operations and assistance to the community.
I too have been mistaken for an RAC man - an illusion instantly dispelled when my own car failed to start having been turned off during a refuelling stop at a Service area on the way back from a meeting with ........... you guessed - the Army. (nice chaps but I wouldn't want to breed from them)
Red On, Green On
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Of course if you'd done the sensible thing and joined the Navy you wouldn't be having this discussion in the first place.
Ducks to avoid incoming....
Ducks to avoid incoming....
