Uniform at UK airports
Red On, Green On
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In about 1984 some of my colleagues arrived at LHR in a Puma after an evening's fun. Puma taxis to ramp outside a terminal, and the troop disembarks. But they didn't just get off, and saunter to the open door. They did a hot dismount, complete with defensive arc, AR16s at the ready...
By the time they were back at base the OCs phone line had melted
By the time they were back at base the OCs phone line had melted
Hellbound
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Yep, good call. Will someone please explain to me how I am putting anyone in danger (especially myself) by wearing uniform in an airport. It is not common sense to get changed when there is no need - get a life Grecian
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These are UK subjects in UK uniform in a UK airport. I spent the early morning of Jan 1 2005 at Shannon Airport waiting for the early LHR in the duty free surrounded by not Irish service people but United States service personnel in desert fatigues buying celtic tat. Despite numerous complaints from locals the last I heard this was still the case, and that the manner in which the NCOs round them up to be boarded/get meals etc. is less than low key.
My personal opinion (as a civilian) is that military personnel have uniforms for a reason, and they are not dirt to be swept under a rug, to be transported around in closed vehicles like prisoners - if anything they should proceed through whatever passes for a VIP channel at a given airport as the local MP, alderman or dogcatcher probably does.
May I suggest that the next time a civ serv complains about military personnel wearing their prescribed clothing as in the example of the Baghdad embassy that a harassment complaint be raised? God knows they'd do it to the mil given have a chance - use their own weapons against them. Once you've sorted out government, then perhaps the private sector can be next.
My personal opinion (as a civilian) is that military personnel have uniforms for a reason, and they are not dirt to be swept under a rug, to be transported around in closed vehicles like prisoners - if anything they should proceed through whatever passes for a VIP channel at a given airport as the local MP, alderman or dogcatcher probably does.
May I suggest that the next time a civ serv complains about military personnel wearing their prescribed clothing as in the example of the Baghdad embassy that a harassment complaint be raised? God knows they'd do it to the mil given have a chance - use their own weapons against them. Once you've sorted out government, then perhaps the private sector can be next.
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Originally Posted by SaddamsLoveChild
A friend who has just transited out through here told me that the Civil Servants in the Embassy in Baghdad do not like servicemen wearing uniform at the embassy as 'it offends them'. It appears the airports arent the only ones that dont like uniforms in public. Suddenly I see the value of losing thousands of Civ Servs.
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I am currently based in Cornwall. I've never done a tour in this part of the uk before and its a small and little known unit. Every village and town has it's British Legion, which is well-used by the locals. On Rememberance Sunday nearly every village in the vicinity holds it's own parade, indeed my Unit provides an honour guard for 3 parades (two on the same day, which isn't bad for a unit of only 35 personnel) for Rememberance alone and another two for BoB. In total the Unit is represented at around 15-20 events of this kind every year. This is because the people of this county take great pride in their Armed Services, Cornwall has strong links with all three. I frequently wear my uniform to Tesco if I have to call in on the way home, although there has been a recent Security bulletin saying we should wear civvie jackets over the top. I have never been subjected to any kind of verbal abuse whilst in uniform. My point is that there are some regions where we are welcomed with respect and kindness, Norfolk is another although Kings Lynn and Thetford may be a bit dodgy!
In my opinion the media, and the BBC in particular, are responsible for the lack of awareness and general apathy towards the Armed Forces. They do not view us as an 'in' subject, not surprising given the political bias of the head honchos. I would like to challenge the BBC to host an Armed Forces only Question Time with Tony Blair and the respective ministers from each party on the panel. No high ranking officers allowed and no impact on career for anyone who wishes to have their say.
If enough of us badgered them about it maybe they'd do it.....not.
In my opinion the media, and the BBC in particular, are responsible for the lack of awareness and general apathy towards the Armed Forces. They do not view us as an 'in' subject, not surprising given the political bias of the head honchos. I would like to challenge the BBC to host an Armed Forces only Question Time with Tony Blair and the respective ministers from each party on the panel. No high ranking officers allowed and no impact on career for anyone who wishes to have their say.
If enough of us badgered them about it maybe they'd do it.....not.
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Good evening,
I am currently employed to provide assistance to military passengers, their families, and MOD employees at the major London airports.
The main reason for our existence as a section is to help with passengers travelling as Compassionate Alpha or Bravo cases (despite popular and widespread belief there is NO SUCH thing as Comp Charlie in the British military)
The service we offer is, in my opinion, first class, and something the military should take great pride in. No matter whether you are a General or a Private soldier, you get the same treatment. Not many areas we can say that happens in are there? I sincerely hope none of you will ever have reason to use the system, or, if you have, you were impressed with the service given.
Other duties at these airports include contract monitoring of civilian airlines handling military pax, and PROVIDING HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO MILITARY PAX ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS AT THE AIRPORT.
These problems are many and various. Sometimes it is not the passengers fault (the Unit or FMCC if in theatre could have let the passenger down for instance). More commonplace is Johnny Pongo being a fu*ckwit and not having a clue of basic details like the correct day he is flying, or even with which airline.
However, this is a seperate discussion. This topic is about uniform in UK civil airports. So lets have a look at the reasons why this policy exists.
As has already been stated, the first and foremost reason is because the JSP 800 states it. Which, to be honest, should be the end of discussion. The policy was approved at Sqn Ldr level (no doubt having been staffed a little higher than that). However, this is a discussion forum so lets ask why?
Despite posts here stating differently, it is not the case that BAA have enforced this policy on us. Or that ALL of the airlines that operate out of the UK insist on no uniform. But some of them have.
So, how do you legislate for that? If Johnny Pongo has a booking with, for instance, British Midland, his booking confirmation (if he ever got one) could state it is ok to travel in full uniform, but if he is booked through British Airways then he must travel in civvies? Impractical.
So, there is one good reason why there is a blanket ban on uniform. Wouldn't you feel more aggrieved if you got refused a flight on the basis of what you were wearing and got stranded at the airport just because of airline policy? Who would you blame? The airline? The movers at Brize who didn't tell you? The movers at your APOE? Your movements clerk? The FMCC? Yourself?
So that's now 2 legitimate reasons for not turning up in uniform. Not convinced yet? Ok lets carry on.
I think there is a tendancy here to believe that ALL military personnel are as 'well turned out' as yourself. By this I mean this is a forum primarily for Aircrew, visited by a lot of Officers and 'older' members of the military, or ex-military. Not sure how many young airman, soldiers or seaman are giving their opinions here. But, and I can assure you I am telling you the truth here, not everyone takes as much pride in their appearance in uniform as you do. Some of the sights I have seen wandering through the airport have to be seen to be believed.
Young guys in desert DPM, shirts unbuttoned, t-shirts smeared with salty sweat marks, boots still containing half the Iraqi desert, no headgear (who wears berets right?) and generally just looking a shambles. Not really the 'advert for the military' some of you believe we are portraying. Quite frankly I've seen better turned out homeless people. Admittedley, sometimes this isn't necessarily the passengers fault. After all, if you've spent 4/6 months washing your uniform in a bucket, or getting it wet in the Jingly laundry then its bound to look a bit shabby.
So, its not aesthetically pleasing to see someone in such a state. But we could live with that right? No need to stop him getting on his flight? Correct. But what about the complaint received by the military by the civilian passenger who has to sit next to the guy in question, who stinks and looks a bag of **** because he has been wearing the same clothes for weeks on end? In some cases the uniform could walk through the airport on its own without any need for a body inside it...
Ok, so the civvy shouldn't be complaining, after all the guy is a war-hero isn't he? Bloody moaners, should be buying the guy a beer on the flight, not moaning about the smell. Not in real-life sunshine. In an ideal world maybe.
Ah, that reminds me. War Heroes. Returning War Hero syndrome is probably the main reason we get passengers in uniform turning up at the airports and disregarding advice to the contrary at all stage of their journey. Nobody wants to slope back home to wives/ girlfriends/ mothers/ fathers/ brothers/ husbands in jeans and a sweatshirt do they? They want to come back looking like John Rambo. Why?
Pride? A sense of achievement? To look 'hard'? All of these. And I'm not saying that its wrong. You SHOULD be able to return in uniform looking all these things. But is it REALLY that important? I mean REALLY? Or are you suffering from being a bit 'Army Barmy'. Does what you are wearing really detract from the job you've done? Will your family forget where you've been unless you look the part in the Arrivals Hall?
An excuse we hear a lot when approaching passengers in uniform (yes, we have to stop and question why they are in uniform) is that they WERE TOLD SPECIFICALLY NOT TO DEPLOY WITH ANY CIVILIAN CLOTHING. Bull****. Everyone is told to take at least one set of civvys away with them. What if, God forbid, you had to travel back urgently as a Compassionate case? Do you honestly think ANY of the middle-east airlines would let you hop aboard dressed like GI Joe?
In the course of this posting I have handled and helped dozens and dozens or Comp cases. And do you know what? NOT ONE has EVER flown into the country in uniform. Hmm...weird that isn't it? So why do you have to on return from your detachment? Whats the difference? Ah, right, sorry, the returning war hero thing again.
I've just noticed I've only really spoken about people using Civ-Air on return from their tour. Not people flying out to commence their tour. Bit strange that as well when you think about it. So, when you fly back from, say, BSR to BZZ and then jump on the bus to fly LHR to HAJ its essential you wear full rig. But 6 months previously you flew HAJ-LHR and then from BZZ-BSR in jeans and t-shirt. What happened in those 6 months? Were you assimilated that month that you had your own personality stripped away from you?
Personally (and yes, in the last 15 years I have served in Bosnia, Zaire, Kosovo, Saudi, Sierra Leone and Iraq) the first thing I want when I fly in is to get out of my uniform. That and a cold beer. Why spend longer in uniform than you have to? I don't finish work in the UK and sit around my living room in my uniform. Or go down the pub in it. So why would I want to fly on a civil aircraft and spend hours at an airport in it?
That leads me onto my next point. Beer. Who hasn't craved a few pints of real watered down English beer after an operational tour? Not many of you i'd wager. But not everyone, after 6 months away on a two can rule can handle it. I bet you can guess where this is going? Yep, the phonecalls to our detachment because Johnny Pongo is leathered, in uniform, in Wetherspoons at the airport and is being abusive because he is not being 'respected'. Ho-hum. Here we go again. Now, nobody wants to stop this guy getting on his plane and back to his loved ones, but he is acting like a tool and won't behave himself. The fact he is sticking out like a sore thumb in his uniform is, yet again, not that 'advert for the military' you guys were banging on about earlier is it?
For the record, in my personal experience doing this job, NOBODY has ever been refused a flight for being in uniform. They are quietly advised to get changed into civvies. If they insist they have none and the particular airline they are flying with are happy to accept them then they fly in uniform. If the airline are not happy, then the passenger is advised to go and buy a pair of trackies and a t-shirt from a sports shop in the airport.
No big deal. Nobody gets a hard-on about it, least of all us. HOWEVER, one thing we do take very seriously is our own personal security. When a military passenger does encounter a problem in the airport we usually get called to assist. When said passenger is in uniform and therefore sticking out a mile, it compromises us to a certain extent. London airports have 'dickers' in them. We know it, BAA know it, the Met Police know it. We have to work in the airport all the time. The transitting passenger doesn't and therefore, it would be UNLIKELY (but not impossible) for him to be targeted unless it was an oportunist strike. However, 'they' have the time to target us, and that is a very real threat. A way around this, of course, would be to refuse to assist a passenger in uniform. But that's not realistic either is it? And not a road we would like to go down. It is quite staggering how many pax don't know their basic flight details as I mentioned before, therefore the assistance we can provide can be quite invaluable. I'd hate to go down the route just suggested...
As for the uniform itself, nobody has yet commented on the sensors and security at airports nowadays. BAA have some very good scanners and systems that are good at picking out 'trace explosives'. You know the kind, found on uniform, you've been carrying around loaded magazines at the very least for 4 months, jumping in and out of vehicles that have been carrying weapons of varying degrees of nastiness. Do you really need the hassle of being lit up like a Christmas tree at security? Not saying you'd be prevented from getting on your flight, or even missing it, but do you really want the hassle? Just for the sake of not being arsed to get changed? Your choice...
If you want my honest opinion, then I pretty much agree with you all here. You SHOULD be able to wear your uniform ANYWHERE you want in the UK. You SHOULD be given access to fast-track processing, access to Business Class lounges and SHOULD be bought beer and gifts by members of the public and walk around the airport preceded by a scantily clad young girlie scattering rose petals at your feet. You SHOULD be piped aboard the aircraft and have your hand shaken by the local Mayor. The pilot SHOULD invite you onto the flight deck and offer you your choice of stewardess to have your way with on your journey home.
All of the above SHOULD happen, but its not likely to happen anytime in the near future. In the meantime, is it really that much of a big deal to put some civvys on before you catch a plane home?
I am currently employed to provide assistance to military passengers, their families, and MOD employees at the major London airports.
The main reason for our existence as a section is to help with passengers travelling as Compassionate Alpha or Bravo cases (despite popular and widespread belief there is NO SUCH thing as Comp Charlie in the British military)
The service we offer is, in my opinion, first class, and something the military should take great pride in. No matter whether you are a General or a Private soldier, you get the same treatment. Not many areas we can say that happens in are there? I sincerely hope none of you will ever have reason to use the system, or, if you have, you were impressed with the service given.
Other duties at these airports include contract monitoring of civilian airlines handling military pax, and PROVIDING HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO MILITARY PAX ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS AT THE AIRPORT.
These problems are many and various. Sometimes it is not the passengers fault (the Unit or FMCC if in theatre could have let the passenger down for instance). More commonplace is Johnny Pongo being a fu*ckwit and not having a clue of basic details like the correct day he is flying, or even with which airline.
However, this is a seperate discussion. This topic is about uniform in UK civil airports. So lets have a look at the reasons why this policy exists.
As has already been stated, the first and foremost reason is because the JSP 800 states it. Which, to be honest, should be the end of discussion. The policy was approved at Sqn Ldr level (no doubt having been staffed a little higher than that). However, this is a discussion forum so lets ask why?
Despite posts here stating differently, it is not the case that BAA have enforced this policy on us. Or that ALL of the airlines that operate out of the UK insist on no uniform. But some of them have.
So, how do you legislate for that? If Johnny Pongo has a booking with, for instance, British Midland, his booking confirmation (if he ever got one) could state it is ok to travel in full uniform, but if he is booked through British Airways then he must travel in civvies? Impractical.
So, there is one good reason why there is a blanket ban on uniform. Wouldn't you feel more aggrieved if you got refused a flight on the basis of what you were wearing and got stranded at the airport just because of airline policy? Who would you blame? The airline? The movers at Brize who didn't tell you? The movers at your APOE? Your movements clerk? The FMCC? Yourself?
So that's now 2 legitimate reasons for not turning up in uniform. Not convinced yet? Ok lets carry on.
I think there is a tendancy here to believe that ALL military personnel are as 'well turned out' as yourself. By this I mean this is a forum primarily for Aircrew, visited by a lot of Officers and 'older' members of the military, or ex-military. Not sure how many young airman, soldiers or seaman are giving their opinions here. But, and I can assure you I am telling you the truth here, not everyone takes as much pride in their appearance in uniform as you do. Some of the sights I have seen wandering through the airport have to be seen to be believed.
Young guys in desert DPM, shirts unbuttoned, t-shirts smeared with salty sweat marks, boots still containing half the Iraqi desert, no headgear (who wears berets right?) and generally just looking a shambles. Not really the 'advert for the military' some of you believe we are portraying. Quite frankly I've seen better turned out homeless people. Admittedley, sometimes this isn't necessarily the passengers fault. After all, if you've spent 4/6 months washing your uniform in a bucket, or getting it wet in the Jingly laundry then its bound to look a bit shabby.
So, its not aesthetically pleasing to see someone in such a state. But we could live with that right? No need to stop him getting on his flight? Correct. But what about the complaint received by the military by the civilian passenger who has to sit next to the guy in question, who stinks and looks a bag of **** because he has been wearing the same clothes for weeks on end? In some cases the uniform could walk through the airport on its own without any need for a body inside it...
Ok, so the civvy shouldn't be complaining, after all the guy is a war-hero isn't he? Bloody moaners, should be buying the guy a beer on the flight, not moaning about the smell. Not in real-life sunshine. In an ideal world maybe.
Ah, that reminds me. War Heroes. Returning War Hero syndrome is probably the main reason we get passengers in uniform turning up at the airports and disregarding advice to the contrary at all stage of their journey. Nobody wants to slope back home to wives/ girlfriends/ mothers/ fathers/ brothers/ husbands in jeans and a sweatshirt do they? They want to come back looking like John Rambo. Why?
Pride? A sense of achievement? To look 'hard'? All of these. And I'm not saying that its wrong. You SHOULD be able to return in uniform looking all these things. But is it REALLY that important? I mean REALLY? Or are you suffering from being a bit 'Army Barmy'. Does what you are wearing really detract from the job you've done? Will your family forget where you've been unless you look the part in the Arrivals Hall?
An excuse we hear a lot when approaching passengers in uniform (yes, we have to stop and question why they are in uniform) is that they WERE TOLD SPECIFICALLY NOT TO DEPLOY WITH ANY CIVILIAN CLOTHING. Bull****. Everyone is told to take at least one set of civvys away with them. What if, God forbid, you had to travel back urgently as a Compassionate case? Do you honestly think ANY of the middle-east airlines would let you hop aboard dressed like GI Joe?
In the course of this posting I have handled and helped dozens and dozens or Comp cases. And do you know what? NOT ONE has EVER flown into the country in uniform. Hmm...weird that isn't it? So why do you have to on return from your detachment? Whats the difference? Ah, right, sorry, the returning war hero thing again.
I've just noticed I've only really spoken about people using Civ-Air on return from their tour. Not people flying out to commence their tour. Bit strange that as well when you think about it. So, when you fly back from, say, BSR to BZZ and then jump on the bus to fly LHR to HAJ its essential you wear full rig. But 6 months previously you flew HAJ-LHR and then from BZZ-BSR in jeans and t-shirt. What happened in those 6 months? Were you assimilated that month that you had your own personality stripped away from you?
Personally (and yes, in the last 15 years I have served in Bosnia, Zaire, Kosovo, Saudi, Sierra Leone and Iraq) the first thing I want when I fly in is to get out of my uniform. That and a cold beer. Why spend longer in uniform than you have to? I don't finish work in the UK and sit around my living room in my uniform. Or go down the pub in it. So why would I want to fly on a civil aircraft and spend hours at an airport in it?
That leads me onto my next point. Beer. Who hasn't craved a few pints of real watered down English beer after an operational tour? Not many of you i'd wager. But not everyone, after 6 months away on a two can rule can handle it. I bet you can guess where this is going? Yep, the phonecalls to our detachment because Johnny Pongo is leathered, in uniform, in Wetherspoons at the airport and is being abusive because he is not being 'respected'. Ho-hum. Here we go again. Now, nobody wants to stop this guy getting on his plane and back to his loved ones, but he is acting like a tool and won't behave himself. The fact he is sticking out like a sore thumb in his uniform is, yet again, not that 'advert for the military' you guys were banging on about earlier is it?
For the record, in my personal experience doing this job, NOBODY has ever been refused a flight for being in uniform. They are quietly advised to get changed into civvies. If they insist they have none and the particular airline they are flying with are happy to accept them then they fly in uniform. If the airline are not happy, then the passenger is advised to go and buy a pair of trackies and a t-shirt from a sports shop in the airport.
No big deal. Nobody gets a hard-on about it, least of all us. HOWEVER, one thing we do take very seriously is our own personal security. When a military passenger does encounter a problem in the airport we usually get called to assist. When said passenger is in uniform and therefore sticking out a mile, it compromises us to a certain extent. London airports have 'dickers' in them. We know it, BAA know it, the Met Police know it. We have to work in the airport all the time. The transitting passenger doesn't and therefore, it would be UNLIKELY (but not impossible) for him to be targeted unless it was an oportunist strike. However, 'they' have the time to target us, and that is a very real threat. A way around this, of course, would be to refuse to assist a passenger in uniform. But that's not realistic either is it? And not a road we would like to go down. It is quite staggering how many pax don't know their basic flight details as I mentioned before, therefore the assistance we can provide can be quite invaluable. I'd hate to go down the route just suggested...
As for the uniform itself, nobody has yet commented on the sensors and security at airports nowadays. BAA have some very good scanners and systems that are good at picking out 'trace explosives'. You know the kind, found on uniform, you've been carrying around loaded magazines at the very least for 4 months, jumping in and out of vehicles that have been carrying weapons of varying degrees of nastiness. Do you really need the hassle of being lit up like a Christmas tree at security? Not saying you'd be prevented from getting on your flight, or even missing it, but do you really want the hassle? Just for the sake of not being arsed to get changed? Your choice...
If you want my honest opinion, then I pretty much agree with you all here. You SHOULD be able to wear your uniform ANYWHERE you want in the UK. You SHOULD be given access to fast-track processing, access to Business Class lounges and SHOULD be bought beer and gifts by members of the public and walk around the airport preceded by a scantily clad young girlie scattering rose petals at your feet. You SHOULD be piped aboard the aircraft and have your hand shaken by the local Mayor. The pilot SHOULD invite you onto the flight deck and offer you your choice of stewardess to have your way with on your journey home.
All of the above SHOULD happen, but its not likely to happen anytime in the near future. In the meantime, is it really that much of a big deal to put some civvys on before you catch a plane home?
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To be honest I expected no less than a childish reply like that from (somebody who should PROBABLY know better) people on here.
I just figured there was that much crap being posted about this particular issue by those who are either:
a) Still wishing it was the 1940's when everyone loved the military
b) Believe people are being refused travel at civvy airports even though they are in their No 1 best uniform
c) Drive a desk for a living and have no appreciation of the internal workings of an airport
d) Just desperate to take a pop at Movers. For anything. Regardless of the subject being discussed.
I find it sad that having taken the time out to explain the reasons behind the policy, and actually AGREEING with the majority of the posters in this topic, that you deemed it necessary to resort to playground insults.
Still, if it fires your rockets big fella...
I just figured there was that much crap being posted about this particular issue by those who are either:
a) Still wishing it was the 1940's when everyone loved the military
b) Believe people are being refused travel at civvy airports even though they are in their No 1 best uniform
c) Drive a desk for a living and have no appreciation of the internal workings of an airport
d) Just desperate to take a pop at Movers. For anything. Regardless of the subject being discussed.
I find it sad that having taken the time out to explain the reasons behind the policy, and actually AGREEING with the majority of the posters in this topic, that you deemed it necessary to resort to playground insults.
Still, if it fires your rockets big fella...
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Originally Posted by akula
Well said you sanctimonious patronising tw#t
ALWAYS assume NEVER check
ALWAYS assume NEVER check
Or weapons.
Or unauthorised war souvenirs.
Or the ability for the British Soldier to attempt to travel the world with zero cash, credit card or bankcard.
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Thankyou.
As I said, I took the time and effort in an attempt to educate those who are under the misguided impression that an SAC Mover at Bzz has made up this legislation in order to screw people around.
A naive viewpoint but one unfortunately the paranoid 'Mover Bashers' think exists.
There is a lot of background to this uniform (or lack of) policy, and decisions about it were made well above my payscale, however, for someone dealing with the issue day to day, I put forward a few reasons for its existence.
Its not a definitive 'Aide Memoire' and was never intended to be. Just a personal viewpoint.
Oh, and by the way, the post is mainly aimed towards problems with Army passengers, but that is only because they are the vast majority of our 'customers' at the civil airports (Germany based troops etc)
Strangely enough, nobody EVER checks in to fly to Northern Ireland in uniform. Hmm...
As I said, I took the time and effort in an attempt to educate those who are under the misguided impression that an SAC Mover at Bzz has made up this legislation in order to screw people around.
A naive viewpoint but one unfortunately the paranoid 'Mover Bashers' think exists.
There is a lot of background to this uniform (or lack of) policy, and decisions about it were made well above my payscale, however, for someone dealing with the issue day to day, I put forward a few reasons for its existence.
Its not a definitive 'Aide Memoire' and was never intended to be. Just a personal viewpoint.
Oh, and by the way, the post is mainly aimed towards problems with Army passengers, but that is only because they are the vast majority of our 'customers' at the civil airports (Germany based troops etc)
Strangely enough, nobody EVER checks in to fly to Northern Ireland in uniform. Hmm...
CC,
I reckon then the uniform is satisfactory attire while fighting for your Country and fellow citizens or to be buried in when killed doing so but not to ride a fecking airliner. What a load of bovine feces.
If you believe one bit of that drivel, I feel very sorry for anyone wearing a uniform that comes your way. If a Squaddie with muddy boots, stinky armpits, and dirty undies winds up in the seat next to me while travelling from a combat zone for whatever reason....well then it is "beers on me, Mate! Welcome home! Thanks for serving."
Any Dumbass that would take objection to a having a soldier ride next to him is the one that should be tossed off the aircraft.
Drunk Squaddies in the bar.....how many oil field hands you seen pissed as anewt while coming or going to work on the same airline as won't have uniformed servicemembers?
Do us a favor and list the names of all the airlines that refuse service to uniformed personnel and I will pass them along to the US DOD and see if we can put them on a Debarment List and cease doing business with them.
For one....I am happy to see there are still military folks that are "proud" of their uniform and their service to the country. God Bless'em!
I reckon then the uniform is satisfactory attire while fighting for your Country and fellow citizens or to be buried in when killed doing so but not to ride a fecking airliner. What a load of bovine feces.
If you believe one bit of that drivel, I feel very sorry for anyone wearing a uniform that comes your way. If a Squaddie with muddy boots, stinky armpits, and dirty undies winds up in the seat next to me while travelling from a combat zone for whatever reason....well then it is "beers on me, Mate! Welcome home! Thanks for serving."
Any Dumbass that would take objection to a having a soldier ride next to him is the one that should be tossed off the aircraft.
Drunk Squaddies in the bar.....how many oil field hands you seen pissed as anewt while coming or going to work on the same airline as won't have uniformed servicemembers?
Do us a favor and list the names of all the airlines that refuse service to uniformed personnel and I will pass them along to the US DOD and see if we can put them on a Debarment List and cease doing business with them.
For one....I am happy to see there are still military folks that are "proud" of their uniform and their service to the country. God Bless'em!
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CC
Some of us really do appreciate the position that you're in - and the time you've obviously taken composing such a heartfelt post. I've seen the compassionate system in action and was really impressed - keep up the great work and long may it continue.
But I really would like to know which airlines insist that uniform is not worn! I think we should be told!!!
Some of us really do appreciate the position that you're in - and the time you've obviously taken composing such a heartfelt post. I've seen the compassionate system in action and was really impressed - keep up the great work and long may it continue.
Despite posts here stating differently, it is not the case that BAA have enforced this policy on us. Or that ALL of the airlines that operate out of the UK insist on no uniform. But some of them have.
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Good post CC.
There's a differance between the US and the UK that everybody's missing.
The US is a lot bigger! The guys you see in uniforms at US airports are likely travelling on internal CONUS flights. Anyone who thinks US soldiers would wear uniform on civilian flights to/from the Middle East needs to change their meds.
There's a differance between the US and the UK that everybody's missing.
The US is a lot bigger! The guys you see in uniforms at US airports are likely travelling on internal CONUS flights. Anyone who thinks US soldiers would wear uniform on civilian flights to/from the Middle East needs to change their meds.
Reach,
You been to an airport lately? When the lads and lasses get off the DOD charter flight inbound they are in Desert BDU's and they then connect with "internal flights". Can you imagine a US airline saying "sorryo....you stink....go take a shower, change into your jeans and tee will you!"
You been to an airport lately? When the lads and lasses get off the DOD charter flight inbound they are in Desert BDU's and they then connect with "internal flights". Can you imagine a US airline saying "sorryo....you stink....go take a shower, change into your jeans and tee will you!"
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Yep
They get the DOD charter from the desert to the US and then connect to civilian CONUS flights. If they were getting an airline flight outside their home country - like the Brits have to - they'd have to get changed.
The main point is security, not stinky BDUs.
They get the DOD charter from the desert to the US and then connect to civilian CONUS flights. If they were getting an airline flight outside their home country - like the Brits have to - they'd have to get changed.
The main point is security, not stinky BDUs.
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I'm in agreement with the majority like I've already said.
If I ended up next to a squaddie on a plane, I would appreciate the job they've done/ are doing and would gladly strike up a conversation (buying a beer would be stretching it a bit!!)
However, you and I are in a position to understand all this because we are in, or have been in the military.
I don't think it would come as a shock for you to know that unfortunately, despite the best effort of 'The Forces Comic' sorry - 'The Forces Favorite' newspaper, The Sun, to hoodwink us into believing that everyone loves us, a lot of people, Brits included, see us as a 'dirty little secret' and don't want our existance pushed into their face. I agree, they should be kicked out at 30,000 feet but unfortunately that solution is impractical, and i seriously doubt that when the complaint from the civvy comes in, the powers that be tell them to 'ram it' as should be the case. Instead i suspect an ass-kissing of the civvy is probably the usual response.
The point about the US being different to the UK is a valid one. Not sure if anyone here realises, but we are not talking about groups, or dozens of military passengers in uniform at Civil Airports. We are talking about a guy (or girl) on his own on an internal flight to, say, Aberdeen or Hannover.
On my flight we also handle 'green moves' at provincial airports around the UK on civil chartered aircraft. In these cases, of course there is no issue with troops in uniform. They are mobhanded, dripping in desert or green uniform and getting on an aircraft specifically chartered for them.
I would love to name and shame the airlines who have an issue with military uniform, and despite Ray-Darrs post, I would love to name and shame those employees (management) of BAA who have expressed their discontent at uniform in the airports (I imagine that Ray-Darr is a grunt on the shop floor of security, and as such not privy to these recommendations by his management...).
However, I feel if I did these things I may be overstepping my remit...my purpose is education, not blame...
If I ended up next to a squaddie on a plane, I would appreciate the job they've done/ are doing and would gladly strike up a conversation (buying a beer would be stretching it a bit!!)
However, you and I are in a position to understand all this because we are in, or have been in the military.
I don't think it would come as a shock for you to know that unfortunately, despite the best effort of 'The Forces Comic' sorry - 'The Forces Favorite' newspaper, The Sun, to hoodwink us into believing that everyone loves us, a lot of people, Brits included, see us as a 'dirty little secret' and don't want our existance pushed into their face. I agree, they should be kicked out at 30,000 feet but unfortunately that solution is impractical, and i seriously doubt that when the complaint from the civvy comes in, the powers that be tell them to 'ram it' as should be the case. Instead i suspect an ass-kissing of the civvy is probably the usual response.
The point about the US being different to the UK is a valid one. Not sure if anyone here realises, but we are not talking about groups, or dozens of military passengers in uniform at Civil Airports. We are talking about a guy (or girl) on his own on an internal flight to, say, Aberdeen or Hannover.
On my flight we also handle 'green moves' at provincial airports around the UK on civil chartered aircraft. In these cases, of course there is no issue with troops in uniform. They are mobhanded, dripping in desert or green uniform and getting on an aircraft specifically chartered for them.
I would love to name and shame the airlines who have an issue with military uniform, and despite Ray-Darrs post, I would love to name and shame those employees (management) of BAA who have expressed their discontent at uniform in the airports (I imagine that Ray-Darr is a grunt on the shop floor of security, and as such not privy to these recommendations by his management...).
However, I feel if I did these things I may be overstepping my remit...my purpose is education, not blame...