Uniform at UK airports
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Folks,
Came on this thread by chance. I work at a large airport near west London, and can tell you all that the idea that we do not want servicemen to wear uniform in our terminals is complete bulls**t. While some moron of a mover may well have said this over the PA system at Brize, this is not the policy of the BAA (Funny how most movers have the capacity to talk out of their arse!! I wonder if the RAF recruit them for this??).We regularly see uniformed servicemen around either passing through. or collecting/dropping people off, and long may it continue.
At this point I would point out that earning cash is the main purpose of my lot, and all the airlines. Therefore, we don't give a stuff what you wear, as long as you spend your money with us. In fact even if you don't want to spend your money, we have made it so difficult to access our airports, and that we are bound to screw you for something or other.
Someone seems to think airports are a soft target. I would not however suggest you try to put this to the test. You should remember that the security you see is the visible tip of the iceburg. It's the stuff you can't see that should worry you. This is, I expect the reason why my wonderful company charge so much. Security is verrrrry expensive.
There are a large number of ex military people working at my airport, from all 3 services including myself. I have yet to meet one who wasn't proud of their service, and who won't go out of their way to help an obvious serviceman if they can. However, there are about 40,000 people "working" here, and most have no knowledge of the armed forces at all, and little interest in finding out. This can only be changed by giving our armed forces a higher profile. Perhaps we should insist that you all wear uniform in public rather than try to prevent it.
Came on this thread by chance. I work at a large airport near west London, and can tell you all that the idea that we do not want servicemen to wear uniform in our terminals is complete bulls**t. While some moron of a mover may well have said this over the PA system at Brize, this is not the policy of the BAA (Funny how most movers have the capacity to talk out of their arse!! I wonder if the RAF recruit them for this??).We regularly see uniformed servicemen around either passing through. or collecting/dropping people off, and long may it continue.
At this point I would point out that earning cash is the main purpose of my lot, and all the airlines. Therefore, we don't give a stuff what you wear, as long as you spend your money with us. In fact even if you don't want to spend your money, we have made it so difficult to access our airports, and that we are bound to screw you for something or other.
Someone seems to think airports are a soft target. I would not however suggest you try to put this to the test. You should remember that the security you see is the visible tip of the iceburg. It's the stuff you can't see that should worry you. This is, I expect the reason why my wonderful company charge so much. Security is verrrrry expensive.
There are a large number of ex military people working at my airport, from all 3 services including myself. I have yet to meet one who wasn't proud of their service, and who won't go out of their way to help an obvious serviceman if they can. However, there are about 40,000 people "working" here, and most have no knowledge of the armed forces at all, and little interest in finding out. This can only be changed by giving our armed forces a higher profile. Perhaps we should insist that you all wear uniform in public rather than try to prevent it.
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MovaDink,
I am not quite sure what your problem is but the general public do not appreciate us and they need to be reminded that we actually fight for them, whether thay think so or not. You cannot be military with comments like you have posted so go back to civvy street and get a life!
I am not quite sure what your problem is but the general public do not appreciate us and they need to be reminded that we actually fight for them, whether thay think so or not. You cannot be military with comments like you have posted so go back to civvy street and get a life!
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Uniform
I have just stumbled onto this thread.
In '82 when we had our little squabble with the Argies we moved from RAFG to UK on a civvy flight from Wildenrath to Luton before embarking at Brize for a luxury transfer to Ascension on a VC-10 (in full DPM and webbing less muskets). The passengers and staff at Luton were magnificent - not quite the round of applause situation on the video linked to in this thread but not far off.
Return flight not much different - apart from upsetting HM C&E at Brize when we turned up with weapons (made safe) and ammunition (in magazines/popuches) a few months later. I think they wanted us through the airport ASAP owing to the pervading body odour - once our weapons and ammunition had been removed and properly packed for transit.
I'm ashamed to think that this situation exists. The guys (and girls) who are out on 'peace keeping' duties throughout the various regions of the planet should know we are proud of them and greatly appreciate what they are doing whether we agree with the politics behind it or not.
The people who make these rules should be ashamed of themselves.
In '82 when we had our little squabble with the Argies we moved from RAFG to UK on a civvy flight from Wildenrath to Luton before embarking at Brize for a luxury transfer to Ascension on a VC-10 (in full DPM and webbing less muskets). The passengers and staff at Luton were magnificent - not quite the round of applause situation on the video linked to in this thread but not far off.
Return flight not much different - apart from upsetting HM C&E at Brize when we turned up with weapons (made safe) and ammunition (in magazines/popuches) a few months later. I think they wanted us through the airport ASAP owing to the pervading body odour - once our weapons and ammunition had been removed and properly packed for transit.
I'm ashamed to think that this situation exists. The guys (and girls) who are out on 'peace keeping' duties throughout the various regions of the planet should know we are proud of them and greatly appreciate what they are doing whether we agree with the politics behind it or not.
The people who make these rules should be ashamed of themselves.
Wigan Mitre
Quick diversion off-thread..
Beagle's mention of the Wig reminded me that one of the wives at Waddo thought the Wig & Mitre was actually the Wigan Mitre.. But apart from that, the Wig was one of the great pubs of England.. Never managed to find a pub since moving away with that perfect blend of ease, comfort, great food & wine and a remarkably low prole factor. The new Wig is OK but nowhere near as comfortable as the original.
And now back to our regular programming.
sv
Beagle's mention of the Wig reminded me that one of the wives at Waddo thought the Wig & Mitre was actually the Wigan Mitre.. But apart from that, the Wig was one of the great pubs of England.. Never managed to find a pub since moving away with that perfect blend of ease, comfort, great food & wine and a remarkably low prole factor. The new Wig is OK but nowhere near as comfortable as the original.
And now back to our regular programming.
sv
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Originally Posted by jonny5
MovaDink,
I am not quite sure what your problem is but the general public do not appreciate us and they need to be reminded that we actually fight for them, whether thay think so or not. You cannot be military with comments like you have posted so go back to civvy street and get a life!
I am not quite sure what your problem is but the general public do not appreciate us and they need to be reminded that we actually fight for them, whether thay think so or not. You cannot be military with comments like you have posted so go back to civvy street and get a life!
Oh dear the british public dont like me and I am a big rufty tufty RAF Officer.
Well it aint good enough and I wont stand for it.
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Mov,
you really need to grow up and learn to live with your bitterness. Perhaps you were rejected by the forces and that is why you dont like us? And it really doesnt bother me personally that the public behave as they do but when we really are needed will their attitudes change? I think so, give us some support now or you may not get the help expected later on!
you really need to grow up and learn to live with your bitterness. Perhaps you were rejected by the forces and that is why you dont like us? And it really doesnt bother me personally that the public behave as they do but when we really are needed will their attitudes change? I think so, give us some support now or you may not get the help expected later on!
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Originally Posted by movadinkampa747
Oh dear the british public dont like me and I am a big rufty tufty RAF Officer.
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Originally Posted by jonny5
Mov,
you really need to grow up and learn to live with your bitterness. Perhaps you were rejected by the forces and that is why you dont like us? And it really doesnt bother me personally that the public behave as they do but when we really are needed will their attitudes change? I think so, give us some support now or you may not get the help expected later on!
you really need to grow up and learn to live with your bitterness. Perhaps you were rejected by the forces and that is why you dont like us? And it really doesnt bother me personally that the public behave as they do but when we really are needed will their attitudes change? I think so, give us some support now or you may not get the help expected later on!
I tell you what I am going back to that bait shop. This little fish just keeps coming back.
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Ok enough .. . enough !
Mova,
You need to stop posting here now because you have become annoying.
Being a c0ck and then pretending you've been fishing isn't washing.
Come back when you've got a clue.
Mova,
You need to stop posting here now because you have become annoying.
Being a c0ck and then pretending you've been fishing isn't washing.
Come back when you've got a clue.
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Hi folks,
Still being rude to each other and dragging down the conversation I see. If you keep bing naughty I will have to send you to your room without and dinner. That will teach you!!!
This whole thread was started as the result of some mover making a PA call. No one seems to be interested on what authority the mover made his statement. I am sure he was working outside his brief, and was making it all up (Average military bloke tends to do what he's told to do). I can assure you all that there is no instruction in place at my wonderful airport (Big one west of London remember??) to discourage servicemen visiting us in uniform. We don't care what you wear. All we ask is that you spend as much of your money as possible while you are with us.
The average Brit has never taken the servicemen to his heart so don't be surprised that the man in the street dosen't give a stuff about us (I am a reservist, and have been back in uniform fairly recently). I have been mistaken for an RAC patrolman and a Traffic Warden while in uniform, only because we servicemen just don't wear uniform in public, so the average Brit has no idea what he is looking at. The only way round this is to get in the public eye as much as possible. This is not only a top level decision, but must be followed through at unit and individual levels. It's a lot more than Air Shows and the "Dead Sparrows" blasting holes in the sky. Trouble is, I don't think there is a will at any level above the shop floor to do anything about it.
The last generation to understand the military were the last National Servicemen. All now in the mid 60's or older, they endured their 2 years in uniform, much of which was wasted effort on their part and that of the services they were in. However, almost all look back on their time with pride, all remember their service number, and many on reflection, thank the services for teaching them self reliance, self discipline and pride in their appearance if not much else. Maybe we need to bring back something of this sort again. Some pipe dream that is!!!
Still being rude to each other and dragging down the conversation I see. If you keep bing naughty I will have to send you to your room without and dinner. That will teach you!!!
This whole thread was started as the result of some mover making a PA call. No one seems to be interested on what authority the mover made his statement. I am sure he was working outside his brief, and was making it all up (Average military bloke tends to do what he's told to do). I can assure you all that there is no instruction in place at my wonderful airport (Big one west of London remember??) to discourage servicemen visiting us in uniform. We don't care what you wear. All we ask is that you spend as much of your money as possible while you are with us.
The average Brit has never taken the servicemen to his heart so don't be surprised that the man in the street dosen't give a stuff about us (I am a reservist, and have been back in uniform fairly recently). I have been mistaken for an RAC patrolman and a Traffic Warden while in uniform, only because we servicemen just don't wear uniform in public, so the average Brit has no idea what he is looking at. The only way round this is to get in the public eye as much as possible. This is not only a top level decision, but must be followed through at unit and individual levels. It's a lot more than Air Shows and the "Dead Sparrows" blasting holes in the sky. Trouble is, I don't think there is a will at any level above the shop floor to do anything about it.
The last generation to understand the military were the last National Servicemen. All now in the mid 60's or older, they endured their 2 years in uniform, much of which was wasted effort on their part and that of the services they were in. However, almost all look back on their time with pride, all remember their service number, and many on reflection, thank the services for teaching them self reliance, self discipline and pride in their appearance if not much else. Maybe we need to bring back something of this sort again. Some pipe dream that is!!!
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If one feels strongly about wearing uniform, crack on. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission after all. A bollocking is only a bollocking if you listen.
If you prefer to keep your occupation under wraps, due to threat of terror etc then do just that, and change into civvies.
Yes, ideally, the world would be a free and lovely place where we can stroll proudly around in uniform, and yes, I don't like faceless rubber backed folk nibbing me about this kind of crap either.
But both cases are with us, so make your choice and crack on.
Points/questions? (Is it only me who finds this argument quite easy to decipher?)
If you prefer to keep your occupation under wraps, due to threat of terror etc then do just that, and change into civvies.
Yes, ideally, the world would be a free and lovely place where we can stroll proudly around in uniform, and yes, I don't like faceless rubber backed folk nibbing me about this kind of crap either.
But both cases are with us, so make your choice and crack on.
Points/questions? (Is it only me who finds this argument quite easy to decipher?)
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Originally Posted by nice castle
Points/questions? (Is it only me who finds this argument quite easy to decipher?)
Maybe you havent indeed worked it out at all. You see its not only about wearing uniform or not in Airports but more the complete disguise of who we are and what we are doing as in order for Joe Public to forget the Governments complete lack of support.
Or maybe I misread (At least I read them!!) all the previous posts????????
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Originally Posted by mutleyfour
Got the perfect get around, wear someone elses uniform! At least then you can say "I'm not wearing my uniform" when asked.
