Green? Blue? Purple??
Thread Starter
Green? Blue? Purple??
I have just completed a tour down a large hole close to Watford, where I was required to wear CS95 as normal working dress. Now, it may well be an operational HQ, but it is not in an operational theatre, so why wear it? This dressing in green seems to be ever-more prevalent these days, as we dance to the Army's tune (JOINT spelt A-R-M-Y), as it is seen as punchy, operational and supporting those in the front-line. However, it is not my normal working dress, nor is it the Navy's, and I don't work harder or more dilgently just because I am wearing it. Given that CAS has recently had a push on RAF ethos and spirit (seen the glossy mags in the crewroom??), isn't it about time we advertised ourselves wherever and whenever we can by wearing our own uniform?
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At North Hampshire's premiere noise producer a few sections in RMS (thats Supply Sqn to you Binbrook model q'd folk) have changed back to CS95 after a disastrous return to wearing blues.
Blues are all well and good if you spend your time photocopying, drinking tea or brown-nosing in Handbrake House but since the issue trousers changed to the easily stained variety using blue uniform in an environment that may contain dirt is a definite no-no.
And before anyone bleats about 'coveralls', if your job involves you having to deliver all over the unit rather than just staying in one or two hangers and the officers and SWO seem far more concerned about personnel wearing the 'correct dress' than the relatively smooth running of a unit then coveralls will be impractical.
Blues are all well and good if you spend your time photocopying, drinking tea or brown-nosing in Handbrake House but since the issue trousers changed to the easily stained variety using blue uniform in an environment that may contain dirt is a definite no-no.
And before anyone bleats about 'coveralls', if your job involves you having to deliver all over the unit rather than just staying in one or two hangers and the officers and SWO seem far more concerned about personnel wearing the 'correct dress' than the relatively smooth running of a unit then coveralls will be impractical.
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I don't understand why RAF and Navy chaps would want to wear greens and don't see why they should, unless deployed. Is it just a uniformal iniform thing?
On a recent visit to the AWC I asked why the bottom floor all wear Combats and was told it was because they support Op Troops but would the said Op Troops really care?
On a recent visit to the AWC I asked why the bottom floor all wear Combats and was told it was because they support Op Troops but would the said Op Troops really care?
Gentleman Aviator
One used to help run the odd conflict in the recent past from the Whitehall bunker .....
.... and somehow we managed to "support operational troops" while wearing natty pin-striped suits ....
... the boys in Basra or the 'Stan would be much more impressed with the quality of the support they were getting, rather than the sartorial details of those (allegedly) supporting them .....
I agree with the Stacker's point - I wear greens (CS 95) if I might get the blues mucky and a growbag isn't appropriate (they're for flying IMHO) - but to wear them in an office - even an "operational office" (oxymoron?) - is plain barking.....
.... and somehow we managed to "support operational troops" while wearing natty pin-striped suits ....
... the boys in Basra or the 'Stan would be much more impressed with the quality of the support they were getting, rather than the sartorial details of those (allegedly) supporting them .....
I agree with the Stacker's point - I wear greens (CS 95) if I might get the blues mucky and a growbag isn't appropriate (they're for flying IMHO) - but to wear them in an office - even an "operational office" (oxymoron?) - is plain barking.....
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Money Talks
One part of the answer lies in the fact that, in general, it is officers who make the rules. Officers get a tax allowance for clothing as, apart from initial issue, they have to buy any replacements. This does not apply to CS95 even though it is more expensive than 2a. Ergo, they make on the deal. Unless of course I'm wrong and all the O's routinely wearing combats have done the honourable thing and declared this to the taxman? (I won't hold my breath)
Ironically the Army are looking to reintroduce a form of barrack dress as even they recognise the impracticality of CS95 as office clothing.
CAS, in the form of Peter Squires, did issue a list of RAF organisations that could routinely wear green (and got an extra issue because of it) but if there's a 4* heading your particular pile and he says it's greens then "whose daddy is the biggest" rules apply?
Ironically the Army are looking to reintroduce a form of barrack dress as even they recognise the impracticality of CS95 as office clothing.
CAS, in the form of Peter Squires, did issue a list of RAF organisations that could routinely wear green (and got an extra issue because of it) but if there's a 4* heading your particular pile and he says it's greens then "whose daddy is the biggest" rules apply?
Dare I say during my time in the bunker (left early 02) it was quite the reverse - RAF wore light blue and Navy wore dark blue. Even the Army were encouraged to wear "Barrack Dress" rather than CS95 as, after all, CS95 was for wearing in the field and aren't (weren't) there shortages of such kit. Maybe they were didn't want to wear their purple trousers and M&S jumpers?!
And then it all changed when a certain ex-viff viff mate arrived as the 1* who insisted on wearing CS95 .... with his wings sewn on the shirt .... and wearing a white t-shirt underneath .... and with his flaps still on his boots (and there was an entire thread dedicated to him and his dress code not long ago ....!) - to be fair, I think the dress code depended on which cloth CJO belonged to.
Still, did him no harm. Less than 5 years later he will be a 4*!
And then it all changed when a certain ex-viff viff mate arrived as the 1* who insisted on wearing CS95 .... with his wings sewn on the shirt .... and wearing a white t-shirt underneath .... and with his flaps still on his boots (and there was an entire thread dedicated to him and his dress code not long ago ....!) - to be fair, I think the dress code depended on which cloth CJO belonged to.
Still, did him no harm. Less than 5 years later he will be a 4*!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I wear the kit appropriate to the task.
Blues, I sit at a desk. CS95 I get all muddy; my PA does not allow me to sit at my desk. No 1s, I stand around all day looking sort of decorative, I cannot sit at my desk (if your my age you will know why).
If I am going to get mucky and dirty, but not muddy or wet, then I will wear a flying suit. Much the best coverall around.
When I wear CS95 I feel like a h**p of sh*t. I would rather not look like one too.
Blues, I sit at a desk. CS95 I get all muddy; my PA does not allow me to sit at my desk. No 1s, I stand around all day looking sort of decorative, I cannot sit at my desk (if your my age you will know why).
If I am going to get mucky and dirty, but not muddy or wet, then I will wear a flying suit. Much the best coverall around.
When I wear CS95 I feel like a h**p of sh*t. I would rather not look like one too.
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Makes the monthly all-points bollockings a right hilarious read.
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"You're all guilty of something, I just haven't found out what yet" could quite possibly be his next opening line.
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I bet those AWC guys an girls feel far 'punchier' in their green attire...makes em feel part of the effort ! The recent figures which showed that the vast majority of the RAF didnt deploy would mirror this. I suppose if we have spent millions on cabbage kit we really ought to wear it dont you think..?
Retired from the front line...
5d2d
Retired from the front line...
5d2d
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Stop whinning, its the only dress that all 3 services wear that is the same....Its your head dress that seperates us and tells who you are. Start whinning when they change that.......
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(I think we've got a space on the back for another one 
). Rather that the suited warriors in MOD Main Building. So why can't 'head office' wear uniform? (Here's a tip - if you regularly read the sy assessments you'll be able to identify that it can't be for CT reasons)
Climebear
Totally agree - Vast majority seem to travel in "casual" and change into their MOD-suits in the office so why not change into uniform. However,
1. Judging by the expanding waist lines of some of HM Armed Forces finest and most senior you would need to set up a clothing stores more local than Uxbridge etc to continually provide larger and larger uniforms.
2. It would scare the civil servants.
IMHO.
PS - some (maybe all - don't think I've met them all yet!!) of the military medics who work down at St Thomas Hosp (Baird clinic) wear uniform. And it must be all of a 10min walk from Main Building. Was also surprised to see how often the "outer office" staff wear uniform.
Totally agree - Vast majority seem to travel in "casual" and change into their MOD-suits in the office so why not change into uniform. However,
1. Judging by the expanding waist lines of some of HM Armed Forces finest and most senior you would need to set up a clothing stores more local than Uxbridge etc to continually provide larger and larger uniforms.
2. It would scare the civil servants.
IMHO.
PS - some (maybe all - don't think I've met them all yet!!) of the military medics who work down at St Thomas Hosp (Baird clinic) wear uniform. And it must be all of a 10min walk from Main Building. Was also surprised to see how often the "outer office" staff wear uniform.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Even CS95 comes in different flavours such as the rip-stop threads or not, Norwegians, polos, DPM shirts, sleeves up/down etc etc
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Not wishing to pi$£ on anybody's chips but
I always understood that the wearing of CS95 or RAF No2/Army barrack dress/RN ?? (showing purple ignorance there) was a matter of individual choice.
I think that uniformity has a part to play!!!! If not then lets call it individuality and spend all our OA in the Surplus store......
I always understood that the wearing of CS95 or RAF No2/Army barrack dress/RN ?? (showing purple ignorance there) was a matter of individual choice.
I think that uniformity has a part to play!!!! If not then lets call it individuality and spend all our OA in the Surplus store......
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I always thought RAF blues were for Weddings, Funerals and Orderly Officer 
Ah well, I guess the last person to turn the lights out will be an admin clerk.
Ah well, I guess the last person to turn the lights out will be an admin clerk.
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My old and cynical view is 'does it matter'. I think it is more important that within a unit we all wear the same. I also work in a hole in the ground. As it happens CS95 is de rigeur. Everyone wears it. everyone happy, no problem. In the same hole in the ground is a different unit who wear blues - all of them wear it so they look uniform. In neither case is the quilaity of the work affected by the uniform worn.
I am a cheap bar steward and like that CS95 is issue so I do not have to buy No 2s. However, if a new Boss came in and decreed that we would return to blues, return we would. I think all this talk about supporting staff in operational theatres, feeling and looking 'punchy', looking like the Army and therefore more joint, is tripe to be frank. It is hardly an erosion of standards or ethos IMO.
I am a cheap bar steward and like that CS95 is issue so I do not have to buy No 2s. However, if a new Boss came in and decreed that we would return to blues, return we would. I think all this talk about supporting staff in operational theatres, feeling and looking 'punchy', looking like the Army and therefore more joint, is tripe to be frank. It is hardly an erosion of standards or ethos IMO.
Yawn
Haven't you got anything better to whinge about? In any event, you are free to wear blue if you want to at PJHQ - and many do. You should have noticed that CAS, when he was CJO, almost always wore blue. And for those that think that our cheap, tatty blue blue uniform is a smart alternative, are you avin a larf?