Army Officers - Standards or Institutionalised?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
My God!! - Thats me...... but I was never commisioned or a Pongo!
perfect decription
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I thought I would just look closely at the list and say which ones I subscribe to. Then I thought it might be easier to just leave the ones to which I didn't subscribe
BRITISH ARMY OFFICERS - YOU KNOW YOU'RE INSTITUTIONALISED WHEN...
You have flashbacks of being wet, cold and miserable whenever you see a Yorkie.... never wet, cold and miserable in a hotel
You don't trust your mum/wife/girlfriend/any woman to iron your kit because deep down you think that your ironing is better....you don't iron growbags
You point using your whole hand in a karate chop motion.... Use a laser
You feel guilty if you ever forget to shave on a weekend.my barber taught me not to shave 2 days a week
The mere mention of Sandhurst sends you into a two hour conversation on how the log race was longer in your day, you didn't have duvets in juniors and how someone you know in your intake died during phys didn't go to Cranditz either
You can read a Silvermans catelogue from cover to cover and refer to
everything that is useful as a 'gucci bit of kit if its not free from stores its not worth getting, unless it's a watch or a pen
You refer to smoke as 'a double edged sword'.radar doesn't see smoke
'Fancy Dress' is a euphemism for cross dressing or wearing 'offensive' WWII uniforms. or a growbag
You own a North Face puffa Jacket you don't need a poufter jacket in a bar
You secretly quite like 'cutting about' in uniform in places you really shouldn't.... growbag
You have to stop work at 10am for tea and cakes or else you might not make it to lunch....tea comes earlier in the day
You think that eating every meal for a week with the same spoon that you licked clean and kept in the pocket of the same shirt you've worn all week is perfectly normal.... you get a new spoon with each meal
Mmm. bloody short list of exceptions.
BRITISH ARMY OFFICERS - YOU KNOW YOU'RE INSTITUTIONALISED WHEN...
You have flashbacks of being wet, cold and miserable whenever you see a Yorkie.... never wet, cold and miserable in a hotel
You don't trust your mum/wife/girlfriend/any woman to iron your kit because deep down you think that your ironing is better....you don't iron growbags
You point using your whole hand in a karate chop motion.... Use a laser
You feel guilty if you ever forget to shave on a weekend.my barber taught me not to shave 2 days a week
The mere mention of Sandhurst sends you into a two hour conversation on how the log race was longer in your day, you didn't have duvets in juniors and how someone you know in your intake died during phys didn't go to Cranditz either
You can read a Silvermans catelogue from cover to cover and refer to
everything that is useful as a 'gucci bit of kit if its not free from stores its not worth getting, unless it's a watch or a pen
You refer to smoke as 'a double edged sword'.radar doesn't see smoke
'Fancy Dress' is a euphemism for cross dressing or wearing 'offensive' WWII uniforms. or a growbag
You own a North Face puffa Jacket you don't need a poufter jacket in a bar
You secretly quite like 'cutting about' in uniform in places you really shouldn't.... growbag
You have to stop work at 10am for tea and cakes or else you might not make it to lunch....tea comes earlier in the day
You think that eating every meal for a week with the same spoon that you licked clean and kept in the pocket of the same shirt you've worn all week is perfectly normal.... you get a new spoon with each meal
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It seems to me that we're guilty of trying to live up to standards, and applying military principles to "normal life", whatever that is in the eyes of outsiders, commonly known as "fcuking civvies".
What's wrong with having some pride in ironing one's "kit", and polishing one's shoes?
No matter what constituent shade of purple we happen to be, the principles are remarkably close, and built on hundreds of years of tradition (well, for the RN & Army, at least
).
I'm off to arrange my wardrobe by shade of trouser, shirt etc. I noticed this morning that I've let things slip. It being Friday of course, I'm then going out on the lash and hope to score. Well, it's guaranteed really, as I'm going out with 0A, all I have to do is not get too drunk....
What's wrong with having some pride in ironing one's "kit", and polishing one's shoes?
No matter what constituent shade of purple we happen to be, the principles are remarkably close, and built on hundreds of years of tradition (well, for the RN & Army, at least
). I'm off to arrange my wardrobe by shade of trouser, shirt etc. I noticed this morning that I've let things slip. It being Friday of course, I'm then going out on the lash and hope to score. Well, it's guaranteed really, as I'm going out with 0A, all I have to do is not get too drunk....
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I was in Pompey last year and there were about half a dozen Navy out on a bash.
Our landlady assured us that we were wrong as the Navy was no longer out in town.
Mm, pressed white shirts, long sleeves, proper trousers, polite, held doors open, walked around us etc etc.
Yeah, typical civvies my a
e
PS, it was a Thursday!
Our landlady assured us that we were wrong as the Navy was no longer out in town.
Mm, pressed white shirts, long sleeves, proper trousers, polite, held doors open, walked around us etc etc.
Yeah, typical civvies my a
ePS, it was a Thursday!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
On further reflection, I never even thought of using one shoe brush. I was issued with two and I still have the pairs issued to my Uncle (Australian Army) and Aunt (WAAC).
As for using them or pressing clothes, my batman did a wonderful job, even selecting and pressing my suits for the Monday. Tuesday, Thursday soirees in the mess.
As for using them or pressing clothes, my batman did a wonderful job, even selecting and pressing my suits for the Monday. Tuesday, Thursday soirees in the mess.
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Afraid I conform with many of the accusations, but I don't have any pink shirts or bright red cords! I was told you could spot an Army officer who had done staff college by the fact that, when pointing with the karate-chop motion the thumb was always kept tucked in tight to the palm (something to do with reducing resistance... ? ).
Now we have the Joint (=Army) ACSC, I have noticed the same thing coming into the RAF with some of our own recent graduates!
STH
). Now we have the Joint (=Army) ACSC, I have noticed the same thing coming into the RAF with some of our own recent graduates!
STH
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I remember being introduced to one of our light blue in the ministry with an apology.
The apology was that he was sartorially sophisticated as he was the only one with a pink shirt. That was in 1971.
Very dapper Sir.
The apology was that he was sartorially sophisticated as he was the only one with a pink shirt. That was in 1971.
Very dapper Sir.
Officer Qualities
'An officer should be comely, spratly and above all else, confident in his own dress and bearing. He should, where possible, eat a small piece of meat each morning with molasses and beans. He should air himself gracefully when under fire and never place himself in a position of difficulty when being shot at. He should eat his meals comfortably and ahead of his soldiers, for it is he whom is more important tactically on the battlefield and therefore he who should be well nourished. His hair should be well groomed and if possible he should adorn a moustache or similar facial adornment. When speaking to his soldiers he should appear unnerved and aloof and give direction without in any way involving himself personally in the execution of arduous or un-officer like duties. He should smoke thin panatellas except when in the company of ladies where he should take only a small gin mixed with lemon tea. He should be an ardent and erudite gentleman and woo the ladies both in the formal environment and in the bedroom where he should excel himself beyond the ordinary soldier with his virulent love making prowess. These I say to you are the qualities of an officer that set him apart from the lay person and the common soldier'.
LTGEN Hubert Worthington
Commander In Chief
5th Royal Indian Mountain Division
Bombay
12th December 1907
LTGEN Hubert Worthington
Commander In Chief
5th Royal Indian Mountain Division
Bombay
12th December 1907
Tibbsy
Was it the general's subsequent disappointment in not finding anyone to match up that made him turn to beer brewing?
And, that karate chopping pointing.... Is it true that it was the response to brown jobs being told not to point their finger at people when talking to them? They now just point their whole flippin hand!
CG
PS
Eight years service means I recognise all the things posted, but don't seem to suffer any (ok, many!).
Was it the general's subsequent disappointment in not finding anyone to match up that made him turn to beer brewing?
And, that karate chopping pointing.... Is it true that it was the response to brown jobs being told not to point their finger at people when talking to them? They now just point their whole flippin hand!
CG
PS
Eight years service means I recognise all the things posted, but don't seem to suffer any (ok, many!).
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Haven't seen any pink cords in years - combined with my pink shirts, I think they would be just a little too camp! Now red brushed denim...they might do the job. I do think the stereotypes are getting very thin on the ground.....all the Army officers around here think this is hilarious post, and haven't taken offence.........bit of a shot in the dark then?
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Heard a funny little tale once about an RAF NCO walking around an Army camp in uniform only to be berated by a man in civilian clothes for not paying compliments to a commissioned officer.
The conversation went along the lines of:
'How do I know you are a commissioned officer in order to salute you?'
'BROWN SHOES!!!' came the reply.
No doubt RAF NCO =
The conversation went along the lines of:
'How do I know you are a commissioned officer in order to salute you?'
'BROWN SHOES!!!' came the reply.
No doubt RAF NCO =
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'It seems to me that we're guilty of trying to live up to standards'.....that were once also quite common amongst the civilian population that had such standards inculcated during National Service. The fact that so many items on Melchett's list would appear to be quite absurd to 90% of the current civilian population is a sad reflecttion upon the depths to which our society has sunk. I'm off for a shave!
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Where's the Batman?
Caught sight of somebody during last summer who was without doubt of the persuasion (Green/Dark Blue/Light Blue) wearing red corduroy trousers with a blazer and crossing St James Park and carrying his dry cleaning collection - goodness sake, where's the Batman?
