Jeremy Vine show today...wearing uniform in public
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The more I read and listen to the more I realise why we left England. Living in Calgary, we have a lot of Canadian forces passing through, in uniform and proud to be wearing it. At a recent Flames game (NHL team), the team gave free tickets to a large number of soldiers who were off to play in the sandpit. They were asked onto the ice in full uniform and presented with team shirt, to a standing ovation from the 20,000 crowd.
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Since when was it accepted practice to wear headgear indoors? Take the damned thing off and tuck it under your left arm! (as opposed to swinging it round like some errant schoolboy).
BTW, my last experience of wearing uniform in public around sunny Cheltenham resulted in my colleague and i being confused for local bus company reps! And I thought I looked rather spiffing in my woolly-pully and FNO badge!
BTW, my last experience of wearing uniform in public around sunny Cheltenham resulted in my colleague and i being confused for local bus company reps! And I thought I looked rather spiffing in my woolly-pully and FNO badge!
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I've been out of uniform too long to get hung up on this "debate" but was amused at a couple of the comments.
Touché! Same happened to me in Stratford (the Bard's not Red Ken's) but I was in "Best Blue" and it was 1964.
It's the "heaven forbid" quote that had me remembering the mid 70's at HQSTC, High Wycombe, when it was almost obligatory for all ranks, but mainly SNCO's and Sqn Ldrs to Air Rank to visit one of the local pubs for liquid lunch. A great place to meet the locals, and the only way to get through another unimaginably dull and purposeless afternoon. No hats, which was also the rule for all servicemen and women of all services whilst on the HQ site.
To come back to present I'm not sure that the wholesale wearing of uniform will change much for the grossly uninformed and predominantly uninterested public, but poorly presented, untidy and badly behaved uniformed military personnel will most certainly feed their misconceptions.
my last experience of wearing uniform in public around sunny Cheltenham resulted in my colleague and i being confused for local bus company reps!
When I joined nobody batted an eyelid to seeing someone on the streets, at the bank, in their local supermarket and (heaven forbid) even in the pub in uniform,
To come back to present I'm not sure that the wholesale wearing of uniform will change much for the grossly uninformed and predominantly uninterested public, but poorly presented, untidy and badly behaved uniformed military personnel will most certainly feed their misconceptions.
I once had to go to Oxford station to meet someone and didn't have time to change as time was tight.
At the station, some idiot confused me for a railway staff member (this was back in the days of the awful Thunderbird jacket). "What time does the train from XXXX arrive", he asked.
"It's been cancelled. Good bye!"
Silly, I know. But what the heck...
At the station, some idiot confused me for a railway staff member (this was back in the days of the awful Thunderbird jacket). "What time does the train from XXXX arrive", he asked.
"It's been cancelled. Good bye!"
Silly, I know. But what the heck...
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I really can't understand why we can't be proud of our forces. The go where they are told to, Do what they are trained to do and some die in the process. I know that some don't agree with the places that they are sent for one reason or another, but hey they go and do the best they can with the equipment provided (That is another thread intirely)
My Dad was in the forces so was my Brother and Sister. I know that they were all proud to have served the country. Whether or not it is because I had family and friends in the service I don't know but if I ever saw one in uniform getting stress I would be pi$$ed off.
thats my personal view and no one will ever change it. If I met one in uniform that had beed on a Tour of Duty I would be the first to shake their hand too.
My Dad was in the forces so was my Brother and Sister. I know that they were all proud to have served the country. Whether or not it is because I had family and friends in the service I don't know but if I ever saw one in uniform getting stress I would be pi$$ed off.
thats my personal view and no one will ever change it. If I met one in uniform that had beed on a Tour of Duty I would be the first to shake their hand too.
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Vine ? Arrse !
Uniform in public - yes ! Anyone got anything to say about it then I would be very glad to have that particular conversation on a one to one basis.....and state my position in a reasonably robust manner if you know what I mean!
To you ' need to get a lifers ' banging on about hats on/hats off/inside/outside...... blah blah blah lets have a reality check. Who gives a ****?
Basic training, Sgt T :
" you will not wear your hat inside as when/if you have to bang one up for one of the frontal lobotomy types, you run the risk of poking joe public in the eye or knocking the free range, gluten free, low fat, no salt, no artificial colours or preservatives, non halal chicken boombastic sauce off the shelf and over mrs joe public's burka!!! What a public relations disaster that would be !!!! Furthermore, in a tight corridor it may not be possible to bang one up so straighten yourself up smartly and acknowledge said ' better '.
Right on Sgt T, of course if I saw Vine coming towards me then I might have to poke him in the eye anyway.
Uniform in public - yes ! Anyone got anything to say about it then I would be very glad to have that particular conversation on a one to one basis.....and state my position in a reasonably robust manner if you know what I mean!
To you ' need to get a lifers ' banging on about hats on/hats off/inside/outside...... blah blah blah lets have a reality check. Who gives a ****?
Basic training, Sgt T :
" you will not wear your hat inside as when/if you have to bang one up for one of the frontal lobotomy types, you run the risk of poking joe public in the eye or knocking the free range, gluten free, low fat, no salt, no artificial colours or preservatives, non halal chicken boombastic sauce off the shelf and over mrs joe public's burka!!! What a public relations disaster that would be !!!! Furthermore, in a tight corridor it may not be possible to bang one up so straighten yourself up smartly and acknowledge said ' better '.
Right on Sgt T, of course if I saw Vine coming towards me then I might have to poke him in the eye anyway.
"Hear hear... what are the London rules indeed?"
You often see people in uniform in London, usually visitors though. That said I did see a gaggle of Admirals the other day walking from MB to the old Admiralty Building for a Navy board meeting - I reckoned on around 30*'s plus in the group.
You often see people in uniform in London, usually visitors though. That said I did see a gaggle of Admirals the other day walking from MB to the old Admiralty Building for a Navy board meeting - I reckoned on around 30*'s plus in the group.
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The Wg Cdr that i stoped in the car park at my local sainsbury's seemed a bit confused and miffed when i asked him why he did not have his hat on!!!!!
Its a matter of pride, if you want to wear the uniform then wear it correctly otherwise go home get changed first.
same with the Univ air sqn guy in flying suit outside costa coffee in Bath seemed a bit baffled when I asked him why his hat was in his pocket instead of on his head!
The army in my local town are actually pretty good and they make the effort to were the correct kit so why the bloody hell should we not
Its a matter of pride, if you want to wear the uniform then wear it correctly otherwise go home get changed first.
same with the Univ air sqn guy in flying suit outside costa coffee in Bath seemed a bit baffled when I asked him why his hat was in his pocket instead of on his head!
The army in my local town are actually pretty good and they make the effort to were the correct kit so why the bloody hell should we not
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Wear your uniform with pride
Hey guys 
I was talking to an American friend the other day and he was telling me about how US troops are supported and often congratulated in the streets. He recalled to me when a man walked into a bar with his khaki and beret on and that man did not pay for a single drink that night, others bought it for him.
It is not the case here in the UK however, and that's extremely upsetting. There are countless reports of armed forces personnel being attacked by civilians. I find this sickening. And now I hear of soldiers, sailors and airmen lying about what they do for a living, just so they won't be beaten up.
So, I thought I might pitch some questions to you guys, if I may:
1) Do you wear your uniform in public?
2) If so, have you ever been attacked or abused because of it?
3) Why do you think civilians do this?
I'm a civilian...sorry, civvie :P...and I personally think you should all wear your uniforms in public with pride, and with honour. You have earned it and you do an amazing job.
We live in a sad world
Culio
I was talking to an American friend the other day and he was telling me about how US troops are supported and often congratulated in the streets. He recalled to me when a man walked into a bar with his khaki and beret on and that man did not pay for a single drink that night, others bought it for him.
It is not the case here in the UK however, and that's extremely upsetting. There are countless reports of armed forces personnel being attacked by civilians. I find this sickening. And now I hear of soldiers, sailors and airmen lying about what they do for a living, just so they won't be beaten up.
So, I thought I might pitch some questions to you guys, if I may:
1) Do you wear your uniform in public?
2) If so, have you ever been attacked or abused because of it?
3) Why do you think civilians do this?
I'm a civilian...sorry, civvie :P...and I personally think you should all wear your uniforms in public with pride, and with honour. You have earned it and you do an amazing job.
We live in a sad world
Culio
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My father served in the army during the Northern Ireland years and used to tell me he was forced to leave his uniform at the barracks when out on leave. There was a risk that they would be attacked in the street by the IRA or IRA supporters...
I think the civilians don't have as much trust in the armed forces as they used to, especially with the protest against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They don't seem to realise that these soldiers are sent where the govt wants to send them, they don't have a choice.
Saying that, I've walked around in military outfit before, never had any problems. I've seen plenty around Glasgow and never seen any problems, and most military personnel I know have a habbit of telling everyone they meet!
I think the civilians don't have as much trust in the armed forces as they used to, especially with the protest against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They don't seem to realise that these soldiers are sent where the govt wants to send them, they don't have a choice.
Saying that, I've walked around in military outfit before, never had any problems. I've seen plenty around Glasgow and never seen any problems, and most military personnel I know have a habbit of telling everyone they meet!
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I was in a hurry once, need petrol so stopped at petrol station and had an RAF top on, all I got was a strange look.
I wouldn't wear mine in public if I can avoid it as i've been told I shouldn't.
I wouldn't wear mine in public if I can avoid it as i've been told I shouldn't.
> They don't seem to realise that these soldiers are sent where the
> govt wants to send them, they don't have a choice.
I realise that, although to be fair they are all volunteers. That's no reason to make everyone change before going out in public, though.
Look, what's going on here is plain as day. It's nothing to do with security or intimidating the public - I think that's rather underestimating the public. I strongly suspect it's politically motivated - a high-profile armed forces is inconvenient, reminding the public about two unpopular wars and making budget cuts less easily obfuscated.
> govt wants to send them, they don't have a choice.
I realise that, although to be fair they are all volunteers. That's no reason to make everyone change before going out in public, though.
Look, what's going on here is plain as day. It's nothing to do with security or intimidating the public - I think that's rather underestimating the public. I strongly suspect it's politically motivated - a high-profile armed forces is inconvenient, reminding the public about two unpopular wars and making budget cuts less easily obfuscated.
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I just don't see why anyone would choose to wear their uniform out of work???
OK if you are travelling to work in a car and stop for petrol fair enough, but to be in uniform for a days shopping or a long train journey? just get changed into your "normal" clothes, what is it you are after? adulation, applause, or do you just think you look good tootling about in your grow bag?
OK if you are travelling to work in a car and stop for petrol fair enough, but to be in uniform for a days shopping or a long train journey? just get changed into your "normal" clothes, what is it you are after? adulation, applause, or do you just think you look good tootling about in your grow bag?
Jayand. I don't think anyone is proposing that we should go around in uniform when off duty 
What the debate is about is wearing uniform more publicly when travelling to and from work, or if you need to pop to the bank/post office/shops in a break or at a meal time. Wearing uniform when off duty would be plainly daft 
Saw an army chap on the tube this evening in full DPM uniform and beret. Nobody batted an eyelid - well done that man
- does that mean the army have started encouraging their chaps to wear uniform more prominently already?
What the debate is about is wearing uniform more publicly when travelling to and from work, or if you need to pop to the bank/post office/shops in a break or at a meal time. Wearing uniform when off duty would be plainly daft Saw an army chap on the tube this evening in full DPM uniform and beret. Nobody batted an eyelid - well done that man
- does that mean the army have started encouraging their chaps to wear uniform more prominently already?
Plenty of people of all ages and backgrounds stood on Wootten Bassett High street today in respect for another volunteer taking a sad trip home. People do care.
Wear it with pride.
Wear it with pride.
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I retired from the RAF nearly 30 years ago and whilst some of my views expressed here do upset some of the sensitive types I really think you should wear your uniforms with pride. Please do try to wear a proper uniform though and not the growbags and jungly green things one sees so often. Those types of "uniform" do absolutely nothing to promote respect. Do not be surprised if you, when wearing such, are confused with the "yoofs" who have been to the surplus store. BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED AND SHOW IT.
Please do try to wear a proper uniform though and not the growbags and jungly green
I think you are referring to No 14 uniform and No 3 (IIRC) uniform respectively. There should be nothing wrong with either in public provided they are clean. But then then the same could be said for any uniform!!