Armed Forces Day 2010
Join Date: Oct 2007
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So, did anyone else go to an event where the public/companies showed their appreciation for the armed forces without the said armed forces putting on all the displays and doing all the leg-work etc. Having seen the BBC news coverage of Cardiff it seemed to be an awful lot of servicemen and women giving up their weekend to entertain the public.
Apparently next years event will be in Edinburgh - I wonder if attractions like the castle & zoo will offer free entry for HM Forces personnel and their family over that week?
My day at the Stoop was great - free tickets courtesty of Harlequins, and my side won. The only uniform in sight was the marine who absailed down from the stand with the match ball.
Apparently next years event will be in Edinburgh - I wonder if attractions like the castle & zoo will offer free entry for HM Forces personnel and their family over that week?
My day at the Stoop was great - free tickets courtesty of Harlequins, and my side won. The only uniform in sight was the marine who absailed down from the stand with the match ball.
Well, having already worked my normal 5 day week this week, I'd just like to say how much I enjoyed my Armed Forces Day. 2 hours last night ironing number ones and shirts, polishing shoes... no Friday night to speak of seeing as I was up at silly o'clock this morning. My colleagues and I started at 0600, and have just rolled in at 2200 so that's Saturday night gone too.
I'd much rather I wasn't "honoured" in this way thanks. Armed forces day seems to be, as mentioned, a day for the public and press, a free "Royal Tournament" if you will, and not for those in the forces... or at least those that get dicked for duties.
I agree with the poster who said it might be an idea to write to MPs to let them know that we don't really want to be "honoured" by working an extra day when our families are at home. They see precious little of us as it is.
I'd much rather I wasn't "honoured" in this way thanks. Armed forces day seems to be, as mentioned, a day for the public and press, a free "Royal Tournament" if you will, and not for those in the forces... or at least those that get dicked for duties.
I agree with the poster who said it might be an idea to write to MPs to let them know that we don't really want to be "honoured" by working an extra day when our families are at home. They see precious little of us as it is.
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The RAF just shows everytime poor leadership from the top, we have guys out parading this weekend while none of them volunteer or work to show there bit. The problem with the RAF is ....the RAF command
I cant wait to leave
I cant wait to leave
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had our own personal flypast from the "Reds" today in surrey/hants borders. guess it was en-route to Cardiff?
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Very saddened to read some of the comments here, very saddened indeed.
I was not able to make the event, but both my daughters went and if it is of any consolation to those of you who had to “work the weekend” I had several text messages and photos sent to me from work colleagues who truly enjoyed the day.
Earlier in the day in Bridgend, I had bumped into a chap in his eighties. He wore a RAF Baseball cap, Blazer with a RAF crest, RAF tie and so many badges of aircraft and station crests. I just had to stop and talk to him. He was off to the event in Cardiff and so looking forward to it.
About 80,000 people turned up in Cardiff to watch the event and I will bet many of them were old vets such as the chap I had met in Bridgend. Try telling them and all the others that the event is not a good idea.
If the Armed Forces want the support and respect of the people they need to be visible and not just a one line sentence in a newspaper or 15 second TV news report about yet another casualty in Afgan or wherever. Whether you believe it or not, the general public love pomp and ceremony and of course flying displays.
During my near 30 year service I attended many, many parades in honour of something or other. Yes they were sometimes annoying to prepare for etc, but when I was there I was truly proud of being part of the event. To see the little kids & their parents and old folks clapping and cheering as you marched by made you feel good and appreciated.
I am sure that if the general public read some of the posts here, they would not be quite so appreciative of the Armed Forces.
And you know what, if you are not proud of wearing your uniform you can always PVR and leave.
I was not able to make the event, but both my daughters went and if it is of any consolation to those of you who had to “work the weekend” I had several text messages and photos sent to me from work colleagues who truly enjoyed the day.
Earlier in the day in Bridgend, I had bumped into a chap in his eighties. He wore a RAF Baseball cap, Blazer with a RAF crest, RAF tie and so many badges of aircraft and station crests. I just had to stop and talk to him. He was off to the event in Cardiff and so looking forward to it.
About 80,000 people turned up in Cardiff to watch the event and I will bet many of them were old vets such as the chap I had met in Bridgend. Try telling them and all the others that the event is not a good idea.
If the Armed Forces want the support and respect of the people they need to be visible and not just a one line sentence in a newspaper or 15 second TV news report about yet another casualty in Afgan or wherever. Whether you believe it or not, the general public love pomp and ceremony and of course flying displays.
During my near 30 year service I attended many, many parades in honour of something or other. Yes they were sometimes annoying to prepare for etc, but when I was there I was truly proud of being part of the event. To see the little kids & their parents and old folks clapping and cheering as you marched by made you feel good and appreciated.
I am sure that if the general public read some of the posts here, they would not be quite so appreciative of the Armed Forces.
And you know what, if you are not proud of wearing your uniform you can always PVR and leave.
Gentleman Aviator
I find myself totally in agreement with SRENNAP. I was at Cardiff yesterday, on duty, in uniform, and it was one of the most rewarding working weekends (of many!) that I've had.
BBMF & Reds (just flypasts) and much in between. After the Parade and Drumhead Service - finished with cracking few words from Liam Fox - just wandering around in uniform was worth the discomfort of the heat in a No 1.
You couldn't take half a dozen steps without being stopped and spoken to, by everyone from grizzled vets, multi-tatooed topless chavs [male :-( ], to interested little kids. Even got my picture taken with/by a group of Japanese tourists!
And it was a good opportunity to say "If you think this is hot - it's +42 in Helmand today".
I had to leave just after the Reds at about 1730, but the "buzz" was such that I bet the troops wouldn't have had to buy a beer all night, and there may well have been other expressions of support for them
I have rarely - if ever - been prouder to wear my uniform.
BBMF & Reds (just flypasts) and much in between. After the Parade and Drumhead Service - finished with cracking few words from Liam Fox - just wandering around in uniform was worth the discomfort of the heat in a No 1.
You couldn't take half a dozen steps without being stopped and spoken to, by everyone from grizzled vets, multi-tatooed topless chavs [male :-( ], to interested little kids. Even got my picture taken with/by a group of Japanese tourists!
And it was a good opportunity to say "If you think this is hot - it's +42 in Helmand today".
I had to leave just after the Reds at about 1730, but the "buzz" was such that I bet the troops wouldn't have had to buy a beer all night, and there may well have been other expressions of support for them
I have rarely - if ever - been prouder to wear my uniform.
It was nice to see such a big crowd at Cardiff waving at our yellow helicopter - I suspect most of them didn't actually realise it was military....
Funny how the MoD, who can't wait to privatise us, were desperate to have a SAR role demo in the docks for Armed Forces Day
Funny how the MoD, who can't wait to privatise us, were desperate to have a SAR role demo in the docks for Armed Forces Day
SRENNAPS, I think you misunderstand. I'm happy to do public duties so that the old and bold can meet the current generation, and I'd have loved to have been somewhere more public yesterday. Of course we already did public events long before this armed forces day idea, for example I'm on duty every remembrance day (which I'm proud and very happy to do), and I'm also working at countless other days when the public are around in numbers... RIAT, other air shows, public events in London. I'm far from unique in that respect, lots of us get involved in such events. On some of those occasions we actually volunteer! 
What I object to was that this was the previous Government's idea for US, for the armed forces, supposedly so that the public can show their appreciatation, along with my colleagues yesterday I saw none of that, we just worked hard in a very out of the way place on what would otherwise have been a much needed day off.
I wonder how many other servicemen and women were working yesterday, not necessarily meeting the public, but facilitating the whole day for them. I met just over 20 such servicemen and women yesterday, none of whom met a member of the public.
Hopefully I've made my point clearer this time.
What I object to was that this was the previous Government's idea for US, for the armed forces, supposedly so that the public can show their appreciatation, along with my colleagues yesterday I saw none of that, we just worked hard in a very out of the way place on what would otherwise have been a much needed day off.
I wonder how many other servicemen and women were working yesterday, not necessarily meeting the public, but facilitating the whole day for them. I met just over 20 such servicemen and women yesterday, none of whom met a member of the public.
Hopefully I've made my point clearer this time.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Laarbruch, for instance the 90SU Comms caravan at Cleethorpes, all the way down from Leeming. Nice to think they might have had their fill of free ale last night but remember the drive back to base today; not for them an air show lie in and a drive back Monday.
Exactly PN. More people worked than got the "glory" of meeting their public. Yesterday I met 2 DAMO's, 2 RAFLO's, 2 movers, 2 RLC guys, 3 AAC guys, 3 aircrew, 3 stewards, 4 drivers, and a few others who gave up their day off just to support one transport flight. And that was just the individuals that I met. No day off in lieu next week either.
We all did this years back on a voluntary basis to be part of the Royal Tournament, RIAT, etc, but it was a bit rich to ask us to give up a day off to provide a free show for the public on "our" Armed Forces Day.
I hope SRENNAPS is getting my point now. I'm not trying to insult anyone, just trying to make sure that any day aimed at giving benefit to the Armed Forces doesn't actually mean that those forces are shafted.
We all did this years back on a voluntary basis to be part of the Royal Tournament, RIAT, etc, but it was a bit rich to ask us to give up a day off to provide a free show for the public on "our" Armed Forces Day.
I hope SRENNAPS is getting my point now. I'm not trying to insult anyone, just trying to make sure that any day aimed at giving benefit to the Armed Forces doesn't actually mean that those forces are shafted.
It was nice to see such a big crowd at Cardiff waving at our yellow helicopter - I suspect most of them didn't actually realise it was military....
I don't know anyone who knows of the existence of the yellow god carriers, and doesn't know they're RAF.
CG
PS Do they still have 'RAF' on the side?
No Laarbruch72 I don’t get your point and I doubt I ever will. But that is the difference between you and me and your career and my career.
Clean your glasses, they seem to be getting misty in their old age, either that or there's a certain tint to them. Might be from the roses in the garden.
