Anyone who wants to travel on my aircraft in uniform is more than welcome.

In fact if your late phone tell them its going to be tight but your going to get there (just lie) I wait for you for 15mins on the last flight of the day.

tesco an ex stab sapper

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????
 

ahead ofAs an ex Raf bod,seeing these vids in US and what happened to our guys!!!! i am so angry I can`t say any more without getting banned from here,that S--t B---n and Swiss Des,come the revolution they are now ahead of `Lawyers`I for one and my colleagues who have all served salute you,thankyou.:*:D:D:D:D:ok:

In the US (so often trashed hereabouts) uniformed members of Forces are routinely seen at airports and everywhere else. Frequently, they are patted on the back, welcomed home and applauded as they board or exit from commercial airlines FIRST! The thought of changing clothes is silly on stilts. Always good to see!

Papers and TV news also features stories on local deployed soldiers.

GF

Please name and shame the ******** responsible for this disgrace. I am at work this morning, and this story has so enraged me that I am not going to be fun to be around for the next few hours.
Ray

I travel through Prestwick about twice a month and it is not uncommon to see hundreds of US troops milling about the terminal in desert combat gear. Staging flights to and from the middle east pass through there and the guys and girls get off to have a break from the alloy tube and stretch their legs. The airport has set up a separate scanner area in the departure lounge for them when re-boarding.
PIK is not a BAA airport, which may make a difference.

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

How very up-to-date Kipling was. :(

!
 

I too, could not reply yesterday.
Today, things are not much easier! I wall admit that watching the first Youtube video brought tears to my eyes. Maybe like so many others on this site, I have happily spam bashed (only in fun though), but am so glad they are on our side in the sandpits, and appreciate the vital support they give us in so many ways (because my own government have not seen fit to equip British forces with the necessary equipment).
There is something just SO VERY WRONG with the UK's current leadership, I really am not sure who's side in this they represent any more.
Those of us that did any form of R to I training (or whatever it's called these days) will remember being stripped to degrade us, or make us feel vulnerable etc etc. So who ever allowed this to take place, I have some advice for you...Have a look at your self in the mirror, maybe take a walk in the fresh air, walk around your local shop, maybe go to a pub or a restaurant...When you have done all this, remember that you could do it in peace and safety, and without fear..All thanks to ultra professional BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN putting their lives at risk daily, in far of places, separated from their families and loved ones, in ultra harsh conditions...And you thanked them by doing this to them, on a cold open and public area of an airport.
AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I AM FEELING SO ASHAMED TO THINK THIS WAS DONE IN MY NAME.

Barnstormer1968 (feeling a bit lost, and wondering how things have gone so badly wrong in the UK)

I have fired off a (personal) email to David Cameron. I feel he should, on behalf of our military, have something to say on the matter, officially.

Avitor. No, I am assuming nothing. I am wondering who gave the order and was it someone in command of the troops or in a position to give an order with which they were bound to comply. If it was a military person I think they were wrong to give the order and if it was someone in BHX security I doubt that an 'order' that they give/gave has to be complied with, by the military at least.

A2QFI.

Yes, I think the person who gave the order should be exposed and asked why it was given.

There should never be a problem with armed forces travelling in uniform in public, save where security issues laid down by orders from their own organisation preclude it. Plenty of uniformed civilians also do it and are not asked to change.

It is true that Prestwick is not, but then neither is Birmingham (BHX) where the issue arose.

At which point you will probably be breaking a local airport bye-law and liable for arrest and a criminal charge, assuming it was an airport staff member who 'ordered' you not to enter. Much as it is frustrating, civil disobedience is not the answer. The military are not above the law. The issue needs to be dealt with by our politicians. So there is no hope I am afraid :(

This is easily believable...Perhaps it went along the lines of airport manager is made aware of multiple uniformed people on board and has a word with the senior ranking person who concedes to make his men change.

I don't know any of that for sure but these days it's down (usually) to a couple of individuals so worried about upsetting 'somebody' that they react in an unwise manner...

Not on the same scale but only a few weeks ago I'm returning home from working in the states with our flagship airline when I'm tannoyed at the gate...It was explained to me (by a Brit BA employee) that one of my bags had never made the previous Delta flight but one had and it was at another gate quite a distance away and with boarding already underway it probably wouldn't make it as she couldn't devote any time to my problem as she had to crack on and tend to the needs of 1st class passengers...I kept as calm as I could and explained that I was military and most of the tools of my trade were in (possibly) the one bag that had made it (Two sets of flying kit and extras) and I needed it pretty much on my return...

The answer I got was 'Sir...I'm sure you do something really important back home but right now I have to board these first class passengers'...

I got the last of my bags 4 days later at 0100 when I crewing in at 0600...It was a harsh reminder of peoples attitudes back here in comparison to the States...:eek:

There is of course another solution - bring the lads/lasses back from the sandpit(s) in civvies. What advantage is there to them travelling in uniform? I too would prefer them to be able to go through BHX in uniform, BTW.

The comment that it is up to the senior military person on board that decides if uniform can be worn in the airport is wrong!!!
At Birm and even Man if a jet is diverted and on a quick turn then the passengers in civvies or uniform are not even usually allowed off the jet

The decision by Birm to not allow uniformed passengers to transit the terminal is an aiport decision!!! NOTHING to do with crew, passengers, snior officer!!! If the senior officer was to demand that passengers transit in unform it would be interesting to see how!!! airport would just refuse to provide transort or access

What we would like to know is WHO made the decision. The airport is just a collection of buildings but someone in there made this call. We would like to know why.

When I was in the RAF(1970), it was a requirement that all personnel travelling to/from duty did so in uniform. This applied wether from home to station or from detachment back to the UK. This we were proud to do. I believe the same rule applied to the Navy and Army as the military uniform was common everywhere.

Has this rule now been abolished? Or are the officers more scared of civvie jobsworths than being proud of the uniform that they wear?

Regards,
CC

CC - wearing of uniform travelling etc. stopped when PIRA started bombing mainland UK targets in the mid 70s.

It may have 'stopped' but was this done on a base by base arrangement or were QRs amended? Can a security person at an airport countermand orders issued by an officer in charge of a group of military personnel and who holds the Queens Commission? Security person probably has a job spec and a Union Membership card!

Calm down Q - we don't have military rule here, so why would an Officer have authority over a civilian during peacetime?

It will be a perceived increase in threat to the airport - simple. Any transit point accessible to the public containing a concentration of troops off to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq WOULD draw the attentions of those we seek to defeat. I understand the why, but not the way it is applied.

See your point Mr C but if it was a security related issue, why has BHX had quite a bit of publicity in the past when troops arrive or depart? Bands playing, media and families etc.

And even if you made all the squaddies change into civvies, they're not all of a sudden going to be invisible. If 'the threat' were going to mount an attack, they will already know that a place is being used as an APOD whether blokes are in rig or not.

For security, it would seem to be a sensible rule but I dont think its as clear cut as that. My feelings are it is some jumped up Stasi-crat who is using the issue for his own PC or anti-war agenda.