Help for Heros
 

We've been told we're not allowed to wear the help for heros rubber arm bands in work. I can understand that they don't want people to start wearing all sorts of tat on their arms, but can't an exception be made for such a bl00dy good cause?

Told by whom and where?

told by our Flt Cdr at Marham, come down from the Stn Cdr apparently.

I suppose it could depend on what job you're doing. If you are driving a desk then I would see no problem with it but if working with heavy machinery, I can understand the sentiment behind the order.

Harry at our unit has allowed us to wear them with uniform, rumour is he got the nod from up high.

Desk job at the moment, I could understand the thinking if we were working on Aircraft.

fabs, where are you at?

Plenty wear them at 'AIR' and have done so for quite some time. Having just returned from sausage side I can vouch that plenty of the boys and girls over there are doing so as well.:ok:

ISTR a few years ago when these things first appeared (generically,not these ones in particular) that there was a Flight Safety Feedback thingy on them not being used when working on electrics ... something to do with the slightly slippery (silicon?) coating they have.

How surprising that out-of-date inappropriate gen is being used for silly orders .....;)

But maybe I misremember ...:confused:

It's in SRO's that they are not allowed here. Irrespective of if Service Charities benifit from the purchase.

The wrist bands are no allowed here so, I wear my wristband out of work & bought a H4H watch strap via the H4H website for my work watch.

I can see the argument against them being worn. If you allow H4H wristbands then by default, you are allowing ALL wristbands as the Service cannot be seen to be biased towards a particular charity.

That said, we are encouraged to buy a poppy every year from another registered charity...

Of course, if Broon correctly funded the needs of those returning from war-zones, H4H wouldn't be needed.....:=

Agreed but, that is a different argument.

I wore mine 24/7 out in theatre as a show of support for the Paras who, as we all know, were having a pretty crap time only 3-4 weeks ago.

Wearing them at work in the UK should be allowed, I'm not suggesting otherwise. I simply said that I can see where the folk against them being worn are coming from.

PP

I can't. Stn Cdrs should have the balls to say crap to the PC brigade who say that to allow H4H bands, you must allow them all. H4H is specifically about the guys returning wounded from war now. The band is a tangible sign of an individual's support for them, and to signify that you have contributed to the construction of superior facilities for them that this government has failed to provide.

I know of a number of such Bosses who have in the past successfully told the hierarchy to get lost.

General D seems to wear his in all the photographs, TV briefing I've seen him do lately, it it is good enough for him...

It's wearing the wristlets in uniform that has been banned.

The flip side might be that if we were to endorse every good cause (stand fast the once a year we wear remembrance poppies to acknowledge the loss of millions in two great wars) we'd look like a bunch of Glastonbury freaks with uniform just visible.

Surely everybody who wears uniform is, by their being in the military, a supporter of H4H? and Combat Stress.... and BLESMA.... and and and and.....

Do a Google and find out how many military related charities there are.

Get a grip fellas and focus your attention on the important stuff. Unless there's someone out there who thinks that a soldier maimed and helped by BLESMA is less worthy than one helped by H4H?

We are a disciplined service. Part of that discipline is uniformity. Becoming advertising placards is not what we're about. H4H gets massive publicity and focus from the UK Forces already. We do other very well meaning ex-service charities a disservice by latching onto the one that's in vogue, no matter how fantastic the care it delivers.

If you want to wear bangles and tat to show you 'support our brave boys' then do it - in civvies.

If you want to be part of a uniformed Service, then man the f*** up and wear the uniform as you are directed to.

(Of course - when I say 'man the f*** up' I also mean 'woman the f*** up' as well - I'm trained in this sort of thing now).

Excuse me folks but surely the guidance from on high was not on parades or other official public duties? We all wear them in the Towers of Jointery.

Official edict from Staish at BZN was that they were not to be worn in uniform:ugh:. Working dress, where safe, gets my vote, esp as the charity goes directly to Armed Forces personnel.:E

you don't have to wear tat to give to charity.

The Dress Cttee recently sat. Await the outcome.

Show your boss this picture

No, Helmut. Despite your rather weedy comment, I try to apply a single set of standards across my RAF life. You, however, apply many standards (at least as your overblown internet persona) and fail to meet them.
I also note that you don't wear the uniform any more. Therefore, your point is as a civvy and worthless when discussing uniform. Carry on.

Gents, I started this thread to see what the opinions of other forumites were on this subject, please don't turn it into a slagging match.

I agree P_J.
However, why should people be allowed to wear these bands with uniform? Servicemen wearing them does not raise awareness - it is our job and we know. Wearing them doesn't raise money - you have already paid and you don't raise more the more you wear them - it isn't a sponsored elastic-bandathon wearing event.
I have some lovely t-shirts etc that were bought or provided in support of some excellent charities, both military and non-military, but I don't wear them to work. I wear uniform to work, but that doesn't degrade the charities or my donations. This is a fashion fad and nothing more - this isn't a 'good cause' issue for the points I made above.

Christopher Robin,

I opened that picture and wanted to simply tell him to get another haircut. Is that what you meant?

I'm with Hinecap on this (in fairness, he is averse to wearing civilian accroutements at work, as he is to wearing service ones outside..) because aside from the fact we're overly sentimental nowadays anyway, why do we need to tell those who work with us who we support.. in principle, what is the need to do this? Perhaps its an age thing.

HfH can afford to rise above bandstanding, commercialism and obeisance when in uniform. The Royal British Legion is supported for a couple of weeks each year, and as a result, its impact is all the greater when we do see those poppies and when we do stop to think. So, regardless of whether you're a civvy or not.. less is more, especially when your brand has the moral high ground and when you shouldn't need to scramble around for publicity nickel and dimes. Nothing goes out of fashion quicker than fashion and if you're after the quick fix option now, I tell you with 100% certainty that in a couple of years.. the new batch coming up will want to have nothing to do with wearing that which was worn by yesterday's lot (ie; those who wear them today).

The long term view is needed if its long term success you're after.

AL R

If you think Harry needs a haircut, I'd advise you to stay away from Bastion as you'll have a fit. That photo was taken at BZ upon his return from an operational tour.

Longer hair is a fact of life out at Bastion & it is not frowned upon, bigger things to worry about out there. I suspect you have not visited the place.

In reference to the wearing of bands in the long term, who gives a sh*t about what people will think in a few years time? It is now that matters & it would appear that the majority of serving personnel want to wear them. Perhaps the PC wagon should be dropped & H4H, along with other military charities, wristbands allowed at work.

Mr C Hinecap,

you are well out of order telling people to 'f**king man up' and stop wearing them. Get your arse out to Bastion & say that to 2 Para. Most of them are wearing them for a very good reason...

Vive la difference!!
 

PP,

I'm aware of that, and no - I have not visited Bastion. And having once been personally bollocked by Mike Jackson for being the only person in theatre with hair longer than him I have no issues with defending a bit of flex. But Harry is invariably like that - certainly that I've seen - hence my use of the word 'another'.. whether on ops or in Chelsea.

I accept that I might be at odds with modern Hanger Floor sentiment. Which is fine. Your attitude in general and towards Hinecap in particular makes me think its a 'them and us' device, which is fine too and has a use - certainly on ops. But whats it for again, raising the profile, making money, creating Esprit de Corps or generating a grass roots groundswell?

I still think it looks crap in uniform mind. :ok:

I wear mine and so do many others in town, in fact on a visit to Air I saw a 1* wearing one. We all care but its as much about an individual show of support as much as solidarity against the inherent underfunding of 'our lot'. It also stops my Rolex rubbing on my wristbone;)

Al R,


sorry, I did not mean to suggest an 'us and them' attitude. I was simply stating that most people who are wearing them are not wearing them as fashion accessories.

I also admit that it is all still a little close to home for me. Still trying getting back into a UK cycle. Perhaps more beer is the answer... I shall test that theory tonight!

Have a tip top weekend.:ok:

You have nothing to be sorry for. Truth be told, if I was still in, I'd probably be wearing one too, although I'd be as likely to want to be a SWO ripping them all off with just as much gusto - such is the angst of being constantly tortured by these earth shattering problems.

I was one of those weirdos in the 80s who wore an earring in civvies. I almost had it yanked out by my FS who walked up behind me in Akr at the NAAFI, put his dog lead in it, and who told me he'd treat me like a dog if I wanted to look like a dog :eek:. He was a great FS - utterly utterly squared away and who drive us hard.. although nowadays, that would stand for nothing and I'd be able to sue him and the Air Force, ruin his career and destroy his life I suppose.

I was looking at wearing of the bands from a different perspective from mine thats all - and enjoy testing the practical phase of your theory, you've earned it. :ok:

Urgent.....vote closes 1pm tomorrow
 

Wristbands, schmistbands..wear it don't wear it. I can't wear mine at work, but do at other times. I know I've done my bit, but like others to be aware of the charity too.

More importantly, MoneySavingExpert.com is about to select the charity due to receive £20,000. H4H is currently in first place; voting closes at 1pm on 22 July.

Some might say that the wearing of wristbands to show support for the various military causes is somewhat superfluous compared to the fact that you are wearing the uniform itself.

By all means wear whatever bangles you like in civvies.

incubus - I tend to agree with you.

I'm not fond of bracelets or other jewellery - particularly facial scrap iron or ear rings (unless you happen to be a fisherman or pirate, who have traditionally worn such things) - but the watch strap, tie, cufflinks all look very smart (though probably not all worn simultaneously!). And the cummerbund looks ideal for the next black tie event I have to attend!

Good to see that H4H still has a 3% lead.

But something funny seems to be going on with "Shelterbox". They have gone from nowhere to 18% of the vote very quickly, and they aren't too far behind H4H. Perhaps they have galvanised their supporters as well.

No time for complacency chaps and chapesses, keep voting!

Vote Now!
 

Bump.....the gap is closing

Money Saving Expert: Consumer Revenge - Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank Charges, Cheap Flights and more and scroll to the bottom of the page.

:ok:

Quite right. I don't see why people are getting het up about the enforcement of dress regs and QRs.

AI R:
"I'm aware of that, and no - I have not visited Bastion. And having once been personally bollocked by Mike Jackson for being the only person in theatre with hair longer than him I have no issues with defending a bit of flex. But Harry is invariably like that - certainly that I've seen - hence my use of the word 'another'.. whether on ops or in Chelsea."

I thinks she spells it Chelsy

Sent on Fri, 24 Jul 08 to all Stn Cdrs & OC PMS
 

However, individual Sqn Cdrs retain the right not to allow them on their own units.

Wearing Help for Heroes Wrist Bands