Service personnel in Uniform
 

I wasn't sure about whether this was a good idea when introduced as saw it potentially could put individual under undue pressure while travelling.

In last week was travelling on a train where sat down next to a RN trainee who definitely changed my mind.

After a while started chatting to trainee asking where he serving and what was specialism.

Definitely was a credit to the service as polite, dressed properly and happy to have a decent conversation about what he hoped for in the future, course some of this would involve copious amounts of alcohol on leave but given age I think I would have expected pretty much that response from anyone of a similar age. I think the difference was he knew he would be expected to do the work while he was not on leave and look forward to it.

I have to admit to being very impressed and it was a pleasure to wish him well and shake his hand when leaving the train.:ok:

Funny thing was guy on other seat across corridor stopped and shook his hand as well and while may have embarassed the young guy I bet it made him feel proud to be wearing the uniform.

I intend to write a nice letter to respective service naming individual and highlighting what a credit he is to the service, not sure how it will go down but if it earns him brownie points then he will deserve it.

I'm ex Brit mil and have flown as SLF on quite a few domestic passenger sectors in the USA recently. There is invariably a group of 10 or so guys or girls in US Army uniform either returning home on leave or heading off on detachment somewhere hot.

At each airport there were fast-track signs for any serviceman/woman in uniform or travelling under orders - together with frequent tannoys to the effect that various lounges were available to them foc.

Recently, when departing ANC I was in line behind a chap in (Sergeant's) uniform at immigration. After a brief check of his papers the immigration officials farewell was 'And thank you for your service to our country Sir.'

Have to say it was most genuine and most impressive.:ok:

I too recently had the pleasure of a genuine 'We are glad for your Service' by a US Customs guy at the Airport. - And I was not in Uniform - (admittedly a NATO visa in passport).. On arrival in the UK, the customs guy at Gatwick appeared to smile, but I cannot confirm this.

...Have also had a free breakfast whilst in a US eatery after a night shift - courtesy of an 'anonymous' client unknown to me..

...Clearly, the uniform does it in the US. - but we all know that.

I've been living in the US for the last three years, and as such followed the news on both sides of the pond, so see the treatment of 'our boys' back home as compared to here.

Overall service personnel here in the US are treated like genuine hero's.. in uniform they're given every special treatment possible and are oft stopped in the street for photo's by complete strangers - usually young ladies.. ;-)

At public events there's usually some-sort of recognition for them too.. standing ovation most times.

Service personnel in uniform
 

How times change, back in the mid 1980`s I was serving in a career`s office in Sheffield, and we were told to wear a big pusser`s raincoat to cover our uniform whenever we stepped out of the office. Mind you it was when the troubles in N.I. were the headlines of the day.

But I have to agree with the previous posts, the folks across the pond do support their military personnel with a bit more vigour than over here in good old blighty.

Daz

I do think the British public support their servicepersons (pc), but are less bells and whistles than the Yanks.

There is always the Wayne and Waynetta segment who don't really give a toss as long as their beer, fags and Sky TV cheque turns up each week, but they are a small reality if we are honest.

Most of the people I meet in the course of my work are polite, supportive and very interested in what we do. Some are not very well informed, but that is possibly the fault of the media and our own spin doctors.

Personally, I don't want X Factor immigration channels at airports for those wearing uniforms, I just want to get on with life like everyone else.

Would like to be properly equipped and supported at the start of an operation, rather than 2/3 of the way through after a public outcry though, but thats not really Joe Public.

I am not so sure about that. I think this country has a large swathe of inhabitants that are completely indifferent to the military and the sacrifices being made. This couldn't-care-less lot don't see it, aren't interested in it and as long as it doesn't affect their existence on a day to day basis, they don't think about it. They are only interested in their fags, booze, bookie, iPod/iPhone and getting ****-faced on a week end. Fact.

used to work in the UK too
 

From 2000-2005 I used to travel by commercial air around the UK on duty and usually travelled in uniform. BA were pretty good about pointing me at the business lounge even when on a cheapo ticket. Airport security and plod were generally chatty and smiley which made things less tense and more pleasant.

On board the hospitality could get quite embarrassing. :ok:

In my 'Woolly Pulley' days, I was mistaken three times for an RAC operative. (And I don't mean the Royal Armoured Corps!!).

Its understood that the ban on UK military personnel wearing uniform when travelling off duty away from base was introduced on account of the
NI trouble - But if that ban has now been lifted it is still rare to see a military uniform on UK streets but agree it would be good to see more uniforms out and about. However was it not last year that seriously wounded servicemen being treated at a Birmingham hospital were
ordered not to be seen in uniform - and now again there is the threat of further IRA related activity which if on the increase could again bring back the ban.

Whilst very pleased to see service personnel back in uniform in public again, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this US style automatic adulation of anyone in uniform. I think it belongs with this "all nurses are angels" nonsense. A bit of respect and understanding is one thing, but spontaneous rounds of applause as you walk through departures is just embarrassing!

BTW we've had a few threads on similar subjects - here's one I started last year http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...rm-public.html Got quite heated over whether hats were mandatory outdoors, as I recall!

If you want to see respect for the Armed Forces, past and present, go to ANY town or city in Australia or New Zealand on Anzac Day. You will be overwhelmed.

Ironic really - when we knew the threat was an Irishman, the public were fine with us covering up. Now we have no idea who the threat is or what it looks like, yet the public think we should bimble about in uniform? Whilst I agree with the sentiment, my personal security comes before all of that.

Some years ago, having stepped off an RNZAF C130 at Lyneham, and immediately offered a ride to London where I was to meet someone at Kings Cross, therefore still in uniform with New Zealand shoulder flashes, I stepped into the bar and ordered a pint. I was reaching for payment when a very well-dressed person intervened and paid with a comment in one of those very English accents: "New Zealanders don't buy beer here my boy". Then he walked off! Amazing. The pint wasn't bad though, if a bit warm!:D

Couldn't agree more. I just attended the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Canberra War Memorial. I was amazed by the number of younger people attending, and their genuine pride in their forebears, evidenced mainly by the fact that they are prepared to get out of bed at 430am on a Sunday.

P1

Recently I and another old fart were rattling tins in Bicester for SSAFA backed up by two squaddies from 23 Pioneer Regt in uniform. In less than two hours my colleage and I had collected our usual small ammount but the two soldiers each raised seven times as much. Says something for the army, known locally to have recently served in Afghanistan.

Good on you, it is probably often intended, but possibly more often forgotton. I'm sure it will mean a lot to the lad, his boss, and his unit.