I believe the Celtic / tribal scrolls that are often seen to adorn the lower back are also referred to as "arse antlers" :E

It doesn't - or shouldn't unless they are completely OTT and either impact on credibility or reputation. But I have to say I have yet to see any that look half decent, with many looking like the original design was done by an uncoordinated navvy with a blunt wax crayon and which will only get worse over time as the ink fades and blurs and the person gets saggier and wrinklier. That's especially the case on a pretty girl - I've yet to meet one who didn't look better before being stamped.

"Tramp stamp" is an american slang term. I believe the UK equivalent is "slag tag".

Stop being grumpy middle aged old men.

There is nothing wrong with tattoos or jewellery .....

VR, GR and S37 ... In no way was my OP intended as a "dig" at the individual concerned (that is why I also edited the photo) ... it just happened to be the imagery on the front page of the Times yesterday that prompted my (genuine) question. Frankly I couldn't give a "Flying Fig" at what HRH does or wears off duty ... if done with good personal judgement. I also respect what he has achieved professionally and is now doing in theatre along with the dangers he and others face daily on our behalf.

So ... on balance in response to my OP, it would seem that Service Charity Bands are "officially" acceptable when on duty/in uniform ... but acceptability stops short of other "popular culture" statements/adornments/trinkets.

I'll continue to wear my H4H Band with pride ... but perhaps give the wearing of my Ancient Egyptian Fertility Symbol and Lucky Elephants Foot a miss !

Best ...

Coff.

I agree that tattoos should have no bearing on leadership qualities but suggest, that in the event of being being captured, such adornment might indicate unnecessarily to captors the name of wife/girlfriend, pro fox hunting or even sexual proclivities. Perhaps wiser to limit information to number, rank and name?

Unless you're TG4 or another Tech (E) trade.

The oil secreted by the silicon-rubber wristbands can cause unintentional insulation (the opposite of a short-circuit) in electronics.

For those of us not "logged in" anyone else chuckling at the "Slag Tag" in the Mature Dating UK web-ad below VVVVV :p

Burqa roulette at Friday night happy hour .... :E

Airpolice
You obviously didn't cross the Equator to get to MPA, otherwise the proliferation of females would have caused notice.

However the high concentration of non-conformists was noticeable. One of which was recently dubbed "Lumberjill"

When I wor a lad......

The amount of female company at MPA has always exceeded what was available at RAF Gan.

Which was a 1 year unaccompanied tour, and yes it was across the equator, though not by a lot, in fact by so little one could see the line in the sea ;)

Airpolice,

Fairs, fair - at least you're honest, I usually come up with some sort of lame and completely implausible excuse!

Your original comment raised a smile as I remembered reading an article in a paper whilst I was in AFG about, IIRC, a Pakistani diplomat who fell foul of Burqa roulette. He was quite a devout chap and was looking for another wife. The bride's family knew that of their 2 daughters one was passable whilst the other would probably fall into your category of "lonely, desperate, short sighted and grateful for the attention".

Long story short, the arranged marriage took place and the bride's family insisted that in line with religious and cultural norms the bride remained fully covered at all times. It was only after the ceremony had taken place, dowries been paid etc that the diplomat realised that he had literally been sold a pup. Personally had it been me, I'd have kept quiet about it out of sheer embarrassment. But the chap's legal quest to have the dowry returned was what kept the story running. Actually, in that case, I'm guessing he too subscribes to Chinese philosophy you mention!

I think having someone trying to shoot your a*** off is a reasonable excuse. I understand that lots of rules and regs got quietly pushed to one side in each of the conflicts in the last few decades.

No comment on tattoos, but rings are a different matter. Rings and aircraft (the type you have to clamber in and out of as opposed to those you stroll into off an airbridge) just dont mix. Shortly before I joined tankers two guys on the line had lost fingers in short succession through slipping. We had a rule, no rings when you were flying or working on aircraft, nothing to do with fashion, everything to do with not losing a finger.

It is normal to cut the guys who are doing ops a little slack and let them concentrate on the task in hand. There is little more frustrating to those actually getting their hands dirty in a full on shooting war than some shiny-arsed blunty REMF tw @t bombarding you with triv from 3000 miles behind the FLOT. I know the AAC like to starch iron their Y-fronts but even they can overlook a tiny non-uniform item on det. Anyway, the chain from my nose ring to my Prince Albert never did my career any harm. Must stop nodding my head when I'm listening to people though.

TTN, two B(I)8s off on a det, they economised on kit and only took one set of steps. Sod's law but the one with the steps was delayed so the pilot on the first opted to jump.

He swung himself on to the coaming, and pushed off. As he pushed his ring finger caught in the canopy rail with inevitable consequences, so Mrs PN could not pursuade me to have a ring either.

I've just wasted 5 minutes of my life reading this crap - I need to get a grip!

By the way how the hell is a wrist band any more of a FOD risk than any of the loosely fitting buttons on the uniform ! As for tattoos any muppet that thinks getting a tattoo is a good idea clearly lacks effective intelligence ( i think that's what IOT called it) and therefore rules himself out of Rodney aptitude. This of course if my highly prejudiced opinion:p

Tom, in the interests of accuracy, you are years out of date.

The old pre-CS95 and the GW1 stuff had buttons jokingly attached to the jackets. I used to collect buttons and sew them on in an idle moment.

Flying clothing buttons and now the post GW1 kit all have tape-sewn buttons that cannot fall off. Progress.

Even less buttons these days on the Personal Clothing System - more velcro, velcro and velcro. IIRC there's one button on the trousers and 2 on the cuffs of the lightweight jacket - everything else is velcro...

Did I mention velcro?

I have a "Save the rubbertree" wristband. Would it be considered acceptable to wear it?

Tattoos? Jewellery? Wristbands?

Bloody hell, they'll be handing out commissions to people with regional accents and installing outdoor privies by t'Officer's Mess next.