Well, Clothing Design used to come under the purview of the RO post of Assistant Director Clothing Requirements and Procurement (RAF), abbreviated as ADCRAP. If that post still exists, the title remains wholly appropriate.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1abdf26740.jpg

Hmmmm now where have I seen that before……Starship Troopers :E


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6b3f063ee.jpeg

Ohhh wait their copying the style of the show.



https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9143912b4d.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....accd1cf59.jpeg

This one would look smarter as a single colour and is similar to the police one


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b9dec8227.jpeg

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54600575


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7242b2860.jpeg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....eb343fc55.jpeg

I hate the police uniforms as well. Why do they have to have that silly collarless zip-up look? Have a look at European police uniforms for practical, yet smart. The French, with its light blue polo shirt look, isn’t far removed from the proposals here, but only if they take the awful three colour strips off everything. Ben Sherman have done that and will probably sue!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b06347bca.jpeg

I think I first saw the ppt presentation about 18-mths ago, it was described as a 'strawman', a set of ideas to stimulate interest and discussion. I also saw a few (mainly females) wearing soft shell jackets around HQ Air, but they were dark blue (like the awful jacket GP). One cpl I asked explained they were part of a trial but they soon disappeared from view.

Piss-taking aside (and I have seen some very clever/inventive imagery over the past 48 hours), I can't see any of this taking off for the simple reason that there's no money. A common view where I am is that most of us (especially those living in the SLA various - at all ranks) would just like to have heating and hot water on a reliable basis.

CAS needs putting up against a wall for a 10 round debrief. True or fake, the service he leads has become a woke laughing stock.

Stable belt around the utility uniform doesn't work, and the smart utility of No.2 shirt with utility trousers is nonsense, but otherwise I think the utility uniform is heading in the right direction: make a modern uniform in well performing fabrics which is well suited to making personnel comfortable when they do their job without falling to pieces or looking ridiculous when you go to the tea bar or lunch.

Leave No.1s alone for looking smart when doing smart things, No.2 isn't really changed much and looks reasonable for office jobs.

Is chin stubble a part of the uniform now as well?

FB

The RAF did a blue/grey PCS trial at Leeming and Wittering.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3b743faa5.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8ce6d17e7.jpeg

There were a few issues with it. I think they quickly started looking tatty as the blue/grey faded like old jeans, and also the lighter colour or plain pattern showed up every oil spot and hydraulic stain. The dark navy blue of RN PCS and MTP PCS hides a multitude of sins. If we went for blue/grey RAF ‘crab fat’ blue PCS then it would need to be fairly stain resistant and colour fast.

However, my main beef would be such a uniform attracting a beret - unless they saw sense and allowed the field service cap to be worn in lieu as well. One stars and above are allowed to wear them, so it’s hardly that big a leap to allow ‘chip bags’ to be worn instead of berets with PCS type clothing - they were designed for field use, after all.

As for the Goldie Lookin’ Chain leisure suits - no thanks. If I want to look chav then I’ll go work in a leisure centre.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6622e1c17.jpeg

The saving grace may be that uniform changes normally have to receive royal approval, following submission through ACDS(PC) in his role as Defence Services Secretary.

Jack

Oh dear, How embarrassing! Those examples are absolutely hideous. I think the something similar to the latest RN style working dress might be OK without any multi colour patches. 😬👎👀

I think my pyjamas look smarter….

You either need to do more orderly officer or you have lots of fingers on one hand!

m0nkfish
 

From what I can remember many flying stations now allow Orderly Officer duties to be conducted in flying suit. It’s been 5 years since I last worked on a UK flying Station though so things may have changed. In fact I’ve spent about 10 of my 22 years overseas so that may explain my lack of contact with the scratchy blue.

I may have exaggerated slightly (I have normal hands) but aside from courses such as FLAC/FSC/JOCC there really isn’t much call for me to drag the blues down from the loft.

MPN11, I’ll refrain from getting into the flying suit debate. I’ll keep my ‘elitist’ views on that to myself.

BV

Current RNZAF non-aircrew working dress. Worn by all ranks, commissioned and non-commissioned. Maybe we could strike a deal :)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b7024c0ab3.jpg

BV

I’ve done Orderly Officer, Station Duty Officer and Duty Station Exec in a flying suit for 25+ years! As long as you have your No 1 ready for a KINFORM then there normally isn’t an issue. The policy to do it in blues changed in the mid 90s if I recall.

Are you mad? It’s clearly best suited to a beret; just look at when the RN wear a cap with their PCS. I’ve always been a fan of the chip bag but there’s a time and a place for it.

I'd be pleased to see a uniform Uniform. As alluded to above, you could be on detachment with 12 guys and girls, no 2 of which dress alike; but they're all correct. And anything that stops the General Public thinking you're an RAC mechanic gets my vote....

A novel idea
 

We could copy some other Air Forces and put everyone in flying suits with badges to reflect their trade. That might alleviate the perceived ‘elitism’.

BV