Ironing creases was introduced in napoleonic times to kill lice. This was replaced by crab-fat, so infact creases are soon 19th century!

They should also introduce patent leather shoes and bin the bulling of shoes.

and the wearing of hats, serves no purpose unless part of PPE. I'd go further, but the "in my day" brigade may have multiple seizures.

I would also issue a two tone uniform, say black trousers and normal colour ( No1 or whatever number it is these days ) jackets, so that way you can change half of the uniform without having to bin it all.

The hat is required to wear a badge with the Sovereign’s Crown (in our case Her Majesty The Queen). When serving personnel salute an officer, they are acknowledging Her Majesty the Queen as Head of State and saluting the rank the officer holds (the Queen's commission) rather than the individual themselves. When an officer returns a salute, it is done so on behalf of the Queen.

So it most definitely serves a purpose unless you want that badge tattooed on your forehead or pinned on it - which might be a bit messy or painful…:}

I say old thing!
How am I to pass my Sunday late morning, sniffing the roast, drinking a pint, sharpening the kitchen knives and bulling all the shoes?

Thank you, Cpl Clott! Glad someone remembers what it’s all about.

Agreed, pointless wearing a hat these days, that can get in the bin.

The comments in this thread make me laugh as well.....

Your explanation just shows it serves no purpose, other than one you've imagined for it.

I know all that, I used to be a DI on IOT. A simple "Good morning Sir/Ma'am" serves the same purpose, acknowledges the commission and is courteous without being over the top. If we had been formed as an entirely new service from scratch, not from the RN and Army, there'd be none of this nonsense. We just inherited a load of their traditions, I still fail to see how performing 18th century battle drills in front of CHOM is relevant or traditional to a modern Air force.

OK, let’s stop all Parades, and marching, and just wander around like civvies … while being polite to the tracksuit wearing managers. Would save a lot of time and effort … and shoe cleaning. I wonder where that would end up?

Old timers would explode, currently serving would probably keep on with the job as they do now?

People might stay in rather than leave to be treated like an adult?

One the link about SHQ Honington, isn’t this just superb.

So civilianise everything that Service life is about? Hmm, a lot of that has happened already. I just wonder how warfighting discipline would stand up in that environment?

Anyway, not my war. Back to my armchair and brandy. Enjoy the future.

When was the last time you saw anyone marching round camp? It's not "Get some in" everyone just walks round like normal people. As for parades, why do we have to do it the Army way? Someone will be along in a minute saying drill is the foundation of discipline, it's not, doing what you're told is.

You could of course also simply add the badge to the uniform and bin the hat.

She could definitely give Section Office Harvey a run for her money ;)

Interesting article in The Times this evening about how a new Chief Constable has turned round the failing Greater Manchester Police by a “ back to basics” approach including smarter uniforms, reinstating a badge all can take pride in and an emphasis on standards of dress and appearance. Apparently it has resulted in better morale, more convictions, less crime and greater public support. Who knew!

It is a basic error to mix up fashion and uniforms. Fashion uniforms don't age well. Uniforms are non-fashion, they must fit to everybody, the small the fat, the non-models. Uniforms can still be made elegant, made to impress, made from good materials that are best for daily use, not from cheapo stinking plastic, and made to last.
Mostly cheap stuff is used and this gets hidden behind fancy fashion. Where I live all the mail people are dressed like olympic sprinters from Florida instead of something comfortable to work in all weather day in day out.
And who mounts flags like this?

Routine wearing of hats and saluting should be binned.

I do think the principles of drill and saluting should be kept for ceremonial purposes as I view that as part of our identity and unique character but there's no need for them to be part of everyday life for the principles to remain part of our culture.