New Dress Uniforms

[RAF Reginald]

As mentioned in a previous thread, the most bizzare aspect of this change is that most of the time the uniform belt is removed to allow the wearing of white webbing. Did you know that everyone in the RAF has also just been issued a blue daysac with RAF logo? Something to carry your sports kit in (unnecesary for most of the RAF!) and show identity. Everyone has also been issued with Royal Air Force badges to wear on their CS95, above the chest pocket. They even make the RAF Regiment wear them, as if the mudguards, beret badge and stable belt didn't give it away!!

[dannyd]

Did you know that everyone in the RAF has also just been issued a blue daysac with RAF logo?

Saw people bimbling about with these at Cranwell a while ago. I thought that they looked rather cheap and a bit gay to be honest! Am I allowed to say that?

Think the RAF 'name tags' on CS95 look pretty dumb as well. Having an identity is fine, but isn't that what the beret is for? Even without a beret on, RAF personnel are identifiable by their rank slides. If they (MoD,CAS??) are intent on having RAF badges on CS95, couldn't they have come up with something a bit better?

[RAF Reginald]

Totally agree with you there Danny mate.

I read a letter in the RAF News a while back from some blue job whining that they should have more badges on their uniform (rest of the airforce seem obsessed with pointless insignia with very little military significence). He complained that he was approached in Tescos by their security guard who asked him in all seriousness wether he was his relief! My thoughts, if you ironed your kit, polished your shoes, put your beret on and held yourself in a smart manner you might not get mistaken for a civvy security guard!!

[Sticky Blue]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Well said Reg!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

one liner doo hickey deployed at 35000 feet

[dannyd]

My thoughts, if you ironed your kit, polished your shoes, put your beret on and held yourself in a smart manner you might not get mistaken for a civvy security guard!!

Well said mate. Far too much of the RAF appear as civvies in uniform. The RAF Regiment, from my (limited) experience, are the exception to this and actually have pride in themselves and their appearance. I suspect this is due to the nature of their training.

During the same excursion to Cranwell we were briefed by an Air Commodore. He looked like a sack of shit! Shirt was creased to buggery, trousers the same and his shoes looked like they had never even smelt a whiff of polish. This was after we had been constantly reminded by the course OC, a Regt Sqn Ldr (ex-2 Sqn), of the standards required in the RAF (and I had spent 4 hours on my uniform the previous night). The Air Comm really let the side down. But from what I have seen, this is not uncommon in the RAF.

Dan

[RAF Reginald]

Cheers guys, thought it wouldn't just be me who had noticed! Danny, your point about the training is spot on, perhaps if someone has done something special to wear that uniform then they feel pride in it. There are exceptions though, some blue RAF are very smart, and some Gunners can be scruffy, but these guys are usually the field guys who aren't interested in bullshit but are superb soldiers. Was stopped at work a while back by a RAF SNCO who asked why i was wearing a green T-shirt with our motto emblazoned across the back, 'what makes you wear that?' he asked, my reply was that my training was the hardest thing i've ever done and that being a gunner was a big achievement for me and how i was proud of our regimental history. He was amazed and explained that none of the Techys he had on his flight would wear anything like that and have no idea of unit pride or comradeship. Something missing at Halton me thinks.

[Heinkle]

Here, Here!

Well put reginald, thats what really attracts me to the forces, the fact that i would be joining an group of f@#k professional soldiers who are porud of their unit and fight for the man next to him... As a famous American General once said:

"we are not fighting for a country or a flag, we are not fighting for any ideology or beliefs, hell, we are efighting for the man next to us, our brother!"

Heinkle

[harry hackedoff]

Hear Hear!
Well said Reginald!. That`s what really
Naw bollocks why bother. What`s porud and efighting
He`s probably got a first in English
Crab jacket, with belt? Without belt?
Like, who`d even notice
Who called 617 Squad "The Dumb Bastards" btw

[RAF Reginald]

Heinkle, pay no attention to Harry, he's obviously just....well, hacked off!
Keep that attitude to it all, it'll help redress the balance when you get in!