Astra Clothing Programme

Everyone Uniform and Drill
404

Ah the famed barrack dress, I think that was shelved because of cost, which is ironic as, as you say, PCS costs more. Apparently it just wasn’t being used. The MTP barrack shirt is cheaper than the shirt/jacket thing though.

Back in the day we had:
Green Barrack trousers
Shirt, worn with all dress modes
Jumper, worn with all dress modes
DPM trousers, anything physical/dirty and of course in the field
DPM smock, worn pretty much any time, with any of the above
We were later provided with the OG Lightweight trousers too, keeping the barracks for smart and DPM for the field.
Boots worn with everything.

For all the technical advantages of PCS, it actually worked well.

405

Speaking of cost did you know that the RAF buys green stuff from the Army not at cost price :roll_eyes:

406

I really don’t see what is wrong with the uniforms we have already. Just bin off the dark blue shirts and give cadets the short sleeve shirt.

We are going to virtual brassards anyway, so bin them too whilst we are at it.

Maybe give cadets some kind of neat tag that identifies them as air cadets/unit number and at most their classification. If this was a pin on badge it could move across from short sleeve and long sleeve shirts/jumpers.

The uniform is fine as it is.

407

Army barrack dress is pretty diverse, isn’t it? Whereas in PCS they only have non-standard headgear, belts, and rank slides to worry about.

408

The set of blue PCS that I saw was a similar blue to the Gortex jacket, and was just light enough to show up creases and dirty marks.

409

It was trialled at Leeming and Wittering.

It looked ok to begin with, but after a few washes looked like washed out denim and started sagging. It also doesn’t hide any grease / oil and stained too easily.

It was then binned off.

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/644946-new-raf-uniform-2.html#post11178522

410

That was probably a quality issue with the kit. current working blue shirts do not fade much and keep their shape.

411

I like the new Space patch, scroll down for it

412

The two newspaper headlines that I saw to say about it,

“It’s the RAF Jim but not as we know it”

And

“Spock the difference”

To be fair it could well be the fighter aircraft all automated/remote piloted in the future so space could the RAFs next realm to defend.

413

I do wonder how long before they issue a RAFAC version of that to those who complete the Gold space syllabus. Just to further the regulars. :rofl::rofl:

1 Like
414

QSC

Qualified Space Cadet

I’ll get my coat

4 Likes
415

Will these monstrosities filter down to uniformed RAFAC personnel too?

RAF ridiculed over new 'Star Trek' uniforms 'Surely it’s a joke?' | UK | News | Express.co.uk

image

416

And the ensuing ~80 posts.

1 Like
417

Badges… badges for all.

418

Seconded and why I posted

this is interesting given the RN use it in their own format…how can it be that different that it is fine for the RN but not good enough for the RAF?

419

The trial of the RAF-coloured PCS was binned off. The RN use a much darker blue.

420

I don’t see anything wrong with reviewing issued clothing, to see if there is anyway to make it better or more value for money.

Personally, I dislike the feel of the blue uniform, especially the jumpers - I’ve not worn one for about 15 years. And I find the trousers start to irritate after a full day. And don’t get me started on the lack of Arch support in the issued dms shoes.

Conversely, I quite like the short sleev shirts, and the GPJ. So I’m all for improving the materials, design, and cut of the existing uniform.

1 Like
421

agreed…

but it isn’t making it “better” or making “improvements” it is a complete redesign and changing the goal posts from a “military uniform/suit” to branded casual wear

nothing is being upgraded with new materials or more comfortable garments in the style of a suit…it is no longer a “suit” - why is that the direction the RAF are going?

422

Why did they go from battledress to a shirt and trousers? Why did they go from button-up tunics to battledress?

423

before my time… :wink:

but i would guess practicalities.

what is worn in No2 is no different to what civilians wear in a suit. clean shoes, pressed trousers and a shirt.
it is line with the formal world of work…why is the RAF moving away from that?

(battledress etc is nor commonly worn elsewhere is society, whereas a “blue suit” has plenty in common with the civilian equivalent