Boots opinion? Ration packs

Adult Staff
1

Which boots would be better to get out of tactical side zip boots or normal patrol boots for main purpose of fieldcraft? I’m referring to the lower cost boots of both not the more expensive better ones.

I also was wondering do we have the option to request some ration packs from squadron level? Or is it only upto a squadron to purchase them directly which i know we would be unable to do? My cadets would really like to do a session with ration packs and getting chance to experience them etc.
thanks as always for your advice

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Absolutely not.

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I agree. Side zip boots are god awful. They don’t offer enough support and when (not if) the zips break they’re useless.

Source - multiple cadets who wore them because they couldn’t tie laces. Parents - teach your kids how to do this one thing!

EDIT to add further -

I purchased my lad a pair of the AKU copies from Highlander (Pentland) as he was aiming to snag a pair of my AKUs. They look to be a decent boot and he says theyre really comfy to wear but they are a bit more expensive than the usual cadet patrol boots.

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Having zips in boots will set your cadets up for disappointment. Should they want to do any AT related activity, they will stand a high chance of being told by the instructors they can’t take part. This will include assult courses.

IMO zipped boots are dangerous for any AT and I would avoid as they don’t provide the support needed.

Edited: we purchase ration packs from our parent station.

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You should be able to demand them from your parent station. The cost should be the daily messing rate. I’ve never done it personally, so not entirely sure on the process. Your Wing HQ or Wing Fieldcraft Officer may be able to help.

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For our parent station you need to provide an admin order for the exercise and a nominal roll. They won’t usually issue issue rations for a training night but will for a deployed exercise.

That said there are 2 main meals in each pack or if you are lucky with the menus and get the ‘cooked’ breakfasts, 3. Plenty for the basic cooking lesson!

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Thanks yes that is what i was thinking about the boots thanks for confirming this.

for patrol brown boots is there any site someone recommends that is cheaper than the norm cadetdirect or is everywhere much the same.

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It would be nice to get this changed. Given cooking in the field is a ‘blue’ lesson and designed to be delivered locally.

I appreciate they don’t actually need to do it themselves to complete the lesson, but the FT policy does say to make all training as realistic as possible. So being able to get, say, 1 pack per 3 cadets to deliver the cooking in the field lesson would be very good.

I’m not an FTI so this is just an outside observers view.

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It would but it is a cost issue.

The packs cost way more than the daily messing charge, and the risk is Squadrons buying them ‘just in case’.

That said, sometimes asking stores for any that are ‘close to expiry’ (and turning up with biscuits) can help.

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Yes that makes sense as people just order them just because and i know they arent cheap nowadays for sure.

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Local surplus places, if you have one nearby.

EBay’s not a great option unless you know exactly what you want - with size and fittings.

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BURN THEM WITH FIRE!

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With boots, you could go down the “cheeky route” and try on a new pair from your local shop to get the size and the source 2nd hand from the likes of e-bay. I have found I am a UK size 8 in parade shoes but NATO/UK Size 9 when it comes to patrol boots.

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When my kids were both cadets, I took advantage of the wording in AP1358C (as I think it was at the time) just saying ‘black or brown combat style boot’ (my emphasis) and bought them both brown leather Goretex hiking boots with Vibram soles from Mountain Warehouse. With the Blue Light Card discount I got both pairs for under £100 and didn’t need to buy additional boots for AT or DofE.

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Speak to your parent station. Usually you have to be on an exercise and still have to pay for them even then.

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+1 for contacting parent station. We’ve only been turned away once when we weren’t allowed any for “operational reasons”. As said before, must be requested for a deployed exercise. You’ll need your unit inventory holder (or the code) to request them as they will be recorded on your unit inventory.

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I see boots as a huge grey area.
I don’t mind cadets wearing any walking boot on Sqn providing they’re not bright garish colours and they provide a good level of ankle support and grip. After all we’re not issued them and I’d rather the cadet was comfortable and safe with what they’re wearing. Our Wing fieldcraft team use the same approach and we have never yet had a challenge over inappropriate footwear.

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I don’t see it as a grey area. It’s in black and white that they can wear any black or brown combat style boot and for years now the issued combat boots have been more like hiking boots than the ammo boots of our predecessors (or even the black leather ‘boots, combat high’ that I was originally issued).

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Pilgrims as an example are more similar to a hiking boot than a classic combat or patrol boot.

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I’m more talking about when cadets turn up wearing something like these as its their parents have gone out and bought the cheapest pair of boots they could find/afford. £26 at Mountain Warehouse gets them these…

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