Absolutely, but that ‘dress code’ can’t be “you must wear the clothing we issued to you”, otherwise it’s a uniform and not a dress code.
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Except it absolutely can be, non-uniformed means not RAF Uniform and the responsibikities that come with it.
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It may be that some CI’s come straight from work, or have some other reason for not wanting to wear a compulsary ‘uniform’…’Insisting’ they wear a uniform is a dangerous path to go down …CI’s are a precious commodity.
….If I was a CI and I turned up in the wrong shirt ….would you send me home?….discipline me ? ….because Im pretty sure it would be the last chat you had with me!
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I suppose you’re bringing a different perspective to this as in the police I believe civilian staff do indeed have a uniform, but warranted officers outside of CID, SB, etc, are described as ‘uniform’.
And I suppose, now I think about it, we also have civilians in uniform: such as the MOD Guard Service (not to be confused with the MPGS, who are soldiers on non-deployable contracts).
Absolutely, but the big difference is that they are paid!
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So do many uniform staff, you prepare for that eventuality (there will be exceptions where you finish late etc).
There are plenty of places that they can volunteer that aren’t uniformed organisations.
Depends on the dress code and the circumstances wouldn’t it.
On my unit the expectation of CI’s was always Squadron Polo (provided for CI’s) and smartish(ish) trousers (no issue with jeans etc), in the same way that the day to day dress for staff and cadets was blues. If it’s a rare “sorry I finished work late” I wouldn’t have an issue, in the same way I wouldn’t for a uniformed member of staff or cadet. If it’s a pattern I would make a suggestion of keeping a shirt in the car at the squadron etc.
But if it became sheer bloody mindedness there are plenty of other Squadrons, no one including me is irreplaceable. (That goes for CI’s, NCO, Officers and Cadets, I’m an equal opportunities enforcer of standards).
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I used to prepare for that eventually by wearing a regimental tie to work on those days, as such I would then feel suitably attired for cadets on those evenings (without changing into an awful CI polo shirt).
The key there is humanity, one of our CI’s later NCO’s would often rock up in workwear as she finished at 1900-2000 some nights, as a CI she just stuck with it but as a Sgt, She’d leave Uniform in her car or at Sqn.
If your CoC is demanding “appropriate CI wear”, have that chat and come up with a solution together
The OC has said that I can wear what I like and has offered the Polo Shirt and Sweat Shirt which I will accept. There is no pressure to wear anything specific. As a retired professional used to wearing suits in an office environment I think he knows that I will dress in what I would class as smart casual.
Not yet had any advice on what to wear if doing activities away from base but I can ask.
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The same would apply for off squadron activities, unless it’s something that requires specific clothing like adventure training.
If you ever stay in a mess you will need to follow their dress code, which will usually be collared top, no trainers and nothing scruffy.
More formal occasions you might want a suit.
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For years I came straight from work. Some of that time I was the sole member of staff most nights.
The choice was I turn up in my work wear or I don’t turn up at all, and we stand down. It was never a problem.
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One of my former OCs from when I was a cadet would occasionally attend in his police uniform rather than his RAF one.
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