Wait, you guys have Wing QM’s??
Do your Wings maintain their own store of uniform as well?
Yes and yes.
We apply to Wing for uniform, if they don’t have it, they put an order in to the parent station. We then collect it from Wing when it arrives.
Not a perfect system, and can result in waits for kit, but given the uniform headaches the whole system has anyway it’s nothing too drastic.
We send our uniform requests to wing and they forward it on to the parent station.
I’d love to have a buffer of uniform at Wing.
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We just order direct from stores and copy Wing in.
Having a Wing QM just creates a job for someone and takes up storage space.
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2 jobs. We have a Wing QM and a deputy… Jobs for the boys.
We go direct to the station no faffing with Wing. Years ago someone suggested having a ‘wing’ uniform store, which then got the question, who will manage it. Never heard of again.
I think the uniform zealots are going to have to wind their necks in as and when we start parading again. TBH the RAF struggles in “normal” times, so something extraordinary like this and they won’t be able to cope and I don’t expect them to be stockpiling for us as that is money wasted.
One of the things after this the public sector is going to have to be more financially astute as tax revenues are likely to be much reduced, along with the money the govt is giving away at the moment, to pay part of people’s wages.
We complete an electronic Proforma for uniform, which includes the cadets names, this goes to our E1 and is then forwarded to the Parent Station Stores.
Once available the WEXO collects and holds at WHQ to be collected or distributes at Wing Events.
I think our system works really well.
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I suppose it it’s one way to make people go to Wing events.
Wings are scaled for a QM IIRC so why one wouldn’t have one is strange !
The norm for is for units to hold extra kit per cadet, usually ‘next size up’, this is replenished from Wing : PU when stock when uniform is returned.
As an organisation, particularly now, no one should be asked to wear second hand uniform IMHO.
I think that that is the justification for centralising uniform at WHQs, TBH.
In the past, some Squadron Commanders would order extra uniform, and badges, and keep a ‘buffer stock’ at the Sqn. In itself, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but some sqns would hold more than others.
By centralising the stores, you would still have buffer stock, but not as much. Thus you could satisfy the uniform orders (mostly), whilst reducing the total value of uniform sat on a shelf somewhere.
Maintaining enough stock to be useful at Sqn level is expensive, though. We already have more personnel than the RAF does, without us ordering an extra 1/3 to top up our Sqn stores.
My wing are also moving back to issuing PWS, which is also reducing costs (although that has resulted in some OC’s sending some unform orders back to WHQ because the standard of PWS is perhaps Grade 2, instead of Super Grade).
If it is in good condition, and laundered, then there are no Hygiene risks, and no real reason not to. Most of the MTP our cadets will be Graded, and bought from surplus stores - what’s the difference?
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Indeed. Every now and again someone says on here we cant, but I’ve never seen anything in print.
That’s the reason - Does your Wing have industrial laundry facilities? I suspect not. I would not want cadets to be wearing stock that others have been wearing without assurances that it has been properly cleaned. I believe this is why the QM has said only new stock will be issued but to expect a shortage
YMRI. I can’t see anything like that in ACP20 PI101 Annex D
The dream
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Our wing will not issue what is essentially Grade 2 uniform, or un-laundered uniform - they get stuck in the gash bags to return to our parent station. If there was any doubt, can your cadets not just hoof it in the washing machine before they wash it for the first time?
I’m not talking about uniform returned after being worn for 7 years in the Corps. My wing were wasting tons of uniform - some recruits would wear their uniform once or twice, and then bin the sqn off. We were returning shirts as part worn that still had the creases from their original packing.
Selectively retaining PWS, and reusing it allows for a faster order fulfilment, saves money, and is more environmentally sound.
Of course, some of the stuff we’ve received has been borderline, and has been sent back by return with no dramas. As they say, you can’t win them all. But orders from our Wing are generally ready in 3 to 5 working days, so it’s hardly a massive delay to return an unacceptable PWS shirt and request a new one.
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AP 1919 actually actively encourages the issuing of PWS ;
I’ve not quoted the paragraphs in full, but extracted the pertinent points, seems pretty clear to me, and is what has taken place at every sqn I’ve been on.
I like to limit the stock we hold, so I can use my store for fun kit, if we don’t hold sufficient PWS we put an order in and cadet X will receive brand new issue from the parent station.
Why not. We reissue uniform in a serviceable condition regularly and noone complains
We have had parents complain if their little darling doesn’t get brand new uniform.
Same here.
Trying hard not to come across as stating the obvious here, but there is serious concern about the transmission of COVID. If a cadet returns worn uniform to a squadron, which may or may not have been washed then what controls are in place to ensure the safe handling of it by squadron staff and cadets?
On one hand there is a thread about going cashless on squadrons to reduce the risk of virus transmission, but people are willing to accept handing and wearing second hand uniform that has been in contact with the skin?