Greens in hot weather… is it actually any cooler?

I’m far too pragmatic for my own good sometimes

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Careful, if you start telling people to stop cadet activities you might just find yourself employed by HQAC!

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Did anything come of those proposed changes to RAF uniform a couple of years back, or was it just issue stable belts and barrack shirts for MTP in the end?

The daft star trek like ones?

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Yes those

though I’d loved the chance to change Venture Adventure to Live Long and Prosper

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To be fair though, being non-acclimated I wouldn’t even want to throw uniform on tonight if we were actually parading. It’s not that much of a reach to understand why HQ might wish to cancel strenuous activity for UK-based cadets when the weather suddenly peaks, especially not if they’re abroad / travelling at the time.

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Khaki short-sleeve shirt + lightweight OGs.

Problem sorted.

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Late to the conversation but in answer to to the original post is that I find short sleeve Wedgwood / shirt-sleeve order working working blues far more comfortable & cooler than stripped down MTPs.

It’s primarily down to the boots & the need for trousers tucked in/up but also MTP is designed to retain heat when you are doing night operations. Blues is designed to be worn during the day.

As alex says above if you are wondering about adapting uniform due to the heat you should also be asking whether it needs to be uniform & whether the event needs to go ahead.

A few times last year I ordered “polo top order” (I.e. civvies) for nights & had training outside as much as possible. Also all cadets had bring down water bottles.

I did find that with stripped down MTPs a couple of my cadet NCOs took liberties by turning up in stripped down order when it wasn’t actually that hot. (I had to then insist full dress for first & final parade - I could turn a blind eye or adapts as needed but stopped assumptions)

This is where “OCs discretion comes in” on uniform. You come down & your building is stifling hot even outside the heat wave so you order the change.

What you don’t do is pick the uniform that’s the most easiest or abdicate to the chain of command saying “hQAC haven’t said anything yet so we won’t do anything”

Otherwise we end up in a situation of just wearing civvies all night & avoid the complications (and there are some sqns who do that)

This is the way! Forgot about this! Absolutely adore my OG trousers! So versatile! Somehow warm in winter yet so cool in summer! Magic!

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**Eye starts twitching…**

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This is fair comment which goes back to the volunteer framework.

OCs should be making decisions that goes against uniform policy but only where there is a need to *to deliver the overall commanders mission of delivering a safe cadet experience”

This also means OCs should also vary the uniform even when they would prefer not to even if it delivers the overall mission more effectively.

So for example a public recruitment stand the OC would like the cadets to be in Wedgwood blues as that’s the smartest uniform & most accurately portrays the air cadets.

However due to the heat, the OC feels whilst Blues is better PR wise & avoids confusion with army, MTP delivers better from a safety point of view to allow adaptation to local conditions.

What OCs discretion would not allow (currently ) would be for an OC to go for a mixed uniform of working blue shirt & MTP trousers.

You use your discretion within the framework & justify your decisions in relating to overall commanders intent.

You can go off-piste but you can’t go to a different mountain :slightly_smiling_face:

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Another approach, right or wrong (and be damned!). If we get to the point of heat making us think whether to go to something other than blues, we will look at sports kit and modify programme to low impact activities as an option.

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My Sqn’s just changed from greens to civvies tonight on account of the heat. I feel this just proves that all of our uniforms are inadequate for heat though…



We have options…

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Ah, but does that mean sandals / no socks? :smiling_face_with_horns:

Crocs is SOP now i believe

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Only the pale blue ones!

Thats for Blue/grey shorts and Short sleeve wedgewood duh

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Nah, OG crocs with little roundel badges on.

And a new fieldcraft PTS pin.

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To be fair crocs did do Multicam a couple of years back,

I can get behind the MTP shorts but it’s with desert boots for me!

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