It’s one of the reasons I hate hearing “wE’rE a BlUe OrGaNiSaTiOn”
Why should RAFAC be more blue than the parent org, when logistically it makes more sense to be in MTP?
MTP is a more flexible uniform than any of our blue dress codes - permitting a wider range of activities to take place. Particularly important if a last-minute change to the training schedule becomes necessary.
Just make sure you go for barrack shirts.
Especially if small children are using it. The operational jackets with Velcro everywhere really can’t be made to look good on a 13 year old’s frame.
Tailoring them probably isn’t easy either.
See post 8 above!
If we’re redesigning the uniform, it needs the end user in mind. And some of them are tiny!!
It depends. At Honington it was only SHQ in blue and, from @Horriblelittletechie ’s earlier answer, it sounds like helicopter bases are also quite green: but at Waddington it’s mostly blue (not including aircrew, obviously) and in joint environments like Wyton and Northwood the RAF will wear blue (unless they have reasons not to).
As the part of the RAF family that the public are most likely to interact with, I think RAFAC need to be in blue wherever possible, otherwise they’ll just be assumed to be Army Cadets and the blue footprint is lost. Having said that, I agree that a much more practical blue uniform should be sought out and that mixing working blues with PCS trousers is better for the blue footprint than not wearing blue at all.
Something practical like the police wear when out and about.
See European examples for blue versions.
This has made me vomit profusely.
I’m not sure the ‘blue wherever possible’ applies outside of ceremonial events, and depending on where a unit is that might be just once, maybe twice a year.
Granted there was more public engagement in the past but the security (and political) climate rather knocks that on the head, at least where we are.
So I guess we are looking for:
There was an interesting point raised on accessibility, including financial, during the all-hands call on Thursday. Currently most cadets have to pay for MTP, it isn’t cheap, and we can’t get it via MOD supply. Yes there are those who might say coveralls are adequate but are they (I’m sure they’re not on the DTE).
So if we can take the basic ‘green’ uniform and make it more blue, seems like the way to go.
RN PCS with RAF identifiers…
The RAF love to trot that line out when it suits, especially the seniors. Maybe they should consider how important the blue footprint is while cutting VA from volunteers.
I don’t like that as it wouldn’t save any money (cadets would still need combats) and IIRC the RN PCS rig is all fire retardant and so more expensive than MTP. And we’d look like matalots.
That said with 809 Sqn standing up maybe RNAS/Fleet Air Arm Cadets has potential?
For me, it’s MTP.
I think the ‘footprint’, and ‘blue service’ things are just complete balls - if we march down the high street in blues, half (at least) of those watching will say ‘Army cadets…’, and the rest will think Tesco’s, or equally random answers.
MTP is available, and it’s practical to use in every activity - you sit in a classroom wearing it, hang around an airfield all day wearing it, go to a range wearing it, go to a DTE training areas wearing, and march down you local high street wearing it.
Not everything about it is perfect, but the cost of it means e could issue (at Sqn level), softies and waterproofs as well as the standard uniform.
That, for me, is a huge thing.
We already have the GPJ, which is inextricably navy blue rather than blue-grey: why would we wear navy blue boiler suits as well?
Except in the very earliest days of the Service, we’ve always had our uniform and never settled for Army or RN cast offs. Yes, Battle Dress was the same pattern across all services, but we had our own colour and added a light blue shirt and black tie.
I was spotted in blue uniform on the street and a kid shouted out “hey Mummy there is someone Scottish over there”
I’m not sure of their thought process…perhaps the beret threw them?
I suppose the biggest argument against trying to be blue is that you mostly parade in the evening on the same patch, week in, week out.
Or you go to an air field for the day, or another camp for a week.
All present minimal opportunity to actually be seen by anyone who may understand you’re not actually in the Army.
And anyone who does understand probably doesn’t need reminding you exist?
MTP with big RAF patches is about as close as you’ll ever get if what you really want is practical while being cost effective and not double-purchasing.
Though for what it’s worth, unless you’re really doing training where you don’t want to be seen, the RN blue PCS stuff would be fine for shooting etc.
I think it’s telling that the biggest argument for wearing blue is that the RAF doesn’t do any engagement outside of their local parades and big national events.
Except the Outreach and Engagement teams… Most of which wear polo shirts… Hmm…
My ideal way forward would be
Bin off issue number 1s, if you want to wear them buy them yourself
RN PCS with RAFAC identifiers
MTP PCS issued. Using the savings from number 1 cost.
Nice and simple
I think it’s a step forwards from where we are now, but I don’t understand why the RN PCS would be necessary above and beyond just having MTP?
Just the blue foot print thing but yeah get what you are saying
If I had a magic wand, with no cost barriers or opportunity costs, it would be RN PCS with ACO fleece, and flashes, and an MTP issue with all the nice stuff.
However…
I’d even rather we went for a ‘skinflint’ MTP issue if it meant we could get softies and gore-tex issued to Sqn’s.