Of course, if our uniform cost to MOD was reduced - but simply piggybacking onto the general MTP contract,we could argue (along with the ACF) for some additional, smaller, sizes…
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Indeed there are smaller sizes in the system now. But because they are fairly new and I guess in limited circulation they haven’t filtered down to the surplus trade.
Now if we could order through our parent stations, that would be fixed.
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Money no object - No 1s for all
More realistically - 1 SD cap for cadet SNCOs, Sqn number below the TRF on MTP, like the EAW patches.
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When I was a cadet, CWOs and SNCOs wore SD caps anyway (with ATC cap badges: which was easier at the time as they had eyelets for beret badges) and the CWO wore a short sleeved shirt with no brassard (but with a yellow lanyard, which had a slightly different meaning at that time).
Then again, everyone in the continuity drill squad had No. 1 SD jackets (but with no badges and worn with No. 2 SD trousers and without belts, which weren’t fitted at the time).
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Daft question, but as kids grow so quickly, including their heads (while leather beret bands are constantly trying to shrink), should we be considering some sort of crazy clothing that allows greater flexibility to grow with them?
I don’t know what that looks like, and it would cost a bit more, but if it was made well…
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You mean moving back to the idea of polo shirts & baseball caps that’s been on the cards on-and-off for a decade or more?
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I wasn’t actually thinking that, as I don’t think it’s necessarily better. A bit baggier with polo shirts, but I’ve seen many cadets in baggy shirts.
PCS-style tops left untucked would do that job.
So perhaps it comes down to trousers with a crazy band design and trousers which can roll down as you grow? 
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Give everyone grow bags.
That’s not a terrible idea, assuming you do more flying haha.
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Better sizing for smaller cadets & a form of dress with rolled up sleeves for wedgewoods
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Agreed. The Army don’t have a problem with rolling sleeves up. You could eliminate dark blue shirts and short sleeve wedgewood shirts over night…
Ex-army here. I don’t recall ever rolling up the sleeves to our No. 2* shirts (Wedgewood equivalent) during my time.
*Army No.2 dress is equivalent to RAF No.1 - tunic, trousers, shirt & (pretty gash) tie.
This is on social media.
If that is “approved” form of dress, who knows.
And yes, this is not full No2 dress.
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That’s exactly what I’m talking about.
Nicer shirts too. Pinch those ones.
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100% agree. They look like nice cotton shirts, rather than the cheap Chinese plastic rubbish we have.
Edit: I also remember having to roll the sleeves of the khaki shirts up (and removing the sackcloth tie) when not worn with a jacket or jumper. Short-sleeved shirts were not issued (but we usually got half our shirts tailored to short-sleeves when they were with the tailors for ranking up).
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Step 1: Scrap all No1s for newly commissioned officers.
Step 2: Reintroduce and replace then with RAF Full Dress (with the appropriately plumed cap, gold rank and all the trimmings)
We need more historical silliness in life.
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We’re the only service that’s relegated its full dress uniform to being a costume for bands only. The others kept theirs for ceremonial roles, senior officers, royals, etc.
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I think the money would be better spent elsewhere. We’ve got damn smart dress uniforms already.
The cost of full dress for KCS, 4*s and royals wouldn’t even qualify as a rounding error. It’s only when they include us plebs that the costs rise.