Opinions of an idea?,

After going through all our stock and inventorying everything it got me thinking when it comes to uniforms even more so MTPs and also the likes of Blue qual badges etc due to low stocks and becoming difficult to get.
Would it not be a good idea to have a type of group whether it be on here or something else where squadrons could put out requests of things they really need and struggling to get.

As obviously all different squadrons will have all sorts of stock levels. Which then a squadron could offer to help if they can and send it to them and even if its the squadron requesting pays the postage fee on it.

Id be interested in hearing others thoughts.

Also whats your opinion of the blue v neck jumper compared to the striped round neck. I personally think the striped one looks smarter , im right in saying they still can wear either or right?
Same with the MTPs and the DPM CS95 , which i guess we are pushing people to get preferably the MTPs but alot still wearing DPM and is it a choice they have.

Yes, the ribbed crew neck jumpers look much smarter. That’s why KCS all wear them (even those who joined recently, somehow). The v-necks not only look baggy but the necks tend to sag as well, revealing the shirt’s epaulettes.

We do this at a sector level with a WhatsApp group chat - not uncommon for squadrons to be swapping bits of uniform.

A shoelace threaded through the neck helps with this.

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Some wings have this via Facebook groups. Works well AFAIK

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We do share requests on a
Sector chat but nothing more formal at present.

I have been looking at sourcing MTP centrally. Our local surplus place has variable stock levels and is quite expensive. I spoke to the owner and he admitted that the only people who really buy issue MTP from them are air cadet staff and cadets. ACF and RM get it issued, so are more likely to buy ancillaries (Norwegian shirts, softies etc) than the main kit.

Field Textiles lost the MOD disposal contract earlier this year. It is now with Ramco. Their prices are very keen (£6 for the shirt / jacket) but the minimum order is 500!

We had to make a list of kit we had and send it off for a uniform audit type of thing so we could see what uniform we had excess of in our wing. I’ve not heard anything from that in a year so that was a waste of an email.

Yes, and I did that personally before I acquired a crew-neck, but it’s difficult to tell subordinates to do something that isn’t in the AP.

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Do the auctions!!
I did earlier this year and got 130 shirts and 100 trousers (mixed sizes but its MTP so fit not quite so important) for about £1k
Its the smocks that are difficult and quite pricey - have not got round to getting some of those - plan with those is to get enough to keep in stores and only issue for events when needed and return after
Should last me a while at the rate of non returns of cadets leaving

Totally agree they do look smarter and dont sag unlike other one it’s a shame we can’t order them ones.

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