Yes, I might choose to pay to improve upon issued kit. I might even pay to get replacement kit since it may be easier, faster and overall cheaper to do so than to try to get to my parent stores in person.
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If you follow the chain back, you’ll find that I was reponding to your comment that as a regular you have always recieved ‘greens’ for free, as VRT/ATC we don’t…
I’ve just been commissioned and my initial uniform proforma does list a GPJ and VRT are scaled for them; whether or not one turns up for me is another matter!
[quote=“rocket_scientist, post:85, topic:3013”]if you WERE issued with a piece of kit then would you pay extra for something to wear INSTEAD of that issued kit?
[/quote]
I’m an ex-Rock and we had to do it all the time simply because the issued kit wasn’t up to scratch for the job we did.
To return to the original topic, my personal opinion is that the soft-shell jacket makes the wearer look like a chav.
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similar - my first tour was a Bosnian Winter in the 90’s, my unit used private funds to buy lots of gear, and we as individuals bought our own stuff as well - the only issued stuff i, and anyone else, used was the helmet, rifle, body armour, windproof smock and some belt-kit.
everything else - boots, clothing, gaiters, cold weather gear, waterproofs, bergens, sleeping bags, was either commercial military stuff or civilian climbing/hillwalking gear. in total each soldier wore/used about £1500 worth on non-issued stuff.
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I wasn’t issued a GPJ. I was issued a Goretex, but it wasn’t on the kitting list, I just blagged it. (“So what do I wear if it rains?”)
I am not wearing this jacket even if I was issued it. My jumper is perfectly adequate if it is cold and my Goretex is actually a really decent jacket.
Same. It’s that old “professional” argument. Yea you get issued stuff but you can buy better.
Problem is now, with the vultures of insurance providers etc, if you buy certain items then you have to fight insurance for a payout if anything happens. Even if what you bought was a better standard. Go figure.
Certain bits of “PPE” are non negotiable and you won’t be allowed to buy your own. Unless you get issued a strip black maskers to go across your face too.
You have to fight insurance for a payout whatever happens.
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True dat.
Gossip has it with Regular mates that the RAF is going to be wearing Medal Ribbons and Trade Badges on GPJs from April 2020.
Anyone heard any more on this?
Trade badges I can kind of understand but medal ribbons is a step too far
How very American
Do many trades still have trade badges?
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It might cause a big uptake in their wear, à la Thunderbird jackets.
Hang on, doesn’t the USAF wear the same jacket? I don’t think that even they have gone as far as putting ribbons on the thing.
Correct. NSN block 2 is ‘00’ or ‘01’ to show North American manufacture, versus ‘99’ for standard UK-made
Also correct. They haven’t. However, USAF active duty, ANG and AFROTC etc can optionally have their “GPJs” embroidered with the modern US Air Force seal symbol. I think they call it ‘Jacket, blue, lightweight’, or also ‘Windbreaker, blue’.
The Civil Air Patrol also have the option to have their three-blade prop symbol worn on these jackets.
In the USA, ribbons are worn on shirts in certain orders of dress: yes. And obviously on service dress, the same as us. But never on outerwear jackets or coats
CAP personnel appear to wear squadron or higher formation badges at the left shoulder, and the US flag on the right (let’s hope the world’s oldest independant air force doesn’t follow suit)
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The only outerwear jacket I’ve ever seen with medal ribbons on it is the 1972 pattern.
Well, I have a picture of a high up police officer wearing his jubilee ribbons on a jacket…
By ‘outerwear’, I’m meaning utility clothing for wind, cold or rain protection, normally marked only with rank.
The No2 dress jacket was worn outdoors and indoors a lot more than the GPJ. The main difference between it and No1s was that you could temporarily go into shirt-sleeve order, and yet the world did not end. Try that in best blues, and it’s Deep Impact meets Armageddon.
I didn’t mind it at all, was practical and smart in my opinion. The Regiment always tended to iron an (inwards?) arm-to-arm crease across the back of theirs, because, well, RAF Regt.
There were earlier trial versions of the withdrawn No2 jacket, some of which had a bloused cuff and lower pockets, just like the GPJ,
Hmm, yes, but that’s modern UK blue-light fashion. Plenty of Police now wear their ribbons as enamelled pins on their anti-stabs: I’ve not seen them worn on eg the ‘national’ fleece, or properly on utility outerwear. And never on the universal black wicking tops.
The Fire & Rescue Service still love their real shirts (working shirts), and do wear ribbons with them.
ps USAF GP Jackets on sale from their national PX… $90 USD. Seriously?
https://www.shopmyexchange.com/dlats-men-s-blue-lightweight-jacket-with-liner/0039511
Just the sad ones! Medal ribbons should only be worn on their No1 jackets
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Well, in fairness, very few non-senior members of the UK emergency services are actually issued with dress jackets & trousers nowadays.
And there may be a bit of a slide across the Armed Forces (of all flavours) to follow the lead of the civil emergency services ie to permit/encourage the wearing of medal ribbons in undress uniforms as well as formal dress uniforms.
Around 40 of the Forces in the UK don’t issue Tunics anymore which is probably why the move to stab vests has happened. (Only 1 force is still sad enough to wear ties which is why the other type of pin has moved).