As in the subject?
Worth it? Do you use yours?
IMO:
If youâre an officer, then yes - definitely worth it. So much more convenient than an SD hat.
Otherwise, Iâd just stick with a beret unless you really love forage caps! Iâd wear one if I was allowed.
Love mine. Practical, light, warm flaps in the winter time, brass buttons to shine. Whatâs not to like?
Iâd recommend them for SNCOs as well, as they add a little clearer distinction between cadets and staff at a distance, which is easier for the cadets.
But remember, they must be worn properly tilted to the right. None of this dead centre pointy gnome hat rubbish.
2 Likes
Well worth it, easy to pack.
Donât lose their shape in the way SD hats do
But remember: they look retarded!
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Thread starts as a serious question about a valid and âtraditionalâ piece of uniform, Post 5 turns to criticising! Good show.
I wear my forage cap all the time when in No2s, theyâre well worth the outlay.
[quote=âpapa novemberâ post=14107]Thread starts as a serious question about a valid and âtraditionalâ piece of uniform, [/quote]Which happens to look a bit stupid. Puttees are a valid and traditional piece of uniform but I donât see people queueing up to bring those back.
It is a valid consideration for those considering purchasing or wearing a forage cap.
Forage caps are convenient for aircrew; other offices can deal with the minor inconvenience of an SD cap for the overall benefit of looking the part.
The question asked was âworth it?â - My response is âNormally, noâ for the reasons I give.
1 Like
The ACO provides us all with a beret, in some cases an SD hat.
Why also have a side hat?
The RAF, indeed the forces in general are going out of their way to save money. Now ultimately this is a drop in the ocean when you consider the waste that Dii has become but it still must be a saving if the RAF just didnât bother having them.
Is it really that much of a space save for aircrew. Does a side hat really take up less space than a beret?
We have two hats, is it really worth having three?
And, on a less serious point, I agree with Incubus; they do look retarded and make people who wear them look like they should be piloting a Thunderbird!! FAB.
The cost is a moot point, as theyâre an optional item at private expense anyway.
[quote=âRacing Stickâ post=14109]The ACO provides us all with a beret, in some cases an SD hat.
Why also have a side hat?
The RAF, indeed the forces in general are going out of their way to save money. Now ultimately this is a drop in the ocean when you consider the waste that Dii has become but it still must be a saving if the RAF just didnât bother having them.
Is it really that much of a space save for aircrew. Does a side hat really take up less space than a beret?
We have two hats, is it really worth having three?
And, on a less serious point, I agree with Incubus; they do look retarded and make people who wear them look like they should be piloting a Thunderbird!! FAB.[/quote]
Considering all side-caps are privately purchased and manufactured your money saving point is somewhat irrelevant.
Also, you may have two hats in blues, but I, and all other officers, only have one. Because only RAF Regiment officers may wear berets in No 2. In which case they are most of the time a more practical option than an SD cap.
The appearance thing is a personal matter, I like mine. I donât think calling them âretardedâ is appropriate, nor is it a very polite response to a well meaning question.
Beat me to it.
Also, keeping hard working station tailors busy is an important advantage to everyone.
Thunderbirds - International Rescue, awesome craft, heroic deedsâŚ
On the other hand, peaked hats remind me of Johnny Morris in Animal Magic.
I know which Iâd rather be!
Seriously, itâs all uniform and should be worn with pride by those authorised to wear it.
[quote=âRacing Stickâ post=14109]The ACO provides us all with a beret, in some cases an SD hat.
Why also have a side hat?
The RAF, indeed the forces in general are going out of their way to save money. Now ultimately this is a drop in the ocean when you consider the waste that Dii has become but it still must be a saving if the RAF just didnât bother having them.
Is it really that much of a space save for aircrew. Does a side hat really take up less space than a beret?
We have two hats, is it really worth having three?
And, on a less serious point, I agree with Incubus; they do look retarded and make people who wear them look like they should be piloting a Thunderbird!! FAB.[/quote]
Why do the guards have to have different uniforms to the rest of the army? Lets put the entire Army in FAD and nothing else to save some money.
Good question⌠the Army and Royal are the only Forces that still have 2 formal uniforms for all ranks. The RN only have it for Admirals and above and the RAF have nothing.
On the topic, I would quite like to have a Side Cap but canât. Reasons being? 1. Practicality, RN caps are 2inches wider and 1 in higher than RAF caps. try tucking that under your arm. 2. Have you worn a beret in Shirt and tie and looked in a mirror! 3. A side cap goes on your head with out as much difficulty as a beret.
[quote=âincubusâ post=14108][quote=âpapa novemberâ post=14107]Thread starts as a serious question about a valid and âtraditionalâ piece of uniform, [/quote]Which happens to look a bit stupid. Puttees are a valid and traditional piece of uniform but I donât see people queueing up to bring those back.
It is a valid consideration for those considering purchasing or wearing a forage cap.
Forage caps are convenient for aircrew; other offices can deal with the minor inconvenience of an SD cap for the overall benefit of looking the part.
The question asked was âworth it?â - My response is âNormally, noâ for the reasons I give.[/quote]
A well considered response? I hardly think that an out and out insult of fellow CFAV and those serving is an appropiate way to respond to the question in hand.
[quote=âBaldrickâ post=14111]
Also, you may have two hats in blues, but I, and all other officers, only have one. Because only RAF Regiment officers may wear berets in No 2.[/quote]
This limitation has become the case, apparently due to an error in the dress regulations that has become enshrined over time. It previously was not the case, or (more accurately) the original intention was that only regular RAF and RAuxAF Officers were meant to be prohibited from wearing the beret in No2 dress / BD, following itâs broader introduction to the Air Forces of the Crown via the RAF Regt in the 1950s. At first, no such prohibition was applied to RAFVR Officers, nor to WRAF/WRAFVR Officers.
Part of the reason of this over-reaction may have been down to the fact that (again originally, but during WW2) RAFVR Officers (of the original training branch, serving with the ATC) were not permitted to wear SD peaks on parade. They could wear them to/from parades, but not during. Hereâs a contemporary letter from âFlightââŚ
I think itâs likely to have been an over-reaction driven by all the ex-regular Officers who came into the RAFVR from the RAF, post WW2, coupled with lobbing from 1947-onwards RAFVR Officers, that saw the removal of âberet in bluesâ option for all non-Regt Officers.
[quote=âBaldrickâ post=14111]
In which case they are most of the time a more practical option than an SD cap.[/quote] In some ways, and to some extent. Read the moans of a non-fan of that headgear, from back when the ATC was a three-year old baby.
[quote=âBaldrickâ post=14111]
The appearance thing is a personal matter, I like mine. I donât think calling them âretardedâ is appropriate, nor is it a very polite response to a well meaning question.[/quote]
Thereâs nothing served by calling them retarded, thatâs not constructive. Like all hats, itâs possible to wear them wrongly, or correctly. And they are historical icons, undeniably and universally, of Air Force uniform wear.
But the founding intention was that all volunteer Officers serving in the Air Forces of the Crown were to have the option of wearing berets in No2 dress (and in previous incarnations of undress uniform, including B/G BD). Conversely (but on a related note), I believe that only RAFVR Officers had the option of wearing forage caps in No1 HSD, regular RAF and AAF Officers had to wear peaks in No1sâŚ(but, rules didnât really extend to Auxiliary Officers, who in their original classic mode were a total breed apart- they tended to form something of a role model for the regular RAF) .
wilf_san
ps I wonder if RAFVR(T) Officers that are now entitled to wear RAF Regt mudguards in No1/No3/No5 dress would be permitted to wear berets in No2 dress?
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Beat me to it.
Also, keeping hard working station tailors busy is an important advantage to everyone.[/quote]
They still have to be made! That costs money.
REMOVED TROLLING
As for the Army having more uniform. Firstly the Guards only have Scarletâs for Ceremonial and do not get them issued.
Secondly, and no doubt this will stick in the throat for most of you, the Army has slightly more tradition that the RAF because theyâve been around longer than the RAF or hadnât you noticed!!
REMOVED SWEARING AND TROLLING
Beat me to it.
Also, keeping hard working station tailors busy is an important advantage to everyone.[/quote]
As for the Army having more uniform. Firstly the Guards only have Scarletâs for Ceremonial and do not get them issued.[/quote]
NOT ISSUED! Then they must be private purchase items? How dare the Guards have private purchase items? I think this practice should stop, in line with this argument:
Beat me to it.
Also, keeping hard working station tailors busy is an important advantage to everyone.[/quote]
They still have to be made! That costs money.
REMOVED TROLLING
As for the Army having more uniform. Firstly the Guards only have Scarletâs for Ceremonial and do not get them issued.
Secondly, and no doubt this will stick in the throat for most of you, the Army has slightly more tradition that the RAF because theyâve been around longer than the RAF or hadnât you noticed!!
REMOVED SWEARING AND TROLLING[/quote]
Someone needs a hug.
So the army can keep all their stuff and different uniforms but the RAF canât because it is younger? You make me laugh mate. Nice one!
[quote=âRacing Stickâ post=14119]They still have to be made! That costs money.[/quote]Yes, the customerâs money. Theyâre made as a private enterprise.