And locked pending cleanup.
Unlocked.
Keep it civil please!
Uniform is a contradiction of terms in the Army anyway and the comment used to be that if two officers (from the cavalry probably) were at breakfast similarly dressed, one had to go and change. Iâm told that the introduction of CS95 was supposed to have replaced the array of uniform known by the Pongos as âBarrack Dressâ but I think this attire is gradually making a come back in some Corps and Regts as COs try to salvage bits of their Regimental Identities from the Defence savings bin. Luckily and indeed fortunately, for the UK taxpayer, the RAF doesnât have a similar fetish for different styles of jumpers (apart from v or crew neck - all blue though), bright colured trousers or other general abuses of the term âuniformâ, although I stand by for comments on No2s being our âBarrack Dressâ!
Although the Field Service Cap was and still is used by the Army, itâs often seen as a quintessentially RAF piece of kit and yes, it can look pretty stupid if worn incorrectly. But then again, how many âaircraft carrier or landing padâ berets have you seen and nobody is beefing about that?
In a perhaps vain attempt to bring this back on topic. The OP did ask the question of whether they are âworth itâ.
âItâ in this context could refer to the problems already listed. E.g. The fact they donât cover your bald patch, that some people donât like the look of them and that they are the headgear of choice of the brave boys in blue from Tracey Island.
Forage caps/Side Caps/Field Service Caps/chip bags are not for everyone. You need a certain amount of thick skin to endure the banter that results, and the endless cries of âitâs not meant to be worn on the side of your headâ (despite that clearly being how the good book says to wear it)
The final factor is cost. They arenât as cheap as a new beret, mine from Brize cost me ÂŁ50 for an officerâs one. It is however, lovely. Lovely material, soft squishy feel and the right size buttons.
I bought one for my sister, an SNCO, from St Mawgan, similar price, but the nice tailor there embroidered her name in the headband and can put in any lining you wish. Hers is pretty pink. Iâve seen camo and silk maps on the inside. I can provide her details by PM, (The tailorâs not my sisterâs.)
The only downside to those is the button size. They used the pocket buttons of No1 SD, which are too big. So you may have to source those on ebay. Mine are brass.
[quote=âBaldrickâ post=14149]and can put in any lining you wish. Hers is pretty pink. Iâve seen camo and silk maps on the inside.[/quote]But surely it has to be Newsprint!
I have a foreage cap. I never ever wear it, so no it wasnât worth the money I paid for it.
We have one in a drawer a the squadron, left by a previous member of staff. I use it occasionally when I want to do an impression of Mussolini (and I donât have a convenient lamppost) so as such it may be considered worth it 
I lost one at St Mawgan in 1999. Hat that is, not my sister.
Bought my first one in 1982 and that was a nice soft one (hat again), but that finally wore out after about 10 years of constant wear and was floated out to sea, burned as an offering to the Gods and finally sunk by naval gunfire. All the ones Iâve had since have been ok, but no where near as comfortable as the first one (still talking about a hat).
As has been mentioned before, I think a lot of officers would go down the beret route, but we canât so the chip bag is a pretty good substitute. Even if youâre not aircrew, itâs far easier to pack and carry around. You can also stuff it down your GPJ sleeve or in the pocket to reduce the possibility of someone pinching it from the Mess cloakroom. True, they donât suit everyone, especially girls (Iâm not being sexist, but I think they just donât look right with a bun).
Definitely worth it in my opinion.
[quote=âcygnus maximusâ post=14140]Uniform is a contradiction of terms in the Army anyway and the comment used to be that if two officers (from the cavalry probably) were at breakfast similarly dressed, one had to go and change. Iâm told that the introduction of CS95 was supposed to have replaced the array of uniform known by the Pongos as âBarrack Dressâ but I think this attire is gradually making a come back in some Corps and Regts as COs try to salvage bits of their Regimental Identities from the Defence savings bin. Luckily and indeed fortunately, for the UK taxpayer, the RAF doesnât have a similar fetish for different styles of jumpers (apart from v or crew neck - all blue though), bright colured trousers or other general abuses of the term âuniformâ, although I stand by for comments on No2s being our âBarrack Dressâ!
Although the Field Service Cap was and still is used by the Army, itâs often seen as a quintessentially RAF piece of kit and yes, it can look pretty stupid if worn incorrectly. But then again, how many âaircraft carrier or landing padâ berets have you seen and nobody is beefing about that?[/quote]
Well 25 years in the Army and I have never even heard an urban myth regarding officers changing. That said, I have heard numerous other urban myths so I guess its not impossible. Being cavalry certainly wouldnât surprise me. The different coloured jumpers and trousers are all to do with tradition. Something the RAF has very little of. I think it insulting to consider it a fetish, but you are quite correct there is a lot of different colours and types all of which are as you correctly put, part of the barrack dress uniform. But also these are restricted to Officers and SNCOâs and are private purchase. So if its OK to privately purchase a side hat then surely itâs OK for an Officer and SNCO who have a pride in their Regiment to purchase their own jumpers accordingly. As pEp pointed out, lets keep it civil. Letâs also please get our facts right.
[quote=âRacing Stickâ ]Well 25 years in the Army and I have never even heard an urban myth regarding officers changing. That said, I have heard numerous other urban myths so I guess itâs not impossible. Being cavalry certainly wouldnât surprise me.
[/quote]
Yes, it is an urban myth, perhaps I should have used a different terminology. Having said that, a family member of mine was âadvisedâ by the PMC in the Mess at Bovington (cavalry; well RTR which is almost cavalry I suppose) that he and his colleagues âshould dress differently to each otherâ as they were all in CS95.
[quote]The different coloured jumpers and trousers are all to do with tradition. Something the RAF has very little of. I think it insulting to consider it a fetish, but you are quite correct there is a lot of different colours and types all of which are as you correctly put, part of the barrack dress uniform.
[/quote]
No insult intended as âfetishâ can also mean fascination, craze, preoccupation and inclination, as well as itâs generally taken meaning. Therefore, to us crabs, the four definitions above are true.
You also know my background Racing Stick and whilst the RAF may not have the hundreds of years of tradition that the Corps and Regiments of the British Army have, we are still pretty proud of what those who served before us have achieved in a relatively short time.
[quote]
But also these are restricted to Officers and SNCOâs and are private purchase. So if itâs OK to privately purchase a side hat then surely itâs OK for an Officer and SNCO who have a pride in their Regiment to purchase their own jumpers accordingly.[/quote]
I agree. But I also know that quite a lot of âoptionalâ purchases for soldiers are not exactly optional; and thatâs for the juniors as well as the officers and SNCOs. Regimental tee shirts, stable belts and other items. OK I absolutely agree that it looks great and is a fantastic team builder to have all your troops kitted the same for PT, and that the Regimental Fund may contribute something towards the cost for the juniors, but they still have to pay and they donât get a choice. But I know they do it willingly because they have pride in their Regiment!
disingenuous! youâre are attempting to make a virtue of a neccessity - RAF Officers are only given one choice of uniform because they canât be trusted to dress themselves appropriately: this is what comes of commissioning people whoâve never been to school, and who have names like âKevinâ, and âDarrenâ.
not so much a force, more a chavelancheâŚ
Racing Stick, the fashion parade is real, and real pride is taken in it - the rule is that if two Officers (well, Officers from any decent RegimentâŚ) find themselves matching, the junior of the two excuses himself to change. if you ever wondered why junior Officers like exercises so much, its so they can avoid getting changed three times before breakfast.
A fair point! :lol:
Edit - for aircrew I hasten to add.
I want to get a Side Cap, especially as take quite a few of our Sqn photos for Facebook and the website. But I donât want to pay ÂŁ55 plus, or ridiculed for wearing something more convenient than the SD Hat I have been issued.
Serious dilemma!!!
If youâre a FS as your name suggests surely a beret would solve both those dilemmas?
[quote=âFS Sarnieâ post=18947]I want to get a Side Cap, especially as take quite a few of our Sqn photos for Facebook and the website. But I donât want to pay ÂŁ55 plus, or ridiculed for wearing something more convenient than the SD Hat I have been issued.
Serious dilemma!!![/quote]
Ignore it, itâs not ridicule. Itâs jealousy.
They last forever, I love mine to bits.
why would someone consider getting a hat merely because it is slightly easier to take photoâs in?
[size=6]take it off![/size]
if you think that generally itâs easier/more comfortable then absolutely, go for it - but i wouldnât walk down to the stores, let alone pay ÂŁ55 of my own ill-earned shekles to buy a hat that makes taking the odd photo easier than if i wore a beret, or SD cap, or bearskin, iâd just whip the offending headgear off!
ÂŁ55 buys a saturday night hotel for you and the mrs - or someone elsesâ mrs - far better investment.
Personaly I dont see the point in having one unless you are an Officer for the reasons stated above. Its just a waste of money when you already have a feret to put on your head and mine never gets in my way
Surely the overwhealming argument for having a side capâŚ
Its the only hat you can wear in uniform that not only you can, but MUST wear at jaunty angles!
I think they work well for SNCOs to have them so you can spot the difference between the younger NCOs ATC and the cadet SNCOs at distance more easily.
Iâve not tried that yet. Iâll have a crack at it next time.
Iâm not 100% sure how youâre meant to get it to sit still though?
