how does an RAF Blue uniform remind them of the origins of the RAF?
RTFB - I didnât say it reminds them of the origins of the RAF.
It reminds them that their origins are IN the RAF and should remain so.
cough itâs actually an RAF Regiment stable belt cough
Who said that? :whistle:
Tango Lima, The RAF Regiment have their own clasp so maybe you need to get your facts straight. When I was in the RAF, we were always told that while the Stable Belt was allowed, we were not to wear it until we were a qualified tradesperson and by that we would have to complete Phase 1, 2 and Trade Ability Tests Part A and B. AP1358C states they can, Why not make it a requirement for cadets that they must be a Master Cadet before they can wear it. But then what about staff? Do we deem that SSIC/OIC is enough or should they have also picked up a qualification? There are so many different viewpoints on this and many things to do with dress regulations.
My twopenneth is this: Follow the Regs and where there is ambiguity, it is down to the chain of command to decide and if you donât like your chain of commandâs decision, discuss it with them but if they do not agree with you - tough.
Why not just let everyone wear them?
Ultimately itâs a power thing. Iâm more powerful than x so I must prove this by not letting x wear things theyâre entitled to, so that I show them I am in charge.
Itâs quiet petty really. All our cadets are allowed to wear stable belts, providing they arenât âin the fieldâ.
[quote=âtango_limaâ post=4856]cough itâs actually an RAF Regiment stable belt cough
Who said that? :whistle:[/quote]
to somewhat counter PurfleetShiba way back when i was a Cadet i was on a 25m barrack range shooting for the first time in a new Wing and a WO unapologetically and undiscreetly âtore me a new oneâ as i was wearing my Stable belt on my greens as i was âclearly not RAF Regt. not old enough to be soâ
my Sqn WO later came up to me and explained previous WO is ex-Regt and is precious about the colours/belt being worn.
clasp or not the belt meant enough to this WO to be emotional about it!
[quote=âsteve679â post=4919][quote=âtango_limaâ post=4856]cough itâs actually an RAF Regiment stable belt cough
Who said that? :whistle:[/quote]
to somewhat counter PurfleetShiba way back when i was a Cadet i was on a 25m barrack range shooting for the first time in a new Wing and a WO unapologetically and undiscreetly âtore me a new oneâ as i was wearing my Stable belt on my greens as i was âclearly not RAF Regt. not old enough to be soâ
my Sqn WO later came up to me and explained previous WO is ex-Regt and is precious about the colours/belt being worn.
clasp or not the belt meant enough to this WO to be emotional about it![/quote]I was under the impression that wear of the stable belt in DPMs was indeed once limited to Regt personnel (some time ago), I could be wrong of course!
We were often told that way backâŚwhether or not it was actually true though, I donât know.
[quote=âtango_limaâ post=4856]cough itâs actually an RAF Regiment stable belt cough[/quote]âŚaccording to the RAF Regiment.
History doth sayeth that the stable belt was indeed, invented solely for use by RAF Regiment personnel. Then over the years, things got all lax and Feds and penguins started wearing them too.
So the Regiment were given authority to wear RAF Regiment rank slides (and were the only formation to be so authorised). Then things got all lax again and all the Feds and penguins started wearing them tooâŚTSW, TCW, TPW etc and then they brought out some âRAFâ annotated slides so the general morass of technical trades wouldnât feel left out. Bless.
Some years previous, long ago in the mists of time, the Regiment had a locket made for their belts annotated âRoyal Air Force Regimentâ and were duly authorised to wear it. In 2007, the penguins followed suit by having a âRoyal Air Forceâ locket made (the Feds having already had one made with âFiat Justitiaâ written on it) and so here we find ourselves today.
For the avoidance of doubt, AP1358C para 0139 clearly states that the stable belt is an optional item and cadets can wear them in 2A, 2C & 2D dress if they purchase them. Pages 35 & 39 also refer. Stable belts may also be worn in No.3 dress for all non-physical activities, ie: as barrack dress only. Page 43 of AP1358C refers.
So, there is no such thing as âCOâs Discretionâ as COâs canât have discretion when there are already regulations in place.
This whole thing about rocks âinventingâ the RAF stable belt has always puzzled me. Since when did they require a spare girth strap? Do they have a mounted section? 
It used to be called the WRAF⌠:lol:
alot of things
mainly being part of the âbig 3â :lol:
As an aside, one of my cadets told me today that at the recent marching band camp they are forced to wear stable belts (even if they donât have them) for the actual concert!
I was a little bit angry, and told her to feel free to point them in my direction if theyâd like a chat about the word optional, or about not being allowed on formal parades!
[quote=âpEpâ post=4937]As an aside, one of my cadets told me today that at the recent marching band camp they are forced to wear stable belts (even if they donât have them) for the actual concert!
I was a little bit angry, and told her to feel free to point them in my direction if theyâd like a chat about the word optional, or about not being allowed on formal parades![/quote]
Lucky it was a concert and not a parade.
alot of things
mainly being part of the âbig 3â :lol:[/quote]
Last combat jump undertaken by the Parachute Regiment - Op MUSKETEER, Suez, 1956.
Last combat jump undertaken by 2 Sqn RAF Regiment - Op SILKMAN, Sierra Leone, 2001.
Whoâs more current?
[quote=âOperation Nimrodâ post=4939][quote=âpEpâ post=4937]As an aside, one of my cadets told me today that at the recent marching band camp they are forced to wear stable belts (even if they donât have them) for the actual concert!
I was a little bit angry, and told her to feel free to point them in my direction if theyâd like a chat about the word optional, or about not being allowed on formal parades![/quote]
Lucky it was a concert and not a parade.[/quote]
Still, forcing people to buy an optional item winds me up.
[quote=âpEpâ post=4944][quote=âOperation Nimrodâ post=4939][quote=âpEpâ post=4937]As an aside, one of my cadets told me today that at the recent marching band camp they are forced to wear stable belts (even if they donât have them) for the actual concert!
I was a little bit angry, and told her to feel free to point them in my direction if theyâd like a chat about the word optional, or about not being allowed on formal parades![/quote]
Lucky it was a concert and not a parade.[/quote]
Still, forcing people to buy an optional item winds me up.[/quote]
Agreed. On my last summer camp the Sqn Ldr told us all we were to wear short sleeved shirts and forage caps for the camp photo. I wore my SD cap purely because I donât think anyone can order someone to wear an optional item.
alot of things
mainly being part of the âbig 3â :lol:[/quote]
Last combat jump undertaken by the Parachute Regiment - Op MUSKETEER, Suez, 1956.
Last combat jump undertaken by 2 Sqn RAF Regiment - Op SILKMAN, Sierra Leone, 2001.
Whoâs more current?[/quote]
Or as one of the Corporals put it when I was going through basic:
âParachute Regiment are supposed to parachute into battle. When was the last time they did that? Royal Marines are supposed to do Commando raids and amphibious assaults. When was the last time they did that? RAF Regiment are supposed to defend airfields. OK, itâs not an awesome job, but at least we actually do it.â
As to the stable belt: look at the colours. Maroon for the Foot Guards, navy blue for the Royal Marines and light blue for the Ground Gunners, representing the origins of the RAF Regiment in 1942. If it had been designed as an RAF stable belt the light blue strip would be wider (or the whole belt) or the colours would be red, white and blue. The wider RAF didnât like the Regiment having a special belt so said everyone could wear it and later adopted the same colours for the TRF.
The rest is like Gunner says: everyone had the belt, so the Regiment changed to an infantry style belt with a locket, so the wider RAF copied that too, because itâs the Air Force and esprit de corps is against the rules.