I am basing it on the demonstrable fact that we are addressing multiple issues at the same time.
1 Like
Not to mention the completely different personnel and roles involved.
The WWOs are not all going to descend en-masse on Cranwell or High Wycombe and suddenly sort out the AEF issue for example.
Fixed that for you 
2 Likes
I have read the uniform letter and also will be subject to a Uniform check. I too am torn! I have always tried to ensure high uniform standards, both with my cadets and myself. I don’t think that any check will cause me or my staff any problems.
My issue is with the threatened sanction of being debarred from wearing uniform in public events (but you will still be able to take the cadets to these events, just not be involved!!!).
So if you don’t fit in a uniform that was issued many decades before and you can’t afford to replace that uniform, you cannot represent the RAF in the Anytown RAF100 celebration. Don’t worry the RAF will step in and help out, supervising your cadets and displaying their wonderfully tailored supplied uniforms. Oh no, there’s no RAF left and the Air Cadets are the only light blue representation in most towns in the UK.
So RAFAC Adult Staff, who have been told many times that they are civilians in uniforms, have to volunteer, give up their non work time and represent the RAF at their own cost!! You couldn’t make it up!
2 Likes
As I’ve said many times i’ll only support RAF100 as far as getting my cadets there, I won’t be taking personal part anyway since I don’t feel it would be in keeping with the decision to throw me out of the RAFVR. If they want an RAF Officer they can cancel a regular RAF Officers weekend off.
I’m also not worried about having an upcoming uniform check although it does seem to be a bit of a waste of time.
7 Likes
Angus are you uniformed Staff? I’ve grown a beard for Decembeard to raise money for charity but I’ve noticed that, as I work outdoors all day, I’m more comfortable at work and I’m not feeling the effects of the elements as much when climbing telegraph poles or sitting in the freezing cold. I’ve requested special dispensation to continue wearing my beard during the winter months but OC Wing has refused this.
Nah, I’m only a CI, like you though I work outdoors all day (I’m a sheep and beef farmer in Wales), and the beard is a kind of scarf. It also makes me look like a particularly disheveled tramp…
Somewhat related to the ‘look good in your uniform or turn up in civvies’ edict, why don’t you just parade in civvies till April, then the ‘no beards’ thing doesn’t apply to you…?
1 Like
The lack of support from above has actually made me realise that I’d be better off being a CI tbh. I’ve had time away from family events, late nights, school assemblies, loads of time off work etc etc, as we all do, that if I can’t be supported by my senior leaders for something like this then I’m happy to lose the uniform. I can still teach the kids just the same way as I do now. I’m not in the RAF anymore and quite frankly I’m becoming demoralised by attitudes from above. And to think I sat through a climatic injury presentation the other day…you’d think they’d understand!
2 Likes
You are officially talking out of your hoop.
2 Likes
Unfortunately there is a cadre of individuals who are only interested in the uniform and the “kudos” that they think it brings them. In my experience they generally tend to be self-aggrandising individuals who tend to act like large Cadets - more so when they do not get their way. Most seem to like shouting at kids and applying rules to suit themselves.
These are the sort of people who helped secure the death of the VR(T).
4 Likes
Don’t feed the troll.
And if you want to question moderating decisions, please follow the AUP.
Why don’t you get a chit from your GP? Complain that shaving in the cold weather has aggravated your skin and it’s medically better for you to not shave. I know an Armourer in the regulars who got such a chit.
Please, please do this, and Please, please get someone to take a picture of you showing it to a WO.
As an aside, I went to a neighbouring unit recently and saw a cadet who had clearly not shaven for several weeks. I naturally assumed, that he must have some sort of chit for this, as a) I know he’s not a malingerer, and b) I know if he didn’t have a good excuse his staff would jump on the issue. So I asked, and was told he was signed off by his GP.
Apparently I was the only staff member to see him and not just shout at him first. (Everyone else assuming that he was just lazy and clearly staffed by incompetent fools.)
3 Likes
Here’s the thing: while a biff-chit for shaving in the regulars makes some sort of sense, the logical way forward in this youth organisation would be to simply not wear the uniform for the period of biffness.
Or become a muslim.
What if it is a permanent condition. I know of two staff with a beard all year round and assume they have chits (or are good blaggers). Should they just not parade? It’s always annoyed me that you can have a beard if you’re female (had an inspecting officer with a chin full of dark hair) or for religious reasons but suddenly it stops being smart if you’re not religious. They should allow them but only neatly trimmed full beards…
1 Like
As much as I hate beards and distrust anybody who wears them, I do think it is about time we followed the RN’s lead and permitted neat facial fuzz for all personnel unless there is a specific H&S case to require the lack of whiskers.
I’m sure the senior service are laughing it up at the recruitment centres, cashing in on the current hipster trend for a hairy face.
3 Likes
Only if we have proper rules like the RN does e.g. they have to actually be able to grow a proper beard and it has to be a certain length within a set time frame. What we don’t want is people rolling out of bed and deciding that they don’t want to shave today and won’t because “beards are allowed”.
You have to shave during your initial training and when you get your posting you still have to request to stop shaving
I think it comes down to walting with confidence. If you have a beautiful, neat and full beard in uniform, people just assume it’s legit. If you have a patchy, scruffy mess of a beard (a la me, every time I go on holiday or over Christmas,) people just assume you’re taking the Michael.
2 Likes