ARmy Rumour SErvice

[QUOTE=3123;4453623]I disagree, with the greatest respect. If they were wearing a shirt, tie, Name badge etc or even the chest stuff Thames Valley had, then perhaps... but theres no need, place nor reason for it.

It doesn't look right, its not uniformed and it singularises individuals within the service in both positive and negative ways.[/QUOTE

And you are entitled to your opinion,mine was that I had was entitled to wear them and did so.I think it looked quite smart,but it was in the days of shirt and tie,before the scruff bag uniform came along.

I always liked to be singled out,both positively and occassionally,very occassionally, negatively

Lets face it, command teams hate it as they have not served and cant stand a newbie pc with more gongs. Also further you i dont actually understand why some officers(mainly traffic) feel the need to where them on their body armour. golden jubilee, diamond jubilee are micky mouse to be fair.

Looks ok on a tunic but on operational uiform if wearing a tac vest just looks chip shop.

The police is civilianised and they dont like ex squads (or other ex forces)

I'd say if they could be worn as part of the ID & Constabulary badge thing, possibly woven in, then go ahead. The Police are, after all, a supposedly uniformed, disciplined service of Her Majesty & we should all stand together, or in my case back them up as I'm retired & smell of wee.

If nothing else a little row of ribbons might mean something to someone a Police Officer comes into contact with & possibly break down some boundaries. I mean the Police do want us to work together and have mutual respect, don't they?

Originally Posted by Bearcub20

I do believe it. Unless you can enlighten me. I will hold my hands up if I'm wrong. It was part of de-militarising the Fire Service, and the new uniform (if you can call it that) came in with new rank names and restructure (dispensing with Officer and replacing it with manager) and the cessation of parades at change of Watch.

You said,

Originally Posted by Bearcub20

"Trendy" Chief Fire Officers dispensed with proper uniforms in favour of corporate wear in a vain bid to attract more ethnic minority groups and women not the Fire Service. It failed as a tactic,

What a load of claptrack but I'm not going to waste my time trying to tell a possible racist and a sexist to boot how he should live his life. Life is too short. You are either in the twilight of your years and can't acknowledge the world has moved on or you are a young man who seriously needs to look again at what's going on around him.

Not something to get worked up about, been in 18 years and its sad to say that the uniform- like much else has gone to the dogs.

When i joined we got issued decent uniform- tunics, 4 pairs trousers (summer / winter), well made shirts etc. I went to Ashford DTC with loads of other ex forces lads and lasses. There were plenty of GSM / LSGC and South Atlantic ribbons on the tunics. We had weekly inspections, bulled boots and drill; which was presided over by a fantastic Sgt who was ex Guards, a gentleman and sadly no longer with us.

We all mucked in and helped those new to the world of "kit" with boot bulling classes and how to iron your shirt lessons. I got my leg over with a lovely lass from BTP after helping her with her parade shoes.............. Ahem.

After 5 years away in plain clothes a recent promotion saw me back in uniform- had to get it all re issued. Its shocking, cheap and nasty, no durability, poor fit. It hangs off you. No matter what you do with it it still looks rubbish. I hate it. I don't wear any ribbons, I know a lot that do. Many of them have Iraq and Afghan medals and to be fair who'd begrudge them wearing the ribbons on their armour? Its the only chance they get now and in our new modern service its a way of saying to the public and some colleagues "I've done my bit."

A conversation i had with a terribly bright young Sgt last week might put this into perspective-

"What do you think of the new policy that applicants must have a minimum academic standard of 2 A levels?"
Me- "Its fucking bollocks, that will stop loads of ex-servicemen applying and fill the job with even more graduates with pointless degrees and no common sense."
(Clearly unhappy)- "But don't you think that with the way the service is moving forward and developing into such a professional organisation, that its time we upped the standards?"
Me- "I think that on Saturday night, when i'm stood outside Yates and the doorman says that they've got 600 in and its kicking off, that i'd rather be stood with a 6ft tall ex Grenadier (Got one on my shift), than a bloke who's got a Masters in Sociology."

Personally, let them wear them- not hurting anyone.

When I joined we all got issued tunics and a tailoress fitted the ribbons. The first time I wore mine a female recruit (graduate) pointed at mine and said "why don't we get any of those thingies?". Oh how I laughed as I tried my best to get my hands on her ample jugs.
Tunics and tailors all gone now just some shite formless fleece. I don't wear ribbons on mine but still retain my tunic.
I did once see a female PC wearing the golden jubilee medal ribbon horizontally like a swimming badge. Bless she had sewed it on herself too.
TJIF.

Originally Posted by 3123

let them get back to fingering thier probationer..

[MISTYEYES]
those were the days....
[/MISTYEYES]

Personally I would not wear my ribbons (cloth or enamel) on my stabbie, although I know plenty that do. I opt for a small and discrete regimental badge to show that I was in the Army. I also have had to wear my full size medals on my fleece at Remembrance Day parades. Would be nice to have tunic though.