RAF personnel ordered not to wear uniforms in public !!!

[x_man]

During MQM crisis in 90s, Balochistan insurgency in 2005 and at few other occasions’ officers of our Armed Forces were restricted to wear uniform outside base / Cantt premises and in few cases also exempted from taking hair cuts etc. It seems that Royal Air Force is also facing similar problem. Please follow the below link.

RAF personnel ordered not to wear uniforms in public after suffering abuse in the street | the Daily Mail

 

[Keysersoze]

well it makes sense from a security perspective. When i signed up we were not allowed out with uniforms (during the "troubles" in Northern Ireland)

 

[solid snake]

They should give the same order in Pakistan. I don't like to see military officers wearing their uniform for "bharam" in civilian streets.

 

[sparten]

Army officers rarely wear uniform off duty in Pakistan anyway. I remember once my always changed before going out, even if it was at an errand in a market near his office, even in Canttonments.

 

[x_man]

well it makes sense from a security perspective. When i signed up we were not allowed out with uniforms (during the "troubles" in Northern Ireland)

True...I was in Quetta in 2005-2006 and many restrictions were imposed e.g officers and men from PAF were not allowed to visit city in uniform or travel in service vehicle outside base premises without escort ,haircuts were excused ( to give a lesser fauji look) and few other measures ,and when Bugti was killed, city became out of bounds for good couple of weeks.

But RAF guys arent banned to wear uniform for such serious security issues as in Pakistan, its probably for their personnel safety because of some verbal abuse they faced while in town (Peterborough).

 

[x_man]

Army officers rarely wear uniform off duty in Pakistan anyway. I remember once my always changed before going out, even if it was at an errand in a market near his office, even in Canttonments.

Well, I think that wearing a uniform in public shouldn’t be stopped except for the reasons of security and safety. Military guys take a lot of pride in their uniform and they do want to show-off it to public not because of some mad hormonal rush or any personality disorder but probably they just want to make a statement that how proud they are to be part of their armed forces.

I have seen pictures of few Army officers who got married in their ceremonial dresses especially the Cavalry officers. No doubt that cavalry ceremonial is gorgeous with all the metal on it and cross belt with little chains and arrows hanging out, its not a uniform but a work of art. But still, getting married in uniform, is a bit too much for me.

So till the time guy carries him/herself well in public and doesn’t do anything that is either below the dignity or considered unofficer like, I am FOR wearing uniform in public.

 

[sparten]

How is now in Balochistan? And I always thought that Quetta was a safe area being in the Pakhtun regions. I remember my uncle who was in 70's insurgency told me that then units sent away for Rest and refit were always sent to the Pashtun areas.

 

[blain2]

There has to be a balance. If there is actually a threat to their lives and property then they should not be wearing them publically. Secondly, the Pakistan Army and all other services have a specific dress (aka Mufti) for wearing when out in public on private business. Officers and ORs should not be in uniform when visiting public places except when on (official) duty.

I am a big proponent of sending the Army back into its reclusion. This allows the Army to be segregated from the population and helps avoid erosion of military discipline and more importantly the routine. I am all for building out the new GHQ and even fully self-sufficient cantonments so the armed forces don't have to mingle with the civilian population. Inter-mixing is nothing but trouble for the armed forces.

 

[x_man]

There has to be a balance. If there is actually a threat to their lives and property then they should not be wearing them publically. Secondly, the Pakistan Army and all other services have a specific dress (aka Mufti) for wearing when out in public on private business. Officers and ORs should not be in uniform when visiting public places except when on (official) duty.

I am a big proponent of sending the Army back into its reclusion. This allows the Army to be segregated from the population and helps avoid erosion of military discipline and more importantly the routine. I am all for building out the new GHQ and even fully self-sufficient cantonments so the armed forces don't have to mingle with the civilian population. Inter-mixing is nothing but trouble for the armed forces.

Totally agree with you. Any officer or OR should not visit public place in uniform until and unless he/she deems it necessary. Definitely one will not go to a park or a shopping plaza in uniform but sometimes it becomes unavoidable when one needs to visit a public office , airport , railway station ,bank or any other similar place ( for official purposes) during working hours. At such occasions uniform is already allowed however, due to current security situation one should definitely refrain from adorning uniform in public.

I pray that old glory of uniform returns back soon where a soldier shouldn’t have apprehensions or be worried about wearing it proudly in public and a common Pakistani looks up to their Armed forces as his savior and protectors ,not as their antagonists.

 

[never]

the basis for ths story in the uk is a red herring.
some personel from an raf base in lincolnshire had apparently been jeered at. the base comander then told his men not to wear their uniform in public. the news outlets then took up the story and span it claiming that members of the muslim community in lincolnshire had been abusive. the police was not involved and obiously there was no supporting evidence. there is a small muslim minority in lincolnshire, very small.

it was just the usual muslim bashing effort and the general public is very receptive.

 

[Always Neutral]

My friend who lives in Petersborough and is ex SBS says that its a load of crap and the incident took place allegedly one year ago but no one knows any details about it. Personally I am proud to see our forces in uniform in any place as long as they are on official business. I would feel wearing uniforms in a public bar or night club is avoidable.

All in All I am very proud to see the GOOD WORK they are doing in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Regards