RAF not allowed to wear uniform in public

[Natch]

Story here

I don't normally post about news items that are non-horsey but this one really got to me. RAF personnel in cambridgeshire have been told to stop wearing their uniforms when out in public because some of the locals have been causing trouble when they see them because they object to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now for goodness sake. Regardless of what you think of the war, why on earth would you attack those who serve in wars?

People join the services for all sorts of reasons, I don't have proof but I would bet that very few to none join specifically because they want to fight in a war, to kill innocent people, and/or to be involved with a war that is an extremely contentious issue.

I don't agree with these wars, I wouldn't do the job myself, but hats off the people who are prepared to risk their own lives to defend my country and my way of life.

What a bl**dy kick in the teeth to start abusing the serving personnel in the street.

 

[Lordy100]

According to BBC radio news this morning the problem seems to have come from a minority of muslim young men in Peterborough making comments to uniformed personnel. Local MP is standing up and saying its daft I think he said PC gone too far.

 

[Maesfen]

Agree with you. This country is becoming a very sad place when something like that happens.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Worse was the soldier who was verbally abused in a swimming pool by a young mother.

He was there for therapy/to strengthen his muscles after losing a leg & she decided to take the p**s out of him & demand he be removed. The state of this country is a disgrace & I DO blame the labour government, it's gone so far downhill since Tony & his cronies have been in power.

*rant over*

 

[jnb]

When I worked for MOD soldiers etc were not allowed to wear uniform outside military establishments for security reasons - i.e makes them a target for the IRA etc.
Sensible if you ask me - although for general members of the public to abuse members of the armed forces is particularly low.

 

[Lordy100]

Its maybe my age!! but where is the respect for people. The poor guy who was verbally abused in the pool should have stayed there, the able bodied woman should have been removed and banned from going back.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

It was on the BBC news website not long ago. He did stay there & she was banned. I'm not 100% but I think the police ended up getting involved as this woman was 'pondlife'.

I hate war & I would never go to war but I respect & thank those that risk & give their lives to protect my liberty & rights.

For force members to be abused like that is disgraceful & I despair at the lack of respect shown so often for people & their property.

I agree that they shouldn't go out in uniform as it does make them a target. The IRA is no longer the threat it used to be but we now have Muslim extremists in their place so from a safety & security point of view, I agree on that aspect.

Lordy, it isn;t your age, I'm only 23 & I honestly wonder where this country is headed at times!!

 

[jellybaby]

My OH is RAF, and he wouldn't wear if uniform around town unless he couldn't chnage for whatever reason.

I'm pretty sure when he was going through officer training they were told not to wear Uniform in public, ie off base, but I may be wrong.

It is disgraceful, and shows the depths to which this country has sunk to.

JB xx

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Link on the story here;


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/22/narmy322.xml

My mistake, it was a group of soldiers &amp; two women. One of which stated that <font color="red"> "they don't deserve to be here when I've had to pay &amp; they haven't" </font>

 

[Partoow]

Its been practice in the army for some time if army personell are not actively working , that they do not wear their uniform but change before leaving the camp/base.
For the reasons stated, so they do not become targets.For whatever reason. I do think this is disgusting that yet again the majority of normal good people are being ruled by political correctness gone mad minority.
Most soldiers in the army dont join to fight they join to serve their country ,part of their training is not too get involved in the politics of war, even though they themselves are frequently used as the pawns.
To be quite honest, and i am speaking from experience most soldiers dont want to be in either Iraq or Afganistan they think the whole thing is a waste of time but they do their job the last thing they need is this kind of rubbish when they get home.
It used to be a badge of honour to be serving your country now we have to appolagise for it. That is disgusting .Whatever happened to our right to express our freedom in our own CHRISTIAN country.

 

[Natch]

The pool thing is disgraceful. Would she have said that to a group of disabled swimmers I wonder? Or stop her kids from watching the paralympics?

 

[Pinkwellies2]

I heard a guy interviewed on radio this morning re this story and his teenage daughter is a Sea Cadet and she was waiting with her friends to go into the hall for their meeting and they were abused. Perhaps these people would prefer if teenagers hung around street corners drinking and fighting and terrorising old people. (This is not a slur on all teenagers by the way, I know that the majority of them are not like this)

 

[Tinker_Belle]

It is disgusting isn't it?! I hope she has learned from her behaviour although I doubt it. Utterly disgraceful &amp; it does make you wonder how she behaves normally around people with a disability....

 

[M_G]

[ QUOTE ]
When I worked for MOD soldiers etc were not allowed to wear uniform outside military establishments for security reasons - i.e makes them a target for the IRA etc.
Sensible if you ask me - although for general members of the public to abuse members of the armed forces is particularly low.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought it had been the rule for years so as not to make the individual a target for terrorists

 

[blakesmum]

Ok I was in the RAF for 15 years. Were were allowed to wear uniform off base but we generally wore civvi jackets over the top.

Anyway yes years ago they stopped the practice of wearing any uniform off base due to the IRA but that was relaxed many years ago.
I once had a stand up row with a SNCO over the fact I came to work in civvis rather than uniform (mainly due to coming straight from the yard) and he quoted regulations at me that stated I was to wear uniform coming to and from my place of work. So I quoted security regulations that stated I was not to wear uniform.

Anyway I find it disgusting that a serviceman/woman should be ashamed/scared to wear uniform in public because of what some idiot feels!

 

[emma69]

We had to cover up our uniforms when we were driving to and from - we just used to pop a fleece over the top to save getting totally changed, but if we wanted to go somewhere other than home we had to get changed. I think it is a sensible precaution, why make yourself more of a target? I find it such a difference to over here - military personel here wear their uniforms wherever they go - flying on a plane, shopping, etc - they receive preferential treatment (e.g. a forces lounge in airports) and I have never seen any being treated with anything but respect. A large number of people disagree with the war in Iraq / Afganistan etc, but they know that it is not the fault of individual soldiers, but of the governments.

 

[woolly]

My husband is RAF and has been in for a fair few years. He always was completely against wearing uniform around town as Emma says...why make yourself more of a target if it can be avoided? We used to be down the road from Wittering (Cottesmore) and often frequented Peterborough and saw service personel in full uniform. Quite shocked as it never really seemed to cause any sort of problem which is a shame. Often they do parades given the freedom of the city which was always warmly received. It is appalling and quite disheartening as my husband leaves for a 4 month detachment to Basra in less than 2 months.... caught between a rock and a hard place!

 

[Skhosu]

bonkers. they should be able to be proud of serving their countries. Not hiding it!

 

[WFL]

I don't like wearing my workwear in supermarkets, on trains, etc. as it clearly identifies me as working for a defence company. I also don't like being seeing reading H&amp;H on a train as you never know what idiot may have a go for that either.

 

[suzysparkle]

I'm sure I read a wee while ago that someone was refused entry to Harrods in London due to being in military uniform. My hubby is a fast jet pilot and he tends not to go anywhere in his gear. Saying that, we get folk in uniform all the time in the bank, but we do have 2 big bases within 10 miles so no-one would think twice about it. It's an utter disgrace that anyone should behave so badly to these people. I remember reading in the paper about a 90 year old man (had been a POW in Japan for many years) who was assaulted in a park by 14 year olds while walking his dog. I felt physically sick.

 

[WoopsiiD]

In response to to reply about the young sea cadet, my own son aged 16 was verbally abused by a group of lads while attending air cadets on Friday night. A group of 4 lads started jeering and making threats as he entered the building. Luckily the com.officer mans the gates or it could have been much worse!
I for one am proud of the armed forces and of my son!
I would rather he was doing that then knocking off grannies or hanging round street corners.

 

[skewbaldpony]

Kids even get abused for wearing guide/scout uniforms in some places.
Dead beat Britain. You're not cool unless your a total waste of space.
Bring back the press gang. I know they'd be no use in a professional army in the theatre of war, but surely there must be something monotonous uncomfortable and dangerous they could do? Besides binge drinking and peeing everywhere.

 

[wizzi901]

Nothing new really, OH used to be based at Wittering (before he escaped from Fleet Air Arm), local have pretty much contempt for serviceman whether well behaved or loutish....

 

[kate_day]

grrr it makes me so angry the way people treat our military people!
my BF is in the army and he has had many time people try to confront him, they make it seem as if everything is that soldiers fault there and then on the spot!
i agree, but i dont think they are hiding as they are very proud people!!
as too the swimming pool thing, that happened close to me and disgusted me about that womens actions - she should have been permanantly banned from the pool!!! after everything that chap had done! if i had of been there she would have know about it!!!

 

[aj2608]

im in the army cadets and if i ever wear uniform in public i sure do get some looks! although quite good ones from older people rather then the snide little comments from twats who hang round street corners!
i htink its ridiculous how people put down the armed forces they deserve so much respect for all the things they do.
they are amazing!
x