Chief of Army bans soldiers from wearing 'arrogant' death symbols

[dimsum]

Australia's Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, has issued a directive that prohibits the wearing of 'death' symbols.

Lieutenant General Campbell said the practice was arrogant, ill-considered and that it eroded the ethos of the Army.

The directive was circulated as an internal minute on April 17, and later posted to unofficial social media pages for commentary.

Several symbols were specifically prohibited because of their violent, murderous and vigilante symbolism including the Grim Reaper, the Skull and Crossbones, Spartans, and the Phantom or Punisher.

(More at link)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-19/army-bans-troops-from-wearing-skulls-death-symbols/9673242?pfmredir=sm

 

[jollyjacktar]

Go with Care Bears or Pokémon, that will send a kinder, gentler message.

 

[meni0n]

Guess the Queen's Royal Lancers can't come for a visit

Sent from my LG-H873 using Tapatalk

 

[CountDC]

some of those pokemon can be a bit vicious.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

No more Skulls and Crossbones?  How is an Australian submarine supposed to signal a successful patrol now ???

 

[jollyjacktar]

I think their out will be that this is the Chief of the Army setting rules for his troops and the RAN should be outside of that umbrella.  If not, perhaps they could have a pennant complete with (a sorrowful looking Trudeau equivalent for down under) a "Sorry" incorporated in the design.

 

[dimsum]

Guess the Queen's Royal Lancers can't come for a visit

Sent from my LG-H873 using Tapatalk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Lancers

Ok, that capbadge is pretty badass, as far as capbadges go.

 

[dapaterson]

Did anyone read the rationale?

Several symbols were specifically prohibited because of their violent, murderous and vigilante symbolism including the Grim Reaper, the Skull and Crossbones, Spartans, and the Phantom or Punisher.

Symbols matter.  Indisciplined, murderous, and vigilante are words that one should not associate with a military.  A military is about the controlled use of force, under the auspices of the state.

 

[OldSolduer]

Then I’d be banned

 

[Loachman]

"We train young men to drop fire on people, but their commanders won't allow them to write "fuck" on their airplanes because it's obscene!"
- Colonel Kurz, Apocalypse Now

We had the Punisher painted on one of our Sperwers.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Did anyone read the rationale?

Symbols matter.  Indisciplined, murderous, and vigilante are words that one should not associate with a military.  A military is about the controlled use of force, under the auspices of the state.

Sorry.  The reason for being as a soldier, sailor, airman isn't to hand out Teddy Bears.  The ultimate end game as Geroge Patton said is to make the other poor SOB die for his counrty.  I'm afraid I never observed the Australians running amok in the sandbox.  Don't like the symbols?  Join the Peace Corps or Katimavick.

 

[mariomike]

I wonder what the RAAF policy would be for writing messages on bombs?
https://army.ca/forums/threads/125837/post-1490057.html#msg1490057

 

[Loachman]

We could write "Sorry, eh?"

 

[dimsum]

I wonder what the RAAF policy would be for writing messages on bombs?
https://army.ca/forums/threads/125837/post-1490057.html#msg1490057

Well, RAAF 82 Wing's motto is "Find and Destroy", and 11 Sqn's motto is "Shepherd or Destroy", so I think that sums up their views on the topic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._82_Wing_RAAF
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._11_Squadron_RAAF

 

[mariomike]

Well, RAAF 82 Wing's motto is "Find and Destroy", and 11 Sqn's motto is "Shepherd or Destroy", so I think that sums up their views on the topic.

They did a lot of bombing, and paid a high price. Of the 10,000 Australians who served with Bomber Command, 3486 were killed.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Meh....

What's 'Under the sleeve' is up to the soldier IMHO.

 

[Altair]

Spartans continue to get a bad rap

 

[mariomike]

What's 'Under the sleeve' is up to the soldier IMHO.

Regarding tattoos, "tattoos and/or brands are permitted on other parts of the body, unless the tattoo or brand is considered offensive and undermines the dignity and authority of the Australian Defence Force."
https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/help-centre/faqs?faqCategory=99e0bf0d-2129-44c1-b3e5-715941b3c216&faqTag=appearance&faqQuestion=8ebc9b5f-b3fb-441b-bf95-693272ef65f8

 

[Mike5]

“After all, when you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite.”

Sir Winston Churchill

 

[Remius]

Spartans continue to get a bad rap

There is a whole other thread about that.