Updated Army Service Dress project

[dimsum]

The Defence Women's Advisory Organization?

…and they say DEI initiatives don’t help

 

[rmc_wannabe]

…and they say DEI initiatives don’t help

I mean, if they were the organization that was finally able to get the heat and light on how uncomfortable, ugly, and outdated the Army DEU is by all means.

 

[quadrapiper]

It’s the other way around.

The environmental committees (which meet like twice a year) control the operational and specialist dress because there’s no point talking about flight suits to a group with the Army and Navy involved. Similarly, NCDs or new Army-specific items.

The national committee (again, twice a year) discusses the DEU stuff.

The minutes are available on DWAN and they discuss all sorts of things.

Copy re: operational stuff. Why not ditch the CAF committee entirely, or dial it back to a vestigial function?

 

[dimsum]

Copy re: operational stuff. Why not ditch the CAF committee entirely, or dial it back to a vestigial function?

One example I can think of it the Naval Warfare Officer “moustache”. Originally the RCN said only folks still in RCN uniform can wear it.

There’s a bunch of former NWOs who have OT’d to the other services. The CAF Committee could have nipped that in the bud and say “all qualified persons regardless of uniform can wear it”, which is what happened a few years later in that forum.

 

[Blackadder1916]

. . . Why not ditch the CAF committee entirely, or dial it back to a vestigial function?

There has to be some sober second thought, or even first thought, otherwise the result could be . . .



In the first instance, a uniform that was so identified with its proponent (USAF Chief of Staff McPeak) that when it was unveiled to the press he was the one modeling it. It didn't survive past his tenure as Chief.

In the second instance, what can I say. When the USSF uniform was unveiled, the only one who looked comfortable was the Chief of Space Operations. But that feeling doesn't appear to have lasted at the ceremony when he handed over command.

 

[markppcli]

Copy re: operational stuff. Why not ditch the CAF committee entirely, or dial it back to a vestigial function?

Because a lot of our folks wear the same quals despite their “environment.” For example a Navy Medic might earn their jump wings in a field ambulance.

 

[quadrapiper]

Because a lot of our folks wear the same quals despite their “environment.” For example a Navy Medic might earn their jump wings in a field ambulance.

Which suggests a vestigial committee, and some hard rules around transferability, not something where, e.g., an Army CWO can have input on Navy accoutrements.

 

[Halifax Tar]

You don't need a committee to decide where a ships team diver badge goes on to an Army or RCAF tunic. This is why you have command CPOs and CWOs.

 

[markppcli]

Which suggests a vestigial committee, and some hard rules around transferability, not something where, e.g., an Army CWO can have input on Navy accoutrements.

So like you could have the Army CWO discuss this with the RCN CWO, and the RCAF CWO, possibly around a table a couple times a year with a couple other stake holders to come to common understandings about those issues ?

 

[PrairieFella]

So like you could have the Army CWO discuss this with the RCN CWO, and the RCAF CWO, possibly around a table a couple times a year with a couple other stake holders to come to common understandings about those issues ?

Preposterous!

 

[Ostrozac]

I'm wondering if we are going to see the whole Sailor 1st Class thing go away after the next election.

That’s a real risk of the RCN exceeding their authority on rank designations — that by the time the new “pirate ranks” make it to cabinet, it’s a cabinet formed by another party that makes the decision not to amend the KR&O — forcing the RCN to backtrack and sheepishly try to explain years of using illegal rank designations.

Authority levels are there for a reason — that’s the level that owns the decision, and has to justify it or deal with any backlash. Stepping outside those authorities is risky, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. As was done in this case.