Back around 1984/85 I was on the edge of the ”Coates* of many colours” project. If my memory is correct the Army asked to stay green – in part citing our long history of light infantry regiments, which we had in huge number until after the First World War. I think some generals wanted to look more like their US counterparts while others simply didn’t want change for the sake of change.
It seems to me that if we are going to have any ceremonial uniforms – and I think we should – then they should be provided to all ranks at public expense. I do not want to return to the days of mixed officer/senior NCO vs. junior ranks orders of dress. If any one person needs a ceremonial uniform then we you should all have them – issued and properly tailored/fitted after a members has completed initial trade/speciality/classification training.
Maybe we could consider:
• No 1/Full dress – scarlet (for a very few regiments) or dark green patrol dress uniforms with sundry, but not too many, gee-gaws;
• No 2/Undress – scarlet or dark green patrol dress – without gee-gaws;
• No 3/Service Dress – dark green jacket and tie, with a few accoutrements;
• No 4/Garrison dress – a series of uniforms including dark green trousers with open neck shirts or sweaters, cargo pants with golf-shirts/t-shirts or sweaters, etc, etc, etc; and
• No 5/Work dress – coveralls, etc.
Mess dress would be required for officers and senior NCOs and optional for junior ranks, at their own expense, and combat uniforms would be restricted to training/operational situations.
Now, while I agree with those who like the USMC model, my personal preference would be to merge No 2 and No 3: we would have a patrol dress jacket and plain trousers as our “business suit” uniform. Notwithstanding the views of a few people whose military experience is confined, largely, to the grounds of the Royal Military College, a properly fitted patrol dress jacket is neither uncomfortable (no more so, at least than a collared shirt and tie) nor out of the ordinary.
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* Named after then MND Bob Coates who spearheaded the DEU project, over the CDS’ objections. Coates later came a cropper over a late-night visit to a cheap strip-bar in Lahr.