Dream team counter-attack

Football Punk’s all-time Army XI... 1. Maik Taylor, 2. Billy Wright, 3. Dave Mackay, 4. Duncan Edwards, 5. Justin Whittle, 6. Gary Holt, 7. Sir Tom Finney, 8. Jim Baxter, 9. Lee Bradbury, 10. Phil Stant, 11. Guy Whittingham

CAN I pick a better Army team than the one selected by Football Punk, “Starting XI”, in June’s issue? Well, I’d certainly like to nominate an alternative line-up.

A number of those plumped for by Punk – such as Billy Wright, Dave Mackay, Sir Tom Finney, Duncan Edwards and Jim Baxter – would be in most teams, but I was amazed at some of the omissions.

With all due respect to Maik Taylor, between the posts I would go for Gordon Banks (R Signals), England’s all-time great goalkeeper and a World Cup winner. Banks played for Chesterfield, Leicester and Stoke, making a total of 510 appearances and was capped 73 times for his country. Having kept goal during England’s 1966 victory, Banks also wore the number one shirt during the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

In the middle, I would drop Gary Holt in favour of Sir Bobby Charlton (ex-Royal Army Service Corps), arguably England’s best-ever player.

A European Footballer of the Year, he played a vital role in England’s 1966 World Cup victory, played 606 games for Manchester United and scored 199 goals for the Red Devils.

Furthermore, while wearing a United shirt he won the FA Cup, three league championships and the European Cup – scoring a brace in the final against Benfica. Named in the PFA Team of the Century, Charlton played 106 games for England and scored 49 goals.

Speaking of Charltons, Justin Whittle has to go in favour of Bobby’s brother. Jack Charlton played 629 games for Leeds United and was a member of England’s World Cup-winning team.

The National Serviceman was voted Footballer of the Year in 1967, won the league championship in 1969 and went on to manage Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle and the Republic of Ireland, who he took to the World Cup for the first time in 1990.

Up front, Phil Stant is a decent player, but in his place imagine a striker who scored 122 goals in 166 games in the top flight. That was the record of Tommy Taylor, formerly of the Royal Artillery. He scored 26 goals in 44 games for Barnsley before joining Manchester United and his goal to game ratio was even better for England with 16 goals in 19 games. The beautiful game was robbed of Taylor’s talents when he was killed in the Munich air crash in 1958.

Welshman John Charles, regarded as one of the world’s greatest players during the 1950s, would also feature in my forward line.

Nicknamed “the gentle giant”, Charles played for Leeds, Juventus (where he scored 95 goals in 155 games) and Roma among others and finished his career having never been booked.

The Welsh international won Serie A championships in 1958, 1960 and 1961, the Coppa Italia in 1959 and 1960, and was Italian Player of the Year in 1958.

Former physical training instructor Nat Lofthouse, who scored 255 goals in 452 games for Bolton Wanderers and a marvellous 30 goals in 33 matches for England, completes my strike force. – Ray Routledge, SO1 Media and Communications, 4 Div.

Richard Lenton, editor of Football Punk, types: Sure, Sir Bobby could play a bit but your team selection fails to take into account the fact that old football was rubbish. My scouts tell me you’re a Southampton fan so it’s no wonder you don’t recognise a winning XI when you see one. Ignore the man, Holty.

tighten our belts

AT a time when we are all being asked to tighten our belts and to rationalise our spending, shouldn’t those in “officer in command” appointments be doing the same?

Rather than hiring cleaners at public expense, have they actually thought about doing a little bit of tidying up themselves? The rest of us, especially those of us who live in our own homes, have to.

Likewise, could they not drive their own cars to work – again like the rest of us – and only use Service transport when on Service business? – Name and address supplied.

Spar a thought for hard-up heroes

WHY do we allow SPAR shops situated on Army camps to rip soldiers off?

I recently visited a serving friend’s son who is currently in basic training at Pirbright and was shocked when I was charged £1.50 for a small coffee. Disgruntled, I began to price other items and found that goods used daily by soldiers, such as razors, boot polish and toothpaste, were massively over-priced.

After taking a look in other shops in the area I found that items in the SPAR store were between 20-50 per cent more expensive than elsewhere. I am currently based in Minley and found prices in the SPAR shop here are also overinflated.

Young soldiers get paid little money as it is and do not need the MoD allowing companies on to our camps who are prepared to take advantage of Service personnel or their families. – WO2 P R Yates, Blackwater.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), replies: The SPAR shops you write about are not under MoD control, some are independently owned (like a franchise) while others are now part of multi-activity contracts.
They cannot compete with the major supermarkets on price due to their relatively small and restrictive customer base which means they have to charge what the market will bear to make a profit.
SPAR shops should be likened to a village or corner shop rather than a supermarket – they are there for convenience and for that convenience you tend to pay higher prices.
Not many of these shops are profitable and often work at a loss written off against other parts of the business and we, the British Army, are keen to see these shops survive as a welfare support to soldiers and their dependants.
Where the prices are considered too high the chain of command will engage but they need comment like yours to do so. They have it now.

“Guards of honour”

CONTRARY to the feature in Soldier last month, “Guards of honour”, the Welsh Guards (pictured above) are not the first British soldiers to march on Red Square in Moscow. Members of The Royal Regiment of Scotland’s pipes and drums, alongside a number of other British Army pipe bands, marched there in September 2007. – Ryan Gonsales.

body mass index

I AM writing regarding the Army’s use of Body Mass Index (BMI).

Soldiers in my unit were recently tested and a number of personnel scored badly despite flying through their physical assessments.

At the other end of the scale, one individual had a perfect BMI but failed miserably when it came to proving his fitness.

The test is an unfair measure. A rugby player, for example, has a naturally bigger body and will struggle to score highly, while a runner will do so easily. I represent my corps and the Army as a runner and find the test a complete waste of time. – WO1 G P Felton, Gn Sp Tp, Brunei Garrison.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), replies: As an Army-level athlete it is perhaps understandable that you consider the annual Body Composition Measurement a waste of your time. However, it has been introduced to identify personnel not so accomplished, whose body weight poses a serious health risk and may benefit from the advice and support that will follow.
Differing body shapes have been taken into account, which is why the grading is derived from a reliable combination of BMI and waist circumference using standards recommended by the World Health Organisation.
While there will always be exceptions, there is a clear link between those who are extremely overweight and those failing their basic fitness tests. But being within normal weight categories doesn’t indicate fitness either, which requires regular exercise.
The assessment, which only takes two minutes, provides an annual reminder of the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight.

Compassionate care highly-commended

Rapid turnaround: From bad news to hospital bedside in little more than 13 hours, Sgt Derrick heralds the service of those who expedited his return to UK
Picture: SAC Andrew Morris

HAVING read a multitude of letters from British Forces personnel complaining about the service provided by Royal Air Force/Royal Logistic Corps Movements Control to those travelling to and from operational theatres, I felt compelled to write and let Soldier readers know about the other side of the story.

I have served in the Army for 20 years and, until last month, had been lucky enough to never be directly involved with a compassionate travel case.

On the day I flew out to Afghanistan to start my Op Herrick tour my mother was taken gravely ill. Unfortunately, the call came through a little too late to catch me before leaving Akrotiri.

However, as soon as the flight landed in Kandahar I was taken off the aircraft and informed of what was happening. Having been taken to the terminal, I was provided with a Paradigm phonecard by one of the movements staff (if you’re reading this, thank you, sir) and my luggage was retrieved.

I was then put straight back on the same aircraft and returned to the UK as soon as possible. During the return journey the movements staff at both Kandahar and Akrotiri were very supportive and welfare facilities were made available without having to request them.

On arrival at Brize Norton I was again taken straight off the aircraft and rushed through the terminal to a taxi which was waiting to take me to the hospital in Oxford.

Due to the excellent work of all involved, I was able to be at my mother’s bedside a little more than 13 hours after first being informed of her illness.

I wish I could say that this story had a happy ending, but unfortunately my mother passed away two days later.

Nevertheless, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks, and those of my family, to all the staff at the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre and the RAF/RLC movements staff. Without their dedication and hard work I don’t think I would have had the chance to say goodbye. They should all be rightly proud! – Sgt D Derrick, 32 Regt RA.

Shun media circus and respect fallen from afar

I WRITE in response to the prize letter from Wootton Bassett resident Mr Brian Porter, “Our town’s tribute to fallen will endure” (May).

While the support shown by the town during each repatriation service is admirable, I cannot help wondering how many townsfolk are finding it harder and harder to line their streets as a result of the presence of all the local and national press, television crews and politicians.

Like it or not, Wootton Bassett has become a media circus and a magnet for “grief tourists”.

Mr Porter even states in his letter that the people he has talked to at repatriations readily admit they do not know the fallen. They are simply there because they know of someone who is about to go out to Afghanistan or come back.

More disturbing are the few who admit to having watched the repatriations on television and then want to witness one at first hand.

The most annoying thing of all has to be politicians using the repatriations for their own agendas. Did Nick Griffin recently lose someone in Afghanistan? I didn’t hear of such news in the media and yet I saw plenty of press articles showing his smirking face when I should perhaps have seen pictures of a hearse and bereaved family members instead.

There are several decent ways of paying one’s respects to the fallen, one of which is in silence from the comfort of your own home. Another is by turning up at your local church for a Remembrance Day service. But the method I recommend is saving the petrol money you would have spent travelling to Wootton and donating it to one of the many Service charities instead.

Or does this interfere with the possibility of getting one’s face on TV and being able to say “I was there”? Of course, knowing the answer to this question is a good indicator of whether or not you are indeed a “grief tourist”. – SSgt P Martin, 7 Air Assault Battalion, REME.

Lack of clothes, lack of respect

IN the aftermath of some of the idiotic and frankly mindless behaviour at Twickenham, I hope Service personnel take a long, hard look at themselves.

It is not unreasonable to expect that the crowd would have been able to exercise a little more self-discipline than was evident on the day. The lack of respect for the stewards, players and other supporters was hugely disappointing.

Yes, the event is a celebration, supposed to be fun and has become a wonderful social occasion, but sadly it is in danger of becoming an embarrassment.

The farcical scenes that marred the last 30 minutes of this year’s match will have done the Services no credit at all.

Before we hear the cries that the offenders were a tiny minority and may not have been military personnel, there was enough support of these mindless and selfish actions from large sections of a predominantly Service crowd to make them complicit by their encouragement. – Name and address supplied.

Streakers’ bare-faced cheek

HAVING served from 1970 until 1994, I attended last month’s Army vs Navy rugby match at Twickenham.

It was a great fixture which was spoilt by the numerous guys and girls streaking (albeit semi-clothed in the majority of cases) round the stadium or delaying play by venturing onto the pitch.

Once or twice could be considered as a bit of high spirits, but in my mind it got out of hand.

I imagine that many people attend the event as a social occasion rather than for a purely sporting spectacle, but I wonder what other Soldier readers think should be done by the organisers to ensure an enjoyable day for all. – Tony Reynolds.

Chris Fowke, secretary of Army Rugby Union (ARU), responds: The ARU take very seriously the issue of pitch invasion and have already spoken to the Rugby Football Union and the Provost Marshal in London District. We will know more once the military individuals have appeared in front of their chains of command.

Give Forces’ families a global view

WHY can’t my family in London access BFBS Television channels on their Sky box?

If, like other networks, BFBS was accessible worldwide it would be a real bonus and would give those left at home an opportunity to stay up-to-date with what’s going on wherever their soldier may be.

If this is a licensing issue, surely the MoD can work something out. – Cpl D Kalisa (RLC), HQ 20 Armoured Brigade.
Helen Williams, controller

BFBS Television,
responds: I’m delighted that Cpl Kalisa feels British Forces News deserves a wider airing. We agree!
As ever though it’s a matter of funding. To buy a half-hour slot on an open-access channel on the Sky platform would add up to nearly £200,000 per annum.
However, BFBS Radio is now available on DAB digital radio in the UK.

"celluloid cold shoulder"

I WOULD like to add my input to the lament from Tony Levy about the lack of films focused on the British Army of the Rhine, “Celluloid cold shoulder” (March).

G.I. Blues gives a light-hearted view of life in post-war Germany during the 1960s, albeit not quite what the average British soldier experienced.

My nomination for a realistic picture of what soldiering was like in Germany for many British troops during the 1950s and early 60s goes to a little-known gem of a film, The Bofors Gun. The movie features Tom Courtenay as a lance bombardier and Nicol Williamson as a psychopathic gunner trying to wreck his promotion.

Shot in black and white, you can hear the steel-shod boots on the cobbles and feel the loneliness and damp cold of stagging on in a gun park in the early hours. A word of warning to those who have not yet seen The Bofors Gun, the
end of the film is quite shocking. – Mal
Tanner (ex-REME), Reigate.

The editor, rubbing his square eyes and fast-forwarding his VHS copy of The Bofors Gun to the end credits, replies: A good shout for a Cold War classic, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to deduct a point for a cast clanger. It was David Warner, and not Sir Tom “Billy Liar” Courtenay, who co-starred alongside Williamson as Terry Evans.

Brits better off in benefits stakes?

ORIGINALLY from Zimbabwe and now based in Germany, I recently asked the admin staff at my regiment whether I was entitled to claim back the costs involved in renewing a passport.
My wife’s passport recently expired and my own needs changing soon, but I have been told that Commonwealth soldiers are not eligible for any refund.

I was under the impression that all those serving in the Army could recoup these costs and am disappointed that I am not being afforded the same benefits as British soldiers. We are all one Army and do the same job. – LCpl Mushangew, 2 Med Regt.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), writes: All Service personnel – irrespective of their nationality – are entitled to have the costs for an initial issue or the renewal of a passport refunded at public expense as long as they are required to hold a passport for Service reasons.
A requirement to travel or live overseas for Service reasons are examples where such a refund is deemed reasonable. Cost of an initial issue or renewal of a passport required to travel for personal reasons, such as for a holiday, will not be reimbursed.
Dependants who accompany Service personnel overseas for Service reasons, for example on a married accompanied assignment, are also eligible to reclaim the costs for the initial issue or renewal of their passport at public expense.
However, if there is not a Service reason for travel then passport costs cannot be reclaimed either by Service personnel or their dependants. Those losing their passport would be expected to pay for a replacement.

‘Our town’s tribute to fallen will endure’

Mark of respect: The small market town of Wootton Bassett comes to a standstill as the bodies of those killed in Afghanistan pass through from RAF Lyneham

AS residents of Wootton Bassett, my wife Sue and I are greeted by familiar sights on our high street on the day of a repatriation.

Crowds – often a thousand-strong – gather and include members of the Armed Forces, veterans, leather-clad bikers from The Royal British Legion’s riders branch, town dignitaries, dozens of journalists and hundreds of friends of the fallen.

Mourners, many carrying red and yellow roses, pass in and out of The Cross Keys public house where refreshments are generously provided by the landlady Kirsty.

Those who have come to pay their respects then congregate around the town’s war memorial, itself adorned with floral tributes and tended daily by Ken, a 93-year-old Second World War veteran.

When the families of the fallen arrive from Lyneham the road through the town is closed and drivers are asked to turn off their engines.

With standards raised, the bell from St Bartholomew’s Church signals the cortege to move forward and absolute silence is observed.

The scenes that follow are well documented.
So many times we, and hundreds of others, have stood to honour the brave soldiers, sailors and airmen passing through our town. Sue and I, or at least one of us, attend every repatriation, as do a growing number of friends and people we know. It wouldn’t be right not to, that’s how we feel. Personally, it is no longer enough to merely stand quietly on the roadside and watch the cortege pass before going home.

I now feel the need to mingle with the visitors and offer them the gentle hand of friendship.

Many of those I have met I remember vividly, such as the young gentleman from Kent who told me that he had been best man to one of the fallen soldiers just a few months earlier.

The two lads, both members of the Combined Cadet Force who were returning home to Wolverhampton from exercise on Dartmoor when they heard that one of those being repatriated was a former classmate and who, having caught a train at the crack of dawn, had arrived at a town they’d never heard of to pay their respects.

And the many Servicemen who, before repatriation, talk about their fallen comrades with great affection. The list is endless.

There have been suggestions in the press that our town is beginning to attract “grief tourists” and has become a “media circus”. I talk to many visitors and can report that the vast majority are here for legitimate reasons and usually have a military connection, be it a son or daughter in Afghanistan, a nephew about to go there or a friend just returned.

A few admit to having taken a keen interest in proceedings on the television and want to experience a repatriation first hand. I see nothing wrong in that.

I am always surprised at the expressions of gratitude directed at the people of Wootton Bassett. It is very touching.

Our community magazine publishes letters received from all over the world. A serving soldier in Helmand wrote: “My gratitude to the people of Wootton Bassett is endless. You are truly the pride of Britain.”

Katy and Derek Taylor wrote of their grandson, serving in a bomb disposal unit, and finished their letter “amid the great sense of loss for these young lives, we appreciate the dignity you show as they go to their final resting place”.

Perhaps one incident, widely publicised, sums up the way we feel in this town. Mark Robins, the local milkman, began his round on the outskirts of the town early one morning and noticed a red rose lying in the road. Realising that a repatriation had taken place the previous day he stopped his float, retrieved the rose and drove back to the town centre where he carefully placed the flower on the war memorial before resuming his work.

It is perhaps a forlorn hope that our presence in the high street will no longer be required, but for as long as these brave Servicemen and women continue to be repatriated through RAF Lyneham the people of Wootton Bassett will continue to honour them. We will not allow them to pass through our town without acknowledgement. To do so would be unthinkable. – Brian Porter, ex-ROC, Wootton Bassett.

"wedding dress woe"

LAST year I found myself in a similar position to CSgt Martin, “Wedding dress woe” (March), who, as best man to a TA soldier, bought his own No 1 dress uniform and spent £120 on a drill hat, £80 on boots and £15 on lanyards.

Having first tried going through the official channels as suggested by Maj Allan Law in his reply to the letter writer and been told no uniforms were available, the groom and I used Medway Medals.

This company provided us with a tailored-fit uniform – complete with all buttons, lanyards and peaked caps – on a one-week hire for £120 each. My friend then borrowed a pair of drill boots from a friend in the Regulars and I bought a pair off Ebay for a lot less than £80. – Pte T Pook, 166 Regt RLC.

typical army wife

IF her whining letter is anything to go by, it seems to me that Joanna Robson is already well on her way to being a typical Army wife.

There are some Service spouses who accept their situation without complaint and get on with holding together the home and family while their husbands follow their careers, but unfortunately there are a lot more who do not recognise and appreciate all that the Army does for them.

The Service provides things that no employer on civvy street ever would – cheap housing, furniture, welfare and education programmes, assistance with finding employment, social meetings, on-camp creches and travel assistance to visit relatives to name just a few.

Maybe the soon-to-be Army wife should consider the following: Don’t marry a soldier if you are not prepared to live by the rules and regulations of the Service.

Be grateful you have affordable housing provided for you and are not burdened with an extortionate mortgage or rent as you start off married life.

Be supportive of your husband rather than stressing him with your pathetic complaints. – Name and address supplied.

officers commenting on political issues

FOLLOWING on from recent Talkback letters on the issue of senior officers commenting publicly on political issues, if our generals are condemning the British National Party (BNP) for their policies then this cannot be right.

If their objections are based on the BNP using military images, then I trust this would be the case in respect of all political parties. – CSgt K Hinge, HAC, London.

Response from DPS(A)’s office: The Armed Forces are apolitical and therefore pictures of uniformed personnel should not be used in communications from political parties.
Serving members of the Army are bound by the Queen’s Regulations.
If military personnel belong to any political party, including the BNP, they may attend political meetings so long as uniform is not worn, Service duties are not impeded and their actions do not bring the Army into disrepute.

ten greatest war movies

I ENJOYED the article on the ten greatest war movies in February’s issue and the letters from readers which followed.

However, Corey Jordan’s justification for including All Quiet on the Western Front in his own hit list does not stand up to scrutiny. He described the movie as “a classic Second World War film”. There were actually two versions of the film [based on the novel by German veteran Erich Maria Remarque], one made in 1930 and the other in 1979. While both are classics they were set during the First World War.

My own top ten would be: 1, Gettysburg; 2, Waterloo; 3, Glory; 4, Saving Private Ryan; 5, Ace’s High; 6, Charge of the Light Brigade (1968 version); 7, The Cross of Iron; 8, Enemy at the Gates; 9, Zulu; 10, Zulu Dawn. – Derek O’Driscoll, Croydon, Surrey.

"Give British veterans a slice of American pie"

IN response to a letter in April’s issue, “Give British veterans a slice of American pie”, Cdr Graham Jardine stated: “As far as recreational facilities are concerned, there are no plans to change current MoD policy in order to allow veterans routine access to Service establishments.”

This is not strictly true – British Forces Germany has taken the lead in this area, launching a scheme in 2009 designed to give veterans and their families access to facilities on camps across Germany. Visit the veterans page on www.bfgnet.de for more information. – Peter Feeney, Bordon.

prize break

IN recognition of his continuing support of our fallen Service personnel, Soldier are pleased to offer Brian Porter a prize break for a family of four, courtesy of our partners at Pontin’s. As the author of this month’s prize letter he can enjoy a three- or four-night break in Pontin’s Self-Catering Classic accommodation at a choice of four coastal Holiday Parks: Brean Sands in Somerset; Camber Sands in East Sussex; Prestatyn Sands in North Wales and Southport in the North West.

Lack of follicle fairness

HAVING read with great interest the letter on the appearance of soldiers in March’s issue, “Short hair, chinos and brogues – Sandhurst style does not suit all”, I felt compelled to comment.

Contrary to Brig Mike Griffiths’ response to the “disappointed officer”, having hair that contravenes the definition of “well cut” or which descends below the “mid-point of the ear” does not allow anarchy to prevail, as proven by the many serving women across all ranks.

Why are the cosmetic considerations of women more important than those of men? – Name and address supplied.

ONE point not yet mentioned on the topic of haircuts is that the Queen’s Regulations appear to be guilty of sexual discrimination. There is no reason that I can think of as to why a male soldier could not have long hair if they wore it in a bun like their female colleagues.
I am sure that if I were to grow my hair long and kept it neatly as per the regulations pertaining to a female soldier, a court of law would rule in my favour on the grounds of sexual discrimination if I was ordered to have my locks cut.
Although personally against male soldiers having long hair, I am surprised no one has ever tested this point. The same could also apply to jewellery.
This argument was raised by a friend (after a drink or two) who has left the Forces and wants longer hair so that he can better integrate with those on civvy street. Naturally he hasn’t been allowed to forget this and has been given lots of hairspray and gel by his mates – and yes, he was in the Royal Air Force! – SSgt M Baker, HQ 160 (W) Bde.

stunning money saver

A MONEY-saving star letter on page 63 of last month’s issue?

I rushed to it only to find a PS consisting of some plagiarised information about Value Added Tax refunds – information I had read in Sixth Sense before Christmas and is still posted on the office notice board.

A four-day holiday just for forwarding on details that have been broadly disseminated by Customs and Immigration, HQ UKSC J1 Branch and Amazon among others.

Right then, I could do with some of that. So without further ado, here is my stunning money saver.
Stopping smoking will save you pounds. Hundreds of them.

And if you stub out now, aside from the financial savings, there are also the little-known health benefits of reduced chances of heart attacks, strokes and other respiratory complaints.

The beauty of this tip is you only need do it once, there are no forms to fill in and even leaving a tax-free posting doesn’t stop you continuing to save and benefit. In fact, when in the UK you save even more!

Right, down to my prize then (with thanks to the medical centre notice board). I’d prefer Brean Sands, Somerset, please.

Any chance of four extra adult places? Both sets of grandparents followed the advice above and now want a chance to demonstrate to the kids how fit and healthy they are. No idea where the money they saved went though or I’d ask them to pay.

What about a third child place? Since I packed in the fags, it seems that there is more lead in my pencil.

Time to check the library notice board – I might be able to turn four days into a week-long holiday! – Andy Pollock, J4 SO3 Log Sp (Mat), HQ UKSC.

The editor, casting aside the sour grapes from his lunch box, stubbing out a Cuban cigar and placing his tongue firmly in cheek, types: As much as I’d like to give you this month’s prize Pontin’s break for a family of four, your’s was just one of many revolutionary money-saving tips received this month.
The pick of the bunch came from Pte Ebenezer Scrooge (AGC), who offered this never-before-heard pearl of wisdom: “Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.”

Cutting remarks keep coming

“You are unshaven, your hair is unkempt and unmanageable – the style is of an exaggerated nature and looks like road kill”: On a mission to bring a close to the Service style debate, Soldier reporter Joe “Jedward” Clapson failed to make the cut in the eyes of a garrison sergeant major (see Cutting it)
Pictures: Graeme Main

HAVING read the letter from a “frustrated soldier” on haircuts, “Cut us some slack” (December), I was disappointed by the dismissive and evasive response provided by the Directorate of Staff and Personnel Support (Army) [DPS(A)].

The question raised was a very fair one; why should our soldiers feel obliged to shave their heads? What document or regulation gives company sergeant majors the authority to demand such draconian haircuts?

I note that a large number of my fellow officers are sporting sensible hairstyles that do not mark them out as “typical squaddies”, yet all still seem perfectly capable of doing their jobs.

A clear case of double standards? – Name and address provided.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), responds: I think the debate has moved on from the December engagement where unfortunately both letters were pruned slightly and lost some of their context.
My most recent response in the March edition, further comments in the April issue and the article on haircuts [Pages 54-57] should have added the balance you felt was missing.
The point I make unreservedly is we have sensible standards that need enforcing by the chain of command. If these standards are over-zealously interpreted then I hope that very same chain of command steps in to apply them correctly. Finally, I think we have spent enough time on haircuts – let us move on.

Poppadom price protest

I AM based at Catterick Garrison which now boasts the new Richmond Centre.The dining facilities on offer are good but we are no longer being given the option of a core meal, which means that the cost of eating on camp three times a day is close to £10.

I mentioned this to a chef who told me that the core meal had been scrapped because soldiers have the option of making meals in their accommodation.

This simply isn’t true. Although we have access to a kitchen, there are only electric hobs to cook on.

I have also discovered that those eating in the officers’ mess are still paying core meal prices.

On a recent curry night officers paid £1.60 for curry, poppadom and a pudding – a meal that would cost between £2.20 and £2.90 in the Richmond Centre. Why are officers paying less for their meals than the junior ranks? – Gdsm Mackintosh.

Brig Mark Armstrong, Director Infrastructure, responds: To set this question in context I would like to clarify that the Richmond Centre is undergoing a trial to test a different methodology of delivering Pay As You Dine (PAYD).
This programme takes account of the wishes of the majority of soldiers by aiming to provide the greater flexibility and choice that they have told us they want. The trial provides flexibility of catering from 0700 to 2100, with two “peak” periods each day for brunch/lunch and an evening meal.
Core meals have not been scrapped, but are delivered differently; displayed among the other retail choices and not as a segregated option.
Without knowing what options were available on what days, it is difficult for me to specifically answer your question; however, it is possible that the curry in the Richmond Centre was a retail option.
During the two peak meal periods, a choice of menus allowing people to eat to the correct nutritional and quality standards can be taken for the core meal price of £4.07 a day.
A direct comparison with the officers’ mess is misleading as it is still on the traditional PAYD model and is not part of the trial. They too are offered retail options over and above the daily messing rate and also pay an extra messing charge over and above the core price.

the anonymous "disappointed officer"

THE anonymous “disappointed officer” writing about haircuts in March’s issue needs to grow up. Queen’s Regulations are clear enough and if he does not like them there are plenty of other jobs where “individuality” scores highly. I might add though that a decent haircut does not deny an individual the ability to have a personality.

If this officer knows of WOs or SNCOs being over-zealous in the interpretation of the rules then he may wish to take such people to task. I believe we call it leadership.

On the wider issue of dress and haircuts, perhaps this officer has yet to visit other armies which do not have similar standards and see how little respect is shown to them by their civilian populations. There is much mileage in the phrase “looking the part is half the battle”. How would he have us all appear? With earrings and hairnets? I remind him we are supposed to mirror our society, not be a cheap photocopy of it.

Finally, and most irritatingly, his throwaway comment “while traditional in Phase One training, treating soldiers thereafter as children (or sheep)” is highly provocative.

As 2iC of a training regiment I can assure him his ignorance of how we treat our Soldiers Under Training is breathtaking in the extreme. Those that behave like children are of course pulled up but I assure him they quickly join the remainder who are expected to behave and are treated like adults at all times. – Maj N Presscott (RLC), 2iC 2 ATR.

MINDFUL that one good turn deserves another, Soldier are pleased to offer SSgt Paul Tyler (1 AAC) a prize break for a family of four, courtesy of our pals at Pontin’s. As the author of this month’s prize letter (see Page 63), he can revel in the karma of sharing his money-saving tip with others during a three- or four-night break in Pontin’s Self-Catering Classic accommodation at a choice of four coastal Holiday Parks: Brean Sands in Somerset; Camber Sands in East Sussex; Prestatyn Sands in North Wales and Southport in the North West.

Terms and Conditions. 1. All places are subject to availability at time of booking. 2. Prize is for a one bedroom Classic apartment, for up to 4 persons (adult or child) to be taken by October 30, 2010, excluding dates between 31/07/10 and 28/08/10, Bank Holidays and special events. 3. Open to UK residents aged 18 or over, except employees of the Ocean Parcs Ltd and their families.

Dialect downloads, please

IN this age of the iPod when a great many 18 to 35-year-olds have an MP3 player, has anyone considered putting together an operations-orientated podcast which would allow soldiers to hone their language skills ahead of deployment?

If not, can someone please recommend which dialects are most appropriate to specific areas of Afghanistan and Iraq. – Cpl C M Darbyshire, 160 Pro Coy RMP.

Col Hugh Russell, AD Ops, HQ DETS(A), responds: Cpl Darbyshire will be pleased to hear that as a 51-year-old colonel I too have an iPod.
He will be even more pleased to hear that the operational language cards are presently in MP3 format on ArmyNet and that there is currently a trial under way within the MoD to evaluate the use of Apple iTouch devices to host language and cultural training in support of current overseas deployments.
Please continue to watch the pages of Soldier to see how the trial unfolds.
On the subject of dialect – it depends who you are talking to and where.
The most problematic is Pashto which is spoken in a large crescent shaped area to the west, south and east of Afghanistan and across the border into Pakistan and has very marked dialect variations.
Much of the commercially-available Pashto teaching tools focus on the Pakistani dialect.
Dari, the language of government, is less complex and more standardised.
Iraqi Arabic also has local dialect variations. A complete answer would be too complex for this reply.
It is best to seek specialist guidance from the Defence Operational Language Support Unit or through your local Army Education Centre.

money-saving tip

I’D like to share a money-saving tip I discovered after a long-running battle with UK retailers over Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds.
Soldiers stationed overseas who have British Forces Post Office addresses are entitled to buy certain goods without payment of VAT. However the regulations for doing so were updated in December 2009.
Retailers are now required to obtain and keep a certificate from the person requesting a VAT refund. This certificate is an official letter (on headed paper) from your unit or sub-unit confirming that you are entitled to purchase goods from UK retailers without paying VAT.
Signed by a commissioned officer, the document must identify the individual [name, rank and number], specify the item(s) purchased [a signed copy of the receipt will suffice] and refer to the relevant European Economic Community directive.
You will have to supply the certificate every time you make a refund request but several receipts from the same company can be included in one request. For more information visit http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk
Better in your pocket than in theirs! – SSgt Paul Tyler, 1 Regt AAC.

Gemstones of the silicone set

I AM writing to Soldier to offer a public thank you to computer company Acer for the generosity they have shown to my son, who is serving in the REME and has just completed a tour of Afghanistan.

During the deployment a vehicle carrying soldiers’ kit was hit by an IED and among the damaged items was my son’s laptop, which he had only bought six months previously and used as a means of keeping in contact with friends and family at home.

On discovering that the computer was not covered by insurance I contacted various laptop manufacturers to explain what had happened and to enquire whether they could do anything to assist.

Many of those I wrote to did not respond or emailed a reply stating they could not help, but a member of staff from Acer rang me and promised to provide a free replacement if my son’s computer was beyond repair.

A top-of-the-range Acer Aspire Gemstone arrived at my home soon after.

I would like to say a big thank you to Acer for exceeding expectations and helping when they were not obliged to do so. – David Horridge, Chorley, Lancashire.

master cuts

Picture: Graeme Main

l HAVING been bombarded with letters regarding the haircuts and appearance of Army personnel, Soldier has enlisted a top salon to give its opinion on the Queen’s Regulations.

In next month’s magazine, world famous hairdresser Nicky Clarke will give his take on the Service directives on hairstyles and will advise on how to look good within the rules.

Soldier’s Joe Clapson will also go under the scissors at Clarke’s Mayfair salon in a bid to discover a haircut that should be acceptable to both style-conscious soldiers and their sergeant majors.

‘Quit whingeing, you ‘orrible lot’

I HAVE always enjoyed reading the Talkback pages of Soldier but am appalled by the whingeing that has been published recently. How the respondents keep managing to answer without being cynical is beyond me.

I would like to offer the following replies to a number of reader’s letters: To LCpl McKinney who asks whether the current rate of Long Service Advance of Pay is high enough, do like the rest of us have done – save up for a deposit and do not rely on handouts from the Army.

To the author of “Bootneck blues” [who voiced his annoyance at being posted away from Plymouth], transfer to the Royal Marines or buy a house in the area.

To Joanna Robson [who was critical of the Army system for not allowing her and her husand-to-be to move into a married quarter more than two weeks before their wedding date], if you think getting married and planning a move is stressful, how are you going to cope when your partner is on operations and you have to move with young children in tow?

I could go on and on. Come on people, stop the whingeing and whining. The Army is not a charity with bottomless pockets. If you think life in civvy street is any different, go and try it. – A grumpy LE officer.

The editor, with only a trace of cynicism, types: Thanks for sharing your whinge about whingers with us.

Give British veterans a slice of American pie

DURING my career I have enjoyed several deployments and personal holidays to the USA and have been impressed with the facilities – be it hotels, gyms or welfare offices – afforded to serving American personnel, their veterans and overseas soldiers such as myself.

Although I understand we cannot emulate the same level of social infrastructure as America, I feel we should be striving to match the commitment to welfare and recreational services for our own deserving veterans. Has there been any consideration given to allowing ex-Service personnel an ID card of some sort?

Such a document could then allow access to military facilities post service.

I understand that there may well be security issues with such arrangements but I am sure some sensible controls could be implemented. I would love to be able to buy cheap tickets to Disney when I am 80! – WO2 J Lane, AAC.

Cdr Graham Jardine (RN), Pensions, Compensation and Veterans, responds: The subject of veteran’s identity cards has been raised previously and considerable work has been undertaken to identify the best option to satisfy the many requirements that the introduction of such a scheme, underwritten by the MoD, would raise.
Following careful consideration the MoD is investigating issuing a veterans’ variant of the national ID card. This position is strongly supported by the various ex-Service organisations. As far as recreational facilities are concerned, there are no plans to change current MoD policy in order to allow veterans routine access to Service establishments.

recession and war

BEING in a recession and at war, it’s no surprise that the MoD is short of money.

I understand that operational commitments take their toll on the department’s budget and that the influx of new life-saving equipment, vehicles and weapons, as well as ammunition, must take priority.

Consequently, we are being told wherever possible to save money, be it using train warrants instead of hire cars when attending courses or trying to repair kit instead of exchanging it.

But as many pennies as these measures will save, it is nothing compared to the amount of money the MoD wastes on civilian contractors. Day-after-day civvy trucks can be seen entering British Army camps the world over, delivering goods which could have easily been collected by the unit in need of them.

The MoD also hires in plumbers, builders and electricians – all trades employed in the Army. Why pay a contractor to complete work that soldiers are more than capable of doing?

Let us do the work we joined up to do and only bring in the outside agencies when soldiers are away on operations. – LCpl J Sharp, 8 Regiment RLC.

‘armed forces should not involve themselves with politics’

IN January’s Talkback, Sgt Rowlands stated that he believes generals, both serving and retired, should not comment publicly on political issues. The correspondent was entirely right in his assertion that we are servants of the crown and the subsequent implication that the Armed Forces should be apolitical.
However, I believe he has misunderstood the situation somewhat.

The generals were not expressing an opinion on behalf of all Service personnel with regards to the British National Party (BNP). They were distancing our Armed Forces from a cynical attempt by the BNP to ally themselves with the Forces in order to curry favour with the voters.

The BNP has been guilty of using images of Winston Churchill and wartime insignia to assist with their campaign in the European elections. Indeed, a recent domestic pamphlet drop contained images of a guardsman in uniform and images purporting to be of a typical elderly English couple.

Neither of the images were authorised and the couple in question later turned out to be Italian. In both cases the images had been lifted from an internet search and those concerned were unaware that their pictures had been used for political ends.

Putting aside concerns over misrepresentation by the generals on behalf of the members of the Armed Forces, one must consider the question of corporate identity. It is vital that our Services protect theirs.

We don’t ally ourselves to any particular well-known brands, so why should we allow ourselves to be presented as allied to any particular political party, nefarious or otherwise? To that end I would say that the generals were doing precisely what Sgt Rowlands demanded of them in his letter and were “keeping the Army out of politics”. – LCpl Dunphy, HC&C Band.

reintroduce third class travel

IN the welter of activities designed to reduce travel and subsistence costs, the MoD appears to have missed the opportunity to persuade the railway companies to reintroduce third class travel. – The Fat Controller (Retd).

any need of my culinary skills?

MY Territorial Army regiment is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan and has asked for volunteers, but I have been told that as a class three chef I am not required. Are there any other regiments on Herrick in need of my culinary skills? – Name and address supplied.

Col Tony Duncan, AD CSS Ops, HQLF, replies: The commitment that the TA provides to ops is highly valued and there is great appreciation of those who volunteer for operations.
While many RLC trade groups are heavily committed, the number of chefs required on Op Herrick is relatively low, as a large proportion of the catering support is contracted. Unfortunately, you are therefore unlikely to have the opportunity to deploy in this role. That said, HQ RLC TA is keen to hear from soldiers who are prepared to deploy in a secondary role. If this interests you, contact the HQ through your chain of command.

Wedding dress woe

I AM honoured to have been asked to be best man at a close friend’s wedding. The groom and I are serving Territorial Army soldiers and have both been on active service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

My friend requested that he be allowed to get married in No 1 dress uniform and, having been given permission to do so, began the tortuous mission of collecting the correct items. Told that our regiment did not hold any in stock, we bought two sets of uniforms, complete with the necessary medals, buttons and insignia.

We are also in the process of buying drill hats at a cost of £120 each, drill boots for £80 and lanyards for £15. Does this great Army of ours really not have two spare hats and pairs of boots?

Would someone serving in a Regular battalion be expected to buy their own uniform? What happened to the “One Army” we keep being told we are serving in? – CSgt P Martin, 5 Div Offr Trg.

Maj Allan Law, SO2 Mat Sp, Log Sp Branch HQLF, responds: Entitlements and eligibility to wear No 1 dress uniform are contained in Army Dress Regulations and Clothing Scales for the Army and your unit should have access to these documents.
Ceremonial and parade wear items are expensive and therefore are not an individual issue to Regular or TA soldiers and officers except where authorised in the clothing scales.
In order to manage these items efficiently they can, subject to availability, be issued as a temporary loan and applications should be made through the parent unit. These applications are then passed through the logistic support chain for action.
Boots, hats and other regimental accoutrements such as badges are either on personal issue or can be obtained under regimental or corps arrangements. It’s unfortunate that you resorted to spending a considerable amount of money when some of the items you required were readily available. Had your unit sought advice from the parent HQ Logistic Support Branch this could have been avoided.

gemmology guidance

AS a second-hand reader of your magazine (my son is at Sandhurst), I thought your readers may be interested in the contents of a report which appeared in a professional gemmology magazine I received from America.

The story detailed how members of the US military were being scammed into purchases of precious stones in foreign countries – including Afghanistan. One individual bought a selection of rubies and sapphires back from theatre which, when examined, turned out to be a combination of synthetics and glass-filled material.

The stones had very little value, yet the soldier had paid hundreds of dollars for them having been told that they would fetch a much higher price in the States.
As a gemmologist, I would endorse this warning. By all means buy a memento of your time serving abroad, but do not waste money thinking it will be an investment.

I have also seen these imitation and treated stones first-hand having been shown them by UK personnel returning from Afghanistan. Uncut stones are increasingly being offered, but I would advise that the cost of cutting these rough stones would be more than the stone’s actual value.

All of the retail jewellers that I speak to fully support our Service personnel and production of Service identification will usually gain a discount on purchases within this country. – Mr G Jones, Rudell the Jewellers, Wolverhampton.

‘Celluloid cold shoulder’

Theatre of war: Kathryn Bigelow’s tale of a US bomb disposal team in Iraq, The Hurt Locker, is among the favourites to scoop best picture at this month’s Academy Awards and is nominated for eight other Oscars

OVER the last 70 years all of the world’s major conflicts have found their way on to the silver screen and none more so than the Second World War.

John Wayne and his American friends have held back the Teutonic hordes and the sons of Japan on many an occasion, and they did so – if Hollywood is to be believed – single-handedly.

The Korean War, Suez Crisis, Malaya, Vietnam, Falklands and two Gulf Wars have also had their turn on the red carpet.
But while these life-and-death struggles were being acted out, be it on the battlefield or on a film set, quietly and without fuss I and many others held back the mighty Russian bear behind its post-war borders.

From the Baltic to the Adriatic, the soldiers and airmen of Nato stood their ground with stoic determination and solid resolve in the hope that we could repel any Russian invasion.

Not one film producer or director has documented the efforts of the 100,000 plus men and women who held back the Red menace.

Nor have I seen any mention in the international press of the months spent in the field on exercise in all weathers – from the snowy wastes of Norway to the semi-deserts of Sardinia.

I am just one of many who, on leaving the Army, has gone without recognition because I did not fire a shot in anger or receive a medal.

Now that the demise of the Warsaw Pact is consigned to history, it is time our story is told.

We did our bit and the world should know how we helped, in no small way, to bring down the Berlin Wall. – Tony Levy, ex-R Signals, Wolverhampton.

The editor, setting down his bag of Butterkist and carton of Kia-Ora to pause The Hunt for Red October, replies: Not wishing to be a pedant, but the Cold War has not gone without its share of cinematic salutes.
Top Gun, Ice Station Zebra, The Package, The Big Lift, The Missiles of October, Thirteen Days, Red Dawn and Dr Strangelove – to name but a few – all owe their plots to the 45-year game of brinkmanship between East and West.
That none of the above focus on the actions of those who served in the British Army of the Rhine is a case for Hollywood to answer.

greatest war movies

WITH a salvo of salted popcorn flying at Soldier HQ over what is the greatest war movie of all time, last month we enlisted Nev Pierce – Editor-At-Large for Empire, the world’s biggest movie magazine – to the ranks in a bid to bring an end to hostilities.

In February’s Ranked our silver screen specialist revealed his definitive top ten war films to be: 1, Platoon; 2, The Hurt Locker; 3, Full Metal Jacket; 4, The Bridge on the River Kwai; 5, Three Kings; 6, Lawrence of Arabia; 7, The Big Red One; 8, Attack!; 9, Zulu; 10, Apocalypse Now.

Ahead of revealing Pierce’s picks in print, we invited Soldier’s Facebook fans to countdown their own conflict classics.

Among those who answered our cinematic call-to-arms was Corey C Jordan, who defended his inclusion of mini-series Band of Brothers on the grounds that its accuracy, cinematography and storyline are of the highest order. Corey chose: 1, Band of Brothers – “without peer in depicting Second World War infantry combat”; 2, Black Hawk Down – “supremely accurate, a modern classic”; 3, The Longest Day – “vast scope, multi-faceted portrayal”; 4, Battle of Britain – “the finest air combat film ever”; 5, Glory – “one of the few American Civil War films to accurately depict combat”; 6, The Birth of a Nation – “the grandad of them all despite its overt racism”; 7, Sink the Bismarck – “still the finest of its genre”; 8, Tora! Tora! Tora! – “excellent effort at depicting a very complex event”; 9, All Quiet on the Western Front – “a classic Second World War film”; 10, Saving Private Ryan – “set a new standard for accurate portrayal of infantry combat”.

Advising not to watch his top ten in one sitting, Darren Mann plumped for Downfall, Stalingrad, Come and See, Hell in the Pacific, The Dirty Dozen and Das Boot among his contenders for the crown.

Tony Sweeney added To Hell and Back, The Guns of Navarone, Midway, The Bridge At Remagen, The Desert Rats and Patton to the movie mix, while Liam Mclaughlin volunteered Jarhead, Zulu and Battle for Haditha.

Other offerings included Lana Snell’s “I love G.I. Jane”, Tigerland and We Were Soldiers from Kyle Neil, A Bridge Too Far from Freddy “airborne all the way” Hugill, Kelly’s Heroes from Cath Sambells, Harry’s Game from Stephen Grogan-Jarvis, The Odd Angry Shot from Jan Scarff, Letters from Iwo Jima from Connor Trivett and Hamburger Hill from Karen Henderson.

Michael Goldsmith, perplexed at the omission of Sands of Iwo Jima from others’ lists, was of the opinion that “The Bridge on the River Kwai should be disregarded as it so full of inaccuracies that it is more theatre than true to events”. And bemoaning the lack of “classics” being proposed, Sandra Banks suggested Where Eagles Dare, The Dam Busters and 633 Squadron.

However, a year’s subscription of Empire goes to Melodie Anne Ripley, who correctly predicted four of our film buff’s favourite features.

Short hair, chinos and brogues – Sandhurst style does not suit all

Right, Model soldier: On April 1, 2005 Soldier broke the “news” that Sandhurst cadets were to be given lessons in style after fashionistas criticised would-be officers’ unofficial civvy uniform – a wardrobe consisting of “brogues, mustard cords, red jeans, blazers and slacks, and tweed and wax jackets”

IN December’s issue of Soldier a “frustrated soldier” wrote in querying “why we need to be groomed in a 1950s’ style”, asserting the truism that “a hairstyle doesn’t dictate the combat effectiveness of a soldier”.

A useful answer from the chain of command would have identified the standards required, the rationale for them and any argument for amending them, and perhaps protected soldiers by cautioning over-zealous SNCOs against imposing their own interpretation of the rules.

Instead, Brig Griffiths’s reply was notable only in its singular failure to address the substance of the complaint, and the patronising manner in which it did so.

Queen’s Regulations (QR) for the Army state: “The hair of the head is to be kept well cut and trimmed – style and colour (if not natural) is not to be of an exaggerated nature.” This does not justify the lobotomised company sergeant major mentality to which the complainant’s letter alludes in which soldiers’ hair has to be shorn “needlessly short”, as if to remove any semblance of individuality.

While traditional in Phase One training, treating soldiers thereafter as children (or sheep) is, I believe, condescending and archaic and, in less economically depressed times, detrimental to retention.

As a direct entry officer I was thoroughly institutionalised by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst ten years ago and while I am quite happy to embrace 1950s’ chic in the form of short hair, beige chinos and brown brogues, I do not impose my archaic fashion shortcomings upon my subordinates – nor should others.

To quote the British Army Review in 2006: “No other organisation in the UK controls its people as closely as does the Army (not even the RN or RAF. We have rules for everything). The social circumstances of Britain have changed as have the expectations and behaviour of individuals within the Army.

“Soldiers are less willing to be told what to do, especially in their private lives. More separation between Service life and private life is desirable and may be essential to recruit and retain.”

More recently the same author [Col (Retd) John Wilson, Editor, British Army Review] commented that “the Army is still the recognisable post-National Service army of 1960, but that is fast changing”. Not fast enough apparently. – Disappointed officer, name and address supplied.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), responds: Thank you for reproducing the section from the QR on haircuts, to which I would add the final piece “sideburns are not to descend below the mid-point of the ear and are to be trimmed horizontally”. These are the standards expected of a male soldier, which gives adequate scope to be presentable and even fashionable (with a bit of wax or gel to help it along).
With something like hair you need to be precise or anarchy will prevail as each soldier sets his own standards – that is after all why we recruit people who push the envelope.
But let me be quite clear; no senior officer has given direction that could interpret a shaven head as the expected standard for a haircut.
Your letter misses the point that officers are essential to the process of interpreting orders and giving SNCOs clear direction so that the standards laid down in the QR and by the chain of command are enacted. If the SNCOs in the original letter are enforcing an over-zealous interpretation of the guidelines then the officers’ role, your role, is to mitigate this.
As an officer of some ten years seniority you are probably a major, perhaps in a command appointment with the responsibility of maintaining and in some cases interpreting the standards expected of you and your soldiers. Hair, dress, equipment carriage, battlefield discipline all fall to you and your SNCOs to enforce. It is not for us to question which ones to impose, when and why. If so, why have any standards at all?
Hair, like medals, is a contentious issue. We have clear standards and until the Chief of the General Staff decides a change is needed then we must abide by them.

“ultra-short hair”

IN his reply to a letter from a soldier bemoaning the requirement for “ultra-short hair” (Talkback, December), Brig Mike Griffiths was quite right to highlight that company sergeant majors are there to enforce discipline and ensure that haircuts reflect regulations, and that one aspect of leadership is setting an example for your subordinates to follow.

However, it should be noted that regulations do not state that individuals are to have their heads shaved, merely that hair length is to be above the collar and ears and neat and tidy.

The “frustrated” soldier made a valid point that needlessly shaved heads can give the wrong impression to the public and police that Service personnel are uneducated, bad mannered and a likely source of trouble. Just consider the impression some members of the British National Party create on television with their shaved heads and bomber jackets. Perception is everything.

If shaved heads are a must for professional soldiers, why don’t officers lead by example and trim their own locks accordingly?

The regulations are applicable to all, so it’s surely shaved heads all round or everyone should be allowed to grow their hair to the same length set by those bastions of high standards, the Guards’ officers. – Name and address supplied.

"cut us some slack"

I REFER to the response given to the recent letter about soldiers’ hairstyles, “Cut us some slack” (December).

Although I always had short hair while serving, and still do, I appreciate this look is not everyone’s cup of tea.

I felt the reply given by Brig Mike Griffiths was rather terse. The writer appeared to be complaining about the shortness of hair and scalp-like cuts in particular.

The answer given does not mention that “the hair should be kept neat and tidy”, but instead endorses the view of the company sergeant major in question that hair should be “ultra-short”. This was never a requirement during my days in uniform and I’ll bet it still isn’t. Does this mean that the brigadier is an advocate of “the scalp” haircut? Young soldiers like to at least have a chance with the girls when out-and-about, which, let’s face it, isn’t very often these days.

Incidentally, from my own experience it was officers who were the worst offenders when it came to hair length. We should cut the lads a little slack when they are back in the UK. – Victor Hunt, veteran.

‘We warrant more respect’

I FEEL the need to add my two-penn’orth to the letter from WO2 J Moreman (Talkback, December) regarding the warrant issued to warrant officers across the Services.

I too have negative feelings about the standard of this document. It really is poor when the warrant states “signed by my own hand”, yet is clearly a facsimile of the signature of the Secretary of State for Defence.

The lack of a wax seal is understandable as I’m sure it would only be damaged in transit, but surely an embossed seal would not break the MoD’s bank.

Furthermore, the delay in issuing the warrant can sometimes add to the disappointment. I was promoted to WO2 in May 2008 but did not receive the signed warrant until June 2009.

Each year the Army promotes approximately 850 personnel to the rank of warrant officer.

Given that it has taken approximately 420 days for my warrant to be signed, is producing two warrants a day really too much to ask?

Give the warrant officer community some credit and please don’t use cost as an excuse.

As we serve more time, we see more and more traditions being watered down. Please don’t let this be one of them! – WO2 (QMSI) J M Blower, 106 (WR) Fd Sqn, Sheffield.

regular army for mod's postal service

I AM responding to the letter from a member of the Territorial Army who suggested that the MoD should use Regular soldiers as couriers in a bid to cut costs (Talkback, December).

If Mr Emery thinks for one minute that the Regular Army has the time on its hands to act as the MoD’s postal service, he is clearly living in dreamland. Does he really believe that those soldiers not deployed on ops are just sitting around doing nothing?

As for the “savings” of such a move, he’s obviously not considered the running costs of vehicles or the price of fuel. Soldiers may be paid “24 hours a day” but that doesn’t make them exempt from the rules mandating driving hours. – Name and address supplied.

is it possible to apply for a british passport

IS it possible to apply for a British passport while serving in the Army as a Gurkha soldier? I understand that this is not the case if serving with a Gurkha regiment, but what if I was to transfer to a British corps or regiment? – Pte S Gurung.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), writes: You are correct that you cannot apply for British citizenship or a British passport while serving in the Brigade of Gurkhas. If you transfer to the wider Army you will be eligible to apply so long as you meet all the Home Office criteria.

armed forces should not involve themselves with politics

HAVING proudly served 28 years in the Army I have always held the belief that those in the Armed Forces should not involve themselves with politics. We are servants of the crown irrespective of which political party is in power.

However, in recent months a number of generals, both serving and retired, have aired their views in the political arena. How dare they speak out against the British National Party (BNP) on behalf of all Servicemen. I have come across many Service personnel who sympathise with the BNP and many who do not.

The British Army has fought and lost lives to uphold democracy and freedom of political thought. I accept many people feel that the BNP are racist, but many feel they are not and share their concerns about mass immigration.

The generals have no right or mandate to state a blanket view – based on their own personal opinions – on behalf of the rest of the Army.

Every soldier has the right, just as the generals do, to support the political party of their choosing – even those “mainstream” parties who have proven themselves to be corrupt, dishonest and without honour.

Regardless of rank, can’t we please just keep the Army out of politics. – Sgt D Rowlands, RAF Valley.

scandal surrounding MPs' expenses

I HAVE a solution to the scandal surrounding MPs’ expenses. Politicians should be forced to use the Joint Personnel Administration system to make claims.

Combine this “user-unfriendly” service with limited availability and an incompetent clerk, and MPs would not find it quite so easy to line their pockets. If they can’t make a claim there can be no blame. – A frustrated adjutant.

Sapper SOS

GIVEN the flooding in Cumbria, is there not anything the Royal Engineers can do to assist the village of Workington? The hamlet was effectively halved when the flood water swept away or condemned the bridges spanning the River Derwent.

Our sappers are good at what they do, so surely throwing a couple of bridges across a river shouldn’t be a problem. They could then get the Royal Military Police to control the traffic on them. – Stephen Fletcher.

The news editor, drying off his waterproofs, types: You weren’t the only one to consider the sappers’ specialist skills. See Update

ranked mistake

I SPOTTED a mistake in November’s Ranked [top ten BFBS requests on operations]. At number six in the countdown you stated that 2 PWRR used the Lost Prophet’s song Last Train Home in an online film – they didn’t. The video, which was dedicated to Pte Christopher Rayment, was produced by 1 PWRR following Op Telic 4. – Pte A Lee, 1 PWRR.

The editor, vowing to never again trust the memory of a radio DJ, types: Apologies, we stand corrected. Ranked is still on Christmas leave but will return to duty next issue.

bongo, bongo, bongo

YOUR article on song requests (Ranked, November) reminded me of my time serving in Borneo in the 1960s.

In our battery bar we had a locally-supplied jukebox which had its library of songs updated on a monthly basis.

However, at our insistence, two discs remained unchanged – Bongo, Bongo, Bongo (I Don’t Want to Leave the Congo) by Louis Prima and We Gotta Get Out of This Place by The Animals. These two records were played over and over and were always accompanied by some loud vocals.

Are there any other songs peculiar to tours of Afghanistan or Iraq? – Malcolm Tanner, Reigate, Surrey.

Battle of the bands

LIKE most serving soldiers I wear my Help for Heroes wristband with pride, both when in uniform and civvies.

However, I was recently approached by a senior member of The Royal British Legion who asked me why those in uniform could not wear more than one band.

The individual pointed out that the Legion was also raising money in support of our troops in Afghanistan and wherever else they may be serving.

Can someone tell me the policy on wearing wristbands? I appreciate that there is a line as to how many is sensible, but most soldiers I know wear two – one in support of Help for Heroes and the other their own regiment. – WO2 White, 6 Rifles.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), replies: Thank you for your question about the number of wristbands that may be worn in uniform – the answer is one.
The Army Dress Committee recently allowed wristbands to be worn provided that the band in question was in support of an officially recognised Service charity. Wristbands are not to accompany parade orders of dress and only one can be worn at a time. PS12(A) (9621 86078) maintains a list of approved items and Service charities should anyone wish to check what is and is not approved.

‘Time to stop drilling drill?’

AT the risk of being ostracised by certain elements within the military fraternity, I wish to question the relevance of the All Arms Drill Course, which I note is still going strong despite the current climate of stringent cost cutting.

As a former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) I fully appreciate the importance of drill and understand that it is an integral part of Service life, especially during formative training, but surely the course is out of touch with today’s Army.

The company and troop level drill practised by the majority of Regular Army units is rudimentary at best and any parade requiring greater effort is managed by the RSM.

In the event that an incumbent RSM does not have sufficient experience in performing the more intricate drill movements required for a particular type of parade, surely professional support is available from one of the Guards regiments, who are without doubt the best in the business.

With this in mind, it would seem that the course is run purely as a prerequisite qualification for promotion. History has shown that the majority of those attending are unlikely to use the skills learnt.

The annual cost to administer and staff the drill wing responsible must run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Surely this money could be spent much more wisely. – Mr M A Kerr, North Yorkshire.

Extend eligibility, please

I WAS very excited when I first read the recent Army Briefing Note relating to the eligibility of dependants of Foreign and Commonwealth soldiers to apply for settlement in the UK (on completion of five years of unbroken service).

However, I was disheartened to learn that the provision only applies to the families of those serving in the UK.

Those with partners or parents posted overseas must wait until their soldier returns to a role in the UK before submitting an application.

The ability to apply for settlement regardless of where an individual is posted would be appreciated.

This minor change to the regulations would reduce the financial burden (visa application fees) currently being shouldered by Foreign and Commonwealth troops when travelling to visit their relatives. – LCpl Mavhera, 2 LSR RLC.

Brig Mike Griffiths, DPS(A), responds: The point you have raised about dependants being able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain while outside the UK is a very good one.
I would like to assure you that the British Army is very much aware of the issue and we have asked the UK Border Agency to confirm whether or not it is possible for dependants to make applications from overseas.
Once we have an answer we will publish further details.

‘Only promote the physically fit’

WHAT is the current policy in regards to promoting personnel who are medically downgraded as a result of training injuries?

Where is the incentive for soldiers to work hard to get back to full fitness within a reasonable time if you promote them regardless? At the moment injured soldiers, and even blatantly unfit ones, are progressing their careers without having to pass basic military fitness tests.

Having previously served in a unit that did not promote unfit soldiers, the trend to do otherwise is unfair on those who complete the tests. How can physical condition be discounted in an organisation that needs to be fit to fight? – Name and address supplied.

Brig Richard Nugee, Director Manning (Army), writes: The current policy is that all soldiers who are recommended and qualified (through education, military and trade) for promotion will be taken to the promotion board. Soldiers are selected for promotion on the basis of their annual reports and their ability to be employed at the next rank.
If a downgraded soldier is selected for promotion the board will seek the advice of the occupational health department at the Army Personnel Centre to ensure that the soldier can complete the job into which he/she is to be promoted.
If the soldier is deemed unable to, and there is no other suitable post, then they will not be promoted.
This applies equally to fully fit and downgraded soldiers.