Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

My sons army cadets.

39 replies

Jack198012 · 21/02/2021 02:56

Hi my sons in year 9 and joined army cadets last year but because of lockdown the year ended quicker than expected. He's been telling me recently about that they have the same uniform the whole year. (A t-shirt fleece jumper and smock with a belt that needs to be tight). The fleece bit is like optional but recommended. Now from how things are looking he will probably be returning around the start of summer but surely he can't be expected to wear 3 layers in the summer heat. Know sometimes there parades last hours of standing in the sun etc. Is this like normal or not?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
alexdgr8 · 26/02/2021 20:04

is he worrying about this, or only you.
don't you think you might be undermining his independence by fussing about this.
he is not in infant school. let him have the dignity of his years.
reminds me of private pike and his mother from dads' army, insisting he wear his woolly scarf to parade.

Original poster
Jack198012 · 26/02/2021 19:53

I've checked with them they don't have shirts only smocks and they are required to be worn at all times.

OP posts:
annie987 · 26/02/2021 18:22

There should definitely be a shirt. I think he’s missing an item

Jeeves93 · 26/02/2021 17:32

The fleece should not be worn unless it is cold enough to warrant it. Even when it is cold, there is no real reason to wear it on an average parade night as buildings are heated. He can always take a bag with him with the fleece in and put it on if they go outside in the cold.

When it is warm, we do NOT recommend that fleeces are worn. Smocks will not normally be worn when it is hot, only shirts and t-shirt. Smocks are sometimes worn in the field even when hot, in which case it is smock and t-shirt. I can only assume something has gotten lost in translation here as no instructor should be forcing a cadet to wear a fleece in hot weather.

I'm a captain in the Army Cadets.

extentioncord · 22/02/2021 19:28

Yesterday you said you had asked about shirts and he only had the uniform in the OP but your list says he has a shirt.

This isn't something you should be giving any headspace to. The army cadets know about weather.

megletsecond · 22/02/2021 19:10

DS has just joined cadets too. He'll be getting the uniform when he goes back.

Outbutnotoutout · 22/02/2021 19:07

Summer

T-shirt
Shirt, sleeves rolled up
Trousers
Belt
Beret

Winter
As above but
Shirt sleeves rolled down

Fleece if cold
Smock if cold
Waterproofs if raining

These three items are removed if for instance
It stops raining - Waterproofs removed
It warms up/cadets are inside - fleece removed/smock removed

Adults are trained to spot heat and cold injury and make sure cadets are hydrated, fed etc

EduCated · 22/02/2021 19:01

Yes but there’s a difference between ‘part of the uniform’ and ‘must be worn at all times in all conditions’.

minmooch · 22/02/2021 18:31

I wouldn't worry about this. If it's hot the cadets will be allowed to wear less. The school/club won't want cadets passing out. Your son will find this all out and is part of it all. He doesn't need his mum ringing the club in February about uniform in the summer.

Original poster
Jack198012 · 22/02/2021 18:21

@EduCated

Have you or your son actually been told that he will have to wear the jumper on a hot day on a long parade, or are you surmising?
When I asked about it they said that yes the jumper is part of the uniform.
OP posts:
Original poster
Jack198012 · 22/02/2021 18:20

@Outbutnotoutout

They should get

2 x shirts
2 x trousers
2 x T-shirts (they pick up extra ones on annual camp)
1 x Fleece
2 x sock
1 x belt
1 x smock (jacket)
1 x beret and badge

He received 2x trousers 1x tshirt 1x jumper 1x fleece 2x sock 2x belt 1x smock 1x beret.
OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 22/02/2021 18:16

*warm

LadyCatStark · 22/02/2021 18:16

Oh dear lord, having your mum fret over whether you’ll be too arm is the exact opposite of the point of Army Cadets 🙈.

EduCated · 22/02/2021 18:10

Have you or your son actually been told that he will have to wear the jumper on a hot day on a long parade, or are you surmising?

EduCated · 22/02/2021 18:09

Maybe they just wear the tshirt when it’s hot?

Outbutnotoutout · 22/02/2021 17:56

They should get

2 x shirts
2 x trousers
2 x T-shirts (they pick up extra ones on annual camp)
1 x Fleece
2 x sock
1 x belt
1 x smock (jacket)
1 x beret and badge

Original poster
Jack198012 · 22/02/2021 17:30

Don't get why they don't just get shirts though like everyone else guess its fine though if they say so.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jack198012 · 22/02/2021 17:30

Hi. Just got a reply from them and they say they believe that the uniform is fair. It can get a bit warm in the summer at times they can always get a drink.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jack198012 · 22/02/2021 10:11

@Outbutnotoutout

Have you not spoken to your sons detachment Commander, he/she should be able to give you all the information.

I am a lieutenant in the Army Cadets and we are running online lessons at the moment, due to covid.

I have indeed asked and they did confirm that's what there supposed to wear.
OP posts:
Outbutnotoutout · 22/02/2021 10:07

Have you not spoken to your sons detachment Commander, he/she should be able to give you all the information.

I am a lieutenant in the Army Cadets and we are running online lessons at the moment, due to covid.

Original poster
Jack198012 · 22/02/2021 09:59

@freezedriedromance

When I was a cadet and it got warmer we were told to wear our shirts with our sleeves rolled up. Very specific measurements. It wasn't a case of cadets could decide when to do this though, we were told as a unit that from X date it would be short sleeve order. Until that point, still in jumpers.
Thats how I would assume it would be but they just don't have a shirt they just have the tshirt jumper and smock. Apparently very itchy jumper so he has to wear a fleece under it to feel comfortable.
OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 22/02/2021 09:55

DH is in Regular Army. I once got a panicked phone call on the 1st October to bring his winter uniform to his office as he hadn't realised the date.

freezedriedromance · 22/02/2021 09:50

When I was a cadet and it got warmer we were told to wear our shirts with our sleeves rolled up. Very specific measurements. It wasn't a case of cadets could decide when to do this though, we were told as a unit that from X date it would be short sleeve order. Until that point, still in jumpers.

eddiemairswife · 22/02/2021 09:47

A few years ago a soldier died during a hot weather training exercise, and others were unwell.

Original poster
Jack198012 · 22/02/2021 09:10

@Whynotnowbaby

I know you have asked them about uniform but perhaps you could ask them the actual question you asked us regarding how it is made appropriate for summer? None of us know what your son’s school expects.
I shall ask them that now. Thanks for the idea.
OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread