I got my stripes on Ebay

[OB Kenobi]

I'd like to order a pair of those melting boots they were giving out earlier. Oh, and add to that one malfunctioning L85. No, wait, one more thing, give me one of those gunless Eurofighters to go. Yep, that's it. Do you accept Paypal?

I got my stripes on Ebay
By JOHN KAY
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004410554,00.html

NEWLY-promoted RAF sergeants are being forced to buy their stripes on eBay after a bungle by cost-cutting chiefs.

One corporal bid £4.99 to a private seller on the auction website because his RAF store was out of the shoulder stripes.

The NCO based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, got the shirt stripes — still wrapped — after beating three other bids.

He said: “I’d have paid more. The stripes were issued in 1998 and are better quality than the present ones.

“They’re 100 per cent cotton, look clean and the white chevrons are clear. The new cheaper polyester ones look cheap and nasty and the chevrons are dull.

“A lot of kit is available on eBay from flying suits and helmets to berets and badges.”

The RAF is short of stripes after switching manufacturers — then finding the first batch was sub-standard.

A spokeswoman said: “We expect to overcome the problem shortly.”

The farce comes as the RAF spends £5million on ceremonial uniforms almost identical to existing ones — and £1.5million on badges and logos to prevent any confusion with RAC breakdown crews.

[stuntman]

HEy fella don't feel bad, one of my buddies is using a Interceptor OTB (Molle body armor) over in Iraq. Oh yeah did I forget to mention I got it on ebay!

Weep em man it's Ebay!
Savior of our world..

[Deuterium]

Hell, most of my good TA-50 I bought myself. Nothing new here. Soldiers always do this.

[Laconian]

Deut's right. You always had the issue CIF set of gear for inspections & turn-in & your own for real use...

[Bartok5]

Well, I wanted to keep my engraved U.S. Army Bronze Star in the original "faux-leather" presentation case that it came in. But I needed one to "court-mount" with my other service medals. So, a quick search on eBay got me another Bronze Star for the whopping price of $6 USD plus shipping to Canada. Guess where I got my "miniature" for the Mess Dress medal rack?

It is not just eBay. There are entire businesses out there that will print you up an "official cittation" for the award of your choosing. The best of those are indistinguishable from the real deal. Armed with your fake "citation", you can then hit up the internet to procure your "awards" for $10 or less and have them added to your "rack".

I can see this being a problem in the U.S. Forces, which are huge. In the Canadian Army, we all know who got the U.S. Army Bronze Stars for Afghanistan a couple of years ago. And since there were only 850 of us "doing the business" in Kandahar, we also know a "HQ Poseur" when we encounter one. Our war-fighting contingent was small enough that we all know a brother/sister who "walked the walk" when we see them.... The rest are a "wannabe" waste of rations....

[ibstolidude]

Deut's right. You always had the issue CIF set of gear for inspections & turn-in & your own for real use...
AVOID CIF would be a wiser motto. Nothing like getting an item - putting it in a kit bag (marked CIF DON'T TOUCH!) and leaving it be for a few years; returning it to CIF only to have them say "That isn't the right kind of xxx. We don't accept that brand." "Really mother ****er? You gave it to me!"

Than you think you will explode with anger, calming only because you are remembering all the times you did your proper duty as an competent NCO and "heightened the physical security awareness of other units" and instead of going ape**** you go to the PX/Clothing and Sales and "exchange" your, appearantly, worthless item for the correct one; with out the sales people aware.

NO THANKS - if it isn't unit equipment then to hell with it.

[GrantT]

Don't forget it's The Sun who's written the article, don't expect good journalism.

[fantassin]

Bartok, you are one of those 30 I suppose ?



U.S. awards medals to Canadian soldiers
Tue, 09 Dec 2003 9:56:22


EDMONTON - Thirty Canadian soldiers received Bronze Star medals from the United States for bravery and meritorious service in Afghanistan during a ceremony in front of 700 troops.

The families of four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan accepted the medals.

Pte. Richard Green, Pte. Nathan Smith, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer and Sgt. Marc Leger were killed in April 2002 when a U.S. jet dropped a bomb on them during training exercises. The American pilots say they believed they were under attack.

U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci presented the medals – a five-pointed star hanging from a red, white and blue ribbon – during the ceremony in Edmonton.

"No piece of cloth or framed citation can replace your husbands and sons," said Cellucci.

Twenty-six other soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group also received the medals, which are presented to troops who face enemy fire.

"The soldiers of this battalion proved to the world, that despite what you may read in academic reports, the Canadian army is made up of world-class soldiers," said Cellucci.

Maj. Rodney Keller says he's proud to wear the award.

"It signifies a sort of brotherhood and that we were in this place together and living through the same conditions," said Keller.

Marley Leger, whose husband Marc died in the bombing, says she's grateful for the acknowledgement.

"The medal, to me, represents Marc's ultimate sacrifice," said Leger. "He died fighting for what we believe in. I don't think you can get any braver than that."

Other family members, including Paul Dyer, who lost his son Ainsworth, left the ceremony saying it meant little to them.

"It doesn't change anything. My son is under the earth," said Dyer.

[Deuterium]

Deut's right. You always had the issue CIF set of gear for inspections & turn-in & your own for real use...
AVOID CIF would be a wiser motto. Nothing like getting an item - putting it in a kit bag (marked CIF DON'T TOUCH!) and leaving it be for a few years; returning it to CIF only to have them say "That isn't the right kind of xxx. We don't accept that brand." "Really mother f***? You gave it to me!"

Than you think you will explode with anger, calming only because you are remembering all the times you did your proper duty as an competent NCO and "heightened the physical security awareness of other units" and instead of going ape**** you go to the PX/Clothing and Sales and "exchange" your, appearantly, worthless item for the correct one; with out the sales people aware.

NO THANKS - if it isn't unit equipment then to hell with it.

BTDT so true, so true.

[Midav]

Bartok, you are one of those 30 I suppose ?



U.S. awards medals to Canadian soldiers
Tue, 09 Dec 2003 9:56:22


EDMONTON - Thirty Canadian soldiers received Bronze Star medals from the United States for bravery and meritorious service in Afghanistan during a ceremony in front of 700 troops.

The families of four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan accepted the medals.

Pte. Richard Green, Pte. Nathan Smith, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer and Sgt. Marc Leger were killed in April 2002 when a U.S. jet dropped a bomb on them during training exercises. The American pilots say they believed they were under attack.

U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci presented the medals – a five-pointed star hanging from a red, white and blue ribbon – during the ceremony in Edmonton.

"No piece of cloth or framed citation can replace your husbands and sons," said Cellucci.

Twenty-six other soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group also received the medals, which are presented to troops who face enemy fire.

"The soldiers of this battalion proved to the world, that despite what you may read in academic reports, the Canadian army is made up of world-class soldiers," said Cellucci.

Maj. Rodney Keller says he's proud to wear the award.

"It signifies a sort of brotherhood and that we were in this place together and living through the same conditions," said Keller.

Marley Leger, whose husband Marc died in the bombing, says she's grateful for the acknowledgement.

"The medal, to me, represents Marc's ultimate sacrifice," said Leger. "He died fighting for what we believe in. I don't think you can get any braver than that."

Other family members, including Paul Dyer, who lost his son Ainsworth, left the ceremony saying it meant little to them.

"It doesn't change anything. My son is under the earth," said Dyer.

I want to make this very clear that I am not starting a flame and would not care if these were United States soldiers.

It's a shame they are handing the Bronze Star Medal out like candy tossed at a parade.

RIP to those poor Canadian soldiers that died in a stuppid friendly fire incidident.

[fantassin]

In a coalition, awarding medals to each other is very important to bolster relationships between the different components.

At the end of WW2, it was common for allied soldiers to sport medals from two or three different countries.

Example of a WW2 French ace (Pierre Clostermann):

1) French

Grand-Croix de la Légion d'Honneur
Compagnon de la Libération
Médaille Militaire
Croix de Guerre 1939-45 avec 19 palmes
Croix de la Valeur militaire avec 2 citations

2) Foreign

Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross and bar
Silver Star
Air medal

[Midav]

Yes and I have no problems that awards are passed out... if they are earned.

Just seeing some combat should not make someone eligable to be given a Bronze Star.

[ShadowNeo]

I got a bunch of sergeant stripes just last week from stores, and they had them in abundant supply. A shortage in sergeant stripes seems kinda wierd to me.


Also, why a corporal would spend £5 for some slides seems kinda stupid to me when you can get RAF rank slides in abundant supply from here for less: http://www.northwestsupplies.co.uk/military/RAF-Silver-on-Blue/?page=0 .

It all seems like typical sun bs to me.

[Hydro]

I got a bunch of sergeant stripes just last week from stores, and they had them in abundant supply. A shortage in sergeant stripes seems kinda wierd to me.


Also, why a corporal would spend £5 for some slides seems kinda stupid to me when you can get RAF rank slides in abundant supply from here for less: http://www.northwestsupplies.co.uk/military/RAF-Silver-on-Blue/?page=0 .

It all seems like typical sun bs to me.

I don't think he was after slides.

[ShadowNeo]

Ahh, the things for No.1's? Most RAF people I know have worn them like once a year, so it could be understandable why they were not kept in abundant supply. If so, theres a bunch of websites that sell them for around £2.