New Clothing Regulations For the Royal Signals

[oc14]

The following may be of interest to forum members. This has just been issue by the Army Dress Committee (ADC) and relates to Royal Signals uniform items.

FAD is Future Army Dress (the new all ranks No2 dress uniform)
PCS CU is Personal Clothing System Combat Uniform (The new Multi Terrian Pattern uniform).

Paul L


1. Since the last edition of Corps Dress Regulations was published (PD 213 Edn 6) the ADC has either authorised or endorsed the following changes to Army and R SIGNALS uniform and orders of dress:

a. No 1 Dress Trouser Stripe. The broad scarlet stripe on the outside seam of male officers’ overalls and male soldiers No1 dress trousers had been standardised at 1 & 7/8 inches. This also affects Full dress and Nos 3. 10 & 11 dress.

b. Female No 1 Dress. Female officers and soldiers are to wear the same No 1 dress jacket (patrol style with stand collar) as their male counterparts. However, R SIGNALS female officers and soldiers are to continue to wear skirts. This measure will be introduced gradually. Until then female officers and soldiers are to continue to wear the existing open collar No1 dress jacket. Female cadets at RMA Sandhurst will continue to wear the open collar No1 dress jacket until further notice.

e. Special Forces Communicator Wings. The badge was approved and could be worn on parade orders of dress (Nos 1, 2, 4 and 10 dress) in addition to Nos 8, 13 and 14 dress in perpetuity – ADC Decision No 4231. The badge would be funded by DSF.

f. Officers Service Dress Cap. The officers’ service dress cap is now
obsolete. The Corps headdress to be worn in No 2 dress at all times is the No 1 dress cap. The headdress to be worn in Nos 13 and 14 dress is the beret. Those officers and soldiers serving in 18 (UKSF) Sig Regt, 216 (Para) Sig Sqn and Fleet/3 Cdo Bde RM are to wear their respective coloured beret (if authorised/qualified to do so) in all orders of dress.

g. Army Commando Badge. The All-Arms Commando badge (dagger) is not to be worn on PCS. It is to be worn on all other orders of dress. The semi-circular ‘ARMY COMMANDO’ shoulder title badge has been approved for wear by all Army personnel serving with Fleet/3 Cdo Bde RM. This badge is to be worn in the centre below the shoulder seam at the top of each arm of the combat shirt and field jacket in No 8 Dress and equivalent PCS items and on the jersey heavy wool. The badge is only to be worn by those personnel who have passed the All-Arms Commando Course and served in Fleet. It is to be worn in perpetuity. ADC Decision No 4168.

i. Revised Pattern Corps Stable Belt. The SOinC(A) has approved a revised pattern of Corps stable belt (2011) made with heavy duty webbing and incorporating a Victor locket belt buckle embossed with the full Corps cap badge. This new belt will be available exclusively from the Corps Shop from Jun 11. All-ranks may wear their existing Corps stable belt (1998 version) on a waste out basis. Regiments and Independent Squadrons may arrange directly with the Corp’s stable belt supplier to have the belt supplied with their ADC/Corps approved formation or unit embossed emblem on the buckle. The initial order will include the manufacture of the die which
will be about £300 inclusive of VAT. Some dies already exist from previous unit orders. However, no officer or soldier can be ordered to buy a Corps or unit stable belt as this item of dress is purchased at private expense. To encourage Phase 2 soldiers to buy the Corps stable belt a substantial discount is given on their initial purchase through the Corps shop. Individuals not serving in formed R SIGNALS regiments, squadrons or troops where a unit buckle has been authorised are to wear the Corps stable belt.

j. Regimental Rank Slides and Name Tapes to be worn with the PCS
Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) Combat Clothing. The SOinC(A) has approved a new regimental rank slide to be worn by R SIGNALS officers and soldiers in barracks. The rank slide is light olive green with rank insignia woven in navy blue and white and incorporating the title “ROYAL SIGNALS”. They are to be worn at individual/unit expense and all members of the unit are to wear them. The name tape is to also to be light olive green with the surname in black capital letters. The name tape is to be attached using velcro and worn in barracks and on training.

k. Medal Ribbons. Due to the variation in width of the new No 2 dress jacket breast pocket resulting from the increased size range, the general increase in the number of medals being awarded and the wider ribbon on UN and NATO medals (5mm) all-ranks are to have the bottom row of medal ribbons (usually 4 ribbons) sewn centrally above the left breast pocket on Nos 1 & 2 dress which are not to extend beyond either end of the pocket with each row above containing the same number of ribbons as the bottom row and also sewn centrally. ADC Decision No4225.

l. The Wearing of The Elizabeth Cross in Uniform. Serving personnel
entitled to wear the Elizabeth cross may wear the full size or when appropriate the miniature version on the right chest when in parade uniform (those are: Full Dress, Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 & 11 dress).

m. BRIDGE Op Ceremonial Clothing Pool Held by Regiments and Corps’. A pool of No 1 dress ceremonial clothing to be used by R SIGNALS personnel required at short notice (less 251 Sig Sqn, 10 Sig Regt and Corps Band) for a BRIDGE Op is now held by QM, DCCIS BGSU.

n. Corps Pipes and Drums. Drummers are to wear No 1 dress trousers. ADC Decision No 4218.

p. Wearing of Relatives Medals in Uniform. Serving members of the Army are only permitted to wear the honours, awards and decorations awarded to the individual when in uniform. However, the ADC recognises that when attending events, in particular remembrance services, church and other occasions in a private capacity and not in uniform, the practice of wearing the medals of close family relatives could not be regulated.

q. Wearing of Uniform by Retired Officers and Soldiers. All retired officers and soldiers are now required to comply with Army regulations on the wearing of uniform. Uniform and accoutrements are to be of the latest pattern for the individuals Regiment or Corps and officers are to wear a metal ‘R’ below their rank. Service leavers will be informed of the regulations. ADC Decision No 4215.

r. CGS’s Policy on Regimental Badges. CGS’s policy is that no regimental badges are to be worn on No 8 dress (Cbt 95 & PCS CU).

s. Charity Wristbands. Individuals may wear one wristband at a time of an officially registered UK charity providing the item has been authorised by the ADC when not in ceremonial or parade dress (not worn with Full dress and Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10 & 11 dress).

t. Wearing of Ties in No 13 dress. All ranks are to wear a tie with the points of the FAD shirt inside the jersey in No 13 dress.

u. Wearing of Skirts in Nos 13 and 14 Dress. Female officers and soldiers are to wear the FAD skirt in Nos 13 and 14 dress unless otherwise ordered by COs/OCs.

v. Line Belt. The Line Belt was discontinued from 1 Oct 11.

x. Boots Combat with PCS CU. Until further notice black combat boots are to be worn with PCS CU.

[54Bty]

A very interesting post, thank you. Is there a diagram that goes with paragraph j, with regard to the position of the name tape on PCSCU?

Marc

[Toby Purcell]

Interesting. Thank you for posting.

[ORISKANY]

Most interesting, this post confirms the wearing of the SF Communicator Wings badge which was discussed at length on this forum. I think some folk thought the badge was a spoof. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Please keep us up to speed with any other developments on this subject.

ORISKANY.