(no subject)
Sep. 3rd, 2004 03:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theweaselkingNewly-promoted RAF sergeants are being forced to buy their stripes on eBay after a cost-cutting "bungle" left the proud NCOs without a proper supply of the essential badge of rank,
The RAF admitted to a stripes famine after a new supplier's first batch proved not up to scratch. Those beancounters flying a desk down at the MOD have attracted plenty of flack recently for attempting to slash costs while simultaneously splashing out "£5million on ceremonial uniforms almost identical to existing ones - and £1.5million on badges and logos to prevent any confusion with RAC breakdown crews", as the Sun notes.
A poor show, but rather more worrying is the unnamed NCO's observation that: "A lot of kit is available on eBay from flying suits and helmets to berets and badges." Surely it is just a matter of time before the RAF is trawling eBay for Eurofighter spares and airbases to rent on a short-term lease. El Reg fears for Britain's air-defence capability.
The RAF admitted to a stripes famine after a new supplier's first batch proved not up to scratch. Those beancounters flying a desk down at the MOD have attracted plenty of flack recently for attempting to slash costs while simultaneously splashing out "£5million on ceremonial uniforms almost identical to existing ones - and £1.5million on badges and logos to prevent any confusion with RAC breakdown crews", as the Sun notes.
A poor show, but rather more worrying is the unnamed NCO's observation that: "A lot of kit is available on eBay from flying suits and helmets to berets and badges." Surely it is just a matter of time before the RAF is trawling eBay for Eurofighter spares and airbases to rent on a short-term lease. El Reg fears for Britain's air-defence capability.