£750,000 cost of kilts for new regiment soldiers

**macwilkin** · 27th July 05, 07:41 AM

Staggers the imgination, doesn't it? :-? :sad:

I'm at a loss for words after reading this.

T.

**sav** · 27th July 05, 08:06 AM

I get more enraged at the MoD every time I read something like this! How dare they impose the traditions of the Highlanders on Lowlanders! How dare they kill the traditions of the Highlanders!! HOW DARE THEY!!! grrr...I'm just getting fed up with the whole situation...

~Sav

**bubba** · 27th July 05, 08:46 AM

They dare because they can.

**davedove** · 27th July 05, 08:52 AM

A lot of people on this board keep commenting about the traditions of the units involved. While individuals may be concerned about such things, in all honesty, governments are not, or if they are it's the last thing they consider. Also, for one of the wealthier nations in the world, 750,000 is nothing to be to concerned about. The government tosses around billions, so anything under a million is, as one of my bosses used to say, "budget dust."

**macwilkin** · 27th July 05, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by davedove

A lot of people on this board keep commenting about the traditions of the units involved. While individuals may be concerned about such things, in all honesty, governments are not, or if they are it's the last thing they consider. Also, for one of the wealthier nations in the world, 750,000 is nothing to be to concerned about. The government tosses around billions, so anything under a million is, as one of my bosses used to say, "budget dust."

When people stop caring that governments do not care, then we are in trouble. Am I an idealist? You bet. Someone has to believe in something these days when apathy reigns surpreme.

Yes, traditions may not be important to governments, but they are important to those of us who recognize the strong debt that all kilt wearers owe the Highland regiments, and the sacrifices that the men of these regiments made in Burma, Normandy, Hong Kong, the Somme and the Gulf.

750,000 may not be a lot of money to a government, but it is still a WASTE, considering there are already uniforms in use. It is also hypocritcal, since budgetary issues were part of the MoD's justification for the amalgamations in the first place.

Am I an idealist? You bet.

T.

**sav** · 27th July 05, 09:03 AM

Todd, you hit the nail on the head. Apathy is so pervasive in our society today, and noone seems to acknowledge the rightful place of history and tradition within the modern framework! As I've always said, "you have to know where you've been to know where you're going."
~Sav

**Sciuropterus** · 27th July 05, 09:16 AM

Maybe it is a bad decision to change the uniforms, but complaining won't help.

As far as I'm concerned, soldiers should wear what is issued to them, period.

Every change in the military generates complaints. The military does not exist to provide tradition for soldiers, it exists to provide defense. Any officer who does not like a required uniform can resign his commision and join a reenactment group. Any enlisted soldier who does like not like his uniform can bring it up with his sergeant, if he dares!

Looks there will be a lot of ex-MOD kilts on the market, good for us!

**bubba** · 27th July 05, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by Sciuropterus

Looks there will be a lot of ex-MOD kilts on the market, good for us!

Nope, they'll be too small in the waist and hip for most of us. They make em for those fit and trim youngsters, not us fat old men.

**davedove** · 27th July 05, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Sciuropterus

As far as I'm concerned, soldiers should wear what is issued to them, period.

Actually, that's not really an issue. They are soldiers, and they will wear whatever is required of them. Any that feel strongly enough will leave the service. Now if enough of them threatened to leave, THEN the powers that be might listen to them.

Of course, if the decision has been made, it will happen. It's hard to stop the juggernaut of government. But then, if things happen in the UK anything like the US, another change is only a few years away.

We're facing similar things here in the US with the base closings. Granted, the traditions aren't as established here because we're a lot younger nation. The ridiculous thing is some of the bases on the closing list were just built up in the last round of closings. Now that's a waste of money!

**macwilkin** · 27th July 05, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by Sciuropterus

Maybe it is a bad decision to change the uniforms, but complaining won't help.

As far as I'm concerned, soldiers should wear what is issued to them, period.

Every change in the military generates complaints. The military does not exist to provide tradition for soldiers, it exists to provide defense. Any officer who does not like a required uniform can resign his commision and join a reenactment group. Any enlisted soldier who does like not like his uniform can bring it up with his sergeant, if he dares!

Looks there will be a lot of ex-MOD kilts on the market, good for us!

Tradition plays a key role in unit morale in the British Army. The past serves as an inspiration for soldiers, officers and other ranks, to perform their duty to protect the nation. These regiments are "family regiments", and it is not uncommon for three generations to serve in the same battalion. The battalion and/or regiment also has a distinct tie to local communities, similar to the relationship many communities in the United States have with their local National Guard or Reserve units. Or the US Marines. They have managed to combine modern-day tactics with a good dose of history & tradition, and it works very well for them.

These units are very much a "family", and their kilts & tartans are symbols of this idea.

T.