slim said:
....They certainly should not be used to proceed ashore. If we wish to keep the respect of the public we need to present them with a smart image.
I think that's one of the key issues. The guidance mainly applies to those of us traveling to and from work, since I don't really see the need to nip down to Tesco of a Saturday in uniform. Since it applies to traveling to and from work then that implies working dress; White shirt and black trousers for Officers, SRs and JRs (as required), 4s for SRs and JRs, particularly those in the dockyard environment, DPM as required and Lovats or DPM for Royal.
As far as I'm concerned it's not the uniform itself, but the effort to keep it clean, tidy and presentable to the public. You can end up a complete scranbag in 3s just as much as in 4s, although getting to that state is a lot easier in 4s. It is perfectly possible to keep 4s presentable, but it means replacing them far more regularly than is currently planned for.
One of the main things is, what's appropriate? I have no big issue with the lunchtime pint somewhere along the hard, but would have an issue with an after-hours run ending up in Port Solent at 2300, equally 4s covered in paint, oil, grease or otherwise on the Gosport ferry at 1700 would be inappropriate. Stopping in one of the greasy spoons along the Portsmouth to Plymouth route, or in a motorway service station I'd be expecting to see 3s (black and white) with wither berets or caps.
Mind you, I'm not sure that the wooly pully is a good thing to be wearing in public and I'm not convinced that the open neck shirt underneath presents the best image.