"imitating" soldiers

[Kinetic]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

Since the thread has been resurrected again, I'll chime in.

I think it would depend on the reason behind why people wear the insignia etc, for example gearing up in a similar manner to a unit you admire, great. Adding commando patches and the like willy-nilly on some BDU's... not so great.

I wear my fathers old stripes from his conscription in the south african defence force with my loadout, all genuine SADF gear inc assault vest, so it does fit. And of course I wouldn't part with those stripes for anything. I do however have a spare set I picked up in SA if anyone's interested =P

[homer-side]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

i wear my insignia with pride.
my dad served in the remee.my nephew is now in harms way.in the remee.
i have relatives past and present who all saw action.[para/marine-artillery.]
i think if i wear the insignia of their unit it should be ok.
we went to war / world war . twice for the right.

[Millzy]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

I find this thread amusing. So many people are going on about "respecting" soldiers & the like. No-one however will sponsor me to cycle round Britain for a number or charities that help Britains-war-wounded. Well, there may be some that just haven't seen the thread. So if you feel like supporting me help those that have been mangled & maimed in order to keep bombs off your school busses, here's a link . . .

http://www.zeroin.co.uk/showthread.php?t=43109

[Planemo]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

Good idea. Hope you get all the money you are looking for. You've got mine

[Green-Giant]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

this is quiet interesting for me as i've been contemplating adding some bits to my DPM's

I recently went through Basic Army Selection, working hard day in day out to reach a high level of fitness, i went onto PRAC (Parachute Regiment/Recruit Aptitude Course)
And was told at the curren time i wasn't upto health because i have sustained Shin splints.

Now for me that was a massive kick in the balls!!!! Im only 20 but as far back as i can remember i wanted to join the Parachute Regiment and being told i couldnt for another few years was painful.
Until i am able to actually join im happily running around sites shooting my toy gun, but id like to add the 3 PARA insignia (my brothers best mate is currently serving and thats where i was aiming to go), now at the end of the day im NOT serving so havn't earn't the right to wear the insignia on parade,battlefield,service days etc but i feel as were playing a game i'd like to wear what i have dreamt about.
If anyone moans at me, by all means put me through some rigorous airsoft para course if you want its a game, were not representing the queen and in actual fact i think it was be considered an honour to have people idolise your regiment.

[homer-side]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

this is quiet interesting for me as i've been contemplating adding some bits to my DPM's

I recently went through Basic Army Selection, working hard day in day out to reach a high level of fitness, i went onto PRAC (Parachute Regiment/Recruit Aptitude Course)
And was told at the curren time i wasn't upto health because i have sustained Shin splints.

Now for me that was a massive kick in the balls!!!! Im only 20 but as far back as i can remember i wanted to join the Parachute Regiment and being told i couldnt for another few years was painful.
Until i am able to actually join im happily running around sites shooting my toy gun, but id like to add the 3 PARA insignia (my brothers best mate is currently serving and thats where i was aiming to go), now at the end of the day im NOT serving so havn't earn't the right to wear the insignia on parade,battlefield,service days etc but i feel as were playing a game i'd like to wear what i have dreamt about.
If anyone moans at me, by all means put me through some rigorous airsoft para course if you want its a game, were not representing the queen and in actual fact i think it was be considered an honour to have people idolise your regiment.

i agree,some for what ever reason can,t serve or have and had to leave,
what ever the reason,its as above says a sign of serespect,

[Krayzee]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

Millzy mine will be over this eve!

[Millzy]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

Thanks Planemo & Krayzee, if you could update my thread or PM me your name, email addy & how much you donated (So I can update me sponsorship form), I'd appreciate it (Saves me rummaging trough Zeroin, trying to find out WHO'SE actually sponsored me lol).

[Beef]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

Personnally I am all for wearing whatever rank and insignia you like the look off. Even Mixing and matching if its suits you. Its a flippin game with plastic guns for petes sake. If people take offence thats up to them. If I am wearing some British Army badges its because I like the look of them, NOT because I am pretending to be a real soldier or trying to emulate those who wore the ensignia. I actually prefer the US Navy badges their F14 pilots have, So I use those.

I am not going for the gear that matches, Only What I like the look of after all its my money I am spending.

[Millzy]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

What everyone's trying to get at is we work our asses off to EARN THE RIGHT to wear those insignia's, cap badges & stable belts. So it's not JUST about a flippin' game with plastic guns atall. It's a sense of pride & the very fact that this subject has been brought up means someone's actually thought "Hmm, this might offend those that have ACTUALLY EARNED THEM". Maybe it is silly that us soldiers may roll our eyes at some tube turning up wearing SAS patches, Para wings or rank slides . . . I'll let the dozen or so other soldiers, past & present, give their own opinions obviously but if someone turned up wearing what you've described, I'd think they were a nutcase . . . . But that's just me . . . .

[homer-side]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

mmmmm we all have or had relatives who serve or served.
and if people wish to emulate those it shouldm be ok.
we thought 2 world wars to have the right.!.

each to their own,just don,t abuse it or dishonour the name of the reg/unit etc.
then you shouldn,t be allowed to wear the said gear.

[on a diff note i didn,t no you had a reg charity event going on,you got offivcial recognition etc,.if so let me no the details etc.i,ll gladly sponser you for that.]
.....[MILLZY].....

i support our guys and girls serving.they do a fantastic job.
i support the help for heroes [inc my wife] big time.

[Green-Giant]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

No one is disputing the fact you work your asses off!!!
why would you think theyre a nutcase? because they've taken an interest in a particular regiment? because they idolise that particular regiment?
Soldiers earn the right to wear there particular insignia, i couldn't agree more, but in a game of toy soldiers(which is what this is) what the massive issue, it really gets me because if they're not walking round claiming to be something there not-and in my case i don't do that-why does it offend!?

If i was i my chosen regiment i would probably have a little smile if i saw someone with the insignia on there arm, id do exactly as mentioned above, ask them about it and see if they do have an interest or if they are serving or say they have.

I suppose if insignia offends people, we really shouldn't buy DPM's or infact anything from a surplus store because its what our soldiers wear and we havn't earnt the right to wear it so couldn't possibly hide in the woods with it all!!!

I may be missing something big but i think some people need to lighten up. Airsofters copying my insignia would probably be last on my list, im sure you joined to serve and protect queen and country not to be better than civvies by earning the right.......

I earnt the right to freedom of speech and to wear what i please when i please.
Could be worse i suppose and i think you'd probably get more offended if i ran around with a Swastika on my arm!!!

[Fizzy]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

and i think you'd probably get more offended if i ran around with a Swastika on my arm!!!

Or ask for your autograph, mistaking you for Prince Harry :p

[Millzy]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

No one is disputing the fact you work your asses off!!!
why would you think theyre a nutcase? because they've taken an interest in a particular regiment? because they idolise that particular regiment?
Soldiers earn the right to wear there particular insignia, i couldn't agree more, but in a game of toy soldiers(which is what this is) what the massive issue, it really gets me because if they're not walking round claiming to be something there not-and in my case i don't do that-why does it offend!?

If i was i my chosen regiment i would probably have a little smile if i saw someone with the insignia on there arm, id do exactly as mentioned above, ask them about it and see if they do have an interest or if they are serving or say they have.

I suppose if insignia offends people, we really shouldn't buy DPM's or infact anything from a surplus store because its what our soldiers wear and we havn't earnt the right to wear it so couldn't possibly hide in the woods with it all!!!

I may be missing something big but i think some people need to lighten up. Airsofters copying my insignia would probably be last on my list, im sure you joined to serve and protect queen and country not to be better than civvies by earning the right.......

I earnt the right to freedom of speech and to wear what i please when i please.
Could be worse i suppose and i think you'd probably get more offended if i ran around with a Swastika on my arm!!!

You've completely mis-understood what I'm aiming at. Personally, I'm not overly bothered, you don't get too many dudes turning up wearing engineer TRF's lol. I don't get offended with what people wear. Yeah I would roll my eyes if someone turned up wearing daggers, para wings, sas cap badges etc but I know a few guys (one being a former pathfinder) that actually get narked off when people turn up with para wings on that they've not earned. What does do my nut in is 14 year old kids or cadets telling me my job lol. That's actually the reason I've quit; or at least taken a break, from airsoft . . . Although it's hard to not buy a nice shiny new M14 . . . .

[Green-Giant]

Re: "imitating" soldiers

sorry i didnt mean to aim it at you as such lol i meant in general, i cans ee why people initially would be abit annoyed but then surely it would dawn on them its a toy gun game.....but hey you cant please everyone