Airforce hit by uniform shortage
Date: 17 October 2012
By Dean Wingrin
Airforce members have been told that they will not be issued with new ‘blue’ uniforms for the next two years.
Due to financial and supplier issues, all airforce members, with the exception of Senior Officers and General Officers, are expected to wear camouflage uniforms when on duty.
“All airmen, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers and junior officers at bases and units have been instructed to wear camouflage uniform for the next two years,” Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga, Director Defence Corporate Communication, told defenceWeb.
“This,” Mabanga said, “is a result of (a) combination of financial and supply factors.”
Unconfirmed reports state that the tender for the supply of the traditional blue Airforce uniform was mismanaged and the Airforce does not have the budget to procure new uniforms.
As a result, most members will have to wear camouflage uniform at meetings and inter-departmental functions. Understandably, this has affected moral within the airforce.
“This is embarrassing, how can we wear camouflage to a function when our Navy and Army colleagues are dressed smartly?” one Warrant Officer asked.
Members of the airforce are supplied with a number of different uniforms, depending on their mustering. All members are normally issued with dress ‘blues’ for office and formal use and camouflage dress for operational and field duties. Bluetria working field dress may also be issued to those members performing maintenance or who work in workshops.
