4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Happy chickens!]

Older son has been in air cadets since Jan, absolutely loves it, is doing his d of e, has been flying twice, represented his squadron at athletics, done all sorts.

 

He has a very small pony tail (think Jedi knight, but shorter!) which gets pinned up under his beret - you wouldn't know he had it at all. Rules are hair should be well-trimmed, but girls are allowed to have long hair, it just must not touch collar so has to be tied up. Squadron have been ok with it until recently, but have now given him ultimatum to get it cut or leave.

 

Main reason for the long hair is that has been bullied badly over the years (is a ginger) and this is one of his ways to say he is proud of his hair.

 

Can't believe they would be so awkward about this, and that in this day and age they can get away with different rules for boys and girls. They don't want him to leave, they say he is a very promising cadet, but that if they let him, then more could join with long hair!!!

 

Poor child, has already had an assualt on his way to school to deal with this term, and doesn't want to cut his hair, but is thinking about it just 'cos he loves the cadets. He says maybe he will at half term, and I know he is thinking about being teased....

 

Grrrr...... sorry for rant!

[bluekarin]

That's really annoying. Could a compromise be reached between you all; as in your son agree to keep it to a certain length? Are they aware of the problems he's been having and the reasoning behind him growing his hair? Maybe a quiet word with them before making any decision.

[jlo]

That's really annoying. Could a compromise be reached between you all; as in your son agree to keep it to a certain length? Are they aware of the problems he's been having and the reasoning behind him growing his hair? Maybe a quiet word with them before making any decision.

 

This seems to be good advice. I would second it!

[Happy chickens!]

I agree, but the quiet word has failed miserably, though they sounded sympathetic. Thought we had got them to agree under the circs, but no. One rule for all. Have even spoken with someone at HQ and didn't get anywhere.

[jlo]

Oh dear - no wonder you are so cross. Poor lad! No other advice - sorry!

[bluekarin]

I agree, but the quiet word has failed miserably, though they sounded sympathetic. Thought we had got them to agree under the circs, but no. One rule for all. Have even spoken with someone at HQ and didn't get anywhere.

 

That's very short sighted of them. I'm sorry, but I don't know what else to suggest. I found this http://www.petitiononline.com/hairatc/petition.html so its annoyed other people too, but I don't know how old the petition is.

[keyhole kate]

Sorry

 

Air Cadet & now RAF Mum gets on Soapbox

 

 

But I see it from a different perspective as your DS potentially may decide to commit and join the RAF Standards & Rules are set in stone, compromise is not a word that exists in the Military

There view is if you cant accept what they say goes in the Air Cadets you will not fit or have the discipline & commitment for a RAF Career.

 

It is purely black & white Issue as far as they are concerened individuality does not exist

[Olly]

It seems a real shame, especially when you explain his reason for growing his hair, but my immediate thought was 'he can grow his hair again at any time'. He'll never get another chance to do these things with the Cadets.

[clootie]

If he does decide to have it cut , it tells me that he's made of stronger stuff and is prepared to do whatever he has to do to continue with his Air Cadets even at the risk of some grief at school. His superiors at Air Cadets might even be able to offer some advice should these oiks give him any trouble. Good luck.

[whoopsie]

I'm sorry and I understand your son's position, but ALL the forces have the same rule, for ALL personnel, including cadets.

[Cinnamon]

I am sorry.

 

My daughters were both Sea Cadets, & as others have said,they see themselves as the forces & have the same rules.

 

My girls both left when they started their GCSE 's, but the strictness of the regime was getting to them already.

One was severly chastised in front of all the Cadets for a badge (which I had sewn on) being about half a cm in the wrong place

 

Actually,thinking about it & speaking to my girls,it said on the Sea Cadets paperwork that girls & boys with long hair must wear it in a bun.....................................

[Happy chickens!]

I have a lot of respect for our armed forces, and realise that in a battle zone it is crucial that when given an order you obey it instantly, there is no time for a debate.

 

But to me, rules should be there for a reason, not just because it's always been done like this. (Or society would never progress would it!) The rules have changed to accomodate girls (who are allowed long hair if up in a bun, off the collar), and religions such as Sikhs, who never cut their hair.

 

He is not asking for anything different - as I said, you would not know that he had this bit of long hair when in uniform, he looks very smart indeed.

 

Clootie, the advice given by the wing commander to deal with the bullies was..... if a group picks on you, run away, but let one catch up with you and then beat them up as it's self defence if they are chasing you. My gentle giant of a son was not impressed! Thanks for the link bluekarin, will show him after school.

 

At the end of the day, his hair would re-grow very quickly, it's not a huge deal as these things go, but it is a big deal to him in his daily life dealing with bullying (which, touch wood, is not too bad a the moment). This is an organisation for children, not adults, so you do hope for a bit more give and take and also they are missing out on other great kids who could gradually be convinced of the forces way of life.

[Rhapsody]

Wow. I've just gone through this with R, my younger son. He has mad curly shaggy hair (cant think who he inherited that from ) and frankly it looks better at collar length as short it afros, he had the choice of stay in cadets with a haircut or leave. He stayed, but was very disappointed- it was only collar length! As has been said I pointed out he has his whole life to grow his hair....

I'm sorry so HC, one of the reasons R grew his hair was because he has a very large head and gets teased at school for it, and the fuzz effect of keeping it short accntuates it. I let him choose in the end.

[Guest]

Hi

 

Shave it off. rules are rules and if he ever had to combat fight something to grab. The rules are there for a reason.

 

Shame they ever let the girls in to cadets(my OH use to go and thoroughly enjoyed it but he said it changed once girls joined. My son finished Air cadets and when I use to go they were more concerned with their look/tights etc Shame I do sympathise as to the girls and the pony tails etc, thought they had to pin it up mind)

 

Sorry man up that lovely shaved head looks great(tougher) ..go for it number 1

 

I remember at school long hair was in vogue and the boys got told off then and suddenly skin heads were in vogue and they got told off for that! I dont think they can win

 

indie

[Cinnamon]

Hes only a kid - he isn't going to go into combat

And hes an Air Cadet rather than an Army cadet anyhow - IMHO there should be no reason for him not to have it neatly tied back or tucked away.

As I mentioned in my earlier post,my girls were Sea cadets & boys had to tie their hair back or put it into a bun, as did the girls.

 

And if we are talking about how Cadets are a precursor to the forces,its important to have girls in Cadets as women play a vital role in the forces too.

[clootie]

if a group picks on you, run away, but let one catch up with you and then beat them up as it's self defence if they are chasing you.

 

 

and that's advice?

[debbier]

My son was in the ATC for a couple of years. Hair cuts are just part of the regime. As others have said, it's allied to the RAF, and having short hair is as much a part of their rules as having clean, shiny shoes for drill.

 

He's left now and is turning into a hippy

 

There are other organisations he could join that don't have these rules. I'm not sure about air scouts, but what about scouts?

 

As to not letting girls in, that is ridiculous. They are a very important part of the RAF, so why should they not be allowed to join the ATC?

[Cinnamon]

Shame they ever let the girls in to cadets

 

The more I am thinking about this,the angrier I am getting

[Rhapsody]

Shame they ever let the girls in to cadets

 

The more I am thinking about this,the angrier I am getting

 

I thought it was just me, and so kept quiet...

[Old Speckled Hen]

I have a lot of respect for our armed forces, and realise that in a battle zone it is crucial that when given an order you obey it instantly, there is no time for a debate.

 

I have too but I have to confess to serious nimbyism here

My daughter was in the RAF section of CCF at school and as she was rather good at it all she was encouraged by her CO to the point that before I knew it she was on her way to flying selection at Cranwell

I didn't try to dissuade her but I was really scared, I can tell you.

A very good friend asked her how come a kind, gentle and talented young lady wanted to bomb civilians from 40000 feet up.

That did it and she went to Cambridge Uni and is now at Drama school ............ phew

 

This is an organisation for children, not adults, so you do hope for a bit more give and take and also they are missing out on other great kids who could gradually be convinced of the forces way of life.

[poachedegg]

Shame they ever let the girls in to cadets

 

The more I am thinking about this,the angrier I am getting

 

I thought it was just me, and so kept quiet...

 

I was surprised too at the comment - rather unfair and inappropriate in my opinion.

[ebaygirl]

Shame they ever let the girls in to cadets

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was in the Air Cadets when I was at school and despite being a girl, I can catagorically state that I was NEVER more concerned with my tights, hair or anything else so ridiculous.

 

The comment above is appalling and shows a complete ignorance of the vital role that women play in our armed forces today. Or even 20 years ago, when I was in the cadets!

 

Sarah

[TAJ]

Shame they ever let the girls in to cadets

 

The more I am thinking about this,the angrier I am getting

 

I thought it was just me, and so kept quiet...

 

I was surprised too at the comment - rather unfair and inappropriate in my opinion.

 

Such sexiest remarks are rather inappropriate on this forum and do not reflect the vast majority of female cadets I know.

 

My daughter is a Marine Cadet and they are just as strict about her hair as the boys - her hair is totally up within the hat - sometimes you wouldn't even know she was a girl in her uniform! They are quite clear hair should be short - if not (boys & girls) need it to be in a bun net and fully under berret. I have to say the strict discipline is great - she washes and presses her uniform just so for every event, polishes boots and brass to perfection and gets stuck in on field exercises. Before she started cadets she wouldn't even know how to operate our washing machine! Cadets is not Scouts, it is a military based activity and as such the hair thing is just a part of those strict miltary rules.

 

Tracy

[Woodcat]

Shame they ever let the girls in to cadets

 

 

While i myself never entered air cadets my longstanding female friend did. She spent much of her time helping her squadron much more so than any of the male members and rose to the rank of flight sergent and was offered that of warrent officer but had to decline due to univercity comitments. Her squad should have been disbanded due to lack of numbers but due to the efforts of her and a squad mates at least half of whom were female it wasn't they upped the number of cadets attending and the squad is now thriving.

 

Yes it is such a shame that this outstanding group of female cadets should ever had joined and saved this squad in a underprivildged area where air cadets is one of the few organisations to offer children assistence, advice and time away from their problems what a terrible thing it is to allow females the same rights as their male counterparts...

[Guest]

HI

 

I knew this comment may provoke such a response, that is my view and may not be everyones however there are people that are reading this that I know will agree with me, as I remember when the girls joined boys couldnt be boys anymore.

 

I dont think its an unfair comment at all, and there are jobs for females that men cant do in lots of walks of life & vice versa. Fact strength wise there are jobs women just cannot do physically and unfortunately due to political correctness gone mad I am afraid the opportunities have to be offered to women and I know of work areas where the men have carried the women, as they are physically incapable. But there are roles that men also cannot do too. I spent a lot of time living on air force bases and both Army and Air cadet kids who thoroughly enjoyed it(with cropped hair) & with girls(yes worrying about their tights).

 

 

This is absolutely not a sexist view at all , we still have rainbow, brownies, beavers etc so perhaps they should be disbanded too!

 

 

Unfortunately these days due to political correctness there is no freedom of speech anymore in case someone gets offended or feelings now get hurt.

 

So if the lad wants to be in the air cadets cut the hair off the air cadets exists to give the lad or lass a taste of the RAF will be like if they choose this career path or just fun. Same with all the other cadets.

 

indie