5 December 2024
Uniforms are more than just clothes identifying who you work for - they are personal and express pride in profession, employer and team.
The introduction of a new uniform for Air Force chefs of Combat Support Group is helping to meet those criteria.
Chefs at 23 Squadron RAAF Base Amberley are among the first to wear a newly designed uniform being introduced progressively across Australia, following a consultative design program.
Leading Aircraftwoman Rebecca Lowry said the difference between the old and new uniforms could be felt instantly.
“It’s very breathable, it’s lighter and easy to move in as well,” Leading Aircraftwoman Lowry said.
“Made of cotton, the chef’s top is easier to work with and even having the rank slides sewn onto the sleeves instead of a slide on our shoulders is a bonus.
“Working in the various weather conditions in the southern states and moving rapidly to northern Australia has been accounted for in this design.”
The new uniform highlights the profession of military chef when working alongside their civilian counterparts.
Corporal Raymund Wrobel said the design of the new uniform met modern industry standards.
“The choice of long or short sleeves reflects the constantly improving profession,” Corporal Wrobel said.
“I like working with the short-sleeve version because I am constantly moving and I don’t want to be stopping to roll up my sleeves to achieve completion of a task.”
'In the old uniform we looked different and stood apart from the rest of Air Force, but now we are seen and feel as part of the larger Defence team.'
Leading Aircraftwoman Lowry agreed.
“It’s much more functional than the old white uniform,” she said.
“Being able to wear our GPU (general purpose uniform) trousers rather than the checked cook’s trousers also allows us to simply remove the new top and replace it with our GPU top, meaning we instantly feel like and look like aviators.
“In the old uniform we looked different and stood apart from the rest of Air Force, but now we are seen and feel as part of the larger Defence team.”
Our chefs are focusing on force generation and the new uniform’s flexibility fits the capability building that chefs are involved in.
“Now we arrive for work and the only part of the uniform that is different is the top,” Corporal Wrobel said.
“When we leave the building we change to the GPU top and as our mustering is heavily involved in force-generation training activities, our response times are fast because we are ready in GPU with just the change of a jacket.
“In the field on operations, this rapidity to leave one task for another will be crucial.
“Out of 10, this uniform is an 11.”
Leading Aircraftwoman Lowry said: “We feel very proud of our mustering because we look and feel like aviators in Air Force rather than people in white and checks who looked different.”
