Habits that last a lifetime

Hotel. Alpha. Bravo. India. Tango. Sierra.

Whether you picked them up as a fresh-faced recruit just out of Basic or out on tour, the habits we pick up when serving in the armed forces never truly leave us.

Whether it’s how to precisely fold a sheet or always having your boots polished, we asked our members, ‘What habits have become second nature since your time in service?’

On the lookout!

Alan C. tells us, he still “checks rooftops and doorways” whereas Joe P. still scopes “rooftops, open doors and body language as well as making a point to sit with his back to a wall so that he can see who comes in the door at restaurants.”

Attention to detail

Trevor L., on the other hand, generously gave a whole list of habits he still regularly has from his time in service; “Where to start... Ironing immaculate creases in shirts, cleaning shoes to parade standard, making beds to Inspection standard, able to spot dust from 10 yards when cleaning... and God help anyone who doesn't meet our standards when they do these things for us.”

With the level of attention to detail needed to pass inspection, it’s no surprise that the knack for getting things right first time never really leaves you. Check out our recent blog on the top tricks our team still use to keep their uniforms sharp and their parade boots shiny.

Timing is everything

The most common response we found however, was that members largely retained their keen commitment to ‘punctuality’, with Chris B claiming to be “15 minutes early for everything” and Twitter follower, Patricia telling us that her punctuality (combined with the bus times where she lives) means she’s often had to wait “over an hour in the hospital” before appointments. Luckily, she sees the benefit of having so much time as “lots of people want to buy my knitwear, and I have plenty of time to make it.”

One habit that we try to instil in our members is to make their Defence Privilege Card a routine part of their shop. With big purchases, it might feel second nature to search for a discount but saving on your regular purchases can quickly add up to hundreds or even thousands of pounds every year!

Don’t miss out! Log in today to see our latest offers and see how much you could save!