Origin of The Phrase
Following the amalgamation of Canada's military branches (navy, army and air force) into a single command structure in 1968, all members of the unified Canadian Forces adopted a standard set of uniform styles and colours.
In the 1980s, the Canadian Forces – while remaining fully unified – assigned each of its members to one of three 'environments': sea, land, or air. This assignment was based on the individual's trade; pilots would be assigned to air, for example, while a grenadier would be assigned to land. Associated with each 'environment' assignment would be a particular set of uniform styles and colours: collectively, the Distinct Environmental Uniform (DEU).
Individuals whose trades weren't directly and obviously linked to specific environments – doctors, purchasing clerks, military police, etc. – might find themselves assigned to any one of the three environments. A fighter aircraft wing might end up with a medic in navy black and a procurement clerk in army green. As working in the occupation is often barely different, if at all, from one element to another, soldiers sailors and aircrew are often placed on the same service branch or trade-specific course. For example, Military Police course candidates consist of members of the Army, Navy and Air Force on one course.
Read more about this topic: Purple Trades
Famous quotes containing the words origin of, origin and/or phrase:
“The origin of storms is not in clouds,
our lightning strikes when the earth rises,
spillways free authentic power:
dead John Brown’s body walking from a tunnel
to break the armored and concluded mind.”
—Muriel Rukeyser (1913–1980)
“Art is good when it springs from necessity. This kind of origin is the guarantee of its value; there is no other.”
—Neal Cassady (1926–1968)
“A man’s women folk, whatever their outward show of respect for his merit and authority, always regard him secretly as an ass, and with something akin to pity. His most gaudy sayings and doings seldom deceive them; they see the actual man within, and know him for a shallow and pathetic fellow. In this fact, perhaps, lies one of the best proofs of feminine intelligence, or, as the common phrase makes it, feminine intuition.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)