Purple trades
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the armed forces of Canada, the purple trades are occupations and careers – typically related to logistics or other support – that are not strongly linked to one of the Canadian Forces' three major 'environments' or 'elements': land, sea, or air.
Purple trades include (but are not limited to) those associated with logistics, medicine, justice, and military police.
[edit] Origin of the phrase
Following the amalgamation of Canada's military branches (the army, navy, 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': land, sea, 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 blue and a procurement clerk in army green.
The term 'purple trades' arose to describe those positions not associated with a single environment (and hence a single uniform colour). 'Purple' was taken – in a very tongue-in-cheek way – to be the notional uniform colour one would get if one were to combine air force blue, navy blue, army green, army khaki, and white.
[edit] External links
- "Unification" at www.canadiansoldiers.com
