Are you talking about ROTO 0 where we went from IFOR to SFOR?
If so I was on that tour living down in Corolici with 1 CER and we noticed how well kitted out every one was in V.K. and it did piss us and the Pat's off.
If I remember right the Battle Group Commander got wind of it and those in V.K. who had Gucci kit had to turn it in and it was re issued to the field troop's.
As for fluffy hat's I was in KAF this last Canada Day and the welfare folk's were handing out fluffy hat's and all sort's of goodies and at the same time we had a group of Newfies with us and on Canada Day all were wearing big fluffy hat's,all sent from home in welfare parcel's.
I always make room for something that will lighten the mood for all like my water balloon launcher.
Getting back on topic,all member's of the C.F. are entitled to 2 beer's per month when over seas,it's up to the Unit Commander to indent for the beer ration.
The trouble to day is many don't know how to drink responsibly,they just drink to get pissed and can't perform the next day where as I hate to say it,in the old day's we pissed it up and turned too and did our respective job's and if you didn't you got burned,like the old saying goes " You want to hoot with the owl's,you had better be ready to soar with the eagle's and don't complain."