Via The London Daily Mail:
Afghan heroes home for Christmas forced to change out of uniforms on freezing runway before using airport terminal ...
The Lowlights:Scores of soldiers flying home from Afghanistan on Christmas leave were ordered to change out of their uniforms - which they had worn while risking their lives during months of intense fighting against the Taliban - before being allowed into a civilian airport terminal.
The December 23 flight, carrying 200 personnel, had been diverted from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Birmingham because of bad weather.
The troops were told they could either wait for buses to take them back to Brize Norton or else travel home via public transport - in which case they must change into civilian clothes before entering the terminal.
Around 50 chose the latter option and, because there was no room in the cabin, most changed outside in the freezing air.
Last night the airport authorities denied responsibility, saying: "We support our Armed Forces and whatever form of dress they choose to wear at our airport."
The MoD eventually confirmed it has a ban on troops wearing uniforms in civilian airports, claiming it was because of ... security reasons.
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