HISTORY        RANKS       STRUCTURE        UNIFORM

 

UNIFORM STANDARDS AND MAINTENANCE

Every parade night, cadets are expected to wear some kind of uniform, and as such, the care of it becomes an important aspect of life in the cadets.  Regular inspections are undertaken by the Warrant Officer so it is probably best to keep on their good side by looking after your uniform and generally keeping smart and tidy, after all as Uniform is issued FREE to Air Cadets.

 

Different Types of Uniform:  

Working Blues

1.       Parade Shoes

2.       Black Socks or 'barely black' tights (for female cadets)

3.       Belt

4.       RAF Grey/Blue Trousers or skirt (for female cadets)

5.       Working Blue Shirt

6.       Jumper (September-May)

7.       Beret

8.       Brassard  

 

Cadet Zain Ahmed demonstrates Working Dress

Number 1 Uniform (Normally worn by band members and CWO’s)

1.       Parade Shoes

2.       Black Socks or 'barely black' tights (for female cadets)

3.       Belt

4.       RAF Grey/Blue Trousers or skirt (for female cadets)

5.       No 1 Jacket

6.       Cap (peaked cap for female cap)  

7.       Wedgewood (light) Blue shirt and Black Tie

 

CWO Michael Hill in his No1 uniform

Wedgwood Blues

1.       Parade Shoes

2.       Black Socks or 'barely black' tights (for female cadets)

3.       Belt

4.       RAF Grey/Blue Trousers or skirt (for female cadets)

5.       Wedgwood Blue (light Blue) Shirt

6.       Tie

7.       Jumper in cooler months

8.       Beret

9.       Brassard  

 

Cadet Joe Kinloch wearing 'Wedgewood Blues'

 

DPM (Night Exercises, Camouflage and Concealment or anything else needing camouflage)

1.       Combat Boots

2.       DPM (disrupted pattern material) trousers

3.       DPM (combat 95) or Olive green shirt

4.       OG ribbed jumper (if OG shirt is worn)

5.       Combat jacket

6.       Scrim netting around neck

7.       Beret  

 

Cadet Jemma Conner models DPM uniform

OG (Olive Green) Uniform (Shooting and non-camouflage exercises)

1.       Combat boots – Shiny

2.       OG Trousers

3.       OG Shirt

4.       Combat Jacket

5.       Beret  

 

Cadet Martin Harvey in OG uniform

UNIFORM CARE  

1.      Parade Shoes

To polish these, first strip them by gently heating in a flame from a candle or lighter, then use cotton wool or a rag to wipe off the polish as it melts.  Do this until you reach leather.  Then take a small amount of shoe polish – we recommend KIWI Parade Gloss – and get a small amount of water and some wet cotton wool.  Put a little polish on the cotton wool and rub in a circle motion until all the polish has all gone into the shoe, and repeat.  After 20-30 minutes, your shoes should come to a high shine.  NB: Good shoes will look like glass.

2.      Trousers (No1, Standard, & Olive Green)

The aim is to get sharp creases all the way up the trousers.  The ideal way to do this is to use a trouser press, but as not all of happen to carry one around with us, we suggest lying the trousers flat on the ironing board.  Then get some brown paper and lightly wet the side of the trouser where the crease will go.  After this, lay the paper over it, using a hot iron, push down over the crease.  Push down hard – within reason! – and move the iron over the length of the trousers, repeating for each leg.  The crease should last for a long time.

3.      Belt

The belt is relatively easy to polish.  First remove the buckle by carefully rotating the bar on the back, with the teeth holding it onto the belt.  Now take some metal polish – e.g. – Brasso, using cotton wool rub over the surface.  After a short whole your belt should come to a high shine.  NB:  You frequently have to change your cotton wool as it soon goes black.

4.      Jumper

This is probably the easiest to maintain.  All that is needed to keep it in good condition is an occasional iron or, if starts to get “fluffy” then give it a quick shave, not literally with foam and a razor but with a small pair of scissors.  Being careful not to cut the jumper, remove any sticking out fibres.  DO NOT CUT OFF THREADS - instead pull them through from the inside using a needle or pin.

5.      Shirts (OG, Wedgwood and Working)

These are fairly easy to maintain – just ensure that they stay neatly ironed.  There is no need for excessive ironing.  All that is required is that there are no creases where there shouldn’t be, and that there are no marks or stains on it.  Ensure there is a sharp crease running from the top of the shoulder to the cuffs, as on a normal shirt.

6.      Beret

First steam your beret e.g. – over a kettle, being careful not to burn yourselves.  Remove from the steam, and when cold, place it over your head.  Make sure that the beret badge is over your left eye, and pull down the right side so that the badge sticks out a little.  Then try and make the beret as smooth as possible.

7.      Brassard

Iron to sharp creases, roughly three finger lengthens from either side. Be careful not to iron over the top of the elastic as the imprint will show through the front of the brassard, spoiling the look.  Ensure there are no other creases.

8.      Combat Jacket

Iron until flat.  Remember that it’s DPM, so creases are hard to see.  Iron all pockets flat against the jacket and sew on any missing buttons.

9.      DPM Trousers

Iron until flat.  Remember that it’s DPM, so creases are hard to see.  Iron all pockets flat and sew on any missing buttons.

10.   Combat Boots

When on a night-ex, or needing camouflage

Clean with water to remove any dirt off and put on a thin layer of polish.  These boots do not have to be shiny.

Shooting and non-camouflage boots

Clean the boots with water, then dry.  Take 2 brushes and use one to put the polish on and the other to brush it in.  Then use the same methods as with parade shoes to buff the toecaps