SLS Uniform

[JayT]

Military uniforms will be inspected and corrected and proper military customs and courtesies will be strictly enforced. Class B uniform, white over gray, white over blue, or business dress is the uniform of the weenend.

That's from my acceptance letter for SLS. Ignoring the improperly named uniforms and typos..Business Dress? What? We're allowed to wear business dress for CAP activities now?

[Hawk200]

Military uniforms will be inspected and corrected and proper military customs and courtesies will be strictly enforced. Class B uniform, white over gray, white over blue, or business dress is the uniform of the weenend.

That's from my acceptance letter for SLS. Ignoring the improperly named uniforms and typos..Business Dress? What? We're allowed to wear business dress for CAP activities now?

Good question. You'd think that for an activity, it would be required to at least wear one of the organizations uniforms.

They may be accounting for those who do not yet posess a CAP uniform, but you think someone going to SLS would have one by now. I did notice that the polo combo is not listed.

[mikeylikey]

PAWG allows the same thing.  I question business dress.  However, khakis and an open collar dress shirt is just as comfortable, and I would wear it if allowed.

[JoeTomasone]

Most units permit senior members without a uniform to wear "appropriate civilian attire".   I already had my uniform when I took my SLS, but I *was* a SM (WOG!) who could easily have NOT had one.  It was not long after I re-joined.

[JayT]

Aren't you required to have a uniform to get past Level One?

That's just unacceptable to me. How long does it take to get an aviator shirt and a nameplate from Vanguard, and a pair of gray pants and belt from a civilian clothing store? Maybe a week? About the same for a polo shirt?

[MIKE]

Wear    when engaged in normal duties as a CAP member or attending local,
wing/region, or national CAP functions (see note 1).

[arajca]

I'd say the business dress is there for the pilot ypes who don't have any uniforms besides a flight suit.

[JoeTomasone]

I should have included "pending a uniform purchase".   

[JC004]

...How long does it take to get ... from Vanguard...?...

lol.  You're kidding, right?

[JayT]

...How long does it take to get ... from Vanguard...?...

lol.  You're kidding, right?

Took me a week to get my gray and corporate nameplates from them, and I picked up my aviators shirts from a local pilots shoppe for about fifteen bucks.

[RiverAux]

When you get to the SLS, please point out to the course director that there is no such thing as Class A or B uniforms in CAP.  You would think someone in a position to teach our new officers would know that. 

[jimmydeanno]

When you get to the SLS, please point out to the course director that there is no such thing as Class A or B uniforms in CAP.  You would think someone in a position to teach our new officers would know that. 

This is where the "The Assumptions we make" thread comes into play

[SarDragon]

When you get to the SLS, please point out to the course director that there is no such thing as Class A or B uniforms in CAP.  You would think someone in a position to teach our new officers would know that. 

Not as long as members who know better are too lazy to use the proper terminology. We see it all the time here on CT, and on CS, too.

There seems to be a double standard (actually many, but we'll just talk about this one) where calling a uniform Class A/B is ok part of the time but not at other times. I have brought it up many times, and as often as not, the response is that it's not a big deal. And then it comes up again, as in the quote above, and we start anew.

[SoCalCAPOfficer]

Business Dress is only authorized as a uniform for Legal Officers as far as I know.

[dwb]

You get to listen to me for two seminars this weekend, Themann. 

[JayT]

You get to listen to me for two seminars this weekend, Themann. 

Josh Lebenns and I are actually looking forward to seeing some farmilar faces.

[Eagle400]

There seems to be a double standard (actually many, but we'll just talk about this one) where calling a uniform Class A/B is ok part of the time but not at other times. I have brought it up many times, and as often as not, the response is that it's not a big deal. And then it comes up again, as in the quote above, and we start anew.

I believe this particular double standard is due to a lack of quality training.  From what I've seen, uniforms and their terminology just aren't taught to officers the same way they are taught to cadets.  What I mean is, less time and effort is spent in this area for officers.

Often, I noticed that there were too many cadets who cared too much about uniforms and too many officers who cared too little about them, and not a whole lot in-between.  On one end of the spectrum, you have a cadet who wears 4 or more shirt stays and is so obsessed with the perfection of his uniform that it's his main focus.  On the other end of the spectrum, you've got the officer who never had any military, cadet or professional experience and is comfortable with a wrinkled shirt and dirty shoes.        

Only the membership can change that.  National doesn't need to do any more than what they already have; they have given the folks everything they need to get the job done in a satisfactory manner.  This is a matter of the membership taking the ball given to them and running with it.  If someone teaching SLS teaches uniforms in a substandard manner (or doesn't even include them at all) then they've dropped the ball.

This includes teaching the proper uniform terminology.

From what I observed as a cadet, the double standards in CAP aren't that big of a deal, but that's no excuse for people to just sit by and let them remain.  If folks just sit and let them remain, then that sends a negative message to everyone and only confuses people about what's really correct.  

If you break it down, this matter involves 2 types of people: those who don't know it's wrong and are just doing what they've been taught, and those who know it's wrong but don't care and keep things the same.  Those in the latter category need to be corrected; they are holding back CAP's potential.      

   

[RiverAux]

There seems to be a double standard (actually many, but we'll just talk about this one) where calling a uniform Class A/B is ok part of the time but not at other times. I have brought it up many times, and as often as not, the response is that it's not a big deal. And then it comes up again, as in the quote above, and we start anew.

If someone had just mentioned it here as part of conversation I wouldn't have said anything.  But, it was apparently being used as part of "official" CAP business and we should try to avoid it there, especially when you're talking about indoctrinating new officers to the program.  Get it right the first time and hopefully you won't have to worry about them perpetuating it.  

[Eclipse]

The unfortunate reality is that if you want to play the "required" game when it comes to uniforms, there are very few instances where they are required for senior members.

When participating in the cadet program in an authoritative role.

When driving a CAP vehicle with cadets onboard.

Anytime you are flying a CAP plane.

And of course various ES work.

I don't agree with it, don't like it, but have not been able to find regulations which require uniforms for regular meetings or PD-type classes.

[A.Member]

I don't agree with it, don't like it, but have not been able to find regulations which require uniforms for regular meetings or PD-type classes.

Absolutely disagree.  Read CAPR 39-1, Table 1-1.  It clearly illustrates that when "Conducting CAP Business" a uniform will be worn "when engaged in normal duties as a CAP member or attending local, wing/region, or national CAP functions (see note 1)." 

Note 1 states:  "The National Commander and other commanders may specify the wear of a particular uniform type for the purpose of achieving a uniform appearance at squadron, group, wing, region, and national functions. However, all commanders must be mindful of the objective of attaining a neatly uniformed appearance at a minimum of personal expense to the individual member and will consequently refrain from imposing unreasonable uniform requirements."

That is unambiguous.   Attending meetings or "PD-type classes" are, without questions, a part of a members normal duties.   As such, a uniform is required.