Approaching wear-out dates - Spring 2021

[baronet68]

I wonder why CAP never went the "former items may be worn until no longer servicable" route.

You'd never flush the old stuff, and you'd literally have members in pinks and OD greens.

The BDUs I disposed of were like brand new (of course they were always only dry cleaned and
heavy-starched as is required by regulations).

3 hours a week or less for the average member doesn't wear out anything.
The "I Dream Of Jeannie-era" cadet jackets are a good example of that.

(and even as-is you'll be seeing BDUs at activities, especially summer ones, for the next few
years, heck CAP still has people showing up occasionally with US on their MAJCOM, wing patches on their blues,
and flags on their field uniforms)

I'm going to have to fact-check this post as FALSE.



Neither dry cleaning nor starch of BDU was ever required by the regulations.  Guidance for washing was to wash the BDU in the warm water, permanent press cycle, using mild detergent that doesn't contain any kind of bleach or starch and to then remove from the dryer and place on hanger immediately to prevent wrinkling.

The Army allowed the BDU to be starched but specifically prohibited commanders from requiring starch.

3-6 (d.) The commander may require that soldiers press these uniforms for special occasions when an especially sharp appearance is required, such as parades, reviews, inspections, or other ceremonial occasions. Although soldiers are authorized to starch the BDU, commanders may not require them to do so.

(emphasis added)

Air Force guidance was simply:

1.3.1.3. Uniforms will be neat, clean, pressed, buttoned, and properly maintained.

The "I Dream Of Jeannie-era" cadet jackets disappeared about the same time that I Dream Of Jeannie's first syndicated journey of re-runs came to an end.

In the filming of I Dream of Jeannie, Captain/Major Anthony Nelson wore the Shade 1084 Service Dress uniform, which the USAF replaced with the 1549 shade in 1970.  The 1084 is easily identifiable by the lighter shade of blue and how the lower coat pockets are sewn on the outside of the garment. 



My first service coat as a cadet, issued from my squadron's supply closet in 1983, was a 1084.  I wore it ONCE before quickly realizing that it was quite obsolete and didn't match the color of my trousers.  The odds of a cadet wearing a 1084 jacket anytime in the past 20 years would be in the range of slim-to-almost-none.

Some members really have a penchant for enforcing uniform "regulations" that aren't actually written in the regulations.  Next, I expect someone's going to be enforcing their own made-up rule by telling members that scotch grain shoes and boots aren't authorized to be worn with CAP uniforms.   (Spoiler: They are allowed.)

[Eclipse]

Neither dry cleaning nor starch of BDU was ever required by the regulations.

OK, seriously?

[PHall]

You said it and he refuted it and backed it up with reg cites. What's the problem?

[Eclipse]

Wow. Two for one whooshes.

A fitting end and tribute to the BDU.

[jeders]

The odds of a cadet wearing a 1084 jacket anytime in the past 20 years would be in the range of slim-to-almost-none.

Then I must be one lucky such and such, because I've seen it soooo many times by soooo many cadets. No, the pants and jacket didn't match, but that didn't stop squadrons from issuing the jackets and cadets from wearing them.

Some members really have a penchant for enforcing uniform "regulations" that aren't actually written in the regulations.  Next, I expect someone's going to be enforcing their own made-up rule by telling members that scotch grain shoes and boots aren't authorized to be worn with CAP uniforms.   (Spoiler: They are allowed.)

Of course scotch grain leather is allowed. Now what's not allowed is suede or roughout leather.

[jeders]

Wow. Two for one whooshes.

A fitting end and tribute to the BDU.

The regrettable(?) part about text based communication is that it makes sarcasm much harder to effectively convey.

[N6RVT]

Some members really have a penchant for enforcing uniform "regulations" that aren't actually written in the regulations.

This.  So.  MUCH.

About a quarter of them are old timers who are correctly quoting regulations that no longer exist.  I happen to be old enough to remember when they did, so I can point it out in those cases.

But most are giving you their opinion of what should be but acting like they are quoting a regulation that they don't like or may not even have ever read.  The fact the uniform regulation goes 154 pages doesn't help.

And believe it or not -it used to be actually worse.  We had the CSU series of uniforms on top of everything else, and some wings, like California, had their own uniforms in addition to all that.  we went the "Star Trek route" with grey & maroon polo shirts (I still have those) plus other colors.  PCR conducted a Wing Commander selection board wearing their own Pacific Region polo shirts & Jeans, I know because they all showed up at my squadron dining out later that day.

And last note, its not just CAP.  When I was on active duty Army my cavalry squadron started wearing Stetson hats, riding boots and ascots. The ground guys wore tanker jackets and tanker boots none of which was in 670-1 (the US Army version of 39-1)  Berets started appearing everywhere long before they were adopted as standard headgear.  I saw a private from Fort Irwin on a plane wearing class A with boots and the OpFor hat.  It was a major effort to stop all that with the power of the UCMJ behind it

[PHall]

And last note, its not just CAP.  When I was on active duty Army my cavalry squadron started wearing Stetson hats, riding boots and ascots. The ground guys wore tanker jackets and tanker boots none of which was in 670-1 (the US Army version of 39-1)  Berets started appearing everywhere long before they were adopted as standard headgear.  I saw a private from Fort Irwin on a plane wearing class A with boots and the OpFor hat.  It was a major effort to stop all that with the power of the UCMJ behind it

Hey, Blackhorse does what Blackhorse does.

[N6RVT]

I wonder why CAP never went the "former items may be worn until no longer servicable" route.

You'd never flush the old stuff, and you'd literally have members in pinks and OD greens.

The BDUs I disposed of were like brand new (of course they were always only dry cleaned and
heavy-starched as is required by regulations).

3 hours a week or less for the average member doesn't wear out anything.
The "I Dream Of Jeannie-era" cadet jackets are a good example of that.

(and even as-is you'll be seeing BDUs at activities, especially summer ones, for the next few
years, heck CAP still has people showing up occasionally with US on their MAJCOM, wing patches on their blues,
and flags on their field uniforms)

I'm going to have to fact-check this post as FALSE.



Neither dry cleaning nor starch of BDU was ever required by the regulations.  Guidance for washing was to wash the BDU in the warm water, permanent press cycle, using mild detergent that doesn't contain any kind of bleach or starch and to then remove from the dryer and place on hanger immediately to prevent wrinkling.

The Army allowed the BDU to be starched but specifically prohibited commanders from requiring starch.

3-6 (d.) The commander may require that soldiers press these uniforms for special occasions when an especially sharp appearance is required, such as parades, reviews, inspections, or other ceremonial occasions. Although soldiers are authorized to starch the BDU, commanders may not require them to do so.

(emphasis added)

Air Force guidance was simply:

1.3.1.3. Uniforms will be neat, clean, pressed, buttoned, and properly maintained.

The "I Dream Of Jeannie-era" cadet jackets disappeared about the same time that I Dream Of Jeannie's first syndicated journey of re-runs came to an end.

In the filming of I Dream of Jeannie, Captain/Major Anthony Nelson wore the Shade 1084 Service Dress uniform, which the USAF replaced with the 1549 shade in 1970.  The 1084 is easily identifiable by the lighter shade of blue and how the lower coat pockets are sewn on the outside of the garment. 



My first service coat as a cadet, issued from my squadron's supply closet in 1983, was a 1084.  I wore it ONCE before quickly realizing that it was quite obsolete and didn't match the color of my trousers.  The odds of a cadet wearing a 1084 jacket anytime in the past 20 years would be in the range of slim-to-almost-none.

Some members really have a penchant for enforcing uniform "regulations" that aren't actually written in the regulations.  Next, I expect someone's going to be enforcing their own made-up rule by telling members that scotch grain shoes and boots aren't authorized to be worn with CAP uniforms.   (Spoiler: They are allowed.)

And when they changed the color of the coat, it matched the color of the sleeve braid, which was pretty much invisible at that point, and has been ever since.

[Spam]

Dwight, pal... you can't seriously expect us to examine Larry Hagmans pocket design and uniform cuff braids with Barbara Eden standing there in a PT uniform.    

Cheers
Spam

[N6RVT]

CAPR 39-1, Page 154
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/CAPR_039_001_5_Mar_2020__6EA485E9593C8.pdf

6 Days (01 August 2021):

     Plastic encased insignia FDU and CFDU (Replaced by dark blue cloth)

     Leather nametag on the FDU and CFDU (Replaced by the cloth nametag)

After this weekend I will literally have a pile of this stuff.  On a positive note though, cloth nametags should be good forever.  Your rank is not on it and wearing older versions of of ratings is authorized.  If we had gone to cloth before I was a senior observer I could still wear the leather nametag with the basic wings on them.  But I got promoted and had to replace them all, and now throw them away.

But when I make Master Observer they will still be good, and most likely I won't change them again.

[PHall]

Cloth name tags will last if you don't send through the washer.
Hand wash them and either let them air dry or speed it up a bit with about 30 seconds in the microwave.

Have done this for years with my AF name tags with no problems.

[Shdwcaster]

Any suggestions for where one can acquire the new Class A uniform coat without having convenient access to well stocked AF base? I've got several cadets who've been asking me where to find this thing, since Vanguard isn't selling it, and I'd like to formulate a better answer than "Stalk eBay and pray."

[Eclipse]

Any suggestions for where one can acquire the new Class A uniform coat without having convenient access to well stocked AF base? I've got several cadets who've been asking me where to find this thing, since Vanguard isn't selling it, and I'd like to formulate a better answer than "Stalk eBay and pray."

http://www.uniforms-4u.com/c-air-force-uniforms-1077.aspx

This is one of the few, if only, consistent retail sources for new USAF Service Uniforms
outside AAFES.

They ain't cheap, but they are available...

FWIW, their price of $229 for the officer's coat is a little less then what I paid in 2002-ish for
mine ($160ish adjusted for inflation), and that was direct from an MCSS on base. Tax free helps, of course.

[Shdwcaster]

Any suggestions for where one can acquire the new Class A uniform coat without having convenient access to well stocked AF base? I've got several cadets who've been asking me where to find this thing, since Vanguard isn't selling it, and I'd like to formulate a better answer than "Stalk eBay and pray."

http://www.uniforms-4u.com/c-air-force-uniforms-1077.aspx

This is one of the few, if only, consistent retail sources for new USAF Service Uniforms
outside AAFES.

They ain't cheap, but they are available...

FWIW, their price of $229 for the officer's coat is a little less then what I paid in 2002-ish for
mine ($160ish adjusted for inflation), and that was direct from an MCSS on base. Tax free helps, of course.

Thank you so much.

[N6RVT]

Any suggestions for where one can acquire the new Class A uniform coat without having convenient access to well stocked AF base? I've got several cadets who've been asking me where to find this thing, since Vanguard isn't selling it, and I'd like to formulate a better answer than "Stalk eBay and pray."

http://www.uniforms-4u.com/c-air-force-uniforms-1077.aspx

This is one of the few, if only, consistent retail sources for new USAF Service Uniforms outside AAFES.

They ain't cheap, but they are available...

FWIW, their price of $229 for the officer's coat is a little less then what I paid in 2002-ish for mine ($160ish adjusted for inflation), and that was direct from an MCSS on base. Tax free helps, of course.

And $30 from the same company:

http://www.uniforms-4u.com/p-usaf-officer-jacket-conversion-kit-18231.aspx

Because enlisted coats are actually fairly easy to come by.  Ebay has a lot of them around $50 each.  You can have a service coat for under $100.  I wore one like that for over a decade before I finally bought the real thing (actually here) not one person noticed the difference.

You can also get a brand new enlisted service coat from AAFES for $112, but the officer coat is $192 so if you are going that route get the real deal as you will not be saving that much.