ABUs

[kwe1009]

I switched to the dark blue name tapes on the BDU as well.  Looks way better. 

[JC004]

Friends in high places and all!

He's still national guard, so it's no skin off his back, really.  Nice guy, dedicated public servant.  It's good when your elected official is willing to do more than pay lip service to CAP or show up for photos for 15 minutes, and make sure your cadets actually, physically, have what they need too.

I switched to the dark blue name tapes on the BDU as well.  Looks way better.

It is exactly 10,000 times better.  I measured.

[Spam]

1000 times better?

Twenty Percent Cooler, there, Rainbow Dash!

V/r
Spam

[Brit_in_CAP]

But I did get switched over to the ABU as well.  A set of ABUs, fleece, Gore-Tex parka and pants didn't cost me anything, so why not...  My state representative offered to pick up a set of ABUs for me when he returned from the capital...now that's a high level of service from an elected official.   

Nice!  Now, where's the phone number of our guy...   

[JC004]

1000 times better?

Twenty Percent Cooler, there, Rainbow Dash!

V/r
Spam

...

No no no.  Precisely 10,000 times better.  It's freaking awesome-level better.  aaaaaand they match, unlike a lot of what we've had to deal with in the past (the issue of aircrew wings being WAY different when compared to pilot and observer wings notwithstanding). 

Beyond just color issues, this is the annoying crap we've had to deal with over the past several years:

[kwe1009]

There is no guarantee that we won't have similar issues once Vanguard places an order to replace their current stock of dark blue cloth and either can't get what they previously ordered or they decide to go with something different or cheaper.

[JC004]

oh, they do it just to be funny.

...and because CAP has no CAP-SPECS.

...and because Vanguard forgot about quality control for things like what might happen when your Gore-Tex tab is exposed to, you know, rain....like it's SUPPOSED TO BE:

[NIN]

BTW, this is why I always always recommend that you pre-wash/pre-shrink your insignia before sewing.

I stick my insignia into a shirt or trouser pocket with one of those "color catcher" sheets and then wash the the whole deal once in warm water and run it thru the dryer.

After that, *never* run my uniform thru the dryer, BTW, to keep the dimensional stability of the insignia.

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[JC004]

I use very hot water and hand-washing laundry detergent, squeeze, spray with more hot water, squeeze, then pat dry with paper towels to remove excess dye.  I also steam, steam, and steam some more with an iron so the insignia shrinks as much as it's going to.  THEN they get very stiff interfacing backings, folded with sharp edges, tacked, basted, and sewn tightly down. 

They all bleed, but no Vanguard insignia has ever bled like the parka tabs they were producing.  A little rain, and it turned the leaf DARK BROWN.  Then it CONTINUED to bleed dye in water.  I removed a lot of the dye that had soaked into the leaf, but not nearly enough.

[Ozzy]

So I haven't really heard anybody bring it up, but there is an update for the ABU wear, dated 24 Oct 2016.

Found here:
https://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/cap-transition-to-abus-announced/

Changes:
1. Unit/Organizational patch and National Staff Badge shown in attachment A6-1 are also allowed to be wown on the right breast pocket.
2. Members may wear the BDU Field Jacket or Gortex Parka with the ABU until 01 Jun 2018.

That is all.

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[DakRadz]

Ozzy- I noticed it, but I was avoiding pretty much everything potentially controversial since the election was already creating enough of that.



Good changes, within the realm of CAP reality. And I've seen (from afar) the same allowances for military types, who are either paid or receive a uniform stipend, if not both.

[Damron]

So I haven't really heard anybody bring it up, but there is an update for the ABU wear, dated 24 Oct 2016.

Found here:
https://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/cap-transition-to-abus-announced/

Changes:
1. Unit/Organizational patch and National Staff Badge shown in attachment A6-1 are also allowed to be wown on the right breast pocket.
2. Members may wear the BDU Field Jacket or Gortex Parka with the ABU until 01 Jun 2018.

That is all.

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I'm glad they authorized the BDU field jacket for continued use.  The APECS parka is expensive and doesn't show up in big numbers in the surplus haunts I frequent.   And, I just love the M-65.

[Ozzy]

APECS (Gortex) Parka depends on where you get it... I bought a few weeks ago a brand new one with tags for $50 on ebay and $35 for slightly used pants (No stains). I also was able to score a level 7 ECWCS top and bottom new for $70. I won't have any problem any more with the cold!

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[jeders]

And yet, the guidance still refers to wearing them "off base".

[JC004]

I would like to see the service life extended of the woodland GoreTex parka by authorizing it with the flight suit (AF style).  This is permitted by AFI, so should be for CAP.

I would also like to see a different GoreTex parka authorized for the Blueberry Suit.  I plan to submit such a proposal.

[jeders]

I would also like to see a different GoreTex parka authorized for the Blueberry Suit.  I plan to submit such a proposal.

Or better yet, authorize woodland or ABU goretex parka with the blue BDUs.

[Damron]

I would also like to see a different GoreTex parka authorized for the Blueberry Suit.  I plan to submit such a proposal.

You can wear just about any Goretex parka you wish with the BBDU as long as it is "conservatively colored".   

5.2.1.10. Outergarments. Outergarments for this uniform include the blue field jacket, black fleece or any conservatively colored commercial coat that covers the shirt.

[JC004]

I would also like to see a different GoreTex parka authorized for the Blueberry Suit.  I plan to submit such a proposal.

Or better yet, authorize woodland or ABU goretex parka with the blue BDUs.

The Air Force would approve that?  I severely doubt the Air Force would be totally excited about that.

I would also like to see a different GoreTex parka authorized for the Blueberry Suit.  I plan to submit such a proposal.

You can wear just about any Goretex parka you wish with the BBDU as long as it is "conservatively colored".   

5.2.1.10. Outergarments. Outergarments for this uniform include the blue field jacket, black fleece or any conservatively colored commercial coat that covers the shirt.

The Woodland GoreTex, a uniform item the Air Force still wishes to control, qualifies as a commercial design?  I'm not sure the Air Force would agree with that either.  And attaching grade insignia?  Big no-no.  If the Air Force wanted CAP wearing military-distinctive items with the Blueberry Suit, that would be included.

[Damron]

The Woodland GoreTex, a uniform item the Air Force still wishes to control, qualifies as a commercial design?  I'm not sure the Air Force would agree with that either.  And attaching grade insignia?  Big no-no.  If the Air Force wanted CAP wearing military-distinctive items with the Blueberry Suit, that would be included.

When you said you would like to see a different parka authorized for the BBDU, I didn't think you were referring to any uniform items.

[Eclipse]

Is grade really that important?

Something like this:



Is a much better choice for CAP across the board then camo or dark blue.

I wonder when that message is ever going to get across - we're not hiding.