Magnetic Ribbon Racks: Learn From My Sadness

[ProdigalJim]

Excited that I got my Wilson after 13 years of effort! Even more excited that Brig. Gen. Anderson, former National Commander, was going to present it to me! So...got a cool magnetic ribbon rack so it would lie nice and flat and look spiffy.

I'll now display how badly that turned out, in hopes that my embarrassment can be redeemed by helping all of you to avoid it.

IMG_7486 by Virginia Wing, Civil Air Patrol

Guess what just arrived today? My brand-new thin ribbon rack...WITH PINS! Never, ever again.

[TheSkyHornet]

Shtuff happens...

I had a button break on my mess dress last year at a conference. I fixed it with a paperclip literally a minute before I was called up for an award. I sat back down, and the button ripped off again. It didn't make it into the photo, but it killed my uniform; so rather than sticking around after the awards, I left so nobody would call it out.

Honestly, sometimes, this organization can be too harsh on glitches. There's a difference between trying and having an issue versus not trying and not caring.

You tried. Kudos.

[PHall]

Being someone who has worn a magnetic rack for years for both CAP and the Air Force, they work best on the light blue/white shirts.
The thicker material of the Service Dress Jacket is too thick for the magnets to be reliable, you need to use the pins for that. And the standard length pins work just fine, you don't need the long pins.

[Shuman 14]

Regardless of the uniform faux pas, congratulations on your accomplishment and a job well done!

[NIN]

Great job, Speedy. Hope to be right behind you.

And thanks for the warning re: mag racks. I always thought "that will work great," and now I know.

[Stonewall]

Shtuff happens...

I had a button break on my mess dress last year at a conference. I fixed it with a paperclip literally a minute before I was called up for an award. I sat back down, and the button ripped off again. It didn't make it into the photo, but it killed my uniform; so rather than sticking around after the awards, I left so nobody would call it out.

Honestly, sometimes, this organization can be too harsh on glitches. There's a difference between trying and having an issue versus not trying and not caring.

You tried. Kudos.

Rule #1 when wearing service coats or mess dress, bring a diaper safety pin. They work so well I actually had a set of blues set up with them for the front buttons.

Rule #2 when wearing service dress, have a second set of ribbons, even out of date ribbons.

Rule #3 when wearing service dress or mess dress, bring extra accessories such as ties, bow ties, name tags, etc.

It never fails, someone always needs something that I bring extra of. To include last years conference when a region staff (colonel) forgot their bow tie for mess dress.

Lastly, magnetic ribbon racks are ONLY for shirts, not coats.

[ProdigalJim]

All of the above is good gouge, thanks! I had hesitated for many years about the magnet thing for exactly this reason...but I saw someone wearing them who looked great, so I thought "sure, why not?"

Lesson learned!

[NIN]

Photoshop to the rescue!

[ProdigalJim]

Thanks, brutha!