Standard UoD? I've got a plan...what's yours?

[Trung Si Ma]

What do you do for the members who do NOT want to wear corporates?

I suggest they find an alternative outlet for their volunteer service.

Or a different unit.

[isuhawkeye]

Iowa fits, and places an order for new officers in the OTS.  we tell them up front it will cost about $500 to join. 

They buy a utility, and a dress uniform.

When we lay that out up front we havnt had a problem.

[RogueLeader]

Both of you would turn a member away because they want to wear a uniform that they are authorized to wear.  If thats the case, I certainly would look elsewhere.  Saying that "We don't want you here wearing AF Style uniforms because not all members can were them" is Discrimination.  The whole reason we have Corporates is because the AF put limits on their style.  The AF is making a standard.  That was not our choice, we can't overturn that.  The only corporate uniform that I happen to like is the Flight Suit.

[Major Carrales]

I can't believe I am reading this meshegas!!!

We need to cast our nets wide...we can't turn away quality people because of uniforms.

We are darn lucky we even wear the uniforms of our countrymen.  We could have got an AIR RAID TOMMY HELMET and an ARMBAND, like Civil Defense...the idea is for citizens to uniquely serve their community.

Unless I am off base. 

When an 80 year old comes to a meeting...my first question in my mind is not "what does he look like in uniform," but rather, how can this man with 58 years of up kept COMM experience offer.  When a man with a beard comes to our unit, my first look is not into CAPM 39-1, but rather his quals as a CFI.

While y'all know my position of GOLF SHIRTS...if that is what it takes to get a motivated CFI with slight girth to become our check pilot so our aviators don't have to drive 300 miles to get a checkride...I have to yield to OPERATIONS.

Now, if we have 1 USAF STYLE with a 1 Parallel UNIVERSAL WEAR CAP distinctive...then we can have UoD that can be adhered to.

[jimmydeanno]

Personnally, I don't believe that full service dress should be worn anytime other then formal occasions.

Service Dress is not a formal garb.  It's one step up from the SS Shirt Combo - falls right in with normal everyday business suit wear.

If you look at the AF combos there are two levels above service dress; semi-formal (service dress with white shirt and bow tie) and the Mess Dress, which is the formal uniform.

[Eclipse]

While y'all know my position of GOLF SHIRTS...if that is what it takes to get a motivated CFI with slight girth to become our check pilot so our aviators don't have to drive 300 miles to get a checkride...I have to yield to OPERATIONS.

Unfortunately even this level of commitment is too much "burden", apparently to expect from our volunteers.

All the RealMilitary legacy discussions aside, many highly  effective ES organizations, including FD, PD and the ARC operate with a gold shirt as their basic duty uniform, with the fancier stuff left for staff and ceremonies.

But they all where SOMETHING to uniquely and quickly identify themselves as part of the team and separate from John Q. Public.

If ducking into a restroom and changing your shirt is "too much to ask", how can we expect these members to respond at 3am for a mission?

Can't afford / don't want to wear SDU's? No problem.  Can't afford / don't want to wear a gold shirt and proper trousers...(insert witty retort here).

[SARMedTech]

I have recently become a medical specialist with IMERT (Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team). When the Team was formed in 1999, its uniform consisted of black BDUs, black t-shirt with the logo on the pocket and IMERT printed on the back in blue, black belt, black boots, black BDU or boonies. With a phase out of 2011, we will be wearing khakis. For the members that wish to lay out the expense of khaki bdu's, this is the preferred uniform, along with the "trademark" black and blue t-shirt. When someone joins the organization whether as a medical, logistics, communications or safety officer, they are issue three of the t-shirts and a team jacket of the style worn by many volunteer fire departments: AT NO COST TO THE MEMBER. They are then asked to purchase or wear existing khaki colored pants, bdu or otherwise, black steel toed safety boots and the khaki cap, either a patrol cover or boonie. They are not ever required to outfit themselves in BDUs though it is the preferred uniform of command level members and, admittedly the most practical clothing choice because of its utilitarian nature, cut, etc. When and if a member ascends to be part of the Command team (based on experience, training, time in service, number of deployments, etc based on a point system) they are encouraged to by the double breasted naval style uniform of the US Public Health Service and substitute lite blue sleeve braid for the USPHS gold. This is an expensive uniform and is not required. For those members thats choose to wear the BDU uniform, team patches with rockers are issued along with Illinois Terrorism Task Force patches and specialty rockers worn under the team patch. Name tapes and IMERT tapes are provided at the members expense and are produced for us by an area Army Navy surplus.

The whole point of this is that the emphasis in IMERT is on ability, continued training and commitment to excellence of service. Might we have a variety of looks when we deploy or do a mass casualty drill? Yes. Some of our commo folks are wearing dockers and the T-shirt and I am wearing BDUs, boonie and drop thigh medical rig because it practically suits what I do...my actual function on the team. No medals, no ribbons, no flight wings. At the most there may be a presidential or gubernatorial citation pin worn on the collar, which the members that deployed to Katrina and other such disasters wear and which will become more common as our out of state deployments increase.

Our command team has decided that its more important when members spend money that it is on training, lodging at drills and our training "boot camp" weekend. I did not serve with this Team during Katrina, but I have a feeling there was no lack of public respect or appreciation or lack of gratitude for a job exceptionally well done when the team saw, treated and transported close to 3500 individuals in need of care in 72 hours. The command team has decided that cutting edge equipment, medical and logistic, has greater importance the perfect uniformity.

Thats my 2 cents which with a buck-fifty will give you $1.52.

[RiverAux]

While I sometimes do wear the golf shirt, anyone putting a requirement on me to wear one of the corporate uniforms, especially one I don't have (aviator shirt) would soon find me at the meeting in AF-style uniform on a consistent basis or not see me at all.  I consider all corporate uniforms as "extras" and if we're going to be requiring anything, it should be an AF-style uniform.   

[davedove]

The best you can hope for is to require a certain level of dress.  In other words a certain AF style uniform or its corporate equivalent.  You can't require just the AF style, because some members can't wear it.  Whether we like it or not, CAP is not currently set up for complete uniformity.

[Hawk200]

The best you can hope for is to require a certain level of dress.  In other words a certain AF style uniform or its corporate equivalent.  You can't require just the AF style, because some members can't wear it.  Whether we like it or not, CAP is not currently set up for complete uniformity.

Agreed.

Still wouldn't hurt to minimize the variations. Do we really need three options?

[RiverAux]

Now, if the whole unit wants to sit down and discuss things and comes to the decision (as mentioned by another poster on another thread) to make one of the corporate uniforms their standard UoD, thats fine by me.  I would probably argue against it if I were in the unit, but would go along with the majority.  In my mind that is much different than the commander telling everyone to go out and buy a corp uniform and wear it. 

Granted, the commander has the authority to decide on UoD, but on a practical level it needs to be decided democratically by the unit since any such decision will require the members to spend money out of their own pocket to comply. 

[Ricochet13]

Now, if the whole unit wants to sit down and discuss things and comes to the decision (as mentioned by another poster on another thread) to make one of the corporate uniforms their standard UoD, thats fine by me.  I would probably argue against it if I were in the unit, but would go along with the majority.  In my mind that is much different than the commander telling everyone to go out and buy a corp uniform and wear it. 

Granted, the commander has the authority to decide on UoD, but on a practical level it needs to be decided democratically by the unit since any such decision will require the members to spend money out of their own pocket to comply. 

Just started a rebuilding process with my squadron which has been inactive as a unit for a time.  We are conducting combined training with a new squadron nearby.  Both commanders have tried to be practical and not break the bank of individual members with overwhelming uniform requirements.  All of the members have had a chance to look at the array of uniform options available have have come up with a consensus and consistent approach to UoD.

Both units have agreed to start with the blue golf shirt and grey pants.  Easy, inexpensive, and provides for a feeling unit cohesion.  The next step will be to purchase the white aviator shirt.  Again, focus on keeping expenses down and contributing to unit cohesion.

There is no "prohibition" if members want to purchase additional uniforms, and several have gotten BDU's.  (All had their "baptism of fire" so-to-speak with a recent missing aircraft search and performed in an outstanding manner.)

The idea is to "say" we are a unit, "look" like we are a unit, and "act" as a unit with a modicum of esprit and training where all have had an opportunity to work together.

So far it has worked out well.  When training, whether as individuals units or combined, the two squadrons have a UoD which adds to a member's feeling of belonging.

It may also help that 95% of the members are new with no "pre-conceived" ideas of what has to be done with regard to uniforms.

Tags, deleted misquote post - MIKE

[Dragoon]

We put all seniors in Blue Field and Utilities (their choice) immediately.

We give seniors working with cadets the option of dressing like the cadets when needed.  But the blue utility/field suits are always acceptable.

That way, everyone looks alike (the two blend together nicely), regardless of weight or grooming.

It keeps the price down.

For non CP guys, you can do 90% of what you need to do in CAP in a utility uniform.  And for most of the rest (like Wing conferences) you can make due with a civilian suit if need be.

Works out great.  At least for a (primarily) ES/Flying squadron.