Just as a reference point when we talk about affordability and accessibility of uniform items in relation to this potential change...I did a search using current prices. Vanguard black boots today are as much as $20 more than DLATS boots. And ABUs are increasingly hard to find commercially anywhere *except* Vanguard.

A complete male OCP uniform, using DLATS components from AAFES, would cost $292.47. A complete Vanguard ABU uniform today is $346.30. If you go to commercial sources for OCPs, it's considerably more expensive than AAFES (which is unsurprising): $69.99 for the shirt/coat, and $69.99 for the pants, compared with $41.91 for the AAFES male shirt/coat and $39.49 for the female shirt/coat. If you choose Vanguard for all the components of your golf shirt uniform (shirt, pants, black fleece for cold weather, and boots), that's roughly $51 cheaper than a full ABU kit, but not exactly cheap at $295.35.

Although this thread is about OCPs, it's worth talking about prices on other uniforms. Where it really gets breathtaking is when buying USAF-style blues. Vanguard wants $64.80 for the long-sleeved uniform shirt, versus $28.75 for the DLATS version at AAFES. You can go out and buy them commercially for $49.99 (still $14.81 cheaper than Vanguard). Female blues trousers are $37.00 through AAFES and $66.30 through Vanguard. Commercially I found them for $49.99.

Blues covers are also much more expensive, although here Vanguard beats other online commercial sources. AAFES will sell me a flight cap for $13.75; the same item on Vanguard is $10.10 more at $23.85, and $29.99 commercially.

That simple blue web belt with a silver buckle? AAFES wants $4.18 -- Vanguard is close to six times more expensive, at $25. Commercially that same belt is $19.19.

My takeaways from shopping day today? 1 - If we had decent, non-roadblocked access to AAFES, OCPs would be as much as $53.83 cheaper than the present Vanguard-only ABU uniform for a full set, and 2 - our leadership really should work much harder on knocking down the barriers to members using AAFES to buy appropriate uniform items. (And I'm uninterested in all the reasons why it's hard. Yes, it's hard. I know it's hard. And I know all the reasons why it's hard. So what? It's not impossible, just hard.)

Quote from: baronet68 on May 31, 2024, 07:49:42 AMThe National Staff Badge is not available for purchase on the website.  Call Vanguard's CAP number 1-800-221-1264 and (once they verify that you are on the "official list") they will let you order the badge over the phone.  The metal badge comes in both regular and miniature sizes.  There is also a cloth version of the badge for utility uniforms.

To Quote Sir Sean Connery in the Untouchables, "Who would claim to be that, who was not?" 

I'm glad the cloth version for utility uniforms is not mandatory. We already clutter up the ABUs with excessive patch-age... 

Quote from: Shuman 14 on May 21, 2024, 05:07:40 PM

Quote from: arajca on March 24, 2024, 02:44:34 PM

Quote from: SarDragon on March 24, 2024, 11:38:59 AM

Quote from: Shuman 14 on March 22, 2024, 07:40:47 PM

Quoteembroidered cadet enlisted insignia

They might be cheaper in the long run and less likely to get damaged on a field uniform.

Possibly cheaper, but a WHOLE lot less convenient. We had sew-on rank WIWAC, and it was a real pain, even considering the less frequent promotion intervals. The sewing jobs were inconsistent, and positioning was hit and miss.

On top of that, the sew-on stripes weren't as reusable as the pin-on rank. Once sewn on, washed a few times, and given an ironed-in crease, they weren't easily removed and reused on another cadet's uniform.

I think you're think of something different. I believe the discussion of embroidered cadet stripes is they are embroidered on a fabric square with a velcro backing to put on the OCP tab for grade insignia, like the military does, not sew-on the sleeves.

Belated follow up but I just found these, USAF JROTC Rank on OCP.

Not the same as CAP Cadet Rank, but showing it can be easily done, once we move OCPs.

Full color on OCP patch or Blue patch, either will look fine and in pairs, one for the OCP top and one an outer coat.

Very good visual... of what is possible. 

CAP may (or may not) one day decide to do something like this.   However, this is an excellent example... of what types of things can fairly easily be done. 

Thanks Shuman 14. 

Quote from: culpeper on May 30, 2024, 10:33:22 PMOh for crying out loud.  Just go with the blue BDU and make it easy.

I would tend to agree but as was pointed out in a previous thread, having everyone in BBDU could have us confused for some type of Law Enforcement Agency and it could affect recruiting as part of the draw for CAP for both Cadets and some Seniors is the ability to wear an USAF-style uniform.

I don't know what the answer is. Again, in another thread it was suggested that CAP should adopt an OCP-style uniform, in cut and style, but in olive drab color. Using all the silver-grey on blue tapes, rank tab and full color patches and flag currently used on ABUs. Military enough to still have the recruiting draw but different enough from the USAF and Law Enforcement so not to be confused for either.

My vote is we wait for OCPs. Army, Air Force, Space Force, ROTC, JROTC, AFROTC, and AFJROTC have all completed their transition to OCPs. Still trying to understand why we're still in ABUs.

The National Staff Badge is not available for purchase on the website.  Call Vanguard's CAP number 1-800-221-1264 and (once they verify that you are on the "official list") they will let you order the badge over the phone.  The metal badge comes in both regular and miniature sizes.  There is also a cloth version of the badge for utility uniforms.

Oh for crying out loud.  Just go with the blue BDU and make it easy.

What happened to the National Staff Badge?  It is still listed in 39-1 but I can't find the badge on Vanguard.

QuoteNot that the mini-nametapes were ever authorized...

Clearly an oversite by the last Regulation Update Team. 

Quote from: Shuman 14 on May 21, 2024, 08:11:01 PMit no longer has an arm pocket for the mini nametape.

Not that the mini-nametapes were ever authorized...