Specific Uniform for Recruiting Events

[HandsomeWalt_USMC]

Can be helpful to have at least one like me at these events. The "casual guy" there in the polo. The approachable one with a big happy smile, who isn't standing there at attention in the dress blues with his game face on. There are some folks who are interested in the missions, and would like to hear more about it, but might not want to talk to someone dressed up like an Air Force Recruiter.  Potential new members come in all types. 

What Luis and Eclipse said. Quite frankly, if your attitude is indicative of what the casual guy in the polo is going to attract, I would just assume not have you there.

The pilot's club types that only want to fly and will be snide and scornful toward the other aspects of the organization are potential members I can do without. I'm all about hacking the mish, but part of being in this organization is putting up with the military aspects as well. If you aren't willing to accept that, get the hell out of here and go find another place to hang out.

Someone who openly, arguably proudly, states that they've never taken their minimum basic uniform out of the packaging is someone I don't want in my unit or around my cadets. Many of the flying club types need to learn when to shut their mouths and just salute and execute. We are the Auxiliary of the United States Air Force and should conduct ourselves accordingly.

[CFToaster]

If you aren't willing to accept that, get the hell out of here and go find another place to hang out.

I think what you fail to account for is that "acceptance" is a spectrum. There are some members for whom the military aspects of CAP are actually a draw, some who tolerate them, and some that will be driven away by them. I find myself on the "tolerates" side of the bell curve, about one standard deviation from the mean. Drill, ceremony, and uniform wear were actually a barrier to attempts to recruit me in the past.

I think etodd has a point: having someone there in the polo combination (or, to a lesser extent, utilities), shows that while we are a paramilitary organisation, that's not ALL we're about. When called upon, we roll up our sleeves and accomplish the mission. That can help draw in folks like me who are "on the fence" about the military aspects.

Also, in my year of membership in CAP, with regular attendance at meetings, trainings and missions, I've worn my Minimum Basic Uniform exactly twice. Maybe FLWG is just uber-casual, but UOD is most often polo or utilities. I don't see how that makes me less worthwhile of a member than someone who puts it on for every function....

[Eclipse]

It's not what members wear on their bodies that is the primary issue, it's what they wear on their sleeve that
causes problems.

[HandsomeWalt_USMC]

Acceptance is absolutely a spectrum, and I have no qualms with someone who tolerates the military aspects at all. Like I said, salute and execute.

Where I take issue is the members who thumb their nose and wisecrack about the military aspects while at the same time treating the organization as some sort of flying or social club. I'm not saying that we should all be in blues or grey/white all the time. I'm saying that when it's time to wear them, shut up and do so.

I'm much happier in BDUs or a bag than I am in blues, but when the UOD is a service uniform, I show up in blues, looking as squared away as possible. If the UOD is utilities, then by all means show up in the polo, BDU, ABU, what have you.

The major issue here is compliance with appropriate orders. How can I trust a member to complete a complicated mission set if I can't trust them to follow simple instructions?

[CAP9907]

That'll do it.

~9907