Starching the BDU cover

[maverik]

I was wondering how to startch your BDU cover? and get it to look "blocked" and crisp.

[lordmonar]

Starch and and iron.

[maverik]

how you iron it? Do you fold it?

[Stonewall]

Get your BDU cap wet, like soaking wet.

Form it how you want it to look.

Spray starch on it and let it dry.

Or, better yet, don't use starch because that's too much effort.

[Brad]

Me personally, I picked up a BDU hat shaper at the AAFES uniform store. it's an adjustable-diameter aluminum tube that you fit your hat over. Expand the diameter to stiffen out the hat, apply starch or spray sizing, let dry, and you're done.

[maverik]

thank you.

[DC]

I have never starched my cover. I just place the side over the narrow point on an ironing board and iron it down.

[mikeylikey]

You guys really starch your covers??  hmmm

[Brad]

You guys really starch your covers??  hmmm

Yep. With a fresh starch, you can fold it up in your cargo pocket, then take it back out, a quick flick to unfold, and tada! Instant reform of on-head shape, no crush-folds

[shorning]

You guys really starch your covers??  hmmm

I just wear a coffee can on my head.  Much cheaper and a bit easier...

[PHall]

It's not hard to tell who here wears BDU covers all of the time vs just for CAP.

You go on just about any military base where BDU's/ACU's/ABU's are worn and you won't find many, if any, starched covers.

[Stonewall]

You go on just about any military base where BDU's/ACU's/ABU's are worn and you won't find many, if any, starched covers.

[sarcasm]I starched my beret.[/sarcasm]

Although I haven't worn my ABU cap yet, I like the material better than the BDU cover.  I've never starched or formed a BDU cap, but I never really liked how they didn't hold their intended form very well.

[CASH172]

Doesn't anyone follow the manufacturer's instruction to not starch.

[Stonewall]

Doesn't anyone follow the manufacturer's instruction to not starch.

I never starched, not even in the Army while in the Old Guard.  I just ironed or had them pressed with steam.  Always said "no starch".  I just can't stand the way starch feels.

[tjaxe]

You guys really starch your covers??  hmmm

Mikeylikey,
You're a PA guy, right? Do you wear the orange hat thingie or do you wear a BDU cover? Are BDU covers allowed in PA or do we HAVE to wear the orange hat? (BTW - this isn't meant to open a can of worms. PA's got more important *stuff* to deal with than orange hats. Just wondering if I'm allowed to wear the bdu cover.)   :angel:

[JoeTomasone]

Given that the regs state that the BDU cover is to be placed in your cargo pocket when not in use, starching seems to be a waste of time to me.

[mikeylikey]

You guys really starch your covers??  hmmm

Mikeylikey,
You're a PA guy, right? Do you wear the orange hat thingie or do you wear a BDU cover? Are BDU covers allowed in PA or do we HAVE to wear the orange hat? (BTW - this isn't meant to open a can of worms. PA's got more important *stuff* to deal with than orange hats. Just wondering if I'm allowed to wear the bdu cover.)   :angel:

Orange of course (even though I hate it), but I have BDU covers for when I leave the great state of Independence (Pennsylvania).  Al Applebaum (previous Wing King) gave a verbal order that members are to wear Orange ball caps, but may purchase BDU covers for wear outside the Wing. 

Before you joined there was a HUGE mess when PAWG members went to work the McGuire Airshow in New Jersey and violated the North East Regions orders for everyone to wear BDU Covers.

I would love to get away from the orange ballcaps, and wear what the rest of the organization wears. 

[Duke Dillio]

If you starch your BDU cap, you can't "Ranger Roll" it or crush it up.....

Geez, haven't you guys learned anything from those guys on the mountain?

[DNall]

I have starched mine, but I'll agree with whoever it was said they don't like the feel of starch. I normally just wet form it. Don't like to iron it either unless I have to. That kind of thing isn't done in the Army. We wear berets for nice looking days, and PCs for the field. If I were wearing in a PC for nice looking garrison service, then I'd block it. Which is why the AF does it.

[CASH172]

Before you joined there was a HUGE mess when PAWG members went to work the McGuire Airshow in New Jersey and violated the North East Regions orders for everyone to wear BDU Covers.

I remember that one.  Outta curiosity, is PAWG allowed to participate this year given the situation?

Tags - MIKE

[mikeylikey]

^ No.  I doubt they will even be out of "shutdown mode" when the show rolls around anyway!

[CadetProgramGuy]

Starching CPG way....


Get a metal coffee can.

Put Cover on can.

Spray with starch.

when it dries.......SPRAY IT AGAIN!!!!!

after about 3 sessions of torture with starch, let it dry completely on the can

Store it on the can when not in use (at home), upside down on it's top when not at home (it will stand up)

Thats all folks...

[CadetProgramGuy]

If you starch your BDU cap, you can't "Ranger Roll" it or crush it up.....

Thank god.....

[O-Rex]

I've done the coffee-can and aluminum cover-block: if you put it on while still wet and blast it with a blow-dryer, it'll work fine without the starch, especially if you buy the insert that stiffens the cap (or if you have a newer clothes dryers with the mesh-tray insert in the middle, that works too.)

I'm not a big starch fan: it really shortens the life of the garment, and now BDU items are getting harder to come by.

[LittleIronPilot]

Please don't, it looks dorky! 

[SARMedTech]

I've done the coffee-can and aluminum cover-block: if you put it on while still wet and blast it with a blow-dryer, it'll work fine without the starch, especially if you buy the insert that stiffens the cap (or if you have a newer clothes dryers with the mesh-tray insert in the middle, that works too.)

I'm not a big starch fan: it really shortens the life of the garment, and now BDU items are getting harder to come by.

Unless you live near an army navy store or have access to US Cav's catalogue.

[MSgt Van]

It's not a "cover". It's a cap.
(This should stir things up  )

[Eclipse]

Doesn't anyone follow the manufacturer's instruction to not starch.

The "no starch" indication is because of the tendency of some starch products to flourecese under infra red light, thus negating the camouflage.  We noticed that this weekend while taking photos during the encampment - you don't see it in natural light, but a digital camera picks it up.

There are also a number a detergents that add brighteners that do the same thing.

There's no reason, in a CAP context, not to starch your BDU's, especially if you're wearing them.

I'm not a big starch fan: it really shortens the life of the garment, and now BDU items are getting harder to come by.

My experience has been that starched uniforms stand up better and last longer than uniforms not starched.
They also tend to shed water and dirt better - YMMV.

As to the cover, I got a couple of those mesh hat stiffeners, and than just take care not to sit on my hat too much, even stowed in the pocket they look better.

[Hawk200]

My experience has been that starched uniforms stand up better and last longer than uniforms not starched.

You'd have to be the only one I've ever heard of.

It's a uniform meant to get dirty in. Making it prissy doesn't make anyone think better of you, and doesn't improve you as a person. If you want it to look nice, iron it. That's all that's needed. It was designed to be low maintenance.

Hopefully, no one will get stupid and starch ABU's.

[Stonewall]

My experience has been that starched uniforms stand up better and last longer than uniforms not starched.

You'd have to be the only one I've ever heard of.

+1

In fact, after a real quick google search, I found this (nothing official):

1. Never starch your BDUs/ACUs--once starched the starch never leaves, creating a uniform that breaths even less, holding heat in and odors. Starching weakens the fabric and ruins the infrared protective coating...unless you a marine with a death wish or working for the enemy, only clean and press the BDU. Don't buy into the narcissistic egomaniac vanity mentality. The regulations do not require you to starch your uniforms, so DON'T. Don't cave in to peer and superior official's pressure--MAKE THEM ABIDE BY THE REGULATIONS when they are good directives.

And #5 on the BDU label:

DO NOT USE CHLORINE BLEACH OR STARCH.

[Eclipse]

^ The above agrees with my comment about losing the IR protection, which is a non-issue for CAP, and I can only speak to the experience I have personally - they stay cleaner longer, hold up better, and look new a lot longer.

I would contend that the vast majority of CAP members never use their BDU's in a mode which would get them
dirty in the way they were intended to start with, and instead wear them to unit meetings, encampments and similar activities where looking sharp is more important than being IR invisible.

I've moved away from the "stand by themselves" card-board starch I used to get, but still do light starch from the cleaners.

I'll accept that my personal CAP experience may not mirror how BDU's function in a combat environment, but
its not really relevant to CAP anyway.  My most extreme use was in Mississippi, with 106° days and 90%+ humidity.  Even after 3 days in the same uniform, mine looked pretty good (except for the salt stains on the shoulders).

I'll take my sharp-corners, REMF-look any day compared to the "I slept in these last night and can't spell iron" look many members sport.

As to chlorine, well if you don't know enough not to use bleach on a colored garment....

[Stonewall]

I'll take my sharp-corners, REMF-look any day compared to the "I slept in these last night and can't spell iron" look many members sport.

As to chlorine, well if yo don't know enough not to use bleach on a colored garment....

I could care less about the IR crap, that was just in the quote.  Same goes for the chlorine on the garment tag.

Starch is fine, if you wish to use it.  I've never said it makes a uniform look worse.  However, I wore BDUs every day for years and I feel, based on my experience, that starch breaks down the fibers and makes the material weaker.  I could care less what you do, however, I don't want you or any other senior member telling cadets that they must use starch (not saying you do).  Use it, great.  But I'll never dock anyone a point for NOT starching.  Your money, your time.

And a good press, either by my hand with an iron or that of a commercial press at the cleaners, looks professional, without starch.  So much for the "I slept in these last night and can't spell iron look many members sport."

[Hawk200]

I'll take my sharp-corners, REMF-look any day compared to the "I slept in these last night and can't spell iron" look many members sport.

Nobody said to look like you slept in it. The manual does say to iron, which does not conflict with the instructions inside the garment against starch or bleach.

If you've ever said or even thought "I don't want to get my BDU's dirty" then you're taking the wrong stance. That's what it was intended for.

Starching a utility uniform is an oxymoron, even if it is done on a regular basis.

[mikeylikey]

For some reason my BDU's faded with all the starch I used before I moved on to ACU's.  Me personally, I liked the look of a faded pair of BDU's (in garrison of course). 

However, I never starched my cover. 

[floridacyclist]

As an SP, we had no choice. We had two sets of uniforms, one for garrison duty that we wore stiffly starched with spitshined jump boots and another pair that we kept packed in our mobility bags and had never seen starch. Not sure how an airman is supposed to stand up to a Tech Sgt though to make him follow the regs...but I'm sure it would have been interesting to see.

[Gunner C]

When we first got BDUs in the 1980s (I first saw them in 1982) it was expressly prohibited to starch them (we were also told to roll up the sleeves with the light side out - it didn't cut off the circulation the way the other way does).  The laundries were going broke - they had a pretty good thing going with the old pickle suits.  The old cammies that airborne units wore looked best when they weren't starched but BDUs looked like hell.  The CSMs started requiring the troops to iron the uniforms and use "sizing" (wink-wink).  The troops finally gave up started getting their BDUs starched at the off post laundries.

Frankly, the whole IR thing was bogus.  We looked at folks with new BDUs through thermal sights - they lit up like a Christmas tree.  Common sense would tell you that if they were going to actually reduce the IR signature of a soldier, the only way it could work is to trap the body heat within the uniform which would be hellishly hot in a short time.  They were hot but not THAT hot.

But I found the same thing:  starch degrades the integrity of the fabric.  It creates jagged crystals that act like tiny saws that cut the threads within the fabric.

GC

[O-Rex]

BDU's: I wash 'em cold-water in woolite, straighten and smooth them over with my hands and line-dry. Light iron, maybe little bit of magic-sizing, if I really need it.  To crease the pants, I use pant-stretchers (got them from one of those household odds-n-ends catalogs the wife gets in the mail) with a light touch-up on the pockets.

I've got BDU's that are VG-EX cond that older than some cadets.

**Take care of your BDU's, you might need them for the next several years.

[davedove]

but BDUs looked like hell.  

They certainly did, but I always figured that was mainly because they used that uniform in conditions it was not designed for, namely garrison wear.  The BDU's were designed as a field uniform, where the lack of sharp lines is a good thing.  It's when they started to wear them in the garrison that things fell apart though.  In garrison, you wanted to look sharp, and the BDU's just didn't look that good unless you at least ironed them a lot, and many used starch.

I really fear the same fate will befall the current field uniforms.

[O-Rex]

but BDUs looked like hell.  

They certainly did, but I always figured that was mainly because they used that uniform in conditions it was not designed for, namely garrison wear.  The BDU's were designed as a field uniform, where the lack of sharp lines is a good thing.  It's when they started to wear them in the garrison that things fell apart though.  In garrison, you wanted to look sharp, and the BDU's just didn't look that good unless you at least ironed them a lot, and many used starch.

I really fear the same fate will befall the current field uniforms.

And even then, harkening back to the days of fatigues and Khakis, after a couple of hours of wear, the starch thing was out the window anyway......

[Eeyore]

I really fear the same fate will befall the current field uniforms.

It's already happening, I know of a few AD folks who have started to get their uniforms starched.

[Stonewall]

I really fear the same fate will befall the current field uniforms.

It's already happening, I know of a few AD folks who have started to get their uniforms starched.

A guy at Airman Leadership School told me the cadre were ironing and I think, starching, their ABUs.  I never starched my BDUs, I won't starch my ABUs.

[CASH172]

Isn't the ABU permanently pressed enough to make starching completely unnecessary?

[PHall]

I really fear the same fate will befall the current field uniforms.

It's already happening, I know of a few AD folks who have started to get their uniforms starched.

A guy at Airman Leadership School told me the cadre were ironing and I think, starching, their ABUs.  I never starched my BDUs, I won't starch my ABUs.

They're PME types . . . . . 'nuf said?

[Hawk200]

Isn't the ABU permanently pressed enough to make starching completely unnecessary?

Supposed to be. Then again, there are overachievers everywhere.

[Gunner C]

but BDUs looked like hell. 

They certainly did, but I always figured that was mainly because they used that uniform in conditions it was not designed for, namely garrison wear.  The BDU's were designed as a field uniform, where the lack of sharp lines is a good thing.  It's when they started to wear them in the garrison that things fell apart though.  In garrison, you wanted to look sharp, and the BDU's just didn't look that good unless you at least ironed them a lot, and many used starch.

I really fear the same fate will befall the current field uniforms.

They weren't that good in the field: 

The pockets were hard to get into.
The top button on the jacket (shirt) was about mid sternum.
The closures on the sleeves were just a strip of cloth with a button hole.
The fly button holes were a bit small for the buttons (not a problem unless you had to take a leak - then it went to emergency really quick).
The pants hems had those ridiculous draw strings - people used those instead of stuffing their pants into their boots (letting all sorts of wee beasties up your leg).
The collars were HUGE and would beat you to death if you were a jumpmaster hanging out the door of a C-130.
The colors were too dark to make a difference.
The hat was based on the patrol cap but it wasn't made the same way and just didn't work as well.

(A patented Gunner War Story ®)

I was an E-7 at Engineer ANCOC (Advanced Non Commissioned Officer Course).  There was an Engineer Officer Basic Course class that was running parallel to us.  These clueless 2LTs had been in the Army darned near two weeks and were really impressed with themselves.  They had gotten the idea that they should starch their BDU caps to look professional (they looked like dorks).  We would put our BDU caps in our cargo pockets, but they would file in, one by one, into their classroom, putting their pretty starched hats on the shelves in the hall.  At the end of the class, they'd file out in reverse order, retrieve their pretty hats (with their shiny gold bars).

I saw the folly in this.  I waited until they were in class and switched all of the hats.  At the next break, our class was waiting to watch them retreive headgear.  We then ran to the windows to watch them trying to figure out what happened.  Some acted like their heads shrank, walking around with their hats down over their ears.  Others kept trying to force their now too-small hats onto their heads.

There were 42 E-7s rolling on the floor.  After that, they kept their hats, as prescribed, in their cargo pockets, and they no longer starched them, as prescribed.  Hopefully, at some point, they turned themselves into leaders of warriors and left behind their stupid West Point/ROTC visions of what killing the enemy was all about.

GC

[SARMedTech]

I wear BDUs (khaki) for an organization besides CAP and they are far from the most practical, but I have to say that having worn them in the field they are better than trying to kneel over a patient in blue jeans.

The only time my khakis ever see an iron is for a meeting and then only when leadership outside of my organization are in attendance. Of course, we dont have to worry about impressing cadets.

[O-Rex]

Isn't the ABU permanently pressed enough to make starching completely unnecessary?

Supposed to be. Then again, there are overachievers everywhere.

Okay, but for the rest of us, are they lower maint than BDU's?

[Hawk200]

Isn't the ABU permanently pressed enough to make starching completely unnecessary?

Supposed to be. Then again, there are overachievers everywhere.

Okay, but for the rest of us, are they lower maint than BDU's?

Once again, that's a case of "supposed to be". But the last I read, the Air Force was already looking at "perma-crease" stripes for the ABU. Which kinda gives the impression that they're probably going to have the living daylights ironed and starched out of them.

If worn according to the directions given with them, they should be lower maintenance. Whether or not people follow the directions they're given determines whether or not they will be. Those that do the fancy stuff usually think that it's acceptable to disobey the care directions.

[ddelaney103]

There's no reason, in a CAP context, not to starch your BDU's, especially if you're wearing them.

As a safety issue, you should never starch your BDU's if you're wearing them.  Besides all the burns you'll get, it's deuced difficult to get a decent crease once you've got your limb in there...

[Eclipse]

There's no reason, in a CAP context, not to starch your BDU's, especially if you're wearing them.

As a safety issue, you should never starch your BDU's if you're wearing them.  Besides all the burns you'll get, it's deuced difficult to get a decent crease once you've got your limb in there...

I'm sure it will surprise none of you that I have had cadets trying to iron uniforms while they were wearing them.   

[O-Rex]

There's no reason, in a CAP context, not to starch your BDU's, especially if you're wearing them.

As a safety issue, you should never starch your BDU's if you're wearing them.  Besides all the burns you'll get, it's deuced difficult to get a decent crease once you've got your limb in there...

I'm sure it will surprise none of you that I have had cadets trying to iron uniforms while they were wearing them.   

Great topic for your unit monthly safety briefing: it's right up there with "Don't eat yellow snow." 

[Stonewall]

Isn't the ABU permanently pressed enough to make starching completely unnecessary?

Supposed to be. Then again, there are overachievers everywhere.

Okay, but for the rest of us, are they lower maint than BDU's?

My only complaint with the ABUs is that they're practically a set of BDUs with a different material...plus pencil pockets on sleeve and lower legs.

Are the ABUs lower maint than BDUs?  Yes, because I don't shine the boots and I don't iron the uniform.  I wash, dry (low heat) and hang.  They do have a permanent crease in them that hasn't been lost yet.  And so far, no one in my unit has touched their ABUs with an iron either.  About half my squadron wears the ABUs so far.

[Earhart1971]

Doesn't anyone follow the manufacturer's instruction to not starch.

I never starched, not even in the Army while in the Old Guard.  I just ironed or had them pressed with steam.  Always said "no starch".  I just can't stand the way starch feels.

Starching is a Marine Corps cover tradition.

I used the without Marine Corps Emblem, Army Train Engineer Cap, starched, as a Cadet. Split a Coffee can and used it as a mold, with liquid starch. Came out pretty good.

Are you wearing AF ABUs for CAP? I did not know CAP had gone over yet, officially.

[Stonewall]

Are you wearing AF ABUs for CAP? I did not know CAP had gone over yet, officially.

Nope, I'm in the Air Guard.