Cadet Semi-formal Dress Uniform (Old Style) with shoulder cord or without?

Started by Picy3, December 14, 2018, 02:13:15 AM

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NIN

But cadets can't wear mess dress.  And seniors can't wear semi - formal. So its not really an "alternative" uniform for either membership category.

Semi - formal,  for cadets, is the ]functional equivalent of mess dress. Not an alternative to it.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
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Eclipse

Quote from: NIN on December 17, 2018, 12:29:16 PM
But cadets can't wear mess dress.  And seniors can't wear semi - formal. So its not really an "alternative" uniform for either membership category.


"That Others May Zoom"

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: Mitchell 1969 on December 17, 2018, 08:23:25 AM
Quote from: TheSkyHornet on December 17, 2018, 03:44:22 AM
Cords are not worn for mess attire.

The CAP Semi-Formal is the cadet mess uniform.

It can't be both.  It's either a semi-formal version of a service uniform or it is a mess dress uniform.Ive seen nothing, anywhere, that refers to the semi-formal uniform as a mess dress uniform. Have you?

It's not a mess dress uniform, otherwise it would be called that. That won't happen, because we already have one, and the semi-formal dress uniform looks nothing like the mess dress uniform.

At BEST, it could be said that the semi-formal uniform is an alternative to the mess-dress uniform. Sort of like how Tofu is an alternative to meat.  But try as you might, you can't call tofu by any meat name - because it isn't.

It is both, because cadets don't have a mess dress uniform.

Mess dress is for officers, whereas semi-formal is worn by enlisted (enlisted may also opt to purchase the mess uniform, which is a completely different style/cut than semi-formal).

Semi-formal uniforms are the same blazer/service coat worn in Class As but with a different combination of accoutrements.

If it's a tuxedo event...say, cocktail banquet...officers wear mess, enlisted wear semi-formal.

In CAP, cadets (who traditionally wear the enlisted-style Air Force uniform) wear semi-formal, since that's the traditional enlisted mess uniform. Senior members (who traditionally wear the officer-style Air Force uniform) wear mess dress. It makes perfect sense until you start to look at senior member NCOs, who don't have a mess uniform mentioned in CAPM 39-1 (although, they would traditionally wear their service coat in semi-formal combination...unless they purchase a mess uniform).

If we really want to get particular here, the whole basis is to maximize uniformity and minimize cost in an organization that has H&W standards for seniors but not for cadets, so seniors have two uniform combinations, whereas cadets do not. Cadets have one uniform they wear so that as they progress, they don't have to purchase a bunch of other stuff. Just as cadets don't get flight caps with silver braiding or Class As with sleeve braids.

There's a reason why we don't see a lot of semi-formal events: it's a universal PITA. Few cadets have semi-formal attire. Few seniors have semi-formal attire. None of us get a clothing allowance.


THRAWN

I love threads like this. Gives me an excuse to read some humor while listening to the Benny Hill Theme....
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AFRCC SMC 10-97
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USAF SOS 2000
USAF ACSC 2011
US NWC 2016
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NIN

Quote from: Eclipse on December 17, 2018, 03:07:41 PM
Quote from: NIN on December 17, 2018, 12:29:16 PM
But cadets can't wear mess dress.  And seniors can't wear semi - formal. So its not really an "alternative" uniform for either membership category.



@#$%. I meant USAF-style semi-formal.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

arajca

Quote from: NIN on December 17, 2018, 04:35:57 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on December 17, 2018, 03:07:41 PM
Quote from: NIN on December 17, 2018, 12:29:16 PM
But cadets can't wear mess dress.  And seniors can't wear semi - formal. So its not really an "alternative" uniform for either membership category.

@#$%. I meant USAF-style semi-formal.
You've been around here long enough to know at least 5 or 6 folks would pick up the gauntlet... >:D

NIN

Quote from: arajca on December 17, 2018, 06:42:43 PM
You've been around here long enough to know at least 5 or 6 folks would pick up the gauntlet... >:D

Truth.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

baronet68

Quote from: Eclipse on December 17, 2018, 03:07:41 PM


Looks like this is one situation that would allow cadets (aged 18+) to wear a miniature medal.  Right?
Michael Moore, Lt Col, CAP
National Recruiting & Retention Manager

HandsomeWalt_USMC

I may be wrong here, but only if they don't meet height/weight standards. Cadets are required to wear the USAF style uniform unless they're overweight and even then must still adhere to grooming standards.
HANDSOME SENDS

Semper Fidelis

"PRIDE IS CONTAGIOUS"

NIN

Quote from: HandsomeWalt_USMC on December 17, 2018, 08:34:12 PM
I may be wrong here, but only if they don't meet height/weight standards. Cadets are required to wear the USAF style uniform unless they're overweight and even then must still adhere to grooming standards.

And over 18

Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

HandsomeWalt_USMC

Yes sir, I thought that was addressed by the post above mine. I had to look into this recently as I have a cadet turning 18 this year who will likely be in corporates.
HANDSOME SENDS

Semper Fidelis

"PRIDE IS CONTAGIOUS"

PHall

Quote from: HandsomeWalt_USMC on December 17, 2018, 08:42:16 PM
Yes sir, I thought that was addressed by the post above mine. I had to look into this recently as I have a cadet turning 18 this year who will likely be in corporates.

Be prepared to get some flak for it if you make your 18 year old cadet start wearing corporates. It isn't done that often and the "experts" will say you can't do it.
Be gentle with them for they are misguided, misinformed and just plain wrong.

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: HandsomeWalt_USMC on December 17, 2018, 08:42:16 PM
Yes sir, I thought that was addressed by the post above mine. I had to look into this recently as I have a cadet turning 18 this year who will likely be in corporates.

Not to side track too much, but I appreciate that this is a consideration BEFORE cadets turn 18. It helps to be a little proactive in reminding them: "Hey, you're turning 18 soon. So let's go over some things here, including the uniform..."

It's an awkward conversation that people just don't want to have, because the end result will go one of two ways: they're offended/upset, or they're motivated to drop weight.

Quote from: PHall on December 17, 2018, 09:29:22 PM
Quote from: HandsomeWalt_USMC on December 17, 2018, 08:42:16 PM
Yes sir, I thought that was addressed by the post above mine. I had to look into this recently as I have a cadet turning 18 this year who will likely be in corporates.

Be prepared to get some flak for it if you make your 18 year old cadet start wearing corporates. It isn't done that often and the "experts" will say you can't do it.
Be gentle with them for they are misguided, misinformed and just plain wrong.

This

Mitchell 1969

Quote from: NIN on December 17, 2018, 12:29:16 PM
But cadets can't wear mess dress.  And seniors can't wear semi - formal. So its not really an "alternative" uniform for either membership category.

Semi - formal,  for cadets, is the ]functional equivalent of mess dress. Not an alternative to it.

Seniors CAN wear "semi-formal." In fact, there are two exceptions:  1) NCO's and 2) All SMs - but It just looks different than the "cadet Semi-formal." (It's the blazer, which leads to another issue - blazers aren't considered to be civilian semi-formal.  Semi-formal in civilian terms would be a tux.  But that's another story).

Yes, I like the bit about "functional equivalent" as opposed to my "alternative." But functional equivalent can only mean for purpose or occasion, and doesn't determine what items are removed.  With the language already cited that the semi-formal is worn in the same manner as the service coat, but minus the SPECIFICALLY mentioned nameplate and the SPECIFICALLY mentioned swapping out of the blue shirt and blue tie to white shirt and black bow tie, there is NOTHING that says that the shoulder cords need be removed.
_________________
Bernard J. Wilson, Major, CAP

Mitchell 1969; Earhart 1971; Eaker 1973. Cadet Flying Encampment, License, 1970. IACE New Zealand 1971; IACE Korea 1973.

CAP has been bery, bery good to me.

lordmonar

Quote from: TheSkyHornet on December 17, 2018, 03:54:09 PM
Quote from: Mitchell 1969 on December 17, 2018, 08:23:25 AM
Quote from: TheSkyHornet on December 17, 2018, 03:44:22 AM
Cords are not worn for mess attire.

The CAP Semi-Formal is the cadet mess uniform.

It can't be both.  It's either a semi-formal version of a service uniform or it is a mess dress uniform.Ive seen nothing, anywhere, that refers to the semi-formal uniform as a mess dress uniform. Have you?

It's not a mess dress uniform, otherwise it would be called that. That won't happen, because we already have one, and the semi-formal dress uniform looks nothing like the mess dress uniform.

At BEST, it could be said that the semi-formal uniform is an alternative to the mess-dress uniform. Sort of like how Tofu is an alternative to meat.  But try as you might, you can't call tofu by any meat name - because it isn't.

It is both, because cadets don't have a mess dress uniform.

Mess dress is for officers Senior Members , whereas semi-formal is worn by enlisted (enlisted may also opt to purchase the mess uniform, which is a completely different style/cut than semi-formal)cadets.

Semi-formal uniforms are the same blazer/service coat worn in Class As but with a different combination of accoutrements.

If it's a tuxedo event...say, cocktail banquet...officers wear mess, enlisted wear semi-formal.

In CAP, cadets (who traditionally wear the enlisted-style Air Force uniform) wear semi-formal, since that's the traditional enlisted mess uniform. Senior members (who traditionally wear the officer-style Air Force uniform) wear mess dress. It makes perfect sense until you start to look at senior member NCOs, who don't have a mess uniform mentioned in CAPM 39-1 (although, they would traditionally wear their service coat in semi-formal combination...unless they purchase a mess uniform).

If we really want to get particular here, the whole basis is to maximize uniformity and minimize cost in an organization that has H&W standards for seniors but not for cadets, so seniors have two uniform combinations, whereas cadets do not. Cadets have one uniform they wear so that as they progress, they don't have to purchase a bunch of other stuff. Just as cadets don't get flight caps with silver braiding or Class As with sleeve braids.

There's a reason why we don't see a lot of semi-formal events: it's a universal PITA. Few cadets have semi-formal attire. Few seniors have semi-formal attire. None of us get a clothing allowance.

FTFY
PATRICK M. HARRIS, SMSgt, CAP

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: lordmonar on December 18, 2018, 06:46:47 AM
Quote from: TheSkyHornet on December 17, 2018, 03:54:09 PM
Quote from: Mitchell 1969 on December 17, 2018, 08:23:25 AM
Quote from: TheSkyHornet on December 17, 2018, 03:44:22 AM
Cords are not worn for mess attire.

The CAP Semi-Formal is the cadet mess uniform.

It can't be both.  It's either a semi-formal version of a service uniform or it is a mess dress uniform.Ive seen nothing, anywhere, that refers to the semi-formal uniform as a mess dress uniform. Have you?

It's not a mess dress uniform, otherwise it would be called that. That won't happen, because we already have one, and the semi-formal dress uniform looks nothing like the mess dress uniform.

At BEST, it could be said that the semi-formal uniform is an alternative to the mess-dress uniform. Sort of like how Tofu is an alternative to meat.  But try as you might, you can't call tofu by any meat name - because it isn't.

It is both, because cadets don't have a mess dress uniform.

Mess dress is for officers Senior Members , whereas semi-formal is worn by enlisted (enlisted may also opt to purchase the mess uniform, which is a completely different style/cut than semi-formal)cadets.

Semi-formal uniforms are the same blazer/service coat worn in Class As but with a different combination of accoutrements.

If it's a tuxedo event...say, cocktail banquet...officers wear mess, enlisted wear semi-formal.

In CAP, cadets (who traditionally wear the enlisted-style Air Force uniform) wear semi-formal, since that's the traditional enlisted mess uniform. Senior members (who traditionally wear the officer-style Air Force uniform) wear mess dress. It makes perfect sense until you start to look at senior member NCOs, who don't have a mess uniform mentioned in CAPM 39-1 (although, they would traditionally wear their service coat in semi-formal combination...unless they purchase a mess uniform).

If we really want to get particular here, the whole basis is to maximize uniformity and minimize cost in an organization that has H&W standards for seniors but not for cadets, so seniors have two uniform combinations, whereas cadets do not. Cadets have one uniform they wear so that as they progress, they don't have to purchase a bunch of other stuff. Just as cadets don't get flight caps with silver braiding or Class As with sleeve braids.

There's a reason why we don't see a lot of semi-formal events: it's a universal PITA. Few cadets have semi-formal attire. Few seniors have semi-formal attire. None of us get a clothing allowance.

FTFY

I was referring to military, not CAP (which I hit after the initial point on traditional wear).

NIN

I think we've about run the course on this one. The question was asked, some folks answered, the reg is fairly inconclusive and open to interpretation.





Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.